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 … 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.
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I just finished listening to the audio of this book and the narrators did an AMAZING job of capturing the characters. The uptight, kinda nerdy, wealthy Parker and the broody, ex-boxer from Boston Rhys were fun to listen to and fun to see the chemistry come alive with Elizabeth Hart and Alex Kydd at the helm.
Parker works in a male dominated environmentalist field and she needs to play the game with her boss. So she hires a man to be her boyfriend (Rhys) to have an “in” to work her way into and up within the company. Meanwhile, Rhys is an ex-boxer that owns a gym and needs money for said gym. This is a match made in Fake Relationship heaven. They both need something that the other can give. But what happens when sparks ignite and wet, hot kisses turn into more?
I love fake relationships and the fact that these two are totally and completely opposites made it that much more fun. Maybe even a dash of enemies to lovers with these two. Parker is feisty and gives as good as she gets and Rhys is a man’s man. Rides a Harley and drinks beer straight up from the bottle (blasphemy ). We know these two are going to fall for one another, but seeing them fight it and the growth in the characters is half the fun. I enjoyed watching them both fall to their knees. This book feels as though it would be better “read” as an audio because these narrators really brought the characters alive with the accents and all. Alex and Rhys’ Boston accent? Loved it. It was Wicked good. I could even see this playing out on Netflix for movie night (are you listening, Netflix…I’m here for this).
SO if you are looking for a good fake relationship from opposites with even a little bit of sport thrown in there, you found a great book. The writing is fun, the characters are believable and the story written by TWO authors went together quite well. I will throw my two cents in and recommend listening to it because the Boston accents are wicked brilliant (just up the listening speed to anything past 1).
(AND can I add, I hope a certain brother and roommate just might get a story)
Audio Review: Outmatched by Kristen Callihan, Samantha Young, Narrated by Elizabeth Hart, Alex Kydd
Parker Brown and Rhys Morgan are the stuff that romantic comedies are made off. Outmatched goes from from heartbreaker to heartwarming rather quickly in my book. Far from being perfect, Young and Callihan keep the laugh track going and emotions overflowing in a delightful sort of way. Despite a few bumps in the road, Outmatched came together to induce a heartgasm that never quite goes away.
Couldn’t love this book more!
This amazing story ticked all my boxes for me!
•Amazing chemistry? Check
•Humor? Check
•Smart, witty characters? Check, check
•Communication to work through issues? Check
I just all around loved this book.
When Parker needs to secure a relationship to get a permanent position in her job… she goes about doing what any intelligent woman would do… RENT ONE of course! When plans get twisted, she rolls with the punches and takes it all in stride.
I’ve always been one to fall deeply in love with a geek and a jock falling in love and this was no exception. They just fit together so perfectly!
Don’t let the boxing fool you, you’ll need to read this rom-com that actually had me laughing out loud in many parts! It’s an amazing feeling and a rare thing, when a book ticks all your boxes!
Being a fan of both Kristen Callihan’s books and Samantha Young her books, I was very excited when I discovered that they had writing a book together. And the fact that it was about an ex-boxer and a nerdy woman made me even more curious about the story.
‘Outmatched’ is the story of Rhys Morgan and Parker Brown. Two persons who are very different from each other. Parker comes from a rich background and Rhys is an ex-boxer who likes to curse a lot and has big financial problems. The only thing that he does own is an old gym but that is in desperate need of a renovation . Parker is a nerdy woman who wants to keep the job that she loves by pretending to her big boss that she has a boyfriend and one thing that she doesn’t do is curse, not even in her own head.
They both may come from different worlds and have been brought up differently but both have their own personal problems. And because of those problems they make a pact with each other. Parker will pay Rhys to act like her boyfriend and that will solve both of their problems. But they never expected to fall for each other. What do they do now?
In this story you get both POV’s which I like very much. Both characters are great. Rhys may not be a gentleman or very sophisticated but he’s just what Parker needs in her life. Someone who makes her relax and has her back no matter what. Parker is this kind, intelligent, elegant woman. She’s a real people pleaser (especially her parents) in contrary to Rhys who doesn’t care what people think of him. I really liked the chemistry between them and their banter. This story is a really sweet, light, funny and easy to read story. There isn’t much drama in it.
