Punching and Kissing

By: Helena Newbury

Narrated by: Christian Fox, Lucy Rivers

Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

When an illegal underground fight leaves my brother in the hospital, I make a desperate deal to save his life: I volunteer to fight in his place. In 30 days, I've got to walk into the ring, a woman in a man's world - and I've never even thrown a punch. I have one chance to survive. I need a badass who can teach me to be as tough as him. I need Aedan O'Harra, the blue-eyed, Irish beast of a man whom everyone fears.

But training together means getting close. Every touch of his hands makes it harder to control my feelings. I begin to see the man inside him, the one no one else can. Can I help him break free of the dark secrets that haunt him, and can we save each other, or will we both be defeated?

©2015 Helena Newbury (P)2015 Tantor

IN THIS BOOK LOVE HAD GOOD & BAD CONSEQUENCES

Yes, love has consequences.... because Alec loved Sylvie (his Sister) he went to work for Rick a drugged up greedy and mean slimeball who ran his illegal underground Fight Club with threats and violence. Alec needed the money to help feed and keep himself and Sylvie from starvation and from becoming homeless because her money cleaning rooms just didn't bring in enough money. The fight was meant to be an easy win.... until Rick flipped Fighters on him and things became violent, brutal, bloody and life threatening.

Sylvie loved her Brother, he was all the family she had, and that love had heartbreaking consequences..... because, as Alec lay bleeding and dying before her eyes and Rick was threatening to do even more deadly damage to him, Sylvie made a bargain with Rick the evil sick Devil of a man. However, that bargain would lead her to Aedan a moody, broody, handsome, haunted and scarred Irish ex Fighter who would be her hope, her salvation, her lover.... and her downfall.

Aedan felt the instant pull towards Sylvie, the beautiful Angel who took him to Heaven because her forgiveness, acceptance and love healed his tortured mind..... but love had consequences. Their chemistry had been instant but he had walked away determined not to taint her with his sullied hands and then Sylvie had sought him out begging for the impossible. And Aedan was cornered because he knew personally just what sort of wicked atrocities Rick was capable of, he'd tasted them firsthand, so he agreed and that agreement was going to change him, give him the best sex ever, reward him with the love of his life and then a double-double cross would plummet him to the bowels of Hell where only heartbreak and the Devil waited.

A bitter-sweet story that was full of drama, angst, tension and suspense as well as a sweet and tender push/pull romance that had some long and hot sex scenes between two lovers that Fate had been so cruel to.... but thankfully Destiny was there ready to pick up all the pieces and give them a HEA. It was sometimes dark, sometimes violent and sometimes unrealistic.... it only took 1 month to change her body to fighting fit (yeah right) and her brother lay in a coma for all that time but she never called the Hospital or visited instead she trained and played nicey nicey with Aedan. But it's fiction and call me shallow because I just didn't care about those flaws as they were totally outweighed by the overall plot and the loveable hero and heroine. Dual POV's and great narration - especially Christian's sexy Irish accent.

Worth a credit? It was a shorter listen than the previous book but, IMO, it was just as enjoyable and just as creditworthy.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Sensational!

Loved this book! This usually isn’t a genre I read but who could resist the narrator? I’m ready to run away with him for his voice alone. Don’t tell my hubby lol. This author really knows how to mix all different emotions in her books. I loved the characters, except Rick. Wish he would’ve gotten beat up. He’s such a coward. This was a great idea for a book. Now I’m going to listen to them all.

Love this!

There is actually a story! Helena continue with their story. Bring the brothers into the story

Grabbed me from the start

Helena grabbed my attention from the start with her vivid images of the “Pitt” and the characters surrounding it. Then Lucy pulled me into her character and the fear along with the surprising interest in the hooded man watching her. From the moment we hear Christian Irish voice I’m a goner. The New York underground fight world was not a surprise but the character development was so amazing that I cried in the last fight . Powerful, sexy, and worth every minute of lost sleep. ( I was silly enough to start this at 9:00 pm and could not stop to sleep)

I got through this in a day.

The fight at the end is really what made me like this book. It was pretty predictable and a little to steamy for me but overall it was a decent listen.

Enjoyable

It was a good book. The narrators did a wonderful job. Especially the male narrator, I'll be looking for more of his narations. The story itself was pretty good. There were a few aspects of the story that seemed too coincidental. Overall, I think the audiobook is well worth the credit and the time spent listening.

Christian Fox gives great Irish brogue.

I bought this book because I had heard Christian Fox do an Irish brogue in another book and loved it. This story is interesting from start to finish, it has a strong female character, though Sylvia doesn't realize just how strong she is until Aedan, a boxer, shows her. This is a deep love story that will give your heart quite a tug.

phenomenal story

What an epic love story. Complete with thugs, an underground fighting scene, and loving family. I truly had to finish this book in one day.

4.5 Stars - Really Enjoyed This Story!!!

Punching and Kissing by Helena Newbury (Audio Edition)
Narrated by Christian Fox and Lucy Rivers

4.5 Hearts - I listened to this book all in one go! I saw this book advertised on Facebook as a suggested post and thought it sounded interesting. I hadn't heard of this author before but, wow, am I glad I picked it up!!! Aedan is such a nice guy and I instantly loved him. I Loved how he wanted to do sweet things for Sylvie. How he just fell harder and harder for her and ok yeah.. the narrator's Irish accent helped too! Sylvie was a good match for Aedan. I liked how she tried to make him smile. She was caring and I truly felt her struggle with having to hurt another person. The only part that was a negative for me (if you can even call it that) was that the final scene before the epilogue, seemed to end a bit too abruptly. I would have liked it to read more about it, and as I don't want to give any spoilers, I will just leave it like that.

Both Narrators did a wonderful job! As I said, Christian Fox’s voice hooked me in with the short audible sample I listened to for this book and Lucy Rivers did an equally good job. I would listen to both these narrators again! I am now off to check out the other books by this author!

hot, bloody, and irish accent equals delicious

What was one of the most memorable moments of Punching and Kissing?

1st kiss was hot hot hot

Which character – as performed by Christian Fox and Lucy Rivers – was your favorite?

Aiden is my favorite I love a sexy tough irish guy

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The twist in the end and Aiden was crying

Any additional comments?

I wish this was a series about Aiden and his brothers.

Gritty, dark romance

Really good listen, the story kept the suspense going and I was engaged with the story the whole way through. I liked that there was a female fighter. Some of the story was pretty graphic with forced sexual incidents - it could be a trigger for some listeners, but that said was well addressed I thought.
Very well narrated, Irish accent was OK (I think these may be my two favourite narrators).