Amanda Bretz is my guest #author today with her new release The Ladies of Athena's Gym Book One: TKO of the Heart

Thank you for hosting me on your blog today.

TKO of the Heart is a contemporary romance set in present day Miami South Beach.
The book is the first in a new sports romance trilogy called The Ladies of Athena’s Gym, which focuses on the romances that blossom between sexy heroes and athletic heroines.
When I set out to write this story in the fall of 2014, I wrote and submitted it for a publisher’s special call out for stories about bridesmaids finding true love at a wedding. Originally, this was a standalone novella—the story still does standalone and ends with a happily ever after—but after I sent the manuscript off, another idea started to take shape. I started thinking about the way most sports romances are series that center on male athletes and the non-athlete women who fall in love with them.
I wondered why a series can’t show that idea in reverse. Why can’t there be a series about professional women athletes who fall in love with non-athlete men?
While I waited to hear back from the publisher on the submission, I developed the series idea further and created an outline for books two and three. The publisher decided to pass on the story as it wasn’t a right fit for them, but by the time I learned of their decision, I was so in love with my characters and the trilogy idea that I didn’t let their rejection discourage me.

That’s the back story of how the series came to be, now here’s more about the characters. I chose to make the heroine of TKO of the Heart a bit unorthodox, a little tough, but with a tender, true heart. My main character, Frankie, is a female boxer and just as her name and profession implies, she’s no girly-girl shrinking violet. The man of her dreams actually starts out as a guy who she finds attractive, but supremely annoying. Gabe is a radio personality famous for being obnoxious and opinionated. Most of the time he has difficulty separating his on air image from his true personality and Frankie’s tough, no-nonsense exterior helps him examine that issue within himself.
I loved the playing with the “enemies to lovers” romance trope in this story. Sometimes under the layers of irritation and discontent, true passion can flourish. I had a lot of fun writing these two strong-willed characters and I hope readers love them as much as I do!


TKO of the Heart book blurb

Frankie “The Machine” Mancini knows how to bob and weave and recover from a left hook in the boxing ring. What she doesn’t know how to do? Be a bridesmaid. When her best friend Rachel calls on her to take part in her special day, Frankie reluctantly agrees. It’s not until she travels to the destination wedding in Miami that the real problem starts. The best man is none other than Gabe Boyd, a cocky, obnoxious radio personality who she thinks is determined to ruin her time in South Beach, but when the two are thrown together to resolve a wedding snafu, her view of the self-proclaimed “rogue of the radio” changes. Gabe shows her he has another side to him, he can be warm, caring and romantic. She can’t tell if his cocky demeanor is part of his on air persona or if he’s truly changed for her. Maybe the rules of the ring can be applied to matters of the heart. Stay on your toes. Always keep an eye on your opponent. Protect yourself.

TKO of the Heart releases Tuesday, March 17 and is available for pre-order on Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0EFDSU

About the author

In addition to being an author of contemporary, historical and erotic romance, Amanda Bretz holds a degree in communication from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. She has worked as a journalist in both print and online news. Amanda writes romantic stories with a happy ending and invites readers to experience the rush of falling in love.
When not writing, Amanda can be found whipping up something delectable in her kitchen, spending time in nature or getting lost in a good book.
She resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband.


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