Book Review: Unhinged by Amanda Deed

by Carolyn Miller @CarolynMAuthor

Blurb
Serena Bellingham is faced with an impossible choice. Either leave her struggling family to serve the eccentric genius, Edward King, or stay, only to see the same man imprison her father.

Her decision leads her to Aleron House, a home shrouded in secrecy, strange attitudes and even stranger happenings. Is Edward King all that she has heard, or is the truth something entirely different? Is it possible that the handsome architect might need her even more than her beloved family does?

Unhinged is an Australian retelling of Beauty and the Beast, complete with a mysterious curse and a precious rose.

Review
I'm always a fan of a fairy tale retelling, and if it's set in Australia so much the better. After attending Amanda Deed's online book launch for Unhinged I was pretty keen to read this novel, especially as it's set in various suburbs of Sydney, some places which I recalled having either visited or heard about. So, with high expectations, I started reading - and finished it the next morning with a smile.

Unhinged is much more than just a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. With its interesting detailing of life in 1840s Sydney and the way it touches on aspects of mental health, this story felt at once historically accurate and yet relevant for today. How easy it is, even (especially?) in Christian circles, for mental health issues to be skirted around, with sometimes little legitimacy given to the experiences of those who suffer. I liked the natural inclusion of faith, I enjoyed the referencing of historic figures, I could relate a little to the 'fever' of creative pursuit, and having recently visited Elizabeth Bay House near Sydney Harbour, I could definitely 'see' Aleron, the house depicted as 'the beast's castle' in this novel. This is my favourite Amanda Deed novel, and one fans of historical romance - and especially those who enjoy retellings of fairy tales - are bound to enjoy.

Unhinged can be purchased from Amazon.com.au Koorong and Books In Stock

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband she has pastored a church for ten years, and worked part-time as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency novels include The Elusive Miss Ellison, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey, and Winning Miss Winthrop, all available from Amazon, Book Depository, Koorong, etc

Connect with her:        website | facebook | pinterest | twitter | instagram

March New Releases

Winning Miss Winthrop by Carolyn Miller (Kregel Publications, 27 March 2018)

Catherine Winthrop is almost at her last prayers, rejected years ago by the man who stole her heart. When tragedy brings him back into her life, she must suffer further grief in silence, amid her family's pain and hostility, which eventually sends her to seek solace in Bath.

Jonathan Carlew might be wealthy, but the mystery surrounding his birth has shadowed his life, bringing fresh challenges as he takes on the Barony. Caught between appeasing the Winthrop family's concerns and doing what he could to salvage their failing estate, he must also weigh the echoes of the past with the demands of his new responsibilities.

Two hearts must decide whether present speculation will condemn them to the dust of their memories, or if the whispers of forgiveness can provide freedom for the future.

Pre-Order

Hudson Taylor and China by David Malcolm Bennett (Rhiza Press, 1 March 2018)

Another title in David’s series of dramatised biographies of inspirational characters of faith in Christian history. 

Blurb: It is not so much great faith that we need, but faith in a great God. At the age of 21, Hudson Taylor demonstrated this faith by embarking on a dangerous sea voyage to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of China. Why would a young man give up a promising future to venture into an alien country, let alone one torn apart by war? Would the Chinese accept him? In the mid-nineteenth century there were few Christian missionaries in China, and not many more Chinese Christians. 

Hudson Taylor was so moved by the spiritual needs of the Chinese people that he dedicated his life to taking the Gospel to the Chinese, founding the China Inland Mission. His story comes alive in this dramatised biography that relays the humanity, humour, and heart of the man widely regarded as one of the most significant and influential missionaries in the history of the Christian Church. Hudson Taylor lived a life that boldly demonstrated faith in a great God, and his life still inspires and challenges many today.

Buy from Koorong

Unhinged by Amanda Deed (Rhiza Press, 1 March 2018)

 This is an Australian re-telling of Beauty and the Beast, another in the genre of intertextual Australian fairy tales to follow Unnoticed, based on Cinderella and released last year.

Blurb: Serena Bellingham is faced with an impossible choice. Either leave her struggling family to serve the eccentric genius, Edward King, or stay, only to see the same man imprison her father. Her decision leads her to Aleron House, a home shrouded in secrecy, strange attitudes and even stranger happenings. Is Edward King all that she has heard, or is the truth something entirely different? Is it possible that the handsome architect might need her even more than her beloved family does? Unhinged is an Australian retelling of Beauty and the Beast, complete with a mysterious curse and a precious rose.

Buy from Koorong

Ruhanna's Flight and other stories by Jeanette O'Hagan (By the Light Books, 6 March 2018)

Tales of wonder, romance, adventure - dip into the world of Nardva with this exciting collection of stories.

* * *Ruhanna's Flight -

Ruhanna’s father is coming for a rare visit from the capital. When everything goes terribly wrong, she discovers a mysterious gift that could save her --- if it doesn’t kill her first.

* * *Heart of the Mountain – When shapeshifter Zadeki slams into the mountain side, he finds himself trapped in a strange underground realm. Can he escape or is he there for another reason?