So why didn’t I give it 5 stars? Well, having read books from both writers I expected a more emotional story maybe, not this super sweet story. I liked it but I just think that my expectations of this story where a bit different than what the story really was. So that made me feel like I missed something in the story. But that are just my personal feelings about this story.
So if you are looking for a sweet story to read than this is one for you.
I won’t deny that Outmatched surprised me; I found it difficult to relate to the characters at first.
Parker is an environmentalist, but her oft-mentioned prejudice of full-figured women didn’t sit well with me. Rhys cares deeply about those close to him and strives to protect his younger brother, but his methods are disturbingly overbearing in the first chapter or two.
However, after those first two chapters, the writing seemed to fall in place and you have a truly enjoyable story. There is communication(!!!) which I love, and personal development alongside the romance. This isn’t a “magic-sex-fixes-everything” story.
Together Parker and Rhys overcome some of the personal issues in the way of their relationship. For example, Parker steadily learns to take a stand for herself, until it cumulates in her facing down a situation that could stand in the way of her happiness. Rhys does much the same, confronting ghosts from his past that are holding him back from his future.
Hearing from both character’s points of view was a nice addition. It shed light on the fact that both characters were feeling something and helped the progression of their relationship make sense.
Overall, I would recommend this book, and I’ll be on the lookout for more collaborations between the two authors.
5 Outmatched Stars
Outmatched by Kristen Callihan & Samantha Young was just what I needed coming towards Christmas and the end of the year. It was quirky, fun and fast read.
“I was thirty years old and single, and my parents were worried because I’d been single a while now. Like, a while. A whole lotta while. Thirteen years.”
Parker Brown is a single woman in a male dominated company. Although her boss is great and willing to further her carer, his boss has issues with her being single. She sees no other option but to hire a man to pose as her boyfriend for work events. She is not expecting that guy to be Rhys Morgan, an ex boxer who is moody and intense in a very hot way to show up.
“I love you. So f**king much, it scares me. So much, it fills me up and makes me think of nothing else. Loving you is like breathing. It’s impossible not to do.”
This was such an enjoyable read and I loved all the secondary characters which made the story so much more great and highly entertaining. This book was so entertaining and an absolute must read full of humour, and steam!
http://realtastypages.com
Outmatched
I wouldn’t say that the fake relationship trope is my favorite, but every once in a while I stumble upon one that is done just perfectly and I can’t, for the life of me, remember why I don’t always gravitate towards this trope.
Outmatched was one of those “done just perfectly” types. The evolution of Rhys and Parker’s relationship from fake to authentic felt so natural. It started with a sort of flirty, chemistry-filled antagonism which morphed into a sweet sort of friendship, and from there the love feelings crept up on both of them before knocking them straight on their derrieres.
It was utterly delectable.
I absolutely adored Rhys and Parker. While fake relationship isn’t always my jam, I am almost always sucked into “opposites attract” stories, and that’s really what this is at its core. Small, nerdy Parker meets brawny, unrefined Rhys and sparks fly. They come from different worlds. They are a completely unlikely match. But they both have these giant, lovable hearts and they bring out the best in each other. I found their story to be so deeply romantic. I loved how they cared for each other, fought for each other, and – well, honestly, I loved everything about them.
There was never a moment where I felt frustrated or impatient with the story. It’s written so engagingly, it was effortless to read and I never wanted to put it down. The banter – arguably my favorite part of any given romance – was perfectly executed: playful and fun, but carrying that low simmering burn that kept me yearning for the inevitable burst into flame.
This author duo is sheer perfection. I have read and loved both separately, but was blown away by the magic of their combined voices. I absolutely loved this story and cannot wait to see what they come up with next!
Samantha Young and Kristen Callihan are auto buy authors for me in their own respect, so you can imagine the thrill of anticipation when I discovered they would be co-writing a book together. The premise of the book is one I adore –fake relationship/enemies to lovers and/opposites attract – so there was no putting up a fight when it came to getting my hands on it.
Parker Brown is a small but mighty woman who is driven by her passion for the environment and renewable energy. She has big ideas but when it becomes apparent her boss collates her relationship status with the ability to do her job, she makes the uncharacteristic choice of hiring a boyfriend for appearances. Parker is nothing if thorough and her man of choice is a likeminded intellectual who would be able to hold his own both in conversation and in the company of her colleagues and boss.
