It all started back in March of 2009, when a favorite link from manyafandom led me to a little story called Over the Top. I never would have guessed when I left my first review after catching up in the story (to Chapter 7) that I had found my lobster.

EJ Santry
2009-03-06 . chapter 7
Huge thanks to manyafandom for pointing me in the direction of your story! I love a broken Edward needing reformation. And who doesn't want to be transformed by Jasper's healing touch? I think this time apart will be good for Edward and hopefully he will return ready to make steps towards something he has never experienced. A relationship.

P.S. That diner scene has my stomach growling. Did you have to describe the food so deliviously? ;-)

A few weeks later, I received this:

EJ Santry,

The following review has been submitted to: Diseased Affair Chapter: 3

From: starfish422 ( http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1776950/ )
Reply URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/secure/review_pm.php?reviewid=80606246
-------------------

I'm getting drawn in to this story!! Looking forward to continuing. :)

We quickly started swapping emails not just about our stories, but about life. A friendship was quickly forming. Katie was not only friendly, but I admired her steadfast ideals and warm heart.

On November 2009, I first got to lay eyes and my greedy arms around my Katie.

From Niagara Falls

She was even more wonderful in person, and our conversations and even our silences that weekend were as easy as they ever were online. That weekend cemented the fact that this was a lifetime friend.

I enjoyed spending time with Katie again last fall when she came to visit me, and am lucky enough to have not one, but two visits with her this year.

Katie, love, you are my best, my only, my lobster. I love you and hope you have a wonderful birthday!

P.S. Real present is to be bought when I see you in person. Nice, new bras for the new boobs. :)

Home Ice Advantage, o/s

I love this one shot! So often people try to play off a scene or an introduction as a one-shot, but you gave the full arc of a story with this one. I love that Bella is a season ticket holding hockey fan! Obviously this is not a story about your Pens, because they have hardly needed rebuilding years. My hubs and I used to drive over a couple times of year to the Igloo before we got our Blue Jackets. :)

Back to the story! I love that it is a gradual build. He spots her, and it is an almost shy flirtation composed of glances and soft smiles and speculative friends. The kiss at the end was perfect, because it was the moment. There was great energy from the win building up to the second he strides up to her at the bar.

Very well done!

Sincerely, Sergent Masen, Ch. 1-15

I am really enjoying this story so far. I love letter writing, and was thrilled to see it was such a big part of this story. I like that you have a confident, and athletically inclined Bella. She is not trying to be anything other than the age she is. That age when you are on the cusp of adulthood.

She has a good heart, but it will be interesting how the next four weeks play out being that she is still, legally, taboo. I almost hope that you keep them friends for now, and let anything more than that develop at it's own pace. I would be fine if this relationship spends years as friends as he finishes up his tour and she starts college. But this is your story. :)

Just a friendly note that there are the occasional grammatical errors that might dissuade people from continuing your story, which I think is a shame. A pre-reader or beta would pick out those few bugs.

Looking forward to the next chapter!

Overtime by Dreamrider

I greatly enjoyed this story. This was recommended to me by two people when I was searching out Hockeywards after watching the All Star Skill Challenge last weekend. :)

You grew Bella nicely from someone oblivious to the game to someone who has found the magic and excitement of the sport. That it isn't just about sticks and pucks, but the inclusion and combined energy you get watch and cheering with 15K people. Especially in big games, it almost pulses.

I liked your Edward in this one. He is the first one to fall unabashedly. He wants her, and pursues and often begs. It is fun to see him be the irrational one and Bella the beacon of practicality.

This is exactly what I was looking for when I put out the call for recommendations. Very well done!

Through the Flames, Ch. 1-37

I began this story on Saturday, and needless to say...there went my weekend. I happy surrendered it to you and this story.

Being an expert or even closely affiliated with any of the professions you touch upon in this story, I can't help but feel, or at least hope, that you are. I love the detail you have given in explaining their lives. Not just the emotions they evoke, but the details of routine and life for the men and women we encounter in the firehouse, hospital, EMTs, and physical therapy. You show each one of these professions such respect...respect they deserve. There are so people who do have a calling deep in their bones. Whether it be to save and protect lives, write, mother, etc. It is just THERE for some people.

I love your Bella. She is steadfast and big hearted. She is not a pushover and isn't afraid to call Edward out while at the same time comforting while pushing him forward. Despite the fact that this man saved her life, she doesn't have the hero worship. She sees him for what he is, a man. A fallible, needing man.

Your Edward is also quickly becoming a favorite. He is confused and lost and angry. I cannot imagine having all that defines you teetering on the edge of disappearing. When someone who has done everything "right", suddenly faces the fact that it isn't enough. You set him up so well as someone who has worked so hard. He is financially secure, and even a little less so by being so generous to his family (to a fault). His life is his job. Once injured, he is now faced that his career/life might be over, and that his financial generosity has left him vulnerable of losing his house, which in this case I think is rather a metaphor for his hopes. Hopes of a future and family.

Things seem to be moving toward the optimistic lately, though. Edward is making strides in recovery. He is financially stable at the moment, though not ideally. And most importantly, he and Bella have admitted to the feelings they have been holding back. I love the pace you have given the two of them. They both have so much more going on, that they needed this time. Time for strangers to become friends, and for friends to realize that they have been lovers all along.

I can't wait to see how you bring this one home!

Dear Mr. Masen, Ch. 7

I am so happy to find that you guys have been able to translate the witty banter and quirky personalities into their "in person" interactions. I love their quick wittedness, and how they both roll with whatever the other dishes out.

I continue to enjoy Bella's creative reasoning for Edward's presence and continued kindness. Also, Edward's sweetness is without bounds. I will enjoy her starting to realize that he is single for the same reasons she is. They are both awkward and intelligent, and that, unfortunately, often makes dating difficult until you find someone just as quirky as you are.

Finally, you have established that dating w/in the company is taboo, and even forbidden. It will be interesting to see how this is worked around and conquered. Will the Boy Scout break the rules?

Stranger Than Fiction, The End

Though they have been charted and mapped for centuries, one never can tell how or when the stars will align. Happily for the both of you, and luckily for all of us, they did when you two set out on this venture...or shall I say adventure, together.

You have given us a strong Bella who has survived the NM departure. Not only survived, but persevered, achieved, lived. She is what a woman of her age should be in experience and situation. When Edward reemerges, she doesn't balk. She sets out to claim what she was denied, but most importantly, takes her time and makes him work to regain her trust.

I think your Edward is equally the most boyish and unsure I have seen him portrayed as a vamp. He, too, has suffered and is in full realization that he is the cause of everyone's suffering. He is not the martyr, though, that we have seen so many times. He knows what he wants. He works and fights for Bella. He is not afraid anymore to express and claim what he desires. Selfishness is OK in this new order.

Finally, I think you have shown the other Cullens and the aftermath of the NM leave as we have not seen them. We see how his leaving and distance affected the unit. Though Edward always felt on the outside, you write how THEY are/were not complete without him. I love how you show their hurt, pain, and loss of not having their brother/son around.

I have truly loved and enjoyed the story you have gifted us with. You write wonderful dialog and physically put the reader in the mind, heart, and sometimes body of your characters. Also, him falling out of that tree still makes me laugh my ass off.

Good luck to you both and thank-you!

-Bethie