The Never List

Love Across Londons #1

by F.E. Greene

SHORTLISTED IN THE 2016 CHATELAINE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS

Victoria Smith's life seems dreary until someone knocks on a sealed door inside her London bookshop.  When Tori discovers it's not a ghost but a journalist from 1854, she accidentally strands him in 2014.

Intrigued by the dapper and crusading Charles Stratford, Tori offers to help him locate a pendant that will reopen the door to his century.  Even when their treasure hunt across London turns dangerous, Tori finds herself wishing that Charles could stay.  But after losing her family a decade before, can she risk loving someone again, especially a man from 1854?

Lured into the future by a mysterious pendant, Charles Stratford must track down its counterpart to unlock the door between Londons.  When the winsome Victoria Smith volunteers to join his search, Charles becomes smitten with the intrepid bookseller.  He also uncovers an ancient struggle between two underground societies and becomes entangled in their secret intrigues.  If Charles fails to return both pendants to 1854, he places his own London at risk.  But how can he succeed when it means saying farewell to Victoria in 2014?

From modern-day Soho to nineteenth-century Mayfair, The Never List takes readers on a whirlwind tour of Londons new and old as its time-crossed heroes search for a way to love each other within two centuries.  It is the first book in the Love Across Londons series which should be read in order.

Book One: The Never List

Book Two: The Best-Left Questions

Book Three: The Next Forever

Romance Heat Scale: Mild/PG. No detailed sex scenes, profanity, or graphic violence.

Praise for The Never List - SEMI-FINALIST in the 2017 Kindle Book Awards:

Genres: Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, British Literature, Historical Romance, Chick Lit

446 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 27, 2015

About the author

F. E. Greene has been telling stories with words for more than twenty years. She is the author of multiple series including contemporary romance (Richer in Love), time-travel romance (Love Across Londons), and fantasy adventure (By Eyes Unseen). A novelist, songwriter, poet, and photographer, she has taught young journalists and coached creative writers in both scholastic and volunteer settings. Greene's novels blend feel-good romance, mild suspense, a touch of whimsy, and her steadfast affection for all things British.

Reviews

[Nieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s like someone who’s a fan of Jane Austen, Outlander and cozy romance books combined all three and made it into this story. The story itself should’ve been spread out over months rather than days to make it somewhat ‘believable’ (?) and the storyline and some details could’ve been sharper. Happy to continue with book two now though.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book that transports me somewhere else. I visited a different time and place in this lovely story.

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that THE NEVER LIST by F.E. Greene is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while, you run across a book that defies being pigeonholed into something as "common" as genre or limited by a star rating. Those books don't have to be the best books ever written to fit there... but they do have to be amazing.

I consider The Never List to be one of the most amazing books I've read in a very long time. Portal fantasy that doesn't FEEL like it... except when it does. Time travel that is both impossible and imperative. A twist that still has me spinning. If I tried to list all the wonderful elements of this book, I'd have to write one to do that, and well... F.E. Greene already did that!

Greene created flawed characters that were neither too perfect (although she skated on thin ice with him!) nor so imperfect that they became annoying (except when they should be), and left you wondering why you haven't known these people all your life. In fact, you feel a little jealous that Charles and Victoria got to meet them, while you didn't.

You'll be grateful for clean water, toothpaste, stretchy clothing, and clean(ish) air by the time you're done with this book, but you'll also pine for the expectation of self-control, the way etiquette could be used to protect as well as disarm, and for a world where even amid things you miss, you're grateful to miss others--like the knowledge of what wars and technological advancements might do to society. What medicine can change... and what it can't.

In the end, you'll learn that friends are to be treasured, truth is a gift, and love solves far more than we give it credit for.

I can't WAIT for book two to arrive.

[LOVEROFBOOKS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this new to me author's book! It kept me interested the entire time. It has mysteries, romance, time travel, gypsies and two characters I loved, especially together. At times it reminded me of Kate & Leopold and I guess that's why I was picturing Hugh Jackman as Charles.

I was pleasantly surprised that it was a clean read, no curse words which modern romance books seem to be full of (and I don't read them for that reason) and Charles actually talked about God and went to church. It wasn't preachy nor religious; it was just the right touch.

I'm excited to know there are at least two more in the series!

[spruitjes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the first time ever I read a book about time travelling and I don't regret doing it.

What a wonderful read this was! Very funny at first and from then on: endearing and quite an interesting insight it was to end up in 1854 when you're used to the modern life of 2014 and vice versa.
I enjoyed a few pleasand surprises and I enjoyed every letter of it. I just purchased the number two in this series.

[Melissa]

Got bored.

[Valerie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Many important plot lines were dropped into half sentences, with no further reference until many pages later; things that really matter in how the plot moves along need to be emphasized at least somewhat. Also, many times I couldn't identify with the heroine's reactions. For example, in the middle of a storm in which the main characters Charles and Tori take refuge in a church, Tori acts strangely, and Charles takes note that she's acting weirdly. But that's it; we're not let in on WHY she was acting strangely until much later in the book when we learn a part of her background. It would have been helpful to hear that tidbit about her background at the time she's acting strangely because of past history; otherwise her actions are puzzling and odd. And then there's all the winking. What's with that? I was born and raised in the south, and the only person I knew who winked was a lascivious uncle. Last: How many times did we read about Charles' "Cumbrian" eyes?What are "Cumbrian" eyes, anyway? Blue? Round? English? Whatever they are, his brothers had them, too. I got the book for free, and I won't be purchasing any from this author. In the author's favor, I did finish the book--and when a book is really bad, I won't waste my time.