Rhys Morgan’s illustrious boxing history does nothing to starve off the apprehension of how long he can continue finance his late father’s gym. His younger brother is educated and going places and it’s a combination of pride and sense of duty that leads Rhys to shoulder the burden alone. He is fuming when he discovers his brother’s preposterous arrangement with Parker, so much so takes it upon himself to give her a piece of his mind. What actually ensues is a comedy of errors which results in Rhys being mistaken for Parker’s boyfriend and her having to go along with it to save face.
Rhys is resentful of Parker’s dismissive boss, but he too finds himself at his mercy he hopes to gain financial sponsorship via his connections. What initially begins as a battle of wills becomes one that sees them fighting each other’s corner.
Young and Callihan proved themselves to be a winning combo and with Outmatched they produced a winning knock out read.
OUTMATCHED is a great novel where two different characters, from two different worlds, challenge each other to create sparks, sparks becoming a beautiful chemistry, then a deep love.
“Opposite attracts”, this old saying is a perfect description of Parker and Rhys.
Rhys is a tall and muscular boxer who swears and drives a motorcycle, Parker is a small and thin geek believing in renewable energy who never swears and drives… a bicycle. She’s rich, he’s not.
Since their encounter they have a a funny and witty banter. I loved the dynamic of this couple and their conversations.
Rhys’ feisty nature provokes Parker out of her shell.
Parker really wants to succeed professionaly that’s why she hires Rhys but finally she’s more human than professional. Her heart is bigger than her ambition.
Rhys is selfless and dependable. He nearly lost everything by helping his loved ones. He’s a boxer who loves to drop the f bomb but he’s far from the stereotype we can picture. With Parker he’s respectful and gentle and supportive. You will love him!
Samantha Young and Kristen Callihan make a great team!
Outmatched is a fun sexy new spin on Fake relationship tropes!
The banter, sass, with, sex appeal and a wildly ingenious storyline.
I was eminently just had me captivated from the start.
Just take my heart, Rhys, and Parker!
Can a boxer finds chemistry with a geek? If you want to find out you have to read “Outmatched” by Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young. I basically read all Samantha’s books and love them all yet still Kristen is new author to me and I know now that I definitely need to check her other books and especially when I’ve read blurb for this story I just knew that I have to read this book asap.
So prepare yourselves with “Outmatched” for a equally fun and steamy opposites attract story proper girl who is focused on her career in New York and ex boxer champion. Yes that’s indeed an explosive duo. On the first look they couldnt be more different but after taking of many layers it surprisingly appeared this two make perfect duo.
Parker want to get a permanent position at her firm but to do so she needs to bring her serious relationship partner to few company sponsored function. Easy right? Actually not because she is undoubtedly single so Parker decides to use an app to hire that perfect man. But she didn’t definitely expect to expect that hot as hell alpha man. It was Rhys’s younger brother who was supposed to play the part of Parker’s boyfriend but Rhys didn’t want his brother who got ivy league education throw it away and become some paid escort. He intended to meet Parker and tell her what he thinks about her and whole situation but ends up taking his brothers place when possibly of saving his dead father’s gym appears.
At first Rhys and Parker are more like oil and water than perfect relationship duo but beside all there’s also undeniable tension but also amazingly hot chemistry. And I just couldn’t wait when after all the angst they finally understand that they are perfect for each other.
So if you are a fan of opposite attracts or fake boyfriend tropes you just have to read this book. You definitely won’t regret it.
This was such a cute romantic story. I loved how gruff and foul mouthed Rhys can be. I’m so glad Rhys got the girls because Dean seems like he has a lot of growing up to do. I hope he gets his own story. This book also had lots of quick witted moments that had me ROTF. It also had some sensitive and serious moments that filled my heart with sadness. Ok so I guess I should just say this book had it all, I liked it a lot.
I fell in love with Kristen Callihan with her sports romance series and I have been dying to jump on the Samantha Young bandwagon forever. I finally have!
ARC kindly provided. All thoughts in this review are my own.
A steamy fake relationship with a boxer? Sign me up! Rhys Morgan takes his younger brothers place as Parker Morgan’s fake date, unbeknownst to her. She needs to impress people at work and he just wants to protect his brother from himself and if he can help out his failing gym along the way then everyone wins.
