A Rough Start, by ItzMegan73

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5319052/12/A_Rough_Start
Official description: Overnight irresponsible Edward goes from bachelor to father of a 5 yr old. Meanwhile responsible, prepared Bella begins her first job as Kindergarten teacher at Forks Elementary. When irresponsible meets the epitome of responsible, sparks will fly!  WIP

Megan just got crazy exposure with recs all over the place, so I checked out The Cannabean Betrothal, and loved it. Everyone said how they loved this fic just as much so I checked it out and concur wholeheartedly! A totally different fic. So sweet! You gotta love Daddyward in any form, but particularly this bluecollar regular joe Edward who's doing the best he can. I'm also in love with this Bella who is all heart as little Anthony's kindergarten teacher.

FULL REVIEW FOR THIS STORY IS STILL TO COME

The Cannabean Betrothal, by ItzMegan73

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5354724/1/The_Cannabean_Betrothal

Official Description: Edward has immersed himself in the Cannabean way to ward off the hurt of a life-changing experience; but an unexpected betrothal teaches him how little he knows about life. WIP

ACTUAL REVIEW OF THIS STORY IS STILL TO COME

This fic is seriously addicting! It's just such an interesting little world we are getting a glimpse into - the customs and culture of the Cannabean people. So so creative.

---- commence meandering personal reflection
Having gone to a Friends high school, I now consider myself a Quaker Jew and have mad respect for cultures that adhere to lifestyle choices that go against the norm. Not that Quakerism is ANYTHING like Cannabeanism. But I did enjoy the similarity of the ways Cannabeans value community, and their preference for simplicity (which is in itself a rebellion, in this crazy materialistic world we live in).

I also totally identified with Bella's reaction to her first exposure to the Forks Cannabean gathering in the Cullen's basement. I had a similar visceral response to the harmony and at-home feelings evoked by my experiences in Community Meetings at my Quaker high school.
---- aaaand scene.

Megan's definition:
Cannabean. A clannish society, often compared to Amish or Mennonite communities. Although more accepting of modern conveniences such as electricity, technology and the like, Cannabeans do not subscribe to the mainstream ideals that plague modern marriage, nor do they believe in the dissolution of marriage. Their daily living is centered on their faith, family and a firm foundation in the Cannabean Way.

Hydraulic Level 5, by gondolier

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4931075/1/Hydraulic_Level_5

Official Description: Critics hailed Edward Cullen’s novels as “masterful allegory” and "brimstone beauty"...a genius of our time. Whatever. I was his first kiss. First date. First love. I gave him my heart when I was four…and still, he left me for his stupid vampire books. AH

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FIC!
This story gets mad props for originality. I am so invested in these characters and their world. Gondolier weaves a compelling tale, keeping the reader guessing with regards to Bella and Edward's relationship: what the hell happened in their past, and is there a future for them? Bella was so wronged by Edward but we don't know the whole story.

In a creative twist, throughout the story Gondolier treats us to tastes of writer Edward's latest work - a fictionalized account of his youth with Bella. She doesn't just tell us that Edward is mega-successful, G brings us into his process and lets us sample the goods.

This is still a WIP so I don't have a final verdict, but it's safe to say that this an amazing fic that is brilliantly executed.

Daedalus in Exile, by EZRocksAngel

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5379739/1/Daedalus_in_Exile
Official Description: After leaving Forks, Edward follows a path of weakness and isolation while eventually seeking redemption from the only person who can absolve him. Alternate Universe, B/E COMPLETE

I read this fic as it was posting in real time. My favorite thing about EZRocksAngel is her pacing. It is a slow burn with the most compelling intrigue and tasty reveals. I find her to be quite masterful in that way. Because I lived through the buildup of the story from one update to another, I thought I would unravel this review in the same way. I enjoy rereading these reviews I wrote because it is evident where my head was at in reaction to every chapter. SPOILER ALERT

My reviews:

Ch 1   2009-10-03

I LOVE the way your stories unfold! I'm already so drawn in and invested in this Edward. On to the next chap!

Ch 6   2009-10-14

I LOVE the Alice connection!! Thanks so much for this great story. Can't wait to see what happens next!

