Leanne Treese | April 11, 2023 | Moxie Publishing | Romantic Comedy
ISBN: 978-17358961-8-2 | Paperback | Price: $16.00
Annandale, New Jersey –Award-winning novelist Leanne Treese is set to release her fourth novel “Fun Lessons” (April 11, 2023, Moxie Publishing, LLC). A humorous book with a serious twist, “Fun Lessons” incorporates a theme of acceptance of transgender people alongside laugh-out-loud scenes and a touching love story.
A former divorce lawyer, Leanne published her debut novel in 2019 at age fifty and never looked back. Her works have won industry awards for excellence; Kirkus Reviews tapped her debut novel, “Their Last Chance,” as an “indie must-read.”
Rebecca Chapman, a singer passionate about her craft, has never felt appreciated by her uber-professional family. When she’s selected to try out for a new reality singing show, it’s her chance to prove she can make it in the music world. All she has to do is get chosen by the network. Problem is, she needs to play an instrument for the audition in two months. And she can’t play a thing.
Amazingly, the solution seems to lie with Ian Ledger, the ultra-annoying co-worker she’s been at odds with since day one. Turns out Ian’s a skilled guitar player. He’s willing to teach her, but there’s a catch. He wants to win back his girlfriend at his sister’s wedding. And he wants Rebecca to help him.
Seems like a perfect solution. She gets the music lessons needed to secure her spot on the show; he wins back the girl destined to be his bride. Easy peasy. Except, during the series of ridiculous “fun” lessons and hours of arduous music practice, Rebecca’s feelings for Ian shift.
As the wedding nears, Rebecca doesn’t want Ian to succeed in his quest for love. But a deal is a deal. They both have dreams to chase. And a dream come true is everything.
Review from Wendy Rich Stetson, bestselling author of “Hometown.”
Leanne Treese is the Princess of Swoonworthy, The Queen of Slow Burn, and the High Empress of Toe-Curling, Heart-racing, Laugh-out-loud Rom Com Delight. Heartwarming and hip, Fun Lessons is no exception. I was all in with Rebecca and Ian from their meet-cute to their well-deserved happily ever after, and I loved every minute of the journey. With her crazy flip flops and voice of gold, Rebecca is a free-spirited and flawed heroine to adore. And when seemingly straightlaced and uptight Ian unbuttons the top button of his polo shirt…and then some…all bets are off! Fun Lessons is as thoughtful as it is romantic, offering hope for a kinder, more tolerant world where friends become family, and families open their arms with understanding, acceptance, and love.
LEANNE TREESE
A previously traditionally published author, Leanne is proud to have released three novels under her own imprint, Moxie Publishing, LLC. She enjoys every part of the publishing process from writing the work to cover design to creating beautiful images for marketing campaigns. And to the mortification of her children, she’s now on TikTok under the handle LeanneTreeseWrites.
Leanne is an active member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and chairs their annual online scholarship auction. When she’s not writing, Leanne enjoys running, forcing her family to play board games (Settlers of Catan anyone?), and spoiling her beloved dogs. Leanne's favorite locations include her backyard, the Jersey shore, and anywhere that sells books or coffee, preferably both. A former lawyer and lifelong learner, Leanne's dream life would include going back to college and majoring in everything. More about Leanne and her books can be found on her website: www.leannetreese.com.
An Interview with
Leanne Treese
As a romantic comedy, “Fun Lessons” is a deviation from your women’s fiction novels. Was it difficult to write in a new genre?
Not at all. What I found in writing my first two books (“Their Last Chance” and “Mother of the Accused”) was that I most enjoyed writing the humorous scenes. “Mother of the Accused” in particular was a difficult book to write, especially as a mother myself. After completing that novel, I needed a fun project and wrote “The Santa Games,” a holiday romantic comedy. The book was well received and I loved writing it, so I decided to stick with the genre.
What type of reader would be drawn to “Fun Lessons”?
Certainly readers who like romance and humor. That said, one of the main character’s back-story involved his struggle to accept his sibling’s decision to transition to female when they were in high school. The main story - a “fun lessons” for guitar lessons deal between the main characters - is funny, but there are serious threads in the books as well. For that reason, I think it would not only be a good selection for romance lovers but for those who trend toward more serious books.
Tell us about your journey from traditional to independent publishing.
I entered a pitch contest, got interest from a small press, and sold my debut novel within a month of finishing it. I felt pretty cool at that time. I wasn’t. I didn’t vet the small press enough and they went under a year after my book came out. I was certain I could learn how to independently publish my books, market them, and hopefully make more income than my share of the traditional press royalties.
Since re-publishing my debut novel under my own imprint in 2020, I have released two additional full-length novels. “Fun Lessons” will be the fourth. My sales in 2022 were 10x my share of the royalties from the small press. I have a ton still to learn but I love doing it and look forward to improving both my writing and marketing skills going forward.
What’s next?
I am currently working on a third romantic comedy (about comedians) which I anticipate releasing in late Fall 2023. After that, I’m turning back to women’s fiction for a novel about a young man who receives custody of his autistic brother after his mother dies. When these two novels are complete, I have a fun idea for a middle grade fiction series.
My Thoughts
Every once in a while I like to read a romantic comedy and Fun Lessons was just that. Rebecca Chapman is an aspiring singer that did not follow in her parents and brother's footsteps. Doctors and Lawyers, she wants none of this and she wants to audition for a singing reality show. The problem is, she also needs to play an instrument which she does not.
Ian Ledger is a coworker that she immediately dislikes, she thinks that when they met, on a bus, he was judgemental with her. She is having none of that. He ends up living in an apartment next to her and is aghast at the plunking she does on the guitar, he plays very well and after some coercion, he agrees to teach her.
Ian is on a "break" from the relationship that he is in so he makes a deal with Rebecca, he wants his fiance back by the time of his sister's wedding. He needs to learn how to have fun. So that gives them each a goal, he gets his love back and she gets to learn the guitar. So the fun begins.
In the story, we also learn more about the lives of these two unlikely conspirators, and the more that they spend together the closer they become. At the heart of the story is some seriousness, of course, we learn that Ian's sister is trans and it touches on the acceptance and not acceptance of her. Ian loves his sister and would do anything for her. This story has laugh-out-loud parts.
I think that it is a perfect beach read or anywhere else I guess! I give it 5 stars!
I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.
No comments:
Post a Comment