The funny banter, the angst, the the chemistry. All of it, I loved all of it. So if you haven’t picked this one up yet then I recommend meeting Rhsy and Morgan ASAP!
Outmatched is a sweet sports romance. I am really struggling with how to express my thoughts on this one. This will probably be the shortest review I have written on a book, other than a novella.
While I enjoyed the story and really liked the characters, it took me way too long to read this book. I found myself having no drive to finish the book but I did want to know what happened within the pages, even though I know the characters get their HEA. I think part of the drive was wondering what would happen to finally get them there, but what kept me from digging in was the lack of really strong characters and plot.
If I have confused you in the slightest, then you understand why I am struggling to write this review. LOL In all honesty, I think it was the small bits of drama thrown in that kept me interested, but the pace of the story kept me from reading faster and diving in at any chance I could.
All in all – I can see many people enjoying this book. I think had it been more fast paced, I would have it been more compelled to read it in a shorter time frame. And please don’t think I wanted an insta-romance (I am the last person to ever want that), but everything just moved slower than I would like. I did enjoy them getting to know one another felt the actual timeline made sense – but the flow just wasn’t for me. The characters felt authentic and the secondary characters kept things entertaining.
Overall, a sweet book with a dash of drama to add some flair to the story line. I love both authors dearly and definitely looking forward to reading future books from each.
I’m always looking forward to anything new from Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young has been on my ATR list forever, so when I saw that they were co-writing a book, I was even more excited than usual to read it because I’d not only get to revisit a favorite author, but also maybe discover a new one. I didn’t know what to expect going into Outmatched, but I absolutely loved it and it hooked me from the very beginning! Actually, I had started it when I got a book I’d been waiting on for awhile and even though I was eager to read it, I also really wanted to continue reading Outmatched and I just could not make myself put it down. It was funny and cute, it had excellent banter and tension, and it got me in the heart with all the achy/happy feels. Outmatched a fabulous, fabulous book and I hope Samantha Young and Kristen Callihan collaborate again, but in the meantime, it’s a given that I’ll be reading Ms. Callihan like normal and I’ll for sure be checking out Ms. Young’s backlist!
You would never guess that Outmatched is co-authored. Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young have seamlessly matched their writing styles to produce this enjoyable little gem.
The story ticked a few of my boxes, but I think it has something to offer every romance reader.
• Fake relationship
• Enemies to lovers
• Opposites attract
• Sports romance
• Tension and a little steam
• Comedy with lots of banter
Parker and Rhys could not be more different. She is a prim, affluent, intellectual environmentalist. He is a grumpy former professional boxer and owner of a failing gym. Rhys may not have a college degree, but he’s no dummy. He can hold his own in Parker’s world. I liked how quickly they began to admire each other and how that developed into romantic feelings. 5 stars for chemistry and witty banter.
However … The entire story relies on the premise that Parker needs a phony relationship, but the logic is weak. It’s hard for me to believe that, in this modern age, any company could get away with making someone’s employment contingent on them being in a committed relationship. They would be facing a slew of lawsuits, plus Parker’s family has plenty of influence. Her misogynistic boss is painted with a one-color villain brush that is as unsatisfying as it is unrealistic.
Just about every other aspect works exceedingly well, though, and I count this book as a win. The majority of sports romances I’ve read involve hockey, football, or baseball, so a boxing romance was particularly refreshing.
When I read the blurb for Outmatched I immediately added it to my TBR. I really love the whole nerd girl, sports romance. And then the fake boyfriend addition was just icing on my yummy boxer cake. What I didn’t realise was that it was co written by Kristen Callihan, whos Game On series I devoured.
So after I one clicked the book and learnt all that, I was even more excited. And I was not disappointed. From the first page I couldn’t put it down. Both characters were so sweet and even though they started off on the wrong foot they were still just nice, likeable people who didn’t act like p r i c k s.
There also wasn’t insta love. They got to know each other and it all flowed really naturally without anything feeling rushed. And although there were a few misunderstandings they talked like adults and just made me like them even more.
