WINNER!!!!!

Unbelonging grabs you from minute one and doesn’t let you go, but warning this is book one of two but I have now read both. I’m usually not a great fan of contrived drama but this book kind of had some. Why kind of….well because the secrets were necessary and not just because the characters were being stupid or written poorly. You could see the blow up coming and why but I was still intrigued as to HOW it was going to blow up and what the characters would do when it did. I was very impressed that although the characters were in their early 20’s this wasn’t a YA book, these people had real life problems and I really enjoyed getting to know them.

Chloe is a hardworking 23 year old. She is a recent college graduate but she can’t find a decent paying accountant job so she works as a waitress in a theme restaurant. To make money on the side she offers herself as a house sitter to the rich while they are away on vacations….she pretends to be a girl from an upper class family who doesn’t really need the money, but in reality she desperately needs money to support her grandmother. She is a highly likable character who tries to think through every move and no matter what happens she winds up in a heap of mess….reminded me of the Jane Jamison Character of Molly Harper, things just happen to this poor girl. She doesn’t want drama, she doesn’t like drama, yet drama finds her nearly every day!

Enter Logan…he lives down the block from Chloe’s most current house sitting gig, he doesn’t know who she is, all he knows is the girl walking the little yippee yorkie is HOT, and he wants her. Logan is a former fighter/reality TV star and he now owns many fitness centers and is filthy rich, but he’s at heart just a poor kid from the bad part of Detroit, and all the money in the world doesn’t make him feel like he belongs. He tries to play the playboy, two girls at one time, don’t take anything too seriously…etc…but his life is hollow until he meets Chloe, now he doesn’t know how to live without her.
At the end of this book Logan has made a colossal mistake in mistrusting Chloe…you can’t blame the guy really because it did look bad and Chloe has never been forthright in who she really is or where she really lives because well she can’t. In order to be a proper house sitter no one can know that the house is empty, her STRICT confidentiality is something she takes pride in; no one knows the owners are gone, take care of the dog/plants exactly how she was instructed (some plants drink in the morning and some at night you see…hehehe), and above all no guests allowed in the house and she isn’t going to change her moral code for some guy.

Really enjoyed the story and the narrator! Couldn’t wait to auto download book 2, which is the conclusion. Highly recommended!!!!

4 people found this helpful

If you can get past the Narrator; Not too bad.

I wish the Narrator didn't talk so breathy. It is really bad. Sometimes you think of turning it off because of her. But if you can overcome that, the story is ok. Nothing spectacular.

4 people found this helpful

Finally, a Somewhat Original Story!

What made the experience of listening to Unbelonging the most enjoyable?

I like that the heroine, regardless of her inner thoughts and turmoil, is strong enough to balance with the "alpha" male in this story. She has been through enough to keep it real with him instead of cowering and giving in to him when it really matters. Though the story lacks some depth, I will definitely purchase the second book, I have somehow become invested in these characters and I NEED to see how it plays out.

What did you like best about this story?

I like that Lawton, of course a beautiful, famous man, is not afraid to tell Chloe how he feels. The intimate moments between the two would have to be my favorite parts, They, along with most of the dialogue, seems real. I think many would say it was lacking in the depth department, but i think it was more like what people would say. No big flowery words that sound stupid coming from a man's mouth. Though I usually like my books WAY steamier, this one is a keeper.

What does Erin Mallon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Calm. Mallon's voice, though a little too much at times, brings a calm to the story. I would read through it and devour it, losing some of the story in the process. Even during intense parts of the story, Mallon's voice is consistently just... calm... without being monotone, and with a great male voice, too.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, only because of the negligent, snarky boss at the restaurant. Been there, dealt with that, NO FUN!
Otherwise, the CLIFF-HANGER ending is pretty intense.

Any additional comments?

I am more surprised than anyone who knows my usual preference in books, that I really enjoyed this book. I am itching for part 2!

