Greetings!
Well, it’s another month, so that means another book release – yay, Checked Impressions releases tomorrow!
Last month saw the release of my Winter Olympics-based story Love on Ice, which I’d originally set in Chicago, another of the cities of the Original Six hockey teams my romance series is based on. But when an editor friend suggested I could chop off the final third and use a run at the Stanley Cup in a different story, I saw the potential in this, especially as it would give me more time to explore some of the fabulousness that is Chicago!
I was blessed with the opportunity to visit Chicago back in 2010, and even though it was a short visit it was very memorable for this Aussie author. I’ve always enjoyed architecture, and this city full of amazing (& original) skyscrapers is full of fabulous art deco and other period features best enjoyed from a river cruise. (Pics below). Another of my highlights was trying deep dish pizza (oh yum!) and watching a Chicago Blackhawks hockey game. The atmosphere was incredible – and my impressions might’ve just made their way into a few scenes in this book, and proved invaluable when writing a series about hockey players!
But one of my standout memories was visiting the Art Institute of Chicago and its utterly fabulous collection of art. I’ve always been a fan of art, especially artworks from the Impressionist period, and the Art Institute has one of the finest collections in the world. I incorporated some of this love into Checked Impressions, as Allie (my heroine) is a museum guide there with a passion for impressionism, something which draws the interest of Jai Mullins, our hometown hockey hero.
Check out these images of some of my favorite paintings and other sites we visited and enjoyed – ALL of which make an appearance in this novel of misconceptions and romance, which readers have enjoyed, saying: “I am emerging from a book hangover after reading Checked Impressions,” “The romance, humor and themes of identity are so enjoyable and make for a great read!,” “I love how down to earth the characters are in this book” and “I love that hard conversations are not glossed over and they are both challenged to grow in their faith and walk with God. They balance each other so well and I was blessed by their story.”
I hope you’re blessed by this story too.
Here’s a bit more about Checked Impressions:
Sparks fly when a hometown hockey hero meets a classy art-loving museum guide hiding a secret…
Jai Mullins is used to being the fastest man on ice. Trouble is, his ability to find a genuine woman is tracking at glacial melt levels. He’s trusting God she’s out there, but he’s wary of getting trapped by a superfan, when all he wants is someone with whom he can be real.
Allie Davis has two great loves: impressionist art and hockey. More specifically, a certain hockey player. But between her shyness and her embarrassing family, she’s convinced she’ll never meet him, let alone connect with him in a non-embarrassing way.
Until she does. And they connect. And romance sparks.
But she is hiding a big secret, and he’s about to find that first impressions sometimes need a reality check. Will they learn to trust and find a way forward, or will half-truths lead to further hurt on opposite sides of the country and lonely lives?
This Windy City romance has plenty of heart, humor, and swoon-worthy kisses in the third book of the Original Six, a sweet, slightly sporty Christian contemporary romance series.
You can get your copy at Amazon.com Amazon.com.au Amazon.co.uk Apple GooglePlay Nook Kobo
Okay, it’s time to talk! Have you been to Chicago? Are you a fan of art, or visited a wonderful art museum around the world? Is there a major city in the world you would like to visit? Why?
Giveaway: One randomly selected commentator will receive an ebook of either The Breakup Project or Love on Ice. This giveaway will remain open until midnight on Sunday 27th.
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency and contemporary novels are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Koorong, etc
Congrats on the new release tomorrow. (Don’t enter me as have read the first 2 books).