* * *The Herbalist's Daughter - Anna has her heart set on an burly guard at the palace, but the antics of the young Prince could jeopardise both of their futures.

* * * Rendezvous at Alexgaia -- In her last mission, Space operative Dana secured the Infinity Cube at the cost her partner's life or at least his humanity. Will Neon's sacrifice be for nothing or will Dana be able to retrieve the key to the mysterious cube's use?

Also Anna's Dilemma, Lakwi's Lament, Moonflame, Withered Seeds, Space Junk, Rookie Mistake, Inferno and other stories.

Ruhanna's Flight and other stories* includes Nardva tales previously published in a range of anthologies plus some new stories. While mostly set in the southern hemisphere of Nardva, the adventures range across the ages - from early days on the Lonely Isles to the space age of Nardva.

A delightful  introduction to Jeanette O'Hagan's fantasy world of engaging characters and stirring adventures.

Available Amazon AU  or US 

ACRBA Tour Unnoticed by Amanda Deed

5 - 9 May 2017

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is Introducing 

Unnoticed

(By Rhiza Press, 1 March, 2017)

By 

Amanda Deed

About the Book:

Plain Jane O’Reilly is good at being unnoticed. Detested by her stepmother and teased by her stepsisters, Jane has learned the art of avoiding attention. That is until Price Moreland, an American with big dreams, arrives in her small town.

Does she dare to hope someone might notice her?

However, Price Moreland may not be the prince that the whole town thinks him to be. Was his desire to be a missionary a God-given call, or just a good excuse to run from his past?

Complete with an evil stepmother, a missing shoe and a grand ball, Unnoticed takes the time-old Cinderella fairy tale and gives it an Australian twist.

About the Author:

Amanda Deed has penned several Australian Historical Romances, including The Game, winner of the CALEB Prize for Fiction in 2010. She resides in the South Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne with her family, where she works full-time in her local church office.

Outside of work and family, Amanda loves to write stories filled with intrigue and adventure using her favourite themes as a backdrop: Australia, heritage, romance and faith. Her books include Unnoticed, Ellenvale Gold, Black Forest Redemption and Henry's Run. For more information, go to www.amandadeed.com.au.

Book Review: Unnoticed, by Amanda Deed

Review by Andrea Grigg

Plain Jane O’Reilly wants nothing more than to go about her business ‘unnoticed’. Not much chance of that, seeing she’s tall, has an abundance of unruly red hair, and big feet ‘that poke out like a dead tree on a barren landscape’. (I loved that line!)

Her mother died when she was a little girl, her stepmother is nasty, and so are Jane’s two stepsisters who swan around the homestead and get Jane to do everything for them. Sound familiar?

If you’ve guessed ‘Unnoticed’ is based on the story of Cinderella, you’re right. I really enjoyed the parallel, not just because it’s different to any other I’ve read, but because it’s set in Australia. In the town of Hay, New South Wales, in 1877, to be precise. And while Jane is obviously Cinderella, there’s a lot more to her than a fairy tale character. She grabbed me from the first page.

Jane comes across as vulnerable yet strong, hopeful even though she’s been continually let down, and, like us all, she simply wants to be loved. She doesn’t think she deserves it though, and the reasons for her misbelief made me want to slap some sense into a few people on her behalf.

Prince Charming, a.k.a. Price Moreland, is a barber-surgeon – interesting combination – and has come from America because … well, I’ll let you find that out for yourself. Whilst I found him interesting, I didn’t feel there was as much depth to him as there was to Jane. However, Jane finds him tall, dark and gorgeous, and he thinks the tree-climbing Jane is tall, beautiful and intriguing, so that’s all that matters.

The rest of the story takes them both on a spiritual as well as romantic journey. I particularly enjoyed the following passage:

            “Aunt Ruby, why would God love me?”

            Without hesitation, her aunt’s face it up with a broad smile. “Because you breathe,     lovey. He don’t need any more reason than that. Because you breathe.”

Beautiful, isn’t it?

In my opinion, Jane and her idiosyncrasies make the story sing. (Wait until you find out the names she’s given her beloved animals.) As I read, I envisaged her played by a young Judy Davis. (Anyone remember My Brilliant Career?) Or, going back even further, Katherine Hepburn.

So. ‘Unnoticed’. A beloved fairy tale with quirky characters and an Australian twist … what’s not to love?

  Andrea Grigg lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland, and is author of two contemporary Christian romance novels, and a novella. She would love to connect with you via: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.andreagrigg?ref=hl

Twitter: @andreagrigg https://twitter.com/andreagrigg

Email:    andreagrigg@live.com

March New Releases

God's Priority (World-Mending & Generational Testing) by Anne Hamilton (Armour Books, 1 March 2017) 

This is the fifth book in the multi-award winning series which began with God's Poetry and continued with God’s Panoply, God’s Pageantry and God’s Pottery.

As previously, it emphasises the forgotten aspects of Scripture to do with name covenants and threshold covenants. This volume focuses on what happens after we manage to cross the threshold. Although it relies on the understanding of covenant outlined in the previous books, it is largely stand alone.

If ever there’s a time to expect the unexpected, it’s the moment we finally ‘pass over’ the threshold stone. Waiting for us is a test.