Ch 7   2009-10-21

I loved taking a trip back in time through Edward's eyes! You are such a stellar storyteller. His interaction with that girl was so vivid - it was like being right there and seeing it go down.

And poor Bella with no memory! I'm dying to learn more about her prior connection to the family, and Alice especially.

But as always - I love your pacing. There's nothing like the slow unravelling of a solid story. Thanks for sharing your brilliance!

Ch 14   2009-12-16

Angel, I love how you pace your stories! Much like Creature of Habit, this one has this slow unfolding quality that makes each interaction and every new detail more weighty.

And I am so interested in the direction this chapter took. Could our self loathing vampire start to open his mind to the possibility of his own redemption? And I love the role the family plays, not by invoking their usual powers and influence, but by not intruding into the situation. That laissez-faire (sp?) attitude is so out of character and suspect that Edward has no choice but to derive that it's a calculated decision on their part. I love how our/the reader's canon understanding of the Cullens' (ahem, Alice) meddling tendencies truly informs how likely it is that their absence is a purposeful part of a grander scheme.

"But now, things were different. Motives had changed. Apparently there was a greater purpose for our situation, although I had no idea what it was."

As another layer of the onion is peeled, this notion of a greater purpose really gives more shape and urgency to my curiosity as a reader. I was thinking about what it is about your writing in particular that really draws me in. Your stories always seem to smack of originality - the "What's gonna happen next?" factor - along with a tone of mystery and intrigue. This development of an underlying scheme definitely contributes to that desire to figure things out. But it also makes me question how much control Edward really has had in his situation all along throughout the story, and to what extent was he being tested or set up to make the right choices.

I love what you've done here - to ignite the possibility that this scheme might be leading Edward to redemption - and that said redemption would be orchestrated by his family, demonstrating he is not alone. In this chapter there is an inkling of hope that this angsty, self-hating, hermit Edward just maybe can be redeemed! And then onto the sexytimes, right? (just kidding)

Great chapter! And as always, I can't wait to see what happens next!
Much much love, Althea

Ch 18  2010-01-21

Angel, That was a sweet sweet chapter! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. What does she remember? Does she remember that the Cullens are vampires? Does she remember Edward? How will she react? Will she flip out? Will she straight up jump his bones in the hallway?

And the pay off was fantastic! (Aside from the question of their bone-jumping in the hall. Which I hope they'll return to once he gives her the cliff's notes of his Bella-inspired killing spree. That's kinda romantic, no?)

I always love your pacing. It's one of my favorite things about your writing. You draw things out in the most rewarding of ways.

You revealed so much in this chapter yet there is so much more I want to know! You said just 2 more chapters, so I hope they're really really long :)
Much love, Althea

Ch 19   2010-01-27

This story is frickin brilliant!

Angel, your writing pulls me into the moment. And your creativity takes this story in such interesting directions. Every chapter reminds me why you are a "sure thing" -- you know, one of those authors that are so consistently awesome that you'll read anything they write.
Much love, Althea

Angel's Ch 19 Review Reply

aw..thank you so much! i appreciate your support.
angel

On the DiE Twilighted Forum Thread:

Re: Daedalus in Exile by EZRocksAngel

by AltheaJ. on Thu Jan 28, 2010

Angel wrote:

the scene in this chapter is very much like the meadow in Twi. when edward runs around batshit crazy and tears up shit and throws it around trying to scare her off. he even thinks of killing her up to a certain point. he lured her there alone so he could do it. She refused to tell anyone where she was going and who she was going with because SHE TRUSTED THE VAMPIRE BOY SHE HARDLY KNEW.  

In the books Edward was trying to scare her off. He also seemed pretty worried he might lose it and kill her. But as the reader, I never REALLY felt like Bella was in danger. I knew Edward would never be able to kill her.

That wasn't the case with Angel's Edward in this last chapter. There was a real sense of danger and at one point I was like, "This is it. Now he's gonna kill her for real." And that's why I LOVED this chapter. It really tapped into that dark, menacing, potential killer that lives inside canon Edward!! I <3 Angel

Ch 20 Review  2010-02-02

Holy fah king sh|tballs, that was hot. Is that gross, that I found that hot? I think it was their mutual obsession combined with the want and the bloodlust and physical lust..gah!!