8 people found this helpful

interesting

I am definitely ready to read the next one! It certainly left me wondering what Lawton and Bishop were into. I also want to see how if at all Chloe and Lawton are brought back together. The narrator did a good job. Way better than expected.

3 people found this helpful

Ok

Honestly, I got bored in the very beginning, so it took me like 3 times to listen to this. Once I got past like chapter 10, the story picked up a bit. It was ok.. not a relisten for me... it was just good, nothing grand, and definately not a waste of time. I am glad I finally finshed listening though...

Narration was eh! Could have been better; however, I did like the male voices.

Nice credit... not worth a buy... definately a sale.

6 people found this helpful

Just okay

This story just didn't wow me. While I liked bother of the characters, they unnecessarily hid so much from each other. However I did like that the heroine stood up for herself. I've grown tired of the Doormat girl/ A-hole guy dynamic and it's nice to see someone say that she won't accept that kind of behavior.

2 people found this helpful

Very original

What did you love best about Unbelonging?

Great original storyline.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the fact that the girl was from Hamtramck - since I grew up there as well. Chloe seems like a real person, nothing fake.

What does Erin Mallon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She brings more excitement and feeling to Chloe. And even make Lawton even more loveable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, it was more angry at Lawton for the whole misunderstanding.

Any additional comments?

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

2 people found this helpful

Great love story but with much more story line tha

If you could sum up Unbelonging in three words, what would they be?

So goodreads recommended this book for me based on another book I read. I had never hear of the author, not too many reviews on goodreads but the blurb was saying read me. This book pulled me in so much and kept me wanting the next page I skipped sleeping just to read. Wow who doesn't want to read about the bad boy billionaire who nay or may not have gotten all of him money cleanly.. While you get to know Lawton and his major insecurities you meet Chloe who is a tough girl with a messed up family and a lifestyle she doesn't want Lawton to know about because she believes he will feel differently about her.. I am sitting at the edge of my seat waiting on book two, I need to know what happens next.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Unbelonging?

Lawton -- is just simply sex on a stick

2 people found this helpful

Great book

Kept me up all night just to finish! I'm going to start the next book now! Hdbdb dd fff cvf

1 person found this helpful

I did not regret buying it,

Would you consider the audio edition of Unbelonging to be better than the print version?

I listen to a lot of book. I have been for years and I see the reviews that some people did not think the narrator did a great job, but I think she did a great job for a NA story.
First, she sounded like a 23 year old woman, which Chloe is. Many of these narrators that read NA stories sound like they are in their 30s/40s, not in their 20s.
Second, the narrator did the male voices very well. Some of them may have sounded the same, but when there was a scene with more than one male voice, like Lawton and Bishop, the narrator did a good job separating them.
There were scenes were the narrator sounded like she was squealing, but it was not irritating. I have a list of narrators that I avoid but Erin Mallon will not be one of them.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Unbelonging?

What I did NOT like about this book is that the author put the PROLOGUE in the first chapter. I rarely if ever read the prologue in the book. I feel that at times it gives away too much. Like in this case, it gave away what happens almost towards the end of the book. So I was anticipating that scene and honestly after 50% could not focus, just pictured that. So I noticed myself fast forwarding 30 seconds here and there until that scene.
Note to author: If the scene is a PROLOGUE, which in this case it was, mark it as such and NOT as chapter one.

Which scene was your favorite?

I love the scene when Lawton and Chloe met. I love the scenes with them walking Chucky. I thought some of the misunderstanding scenes at 60% were getting to be a bit much.
I did love the drama with Brittany and Amber. I could just pictures those two.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Chloe is supposed to be a street smart girl after her experience with her mother and step-mother yet she makes the dumbest decisions.

Any additional comments?

I bought this book when it was a sale two books for one credit. I never heard of this book before, I never heard of the author, but I was glad I took a chance. Off to read the sequel.

1 person found this helpful