AHHH!! Outmatched was AMAZING!!! I need to catch my breath because I loved it so much. This book you guys!! THIS BOOK IS WHY I BLOG . It was the perfect combination of smirks and swoons and giggles with a sassy af heroine and a broody alpha hero with a heart of gold. I DIED for this story! Callihan and Young knocked it out of the park!
When being a single woman in a male-dominated company may hurt Parker Brown's chances for career advancement, she is forced to hire a man to pose as her boyfriend. But she has no idea what's hit her when Rhys Morgan, (a broody, moody, intense retired boxer) shows up to take the position. GAHHHH!! Rhys was every-damn-thing under the sun! He was protective and vulnerable with a hard exterior. Loyal and loving to his friends and family doing what he could to help his late father's failing business. He was so delicious. I loved his connection with Parker. They were opposites to a T but their intense attraction, once lit, was an inferno of epic proportions. I loved how he brought Parker out of her shell and was the perfect combination of tender and tough in a delicious package.
Overall, this story was sexy, emotional and funny. Callihan and Young, separately are both favorite authors of mine, but together they are on another level! Outmatched was PERFECTION! 5 stars! ~Ratula
****
Okay, I doubt my love for Rhys and Parker will be Outmatched any time soon!
But in all seriousness, I absolutely loved Parker and her geeky, awkwardness along side her fierce “Protect Mother Earth” devotion. And most especially in her tot-to-toe battle of wits and snarky banter with Rhys.
And Rhys. Dear god, the man had me panting from the start due to his wicked protective nature when it came to his family and the hilarious meet-cute with Parker.
Sparks flew between them from their first meeting and those sparks quickly developed into a raging fire of lust and love. Their romance started a bit shakily, but developed into a deep, emotional, sexy, romantic connection.
I absolutely loved everything about Outmatched. How Parker and Rhys drew out the best in each other—that they truly understood each other and what drove them to succeed and love. And I truly hope there will be many more books with this cast of characters! ~ Missy, 5 stars
***
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! ~ Shelly, 5 Stars