[Brittaney Borman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love time-travel novels and have read quite a few. This is one of the best written ones in terms of the characters reactions to the changes in era. The contrast between the contemporary and historical eras is realistic as is the difficulties Charles and Victoria have in adjusting to them. The mystery as to how time travel is possible as well as who the various strangers are who keep appearing and reappearing to Charles and Victoria kept me intrigued. However, I found the romantic angle lacking. I just never felt the chemistry between the two leads despite their quick attachment and commitment. I would rate this one 3.5 stars. The time travel aspect and the continuing mystery behind it are well done enough to keep me reading the series.

[Amanda Meggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discover the Secret of the Pendant

The Never List tells the story of Tori and an unexpected visitor who came through her storeroom door. Charles has come to the future after a chance encounter (the best kind of encounter) with a gypsy. The pair work together to discover the secret of the pendant Charles was given, going back to Charles' time where Tori has to learn to fit in to Victorian London, luckily Charles' aunt takes her in to her household and Tori doesn't have to find her way alone.

There is excitement with unknown baddies trying to steal the pendant, and mystery as they try to discover it's purpose. An excellent story with good characters, Charles' aunt particularly. I hope there is a future book about some of the other characters.

[Scarlet Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept right away. While I felt like the pacing was a bit shaky at the start (and, at times, felt a little winky and self-indulgent) and it took me a while to start liking Victoria, it eventually got going.
There are some small gaps and unexplained situations/characters which may or may not be resolved in Book 2, which I have yet to read, but I like this one well enough to read the second.
It was a quick enough bit of fun and was conceptually intriguing enough to steal my imagination for a short while.

[Mary Herzog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine Story

I enjoyed reading this story. I found it a little long but well written and entertaining. I've been to London several times so I did like remembering places I've been before that were mentioned in the story. I did get a little confused at the end about who was the good guy and who was the bad - and why. I liked the H/h and their relationship together as well as relationships to other characters. I do love a good love story! I will continue on to the next book.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet and entertaining time-travel story. A 1 on the sexiness scale, which was kind of refreshing; I was beginning to think people didn't write romances like that anymore, haha. I thought the contemporary parts of the book worked better than the 1850s sections, but the author did a nice job in general of pointing out some of the more obvious concerns that would come up if you were time travelling. (As River Song would say ... NO SPOILERS.)

[Avalon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Victoria owns a bookshop in London 2014 and lives above it. There is a locked door in the hall near her room that she can't open. One night she hears a scraping sound then a knocking so grabbing her baseball bat she enters the hall to see a man in old fashioned clothing coming through the door. He is very polite and charming. His name is Charles and he came from the past. You will flip through the pages to see if they make it safely through the portal and what awaits them. Entertaining read

[Diane Horne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Never List: Love Across London Book One By F.E. Greene

Five stars, talking about a mystery, this is one of the best...And it continues in the sequel...Victoria modern woman comes to meet Charles from London 1800... But he is a mystery and someone is after him, naturally she falls for him and then she becomes involved..It leaves questions at the end ..

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable glimpse into history

The story leaves a lot of unanswered questions but provides a comparison of what differs for people living in the Victorian era and for those in 2014. No matter when the setting is, there is one constant and that is the importance of family and friends.

[joan]

So much more

This book seemed to go on forever - in the best way possible. Then it ended. This adventure finished, ready for the next one. I look forward to it.
I especially liked that this story involved a couple traveling & working together and that they the traveled more than once and for a purpose. This book has romance with so much more.

[Haddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the start but got bored quite quickly. This book literally could have been half the length, so much was unnecessary for the plot, and then the whole explanation of the main issue was 1 paragraph and didn’t even make sense.

[Linda Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully crafted prose

The story is a marvelous celebration of a modern romance begun in the present and enriched in 1854. The characters are endearing. I highly recommend this adventure!

[Carol Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A totally enjoyable read.

[Jane Balke Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most enjoyable romantic time travel novel switching between 1854 and 2014. I am interested to see what the author will do with the series.

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy time traveling books and this one has it all - adventure ,romance, crossing the pond to America -set in merry London .
A hopeful romantics dream.

[c Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Very different time travel story. Love Charles and Tori. Having been to London it painted a very vivid picture.

[ELLEN QUINN · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great timeslip story giving a good picture of Victorian London and our town of today.
Cannot wait to start the next book.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book.

A very good book. I don't usually read this type of book, but did so in one sitting. Read it. 'nuff said.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the book that jumped off my TBR list and enticed me to read it first. I loved it. It was fun, quirky and held my interest and I immediately acquired a copy of the sequel.

[anonymousreader]

read

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun romp across London in 2014 as well as 1854. A lot of romance with time travel mixed in.

[Rachel L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delight. Time travel, family, purpose.

(There’s a reason it’s called cross-genre. Fiction, historical fiction, fantasy…?)

[Debby Settle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Story

I so much enjoyed this book that when it ended, I was sad. Of course, I will be looking to see if it continues...thank you, FE Greene 🤗