For today’s reading pleasure, Kari would like to rec Once Bitten, Twice Shy by cereuleanblue.
This fic was submitted by an anonymous reader and they said: I think it’s very well written and deserves more attention than it gets. The story line is very original, and it has some very interesting plot twists that you don’t expect. It has been nominated for a Silent Tear Award and the Bellies, but still has less than 1000 reviews.
Well I am very excited for the rec and if the reader is out there, let me know who you are so I can personally thank you! 
Summary:
Bella Swan spent a month as the captive pet of James and his coven in Phoenix. Now she is running to Forks to escape her past bringing along the ability to read human minds as a souvenir. What happens when she finds exactly what she was running from in her new home? What other abilities has her near death experience left her with? Can Edward make her change the way she feels about vampires?
This story starts out with Bella on a plane leaving behind the nightmare she endured in Phoenix. Her experience is told to us through flashbacks that little by little, paint a picture of the Hell that Bella suffered. We see very early on that this Bella has been through a traumatic experience and comes out of it a changed girl.
As a result of repeatedly being bitten with the venom sucked out and also from ingesting vampire blood, human Bella is left with the ability to read minds. I found this to be very interesting and I loved reading about Bella being in such a similar situation as Edward after his change.
Everyone who knows me knows that I hate vamp Bella and avoid those fics. I have even been known to stop reading a fic after Bella’s change. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but vamp Bella is usually boring to me. So I was surprised at how much I enjoy this fic. This human Bella is teetering on the edge of human and vampirism. In fact, this fine line is one thing that I am finding most enjoyable. There is a vulnerability about Bella, but she has also emerged as a strong survivor that will not let herself become a victim again.
The other aspect of this story that will draw you in is the relationship between Edward and Bella. Bella recognizes the Cullens as vampires when she first lays eyes on them. She is confused as to how they can live normal lives in Forks without anyone suspecting strange behavior. Even when she learns that they are not living off of human blood, she is still very skeptical of them; rightfully so, she spent a month being tortured. So it is very interesting to see how Bella and Edward have their connection, but she has to deal with the horrible memories that haunt her just from being around Edward.
The bottom line is this is a very unique story with a great plot and superb writing. Ceruleanblue is a wonderful story teller that enables the reader to connect with these characters. There are 21 chapters posted and there is still more story to tell. Go check it out now!
Links:
Once Bitten, Twice Shy on ff.net
Once Bitten, Twice Shy on Twilighted and its Thread
...celebrating Twific by fanfic'ing it!
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[...] vamp au. before bella moves to forks and meets the cullens, she is held captive by james and bitten repeatedly and then had venom sucked out. bella obviously has a hard time trusting the cullens no matter what their diet is. it is interesting to see how bella and edward overcome all of these obstacles. you can check out my review on the twific pimps site here. [...]