Like None Other

by Caroline Linden

Lady Emma Bowen loves everything about her snug little house in London. Captain Phineas Quentin hates everything about his—except that it's near hers. Because he feels ever so much more than neighborly toward the pretty widow next door…

This short story (10,000 words) originally appeared in The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance.

Genres: Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Novella, Regency, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance

46 pages, ebook

First published July 27, 2010

About the author

Caroline Linden was born a reader, not a writer. She earned a degree in mathematics from Harvard University and worked as a programmer in the financial services industry before realizing writing fiction is much more exciting than writing code. Her books have won the NEC-RWA Readers' Choice Award, the JNRW Golden Leaf, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and RWA's RITA Award, and have been translated into seventeen languages around the world. She lives in New England.

Sign up at http://www.carolinelinden.com/signup.... to get notified about her books and receive a free short story exclusively for subscribers.

Reviews

[Zero (semi-hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The heroine (a widow) and the hero (a retired sailor) have been living next to each other for months. The heroine loves her house and the independence that it brings her. But the hero only likes his house because of his next door neighbor.

I really liked a lot of this novella, but the ending was so rushed and abrupt that it killed it for me.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this Regency novella by the talented Caroline Linden, author of What A Gentleman Wants. (Loved that book -- as my review shows.)

Like None Other is a quick read, originally published in The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance, also sold separately.

The romance begins almost from page one, with no further ado, and -- especially for randy Captain Quentin -- emotions soon simmer. (That's all we get, friends. Just a simmer.)

The story is set after Napoleon's Waterloo. Phineas Quentin, a retired naval captain, moves into a townhouse in London. His new neighbor is all this crusty old sailor could ever want, and for the first time in his life, he falls. Quickly. For Lady Emma Bowen. Falling first for her voice, over the shared back fence.

Now he just has to remember everything he never knew about courtship and romance.

Emma's mother is an obstacle. Quentin's mother is an obstacle. This captain won't tolerate any obstacles.

Not even the thick, ropey vines that restrain the old connecting door in the garden wall.

Enjoyable! Recommended for a short yet satisfying read.

[kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Emma Bowen loves her little house in London; Captain Phineas Quentin hates his little house in London—except that it's next door to Lady Emma's little house in London. And he's looking to join houses, if you know what I mean. (Sex, I think.)

This is very cute! It's super short, and the drama mamas are ridiculous, but the general warmth between Emma and Phin is sweet.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really short story about a widowed Lady who lives next door to a handsome gentleman. They talk to each other from their gardens.
I enjoyed it so much that I wished it was longer. 4☆

[Kusanagi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une très courte nouvelle toute mimi entre 2 voisins. On dirait presque un exercice de style. Ou une version pour les plus grands d'un album. Ça se lit très vite mais on y prend plaisir comme une fraise tagada ^^

[ann_zack_cee_am_ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want this cute story to be longer, damn it!😂 The story finished just before it got steamy and I wanted them to be spicy with one another haha!

[Louise Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't realised that this love affair across a garden wall was actually a short story. I was enjoying it so much that it was a shock to discover I had come to the end just as I was really getting into it! A charming hero and heroine, ebautifully written and very romantic, despite its apparently prosaic setting.

[Foggygirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good but very short read.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet short story. I liked it a lot.

[Purple Galaxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful and sweet short story about neighbors who have primarily chatted over the garden wall. She’s a widow and he’s a retired naval captain. For a short story there was a nice character background. I’d have given it five stars but the ending felt a tad rushed. It needed one more page!

[Sidonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, delicate morsel, showing off Linden’s greatest strength: likable, human leads who have a palpably warm connection. It’s hard not to crave more with something this short, but given the page count, everything that needs to be there is there (and charming!).

[Theletter12 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phin and Emma

Sweet novella

They are neighbors who have a growing fondness through speaking over the garden wall. He’s decided he’s going to take action - she is everything and he wants her forever ❤️

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So short!

[TinaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story of neighbors falling in love

[Cynthia Lamascola · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet

I love Caroline Linden books. This short story is just that, a short story. It is good and wish it was longer.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short shows us the moment when the two mains, who have known each other for a few months, decide to get together.

[Alexandria Blaelock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet, just like Lady Bowen.

[A.E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet.

[Juana "Darkness" Duran · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wall seperates Emma and Phineas from each other, but as they talk to each other through the wall, they find an unexpected friendship. When Phineas goes to pay a call to Phineas who should be there Emma's mother. Who is manipulator to her daughter just so she could get a good title for her daughter. And for what other reason but money, she is a selfish lady. But even then Emma and Phineas still have the dinner manipulated by her mother. Phineas introduces her to his family and realizes that he wants Emma to always be there when he wakes up, and just forever more. They reach for each other through the wall after his not so accidental kiss at the dinner party. They say to each other the words that they hadn't expressed through out the time they have known each other for a long time, but never had the courage to say to each other.

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

(also available as part of The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance)

Emma and Phineas had been neighbors for months, speaking mostly from their gardens as Phineas regaled Emma with his days in the Navy. Little by little something blooms and if meddling mothers can stay out of it, it may be just what they both were looking for. This was such a cute, sweet and adorable story! Emma was a widow, her husband being much older than her, but she apparently had a comfortable life with him. Which seems like nothing, but is rare enough in historicals. Even more rare is that Linden emphasized that Phineas and Emma grew to love each other through their friendship and how much that meant to them before allowing their attraction to grow.

[Sarah (saz101) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like None Other is very sweet short story. No drama here, just a nice, satisfying HEA between the widowed Lady Bowen and dashing, retired Captain Quinn.

They've been next-door neighbours awhile now... but maybe they both want something more. Meddling Mammas and cynical hired help add a few giggles.

It's worth noting that this is NOT a novella--it's most definitely a short story. Still, one can hardly complain about $0.99, and it's a nice little read.

[Lizabeth Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Emmaline Bowen enjoyed her small garden as well as the easy conversation with her neighbor, Captain Phineas Quentin, who would speak to her over the wall dividing their properties. But will their mothers ruin what might be the start of a beautiful love affair?

Sweet and lovely and different. I loved the ease of their conversation as well as how befuddled Quentin is with sweet talking a woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. 4 out of 5.

[Sofia Lazaridou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story.I hadn't noticed the number of pages and I was a little surprised when I realised how short it is.I was expecting a 350-or so pages novel.But the story is sweet and they get their HEA almost like the way I love.I wanted a little heartache though, maybe if Phin hadn't gone after her at his dinner party it would be better, and after that a grand move from Phin to get her.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clean. There's not much to it, being such a short novella. The Captain and Emma are already half in love with each other at the start of the story and live next door to each other, when the Captain decides to finally do something about it call on her. Very cute and somewhat comedic what with the heroine’s crazy mother and all that.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

not read

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute short story :)

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this novella. The characters are so adorable and even the moms made me laugh. I have reread this story many of time and enjoy it every time.

[Ewa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute short story. Too short!
It's clean, no sex scene, just some groping.

[gwen_is_ reading · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cute, but clipped. Character development nearly non-existent.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short & sweet Regency Romance.