And it's not any old test. Abraham, on cutting a threshold covenant with God, had to re-do precisely the same test he’d failed down to Egypt. When he failed again, the test passed down—with eerie exactitude—to his son Isaac.

‘Do you trust Me now?’ is God’s question on the far side of the threshold.
When we’re there, the tests our forebears failed might be waiting for us. But, as Jesus shows, trusting God doesn’t have to be an extravagant show. We're called to 'mend the world' but, as He demonstrates on the road to Emmaus, it's simple, unpretentious, one-to-one actions that matter.

Book Depository

Archie Appleby: The Terrible Case of the Creeps by Kaye Baillie (Wombat Books, 1 March, 2017) 

A missing uncle, a scary aunt and a basement full of the creeps …
Archie gets more than he bargained for when he stays with Aunt Ruth. Her spiky white hair looks like it’s been through a storm. She puts things in her stews like devil’s beard and eye of newt. But worst of all, Aunt Ruth has a dark, creepy basement at the bottom of the stairs!
When Uncle Jock goes missing, Archie just knows Aunt Ruth is behind it. But to prove it, Archie may have to go down into the basement …

Website

Unnoticed (Beauty for Ashes) by Amanda Deed (Rhiza Press, 1 March, 2017) 

Plain Jane O’Reilly is good at being unnoticed. Detested by her stepmother and teased by her stepsisters, Jane has learned the art of avoiding attention. That is until Price Moreland, an American with big dreams, arrives in her small town.

Does she dare to hope someone might notice her?

However, Price Moreland may not be the prince that the whole town thinks him to be. Was his desire to be a missionary a God-given call, or just a good excuse to run from his past?

Complete with an evil stepmother, a missing shoe and a grand ball, Unnoticed takes the time-old Cinderella fairy tale and gives it an Australian twist.

Website

How To Create A Memorable Book Launch

Peter McKinnon

By Dorothy Adamek

Last month my Beloved and I attended the book launch of Peter McKinnon’s The Songs Of Jesse Adams at Kooroong Books in Blackburn.

I love attending book launch gatherings. Some have been huge affairs, like the launch of Eating Heaven by Peter Carey Holt, where the food and beverages flowed and Eating Heaven flew off the shelves and into the hands of eager readers. 

Other launches, smaller but no less exciting for me, have been Mary and Ray Hawkins’ joint launch of Mary’s Barragula books and some of Ray’s devotional books. I have fond memories of Amanda Deed’s book launch of Ellenvale Gold, followed the next year by the launch of The Greenfield Legacy with Amanda Deed and Paula Vince. 

I consider myself privileged to have heard about the creation of stories from the heart (and lips) of the author, and each time glad shivers of anticipation have reminded me... I could be next. 

Here’s my three tips for making your book launch and signing memorable. 

Paula Vince and Amanda Deed

1. Get The Word Out Once you’ve decided on your budget, your venue and set your date, you will need to promote your book launch. Start a month in advance. I received facebook invitations and reminders for most of the launches I attended as well as personal email invitations from Acorn Press representatives for both Eating Heaven and The Songs Of Jesse Adams. 

If your venue is a book store, ask about promotion. They may include you in mailings or email newsletters about in-store events. If your venue is a church, like the one Mary and Ray used, think about putting an announcement in the church bulletin. 

2. Learn To Sign If you’ve never autographed books before, start practicing with the pen you will use on the day. Amanda Deed used a metallic pen with gold colored ink for her goldrush period Ellenvale Gold. Spend some time thinking about what you’ll write. A few stock phrases up your sleeve will keep your messages fresh and you won’t feel like you’re signing to the same person over and over. Always ask for the correct spelling if your reader wants their name included. 

3. Have Fun A book launch party is meant to be a celebration. It shouldn’t be a stressful event. Peter McKinnon shared the inspiration for The Songs Of Jessie Adams, a play performed many years ago by dear friends. From the big smiles on their faces, I could tell his friends celebrated their own part in the seed sowing of this story. 

With Mary Hawkins at her book launch in 2011

Mary Hawkins read an excerpt from her book which featured the names of her daughter’s bible study group ~ a cameo appearance of names to honor a significant group of friends. They cheered and hollered to hear their names read out by the author. Amanda Deed’s husband joined in the fun and dressed up with her in 1850s garb, and Simon Carey Holt didn’t disappoint the foodies in the crowd with a delicious spread of yummies befitting a book about food and spirituality. 

Amanda and Morry Deed

Whether you have a crowd ready to mingle, food and chat, or a small gathering keen to hear how your story come about, remember it’s a day for celebration and what better excuse for FUN than the launch of your very own book.

Have you attended a memorable book launch? 

What can you add to my list of tips for the making of a successful book launch?

*****

Dorothy Adamek lives in Melbourne with her Beloved and their three gorgeous kids. 

She's the winner of the 2013 FHL ~ Touched By Love Competition, and is the 2104 Inspirational Category Winner of the TARA Writing Contest. 

Enamoured by all things 19th century, she writes The Heartbeat of Yesteryear, Historical Romance - Aussie style. Come say G'day at her blog, Ink Dots.