Haven’t been Chicago. I have to admit not a big art fan although I do enjoy some like sunsets, sunrises etc. there are places I would like to visit but not so sure which cities. I guess I would rather visit people and if they live in the City then thats a plus. Or if I do a bus tour. Halifax would be nice cos my friend lives there now and its close to PEI which I would like to visit
Hi Carolyn from Windy Cold Michigan – the Mitten State. This retired German and English Literature teacher lives across Lake Michigan from the Windy City Chicago. In the 1980s I lived in the Chicago area. My middle son was born in a suburb of Chicago. Go Chicago Cubs (baseball). Chicago deep dish pizza makes my mouth water. As Chicagoans there are free days to visit museums (Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry), and the Aquarium, which my boys liked. While I am not a huge art fan, I have visited the Art Museum. Chicago is only 100 miles (160 km) away from SW Michigan (50 miles across the lake). Yearly our language department took a December field trip to the Chicago German style Christmas market. The Museum of Science and Industry does a Christmas Trees Around the World display. One year the French and German students went to the Art Museum. Lots of impressive French Impressionistic art work. The docent was so apologetic that there were few German works. While I have traveled to nine foreign countries on three continents, I prefer historical museums. Since I was born in Berlin, Germany my favorite place to visit, plus in 2009 I visited the famous Pergamon Museum with Greek and Roman antiquities. Checked Impressions is on preorder. Looking foreward to visiting the Windy City. Happy Release Day. Enjoy your warm days.
Hi Carolyn, no to Chicago, yes to art. I do love impressionists and loved the Monet and friends exhibition last year. Also the salon de refuse which were squashed by COVID, hopefully to reemerge soon. Would love to visit Egyptian cities from a few centuries ago for the brilliant colours. Congratulations on the latest release, sounds like a great story. Thanks for the interesting post.
I have never been to Chicago. I love to visit art museums and enjoyed going to the Louvre. My favorite paintings to see are by Claude Monet.
congratulations I live in the Chicago suburbs. Yes we have visited the museum of art many times. there are so many wonderful things to see. there is no way to see it all in one day. at least the way we do it LOL
No I never have been to Chicago I don’t think I ever have visited an art museum I have been to new York city before but would like to go there again.
I have had the opportunity to visit Chicago several times. I especially enjoyed visiting American Girl Place as a kid and the view from the Hancock Tower is always fabulous. One of my favorite memories is rollerblading on Navy Pier.
I’ve never been to Chicago. I really don’t care for big cities! I have been to quite a few museums and loved them! I’m not crazy about “art” per se, but I do like some. I really like old architecture, which is part of the reason I loved Savannah and St Augustine.
I’ve never been to Chicago or visited a art museum.
Congratulations on your newest release! I enjoy a good sports romance, and I’m looking forward to reading this series.
Congratulations on yet another release! I’ve only passed through Chicago, using the airport as a hub while traveling to St. Louis, Missouri.
I enjoy looking at art. I’m a 40-minute train journey from London, where we have access to so many wonderful art museums, including the Tate Modern, Tate Britain, National Portrait Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Hmm, writing this reminds me it’s been a while since I went to any of those places. It’s time for another visit!
My son and his wife lived there for a couple of years and I loved visiting….in summer. Congratulations on release day!!
Congratulations on your new release! Your book sounds like a great read. I have never been to Chicago but I wouldn’t mind going someday. (not entering this ebook giveaway as I don’t read ebooks at all, I am not tech savvy at all but thank you). I will have to look for your book on print. Have a great day and a great rest of the week and stay safe. I enjoyed reading your post.
I grew up in Illinois, though not in Chicago. Everybody thinks that when they find out, lol! My hometown is about 3 -1/2 hrs SE of there, along the Mississippi river & right across the bridge is Davenport Iowa. An area known for farming and corn (oh, and great fishing!). Think everything John Deere because that’s our major manufacturer. In fact, my uncle worked at the factory for 30+ years before he retired. Anyway, I don’t care for Chicago, it’s too big and too crowded for my taste. I’ve been there a time or two, but I was so glad to get back home. I’m not a big city person, though they do offer quite a variety of places to visit.
I live on the Oregon coast now, so our major city is Portland. Which I avoid…lol! Although, my husband and I visited the OMSI museum there about three years or so ago. We had never been there and it was definitely a treat! We got to explore a decommissioned submarine, see advancements in the medical world, and various robotic machines. One that fascinated me the most, was a device that they developed to help paralyzed people walk again. That was the coolest thing ever! I think for me and my husband, we enjoy historical museums & life and science ones the most. I’m not a huge art fan, though I can appreciate the arts and the talent behind it.
