Just finished reading this story and it is intense! I love a strong Stephanie story and you've done amazing work here. I'm totally invested and just want to keep reading. I hope that you publish book two soon. I have a feeling Finnegan is going to be younger than Steph thinks and as hot as any of the Merry Men, maybe even as hot as Ranger? I love how you've portrayed Stephanie's support network, esp Hector and Lester. You've definitely left me wanting more. Thanks for writing.

I am worried and think of you often since I haven't heard from you in these pandemic times. It's approaching five months and if you could just change something in your profile just to change the Feb 24th date (I don't know how this works). Even if you don't continue this story (sad but okay) it would give me comfort in knowing you are alright and that someday, someday I would find you writing again. You have talent. It amazes me that I found you and that many, many other people have not. If I knew how to reach other readers I would recommend this story and especially you and your writing talent.

Thank you for your story, I really enjoyed it. I admire the diligence and perseverance of everyone who sits down and get their thoughts on paper but I don’t always finish reading their stories if the characters are too inconsistent with the canon. I thought your plot improved through the later chapters where a lot of stories drop off or give up. The writing seemed smoother from about 2/3 of the way in as you seemed more settled in how you were writing your characters, or maybe you were getting some beta support. Looking forward very much to the next instalment.

I have reread this. It is excellently done, dark and intense. Please continue with the other books.

Hello! I keep checking back to your site to see if you have started posting book 2. I hope you haven't given up on it. Book one was excellent. Definitely not the normal story version most writers put out. Hope to see you Book 2.

Wow what an emotional ride. Can’t wait for book 2

Just ref read this wonderful story. I hope you start to post the book 2 soon. Can’t wait to what strong Steph is up to.

Continued review: That chapter with Diesel had my crying like a baby. It was so touching. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for him and I love the trust and comfort you let flow between he and Steph.

Final thoughts: I’m excited to dive deeper into what happened that summer in high school. I can already feel that painful feeling in my chest thinking about it which tells me that my emotions are gonna be all over the place with the next book and I’m going to love it! I’m sure Stephanie is going to have to be broken down so she can be built up stronger. I’m looking forward to going on the journey with her. I can’t wait for her to finally begin sharing what happened to her in the cellar.
I think sometimes, particularly in the canon, Stephanie is not always the best person. Within the world of fanfiction, Stephanie has morphed into the girl we all want to be. She’s kind and good and gives her love unconditionally. I love stories but take a good Steph and make her great. You’ve given her character so much dimension already, and I can’t wait to see the growth she’s bound to experience in her next adventure.

Continued review:

Hector, my other fave MM. I’m so glad he’s her bestie. You did a good job walking the line between tough and tender. She needs people she can rely on to be in her corner no matter what.

On that same note, I’m glad you utilized Mary Lou. I feel like sometimes in the literary canon, Mary Lou doesn’t really fit with Steph. She’s just a character that is occasionally mentioned and doesn’t really have much in common with Steph’s life. We are just told that they are best friends and expected to believe it. I felt like you gave her depth and a real relationship with Stephanie. Like with Hector, it’s good for her to have people in her corner unconditionally. I love Lula and Connie, but in all honesty, they aren’t the best friends and I am glad you gave her a girlfriend that would support her and give her an honest opinion no matter what.

Continued review:

You know what they say, if it looks like a pig and sounds like a pig, it’s probably a pig (despite his best intentions to love and support her from afar). He knows that sort of relationship (friends with benefits while he takes care of her) will never make her feel like anything but a caged bird. Strong Stephanie is no one’s pet and I’m ready to see her get stronger in book 2. But seriously, you did a great job with him.

Since I’ve just mentioned Lester, I’ll just say this: I hope we get a whole lot more of his story in the next book and a not-small piece of me hopes that he and Steph get a HEA. If Ranger can’t pull himself together without seriously hurting her, I like her and Les together (he’s my favorite MerryMan). I hope we get to explore what happened on his last mission as well as his relationship with Steph.