E: You have no idea how much I crave you.
B: Tell me... tell me how much you crave me.

That's what I'm talking about. And check out this Bella, sitting at the wheel of this puppy and driving it towards her desired end. Gotta say, my respect for her grew in that moment.

And I didn't expect this turn at all - her being sick and going to him to be changed. Actually, a few chapters ago I was lurking the forums and someone floated it as a theory. But prior to that, I hadn't considered this direction at all. And I love it!! Such a satisfying explanation for everything AND we get the payoff of them being all hot and heavy and intimate.

Also, so glad with how you wrote it!! It wasn't a 'he was so overcome with lust that he lost himself and banged the f%ck out of her' kind of thing. He was totally present and almost reverent with her blood and her body.

I love this story! I'm such a big fan, Angel!
- Althea

.

STORY COMPLETED 2/15/10.

My Yes, My No, by LolaShoes

this fic was pulled but is a classic, available HERE

Official Description:

On the plane back from Italy, Edward asks if they can try again. One Bella says yes; one Bella says no. Parallel stories in alternating chapters explore how these two reactions can influence the reunion and rebuilding of trust after Edward left. Canon/AU

Many readers question Bella's quick forgiveness of Edward. The structure of MYMN directly challenges the canon by more closely examining this reaction and raising issues that are perhaps overlooked in the books. When SM's Bella decides to immediately forgive Edward, they are effectively not dealing with the fundamental problems that were at the root of his decision to leave (a choice SM made that works to the extent that it sets up future dramas throughout the rest of the Saga). By focusing on Bella's response in that one moment in time, MYMN brings to light how that decision truly influences future issues in their relationship dynamic.

Setting the stories at that moment of Bella's reaction also reveals so much about the flawed thinking that got them into the situation to begin with (Edward's logic for leaving, the lack of trust in their equal partnership). I don't think I ever *really* understood how Edward could possibly actually leave her, until I read that moment in MN(?) where they revisit the place in the woods where he left her and Lola brings to life Edward's experience of that day. It was such a powerful scene to read, but was also a powerful moment in the characters' healing.

The structure of her storytelling was both innovative and effective. Showing the multiple paths that can branch out from a decision illustrates how our reactions in a situation can impact the dynamics of relationships moving forward. And in bringing the 2 storylines together in the end, she proposes that maybe there isn't a *right* way to react to things, but rather different ways to react. And perhaps one might be more healthy than the other, but regardless of your initial reaction, if you ultimately work through something, you can get through to your HEA.

Beautiful Beat, by americnxidiot

This fic was pulled but is a must read, available HERE

Official Description: Bella always knew that she would have to sacrifice to be with Edward. She just didn’t know how much. AU/Alt-BD Novella. COMPLETE

I love everything I've read by americnxidiot so I am not at all surprised that this story was amazing! Beautiful Beat was structured in a really interesting way, telling the story of newborn vampire Bella, and flashing back through the nine months of her pregnancy. I usually abhor anything having to do with Renesmee, but this story deals with the issues surrounding Bella's pregnancy that were completely overlooked in BD.

I enjoyed learning of her experience as a pregnant woman: It wasn't consumed by a grotesque Bella being eaten alive from the inside (thank god). Nor did it tell of an empty shell of an Edward who is hysterical but trying to put on a happy front. It dealt with the relationship between a seemingly typical new mother-to-be and father-to-be.

The emotional intensity is kicked up a notch as the issues of her pregnancy are brilliantly played against her experiences as a new mother and newly turned vampire. And the fundamental problem of her bloodlust isn't just explained away, as it is by SM in Breaking Dawn. It is confronted head on, as Edward and Bella are forced to make a painful decision.

Finally, I know that Rachel (americnxidiot) only tacked on the epilogue because the people who bid on her for the Stacie Auction requested that she write it, but I LOVE IT! It made me so happy! I wanted to know what ended up happening to Renesmee, but this was so much more rewarding because it really gave a sense of who she grew up to be. I loved getting to see her learn that her parents weren't dead AND to actually see them reunite.
.

