It is always interesting to watch how the emotion of love is experienced by each character and I can't help but feel so sorry for Edward that he has to wait so long when he can see changes already occuring.  That would be hard.

You've done a wonderful job here and I am excited to see what's going to happen next!

As for the nomination - You deserve it!  You really have done a wonderful job in making the framework of the story stable so that all we as readers have to do is just interpret what we are seeing.  Great job!

Author's Response:

Thanks!  And yes, I think Edward's *patience* is truly his penance for leaving Bella.  He did wrong, and now he's making up for in a real way, not just with self-hatred or "I'm sorry"s.  And in the end, it works out better for him, because as Bella returns to him, it's a real return. :-)

As always, a 10. I really enjoy the subtle approach you have taken with this story. That they have grown, that being beautiful is about what radiates from within. This story is one that will stay with the reader long after its completion for the insights it gives into the nature of love and relationships between real and flawed characters. Well done.

Author's Response:

"That they have grown, that being beautiful is about what radiates from within. This story is one that will stay with the reader long after its completion for the insights it gives into the nature of love and relationships between real and flawed characters."

Thank you for that especially!  I'm so glad.  And I've really tried to *avoid* a lot of the descriptions of Edward's physical beauty.  We all know he's gorgeous, but I think older Bella would not be as ... I want to say "taken in" by that, but it sounds like he's using it on purpose.  Maybe "distracted" by that.  She can finally see that he's beautiful to HER, not just beautiful.

Loved the emotion in this chapter.

Author's Response:

Thank you! :):)

Great chapter! I just got to read it and your writing is amazing!

Author's Response:

Thank you!

You have me hanging off of every word that you have typed up and I am in awe of how much thought you put into every chapter.  The research hyou take to make sure that you have some sort of source available for your readers is amazing.

And your insight into the psyche of each character is wonderful.  I am in love with the adults you have fasioned from the teenagers we had seen.  I would love to see what your own stories and characters would look like.

I am now eagerly awaiting your next update - and this promised piano scene :-)

Author's Response:

Thank you!  I'm so glad you've enjoyed it all, and feel that the characters have grown up in logical ways that suit them.  I've never really considered writing my own fiction.  I'm a journalist by training.  Fiction is "the dark side of the force." Ha.  But I'm having a lot of fun with this story.  Thanks again!

Another review in the midst of the story - I am very touched by your way of introducing Esme into a whole new element for her.  I could easily see her really getting into this, acting as protector and mother at the shelters.

Just in case I had not mentioned it in my previous review, you are a brilliant writer.

Onward!

Author's Response:

Thank you!  I loved writing Esme. :-)

Okay, normally I'm too impatient to reach the last chapter that's written before I review, but I couldn't wait here.

You have totally made Rose a kick ass character and I couldn't thank you enough.  You took advantage of all the information that was at your disposal regarding all of the characters and turned them into real people.  Not just the caricatures some of them had been initially drawn as.

Bella, well, we all knew she was far more capable and independant than any of the Cullens gave her credit for.  It's nice to see someone write her that way as well.

As for Jasper - you turned my favorite character into someone even more tangible and gave him credit with his knowledge and capabilities.  Great job.

Alice was already pretty well scultped by the time you got to her, but you calmed her enough and it really does seem like the realities of life may have gotten to her as well.

As for Edward, well, I want more time with him to figure it all out.

So, now that I have made you aware of my appreciation for this story, I'm going to continue reading.  Expect a review at the end, if not one in between as well.  :-)

Author's Response:

Thank you!  I'm glad you like Rose-reinvented.  She really got a raw deal in the books, I thought.  It was fun, actually, to expand on these characters from Bella to Rose to Esme.  I'm glad you're enjoying and hope you continue to as you read further!

this was great, as usual. edward = <3 ;-)

Author's Response:

Thank you!

Very nicely done.  I love the who aspect of she would be only a victim and not a survivor if edward took responsibility for the accident.  Your Bella has so much inner strength, I really do admire her.

And I found myself grinning right alongside Edward when he saw Bella again :)

Another fantastic chapter.

Author's Response:

Thank you!  And I'm glad this Bella seems much stronger.  That's what I was aiming for: a Bella who was finally comfortable in her own skin.

So happy to see this chapter! I remember your own excitement after the last update, when you were off to work on it.  

You did an excellent job of showing us Edward's excitement over Bella's return. I could really feel it (and could just picture a nervous teenage-ish guy rocking up and down off the balls of his feet. I used to date someone a long time ago who used to do just that!) 

Gosh, their exchange about his guilt was so real, mainly in terms of Bella's need for the jump to be "her fault." That, combined with with her owning the word "cripple" was so real and true. I can relate, in a different context entirely, to the idea of "owning" a medical issue that, in part, defines you. You come to see it as part of what has made you what you are. Having someone cast you as a victim takes away from that somehow. 

I have to tell you that hearing Bella use "ya'll" jumped out at me, but then I remembered that I use it now too, after moving to Charleston, SC from up north 6 years ago. It's really a very economical way of speaking! 

"Let's sit on the back porch and watch the river."Sigh...that's pretty doggone romantic right there, even if it is a baby step. 

 

 

Author's Response:

I'm glad the mental image of Edward bouncing in excitement worked.  I could just SEE him doing that.  So eager. :-)  And I'm glad the exchange over dinner was real.  Owning words is important to healing I think.  And yes, "y'all" is one of those things that even non-Southerners moving to the South seem to acquire. Ha!  I figured after 9 years, she'd have it in her vocabulary.

Yup, loved that chapter.  Well worth the wait, and I look forward to the next.  In fear of repeating myself, this story is still the one I most look forward to.  Close seconds are "Horizons", "Through Your Eyes", and "Past and Present", but "In the Blink of an Eye" is solidly in my "Most anticipated".

I love that you used an actual resturant, even an actual person.  Does Nicola know?  Nice pseudo-date, good conversation, nice lead into the next chapter.  Simply awesome.

Author's Response:

No, I doubt he knows. Ha.  Just a little nod to him, and I hope he wouldn't mind.  Advertizing! Ha.  He's really a nice guy, so if I bring him a bit of business, so much the better.

And I'm really happy that it's a "most anticipated"!  Wow!  Thank you! :-)

So many sweet and poigniant moments for Edward. It was perfect. Having them talk through the past so they can move forward was so in-character with the mood of this story. Love is most definately in the air..... FINALLY!

Author's Response:

Thanks!  And yes, they really needed to confront a few last things before it's all out there and they can move forward.

this was a very nice chapter.  i always love your writing!

Author's Response:

Thank you!