Okay, last review for this book, I promise, I’ve just been thinking about it and had more thoughts. It really was wonderful. First, I like how you handled Joe. I think your version of him was actually one of the most canonically accurate versions I’ve ever seen. He’s not an overtly bad person or abusive, but he’s not right for and not worthy of Stephanie. I like that you let them genuinely love one another. Fan fics have a tendency to build him up into a villain, but I think how you handled the situation was so much more real. Life isn’t black and white, good and bad, it’s shades of grey. He can truly love Steph and want to be with her and still make unforgivable mistakes, and vice versa. I think fandom sometimes forgets that Steph messes around a lot behind Joes back too in the books. I loved that your Steph was mature enough to acknowledge that and try to do better, despite her warring heart.

I’m glad you gave us Ranger’s perspective throughout the book. I like the angst you build up by having he and Steph constantly misunderstanding each other’s intentions. What we have here is a failure to communicate. I’m sure the next book will focus more on that issue as they try to work out their places in each other’s lives. Like with Joe, I appreciate that the fault in their relationship is shared. Both of them hurt one another and do things that send mixed messages. I am not gonna lie though, my heart was like, “Oh hell no,” when ranger got upset seeing the look on Lester’s face. He’s clearly stated that he doesn’t want a relationship. Regardless of the thought that if he did, it would be with her, it’s not what he wants so he doesn’t get to be mad if someone else does. I felt his heartbreak though. He does love her. If he’d just realize that he’s his own biggest obstacle standing between himself and happiness. Yeesh. I do want him to really realize how he makes her feel like a “kept woman” when he gives to her (and other bed warmers) freely in exchange for sex. I get that his heart doesn’t intend it to be like that with Steph, but she’s exactly right to call him out on it. You know what they say, if it looks like a pig and sounds like a pig, it’s probably a pig (despite his best intentions to love and support her from afar). He knows that sort of relationship (friends with benefits while he takes care of her) will never make her feel like anything but a caged bird. Strong Stephanie is no one’s pet and I’m ready to see her get stronger in book 2. But seriously, you did a great job with him.

Since I’ve just mentioned Lester, I’ll just say this: I hope we get a whole lot more of his story in the next book and a not-small piece of me hopes that he and Steph get a HEA. If Ranger can’t pull himself together without seriously hurting her, I like her and Les together (he’s my favorite MerryMan). I hope we get to explore what happened on his last mission as well as his relationship with Steph.

Hector, my other fave MM. I’m so glad he’s her bestie. You did a good job walking the line between tough and tender. She needs people she can rely on to be in her corner no matter what.

On that same note, I’m glad you utilized Mary Lou. I feel like sometimes in the literary canon, Mary Lou doesn’t really fit with Steph. She’s just a character that is occasionally mentioned and doesn’t really have much in common with Steph’s life. We are just told that they are best friends and expected to believe it. I felt like you gave her depth and a real relationship with Stephanie. Like with Hector, it’s good for her to have people in her corner unconditionally. I love Lula and Connie, but in all honesty, they aren’t the best friends and I am glad you gave her a girlfriend that would support her and give her an honest opinion no matter what.

That chapter with Diesel had my crying like a baby. It was so touching. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for him and I love the trust and comfort you let flow between he and Steph.

Final thoughts: I’m excited to dive deeper into what happened that summer in high school. I can already feel that painful feeling in my chest thinking about it which tells me that my emotions are gonna be all over the place with the next book and I’m going to love it! I’m sure Stephanie is going to have to be broken down so she can be built up stronger. I’m looking forward to going on the journey with her. I can’t wait for her to finally begin sharing what happened to her in the cellar.
I think sometimes, particularly in the canon, Stephanie is not always the best person. Within the world of fanfiction, Stephanie has morphed into the girl we all want to be. She’s kind and good and gives her love unconditionally. I love stories but take a good Steph and make her great. You’ve given her character so much dimension already, and I can’t wait to see the growth she’s bound to experience in her next adventure.

Gosh. This story was seriously amazing and I love all the story lines you’ve set up for book 2. Please please please don’t stop writing. You’re amazing.

Hoping for book 2 soon! This is amazing!

This is now one of my favorite Stephanies. It's so lovely. Thank you for this escape.

You are an amazing storyteller! I devoured the first 30 chapters in 2 days, and have been trying to only read one additional chapter every time you posted. I finally felt confident enough to finish since you marked it Complete!
This is the first story that I can say I love the relationship between Stephanie and Jeanne. In fact, I love how all the characters remain human, and not extreme caricatures like most people write them. I love your work! Thank you so much for sharing your story. I can't wait for Part 2!