. . . Looking back on September

The fics that are listed for the month of September are actually all the fics I read since I started reading in July, through the end of September. Out of this list there are several that stand out as special, for a variety of reasons.

- Super cute/sweet
Nice Catch
Bella Swan: Kidnapper

- Fucking hilarious
Unexpected
Family Therapy Cullen Style
10 Steps to Seducing Your Hot Virgin Vampire Boyfriend

- Hot frickety hotness
Surprises (o/s)
The Submissive/The Dominant
I Love L.A.
Surrogate Love
The List

- A straight up great story I loved
Let Your Light Shine/A Life Extraordinary
Creature of Habit
Just One of the Guys

- Brilliant
Tropic of Virgo
The Mirrors
Cascade and Cyanide
The Lost Boys

Choice and Consequences, by JustBiteMePlease

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4785471/1/Choice_and_Consequences
Official Description: 17 year old Bella is fascinated by the elusive and mysterious Edward Cullen. Will he be all she dreamed of? Or more than she bargained for? And will she still want him when one night changes everything? A/U Cannon pairings COMPLETE

ACTUAL FULL-ON REVIEW IS STILL TO COME
in the meantime...

Vamp AU. I love this story!! I don't know how I came across it but it deals with a Bella who is crushing on a mysterious vamp Edward. At a party, he and Bella find themselves in the throws of passion. Bella declares her love, and Edward asks, "Forever?" Her reply unknowingly sets into motion a transformation into something she never knew existed, and most certainly never chose to be.

This story poses the question, What if Bella was never given the opportunity to choose the life of a vampire? Edward must earn her love and trust, having essentially plucked her from the friends, family and life she knew against her will, and damned her to a life as a vampire. This is no easy task as she sees him more as her killer.

[FROM HERE ON DOWN, IT'S SPOILERTOWN]

There are great moments as her new family tries to get her acclimated to the lifestyle of resisting human blood. This Edward is oddly clueless when it comes to Bella, as he is genuinely not sorry for what he has done. Emmett gives him great advice that he has to demonstrate to Bella that he truly respected her human life, even though he ended it. There is another great moment when the rest of the family is attending Bella's funeral, and Edward is consoling her by explaining all that he knew and loved about human Bella.

I'm sure there will be more moments to note as well, so I will update this post as the story is updated...

Boy in the Red Sweater, by Starrynytex

Boy in the Red Sweater  (BPOV)
Official Description: Laced in silence and bound by his black web of a backpack, the new boy dressed in the faded red pullover is driving Bella insane with curiosity. Don't judge a boy by his sweater. AH. M for future chaps, language, dark themes  COMPLETE

I LOVED the friendship between Bella and Alice in this fic!! Two of the coolest uncool kids at school. It makes me want to have a best friend who I can share my creativity with, and get high off of doing art together. They are truly each other's saviors as they are stuck in the trenches fighting their way through the battlegrounds of high school.

I also enjoyed how it wasn't Bella saving Edward or Edward saving Bella, but the two of them bringing out the best in each other.


And the sequel...

Girl with the Red Notebook (EPOV)
Official Description: Edward's lab partner just keeps prying, trying to get inside but he's reluctant to let her. Not to mention, he saw his name written in her notebook. Curiosity gets the better of him. EPOV of 'Boy in the Red Sweater.'  WIP

This story (these stories, I should say) have such heart. And I love these tragic little heroes.  

Just the sweetest E and B. Even though I read The Boy in the Red Sweater, and technically I know what happens, I'm still giddy to read each chapter. Having the EPOV adds so much to the story. 


It makes my heart happy whenever I see it has updated!!
..

Mutually Assured Destruction, by jandco

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4943906/1/Mutually_Assured_Destruction

jandco's description: I've plucked the line "You're my brand of heroin" and applied it to an all human universe. No drug use. AH, complete

It's a story about addiction where Edward and Bella become instantly consumed with one another. They find they are both powerless to their need to be together all the time. Edward even leaves to try to "save" Bella from losing herself in him. 

An interesting play on that "new love" feeling of wanting to spend every waking moment with that person. It asks, what if you totally gave into that desire? What if it got out of control and you couldn't not be consumed by that feeling, that dependency?