Parker and Rhys just clicked and the chemistry was hot but they were adults with their own lives and histories and issues so there was a lot of depth to the story as well. I seriously loved them both and this collaboration between these two authors was amazing. I really hope they decide to turn this into a series because there were also some really awesome secondary characters I would love to see more of.
I seriously was not expecting to love this one and I never read anything by Kristen Callihan before , but I totally loved it! And you wouldn’t think this one’s written by two authors.
Rhys and Parker were great MCs that you can’t help but love til the very end. Their chemistry could not be ignored even though they’re complete opposites. And Rhys, bad boy alert! Everything he do, you’re going to be swooning. He’s a gruff but when he’s met with the right woman, then he’s completely sweet!
And the secondary characters are highly entertaining. You know that’s a good book when you love even the secondary characters!
Delicious! Loved, loved this book! While I was reading it, I had this idiot smile on my face from all the funny scenes and because I was enjoying the story so much. I loved this story of an adorable geek and her rugged fake boyfriend. I loved how they interacted and I loved how he called her Tinker Bell.
Parker is a genius geek with a PhD in renewable energy. She’s working in her dream job and loves what she does. What she doesn’t love is that as a young and single woman, the principal investor and CEO of the firm doesn’t take her very seriously and is not appreciative of her contributions to their computer forecasting model. So she came up with the fantastic idea of contracting a fake boyfriend to seem more mature and more compromised.
Rhys Morgan was a heavy weight champion boxer who retired from boxing after a friend died tragically, product of a bad punch. He has constant visions of his friend’s last moment in the ring and has no stomach for more fights. When he retired from boxing, he found out that his father had spent all his amassed money on gambling and had mortgaged their gym heavily to pay for gambling debts. One month after confessing, he died from a heart attack and left Rhys literally with a bankrupt gym and a mountain of debt.
When Rhys learns that his little brother plans to help with finances by playing escort, he stops him (read to find out how!) and goes to their appointment to give the woman a piece of his mind. When he finds Parker and she tries to shoo him away, he surprises them both by taking on the fake boyfriend job. The plus was that the investor is a fan and turns Rhys into his latest toy project. And the fun begins!
“Yes, Fairchild definitely thought Rhys was the poo. Of course he would. They were both Neanderthals.”
Rhys was a great help for Parker in keeping the investor interested, and Rhys was interested in getting Fairchild to invest in his gym and get out of bankruptcy. So they agree to keep up the charade. I loved how Rhys was increasingly enchanted with Parker and her quirky ways. He had a great time with her and her comments about his car’s emissions, recycling habits, and cursing. His name for Parker in his cellphone contacts: AngryTink; her name for Rhys in her cellphone: HotHarley. They were so cute together and their conversations were so funny and entertaining. Even when they got into serious business, their conversations always had an element of fun.
“Morgan, I’m putting no winking in the contract. No winking, no calling me Tinker Bell, and no cursing.” I drew to a halt, not far from my building, and narrowed my gaze. “Do you recycle?”
I loved Parker, she was so serious about the environment protection and recycling. She was very geeky and that geekiness, coupled with her inner strength is what enchanted Rhys so much. From a man who liked busty and curvy women, he fell in love with this little pixie with such a strong and intelligent personality. He’s so big and strong that he was scared he could break Tink in two, and yet, as a couple they were brilliant. It was hugely entertaining and fun and I loved reading it and look forward to the next!
I have a book buddy that told me I wouldn’t be disappointed if I read this collaboration, and as usual, she was right! I did love it.
This is an opposites attract, sports romance that has brilliant banter and also sweet affection. I loved Rhys and his dirty mouth. I adored his names for Parker. And I appreciated that he had a softer side when dealing with his loved ones. Parker was slightly innocent in some ways, but she was super smart and enjoyed her job which was important to her, and that’s is how this all starts. There is a fake relationship to begin with, and I think it was taken to just the right point to when it began becoming real for them both. I fully understood Parker and her conversations in her head, don’t we all do this?!! She definitely developed through the book and found a firmer foothold on her life. Rhys did too, he dealt with ghosts from his past and found some inner peace. I felt the epilogue could of given us more, but I was still happy with all the outcomes.
I am hoping these two authors will write something together again soon, and I’m requesting we have a book on Dean. I do believe he has a story to tell us and I want him to have the same HEA his bigger brother got.