Branching Inward

I’ve recently started reading Branching Inward by LifeInTheSnow, strongly recommended to me by songster and Emmanuelle Nathan for which I am very grateful – thank you, ladies.

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Set in the fictional Midwestern college town of Newcoven, Branching Inward tells Bella’s story as she moves to a new town, a new job and as it turns out a whole new life. She goes in search of a new beginning and it looks like she will find what she has been missing in life.

Edward, a talented artist, has lost his true self. He is a brilliant but tortured soul weighed down by his past. Punishing himself, Edward has isolated himself from society, even from his family. Will he be strong enough to stay away from Bella?

Both Bella and Edward have their secrets and the intrigue builds as we get glimpses here and there of both of their pasts. As I’ve said in one review, the author, not only her characters, is quite the tease and builds the tension between her protagonists so well. UST abounds and I can quite safely say that once you’ve read it you’ll never think of honey in the same way again…

LifeInTheSnow’s writing is beautiful; descriptive, with excellent character development and mature emotional interactions. Canon phrases are worked in seemingly effortlessly, not merely as a nod to the Twilight prose, but in a way that owns them as part of this story in a way that makes me smile.

Branching Inward has one of the most sensual kisses that I’ve read and is worth a read for that alone, but in reality it offers so much more. To give you an idea what is in store for you:

“

“He was at the bottom of the stairs and I was a few steps above him when he spun back as if remembering something. His face was suddenly inches from mine, eye level with me.

“Bella, one more thing...” He met my eyes, smirking inexplicably, because honestly everything about this person was inexplicable, I decided. His voice was quiet and deep, warmed by the hot tea, hanging thickly in the air between us. He continued, dragging his gaze across my face, "I was wondering...why do you have my picture on the wall in your office?"

The room around me froze and disappeared from my conscious mind. It was like I had tunnel vision blinding me to everything but his mossy, soft eyes.

His question rang in my ears. Oh my god. What must he think of me? Has he had that in his head all night, this whole time? Of course he had. I hardly knew how to respond.

As it turned out, I didn't need to. Not in any sort of usual way. I realized that Edward's face was still unnervingly close to mine, and he was making no effort to move away. And his eyes were alive with fierce energy. And I was bolted to this spot, an unfamiliar heat scorching every nerve from within. And I realized...he was going to kiss me.”

~

Find Branching Inward on FanFiction.Net http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6372008/1/. Go now, you won’t regret it. It is a work in progress, currently with fourteen chapters.

Happy New Year, everyone. I hope that 2011 holds everything that you hope for.

Rhian

xx