I loved the characters, the way they met, the way they gradually fell in love, and how much they opened up to one another as their relationship grew. ~ Slick – Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Outmatched by Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young
Release Date: November 19, 2019
Outmatched, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by New York Times bestselling authors Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young.
What happens when a boxer finds chemistry with a geek?
Parker Brown can’t believe she needs to hire a fake boyfriend. When she landed her dream job in renewable energy, she thought she’d be entering a world at the forefront of progressive thinking. But the head boss prefers to promote employees who are “settled.” Thankfully, she’s found the perfect candidate, a fellow intellectual looking for some quick cash. What Parker gets is his protective big brother—Rhys Morgan. The tall, muscled ex-boxer with a foul mouth shows up just as her boss does, and now she’s stuck with the manipulative jerk.
Responsibility weighs heavily on Rhys. Now permanently out of the ring, he’s trying to hold together his late father’s gym and keep his younger brother, Dean, on the straight and narrow. To save Dean from himself, Rhys takes his place, ready to give this society girl a piece of his mind. Instead, he finds an opportunity. Even though they can hardly stand each other, posing as Parker’s boyfriend is a win-win deal. She gets to keep her job, and he’ll charm her star-struck boss into sponsoring his gym.
Problem is, they can barely keep their hands off each other. And what started as an easy deal isn’t so easy anymore. Because what future can a rough ex-boxer, afraid to open his heart, and a polished society geek, who has sworn off real relationships, possibly have?
They say opposites attract. These opposites are about to combust on impact.
I’m so torn about Outmatched by Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young, on one hand I loved the whole good versus evil scenario against a horrible excuse of a man, and on the other hand I was disappointed that every time I began to really slip into the story and enjoy the slow burn romance going on I was beat over the head with the heroine’s environmental stance. Please don’t misunderstand, I’m all about saving our planet, clean air, renewable everything, but I felt like it was assumed because I read romance I must be stupid and the authors felt they needed to educate me and others. Just a bit of information about me, I was a child of the 60’s and a teen of the 70’s and I was reducing, reusing, and recycling before it became a catch phrase and the “in” thing to do. To this day I use a Sunbeam hand mixer that my parents got as a wedding gift over 65 years ago. I get it, I do, and while I love that this heroine was very dedicated and passionate to her cause I got that in the first few chapters and didn’t need to be reminded of it every time I turned a page. So while I was disappointed in that aspect of this book, I did love the characters, the way they met, the way they gradually fell in love, and how much they opened up to one another as their relationship grew.
Ever since his father died Rhys Morgan has been trying to hold on to everything; the gym that was his father’s pride and joy and the secrets that his father left behind and Rhys never wanted his younger brother to find out. He was proud of being able to send Dean to college, but Dean was floundering and Rhys was at the end of his rope. Finding out Dean was hired to play the boyfriend to a rich society girl was the final straw, but when Rhys shows up to take Dean’s place and is thrust into Parker Brown’s world, he soon realizes that life sometimes gives you golden opportunities and Parker’s connection might just help him save his gym.
The intensity between Rhys and Parker was evident from the start and man was I waiting for it to spill over and it was worth the wait in more ways than one. Yes, I loved how hot they were for one another by the time they gave in to their attraction, but it was the fact that they’d developed feelings for one another and had mutual respect and admiration for one another before they got to that point that made it all the better.
A major investor in the company Parker works for was a Masshole pure and simple and wanted nothing more than to get Rhys back in the ring something he’d given up for a very personal reason. I will say I got a bit tired of this character as this book went on and I had visions of him standing around twisting his skinny moustache because he became kind of cartoonish in his endeavors as this book went on. There was so much time spent in his presence and most of it to the point of ridiculousness and I was waiting for either Rhys or better yet Parker to knock him on his a$$, but as it turns out Parker played it smart and that was so much better.
I loved Rhys from the start, it was easy to see he was overwhelmed and felt out of control about what was happening in his life yet when he was with Parker he felt alive and even happy. He obviously loved his brother, he wanted to honor his parents even though he was still very angry with what his father had done, and he wanted to be able to make his gym great again giving him the ability to help more teens realize their potential.
It took me a little while to really understand Parker and her motives and she was a bit to preachy for me on so many subjects that I found it hard to like her, however it was obvious how much she cared about Rhys and how happy she made him. One thing I never quite understood was she mentioned several times about not wanting to disappoint her parents or that she’d upset them, but all of the interactions she had with them in this book it was clear to see they loved her and wanted her happy, so I felt that I missed something. I even went back and re-read parts to make sure I hadn’t because that was so confusing.
As far as the romance aspect of this book goes, I would have liked more time where these two were truly learning about one another, but it was obvious they were perfect for one another as Parker didn’t let Rhys run over her and he challenged her to always fight for what she wanted. I am intrigued by so many other characters in this world and really hope these two will give Dean, Carlos, Zoe and even Kyle a chance to find love.
While not a perfect book there was enough that I did enjoy to keep me reading Outmatched and I sincerely hope we’ll see more of Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young writing together in the future.
3.5 stars
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Excerpt:
AngryTink: Hey. This is Parker. Parker Brown.
My phone dinged loudly. I fumbled around my bed, finally finding the damn thing under a pillow. Wiping the sleep off my face, I rolled onto my back and read the text that had pulled me out of a pleasant sleep. I smiled. It was just so … Parker. Settling in, I answered her.
RhysThis: Don’t have to tell me who you are. Your number is programmed on my phone. What do you want?
AngryTink: Well, good morning to you too, Happy Pants.
My smile turned into an evil grin. The girl was always going to punch back and make it count.
RhysThis: That’s Mr. Happy Pants. Though, TBH, my pants aren’t too happy at the moment. Want to help me out with that?
AngryTink: Tempting. Truly. But, no.
RhysThis: RU sure? ‘Cuz Happy Pants Rhys is much more agreeable than Sad That He Had to Self-Satisfy Rhys.
AngryTink: Would you please behave?
RhysThis: I’m not the one who mentioned the emotional state of my pants.
AngryTink: ARGH!
A chuckle rumbled in my chest as my thumbs tapped out a response I knew would piss her off more.
RhysThis: Was that even English? Honestly, Ms. Brown, I thought you were educated.
She took a moment to answer. I could picture her, phone in hand, grinding her teeth.
AngryTink: You’re deliberately trying to annoy me, aren’t you?
RhysThis: You’re quick. I’ll give you that.
AngryTink: Mr. Morgan, I’m about ten seconds away from finding an alternate fake boyfriend. A goat on a rope would be a better candidate at this point.
It was cute she thought that was threatening.
RhysThis: Yeah, probably. But the goat doesn’t have a signed contract. I do, Tinker Bell.
AngryTink: ARGH@!!
RhysThis: You’re kind of cute when you talk pirate.
About Kristen:
Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a RITA winner and three-time nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.
Connect with Kristen:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KristenCallihan/
Twitter – Kris10Callihan
Website – http://www.kristencallihan.com/
Amazon – https://amzn.to/2zrf3Lo
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/Kristen_Callihan
About Samantha:
Samantha Young is a New York Times and #1 International bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. On Dublin Street was Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in thirty countries. She has since published over thirteen romance titles including the New York Times Bestsellers Into the Deep, Hero, and her most recent contemporary romance Play On. When writing Adult Paranormal romance she writes under the pen name S. Young.
Connect with Samantha:
Social media links:
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Website – http://authorsamanthayoung.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/authorsamanthayoung/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AuthorSamYoung
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.co.uk/samyoungauthor/
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