If I were to visit a major city somewhere else in the world, it would be to go to New Zealand where my mom lives. She lives in Albany, which I guess is a suburb of Auckland. While I would not want to go to that big of a city, I know I’d love to explore the coastlines and play tourist while she took me around to the places she’s been. The pictures she’s sent me over the years are just breathtaking! The other place would be somewhere in Australia, maybe the Gold Coast where my mom has also visited. Do you see a theme of coasts and beaches here? LOL…I live on the coast so, of course, I’d want to visit one even on vacation.
Lovely post Carolyn! Thanks for sharing your pictures and time spent in Chicago. I’m glad you had a good time :-)
Ooops, and I don’t know my directions well…lol! That should be “I grew up 3-1/2 hours SW of Chicago”, not SE. Sorry! I am definitely directionally challenged :-)
Chicago’s great! I got to visit a few years ago. I loved walking downtown, eating deep-dish pizza, enjoying the #Chicago360 experience, and visiting the Field Museum. There’s so much to do and see!
I’ve been to Chicago for a wedding, but didn’t get to go anywhere but the wedding. I love art and have been to several art museums.
I have never been to Chicago. We have a wonderful museaum in Toledo. We have had many collections come for various periods of time. I have not been to the museaum in years. Mostly because I cannot stand or walk for any length of time. Due to being disabled, I have not thought about going anywhere outside of our area. Thank you so much for sharing. Happy book birthday! God bless you.
I’ve never been to USA. I’d love to go to Italy & Edmonton Mall.
I have never been to Chicago or those places. I stay in Canada. If I wasn’t afraid of flying I’d go to Italy. I like to drive around to places in Canada but been only been as far as Niagara Falls.
I have never been to Chicago, in fact I have never visited the US, but I would like to! I would definitely like to go to Venice, it has always made me curious since I was a child.
Congratulations on your release! I haven’t been to Chicago but I hope to visit soon.
I used to love going to Chicago! Sheds Aquarium was a favorite as well as several other spots. Its a beautiful city.
Hi Carolyn, Congratulations on your new release! I’ve only spent one night in Chicago, and would love to return and explore the city. 😊
I have enjoyed visiting the Chicago Art Museum! Love your books!
Congratulations!!!
I haven’t visited Chicago…yet
Oh, it’d definitely be worth visiting Halifax – and PEI if you get the chance to visit! And bus tours can be a terrific way to get a taste of the city. My husband and I loved our river cruise. I’d definitely recommend a river cruise in a city with a river.
HI Renate – oh, thank you for preordering – I do hope you enjoy!
There are so many fabulous museums around the world, aren’t there? I think it’s an awesome way to discover insights into a country’s culture and history. One of my all time favourite museums is the Victoria and Albert museum in London – such a massive collection of all kinds of things to love, especially when you’re from my part of the world!
Thank YOU for commenting, Dianne! I just watched Death on the Nile, which gave me a desire to see Egypt (even though I know it wouldn’t look quite like the 1920s-stylised film!). Do you have a favourite Impressionist artist? I’m a big fan of Pissarro, as well as Monet. I saw the immersive Monet experience in Sydney last year which I LOVED! I hope you’ll get the chance to see more exhibitions soon.
Ooh, the Louvre is on my bucket list! I can’t wait to see Paris one day. And I’d love to see Monet’s garden – that would be wonderful!
Oh, Lori, how fun! Ha – and you’re right. To fully appreciate another city one definitely needs more than a day! (I think we were there for three?) But sometimes you just have to make the most of whatever time you have, right? I hope you enjoy reading my homage to your city (which may just bear some similarities to what happened after the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010 :))
Oh, now New York is a city I’d definitely love to visit one day. So many fabulous museums there!
I loved going up the John Hancock building – that elevator is so quick! It was super fun writing about some of my experiences and using them as scenes in my book. I hope you get the chance to read it and see if it bears any similarities to your experiences, too!
Yes, after your comment at CRRG I’m now intrigued by St Augustine (which I’d never heard about until you mentioned it). There are so many fascinating places and interesting historical and cultural places in the US!
Oh, God bless you, Tina! I do hope you enjoy reading these books. I’ve really enjoyed focusing on different cities and teams, and I don’t think they’re too sporty – just enough! ;)
Happy reading to you!
Hi Milla! OH, it’s always time for another museum visit, isn’t it? The V&A museum was my favourite museum in London. It seems to have the whole gamut of historical, artistic, and cultural exhibitions, all in one HUGE handy location. London is such a fabulous city, isn’t it?
Thanks so much, Lindi! Yes, I can imagine visiting in Summer would be a massive difference to visiting in the depths of winter (but for this Aussie, that’d still be awesomely awesome, bc Chicago winters would be so different to our winters here). My husband and I visited in October, so that was a perfect time of year: hockey season, Autumn trees, but still warm enough to see and do things. It’d be disappointing to travel from the other side of the world to have everything closed!
Thanks so much, Alicia. (It IS a great read – :) ) This series is available in print, but your could also ask your library to get them in. I’m glad you enjoyed learning a little more about the background to this book!
Ha! If you come to Australia, you’ll have to come to Sydney so you can see Bondi beach, then take a ferry across the harbour (wave at the Opera House and bridge) and visit Manly and check out the beach where surfing was introduced to the rest of the world (by a Hawaiian man, I believe). Auckland is a fun place to see, and if you go, you should take a trip across the harbour to the island which is the remnant of a volcano – fascinating stuff!
I enjoyed my visit to Portland – perhaps because it came after a certain visit to a Christian bookshop where I got to meet some fabulous readers! I hope you’ll enjoy checking out this series too.
WE LOVED the deep dish pizza – so much so that my husband made some when we got back home! So delish. Oh, you’re making me want to return, Priscila – so much to see, so little time… :)
Art museums are always fun, aren’t they, especially when you can visit an exhibition and get a sense of the process and inspiration behind the artist’s works. Thanks so much for commenting!
God bless YOU, Debra! One of my favourite smaller museums was in the little town of Walla Walla, in east Washington state. I found the pioneer and cultural exhibits there so fascinating, and learned a lot about the history of the region. WE had to visit Lewiston (of Lewis and Clark fame) afterwards because of what we’d learned.
I’m with you, Amy – Italy (and France, and most of Europe) are all on my bucket list. And if I went to Edmonton (I’ve passed through Calgary) then I’d definitely be checking out the mall!
As part of our trip we got to see a lot of eastern Canada, driving up from Boston to PEI then across to Quebec City (adored!!!), Montreal, Muskoka, Toronto and the most fabulous Niagara Falls then we flew to Chicago. I might be Australian, but I feel part Canadian deep in my heart. I figure we’re Commonwealth cousins, right?
Oh, you’re right! Venice would be so fabulous, wouldn’t it? (We’ll have to pick our time to visit though, so we’re not inundated with cruise ship tourists!) I think Amsterdam would also be a fascinating water-strewn city to see.
Thanks so much, Angeline! I hope you get the chance to see it soon – and maybe check out some of the places mentioned in Checked Impressions – including the Art Institute!
It IS a gorgeous city, sent it? I strongly recommend everyone to take an architectural highlights tour so they can appreciate the ingenuity and beauty of these most fabulous buildings. Thanks so much for commenting!
There is so much to love! Maybe one day there’ll be an ACFW conference there – that’d be awesome, wouldn’t it?
You are a fabulous person. I’m so glad you’re enjoying this series! And the Art Institute is great, isn’t it?
Oh, you’re in for a treat when you do go! So much to love – you can use Checked Impressions as a ‘guide’ – ha ha! Thanks for commenting!
Congratulations on your new release, Carolyn!
I’d really love to visit New York City one day!
Thanks so much Caitlyn. I’d love to visit New York, too! Thanks for commenting.
I haven’t been to Chicago but I would love to one day!
It’s definitely worth checking out when you get the chance! In the mean time, you can always check out Checked Impressions as your taster… ;)
Happy reading!
I love Chicago! Especially The food. I haven’t been in many years…more than 20, and should definitely go back soon!
This book cover is lovely. I love the book cover, title, excerpt and post. Love books like this and would love to read & review in print format.
Never been to Chicago but sounds interesting and intriguing.
haven’t been