Recently I learned the value of not reading romance.

Wait! Don’t throw stones at me! I’m not advocating you put aside your romance novels and go out in search of other books here. =)

You see, recently I just haven’t had time to read.

To be honest, it’s been such a long time (before this) since I haven’t had one book or another going that to hear somebody say they don’t have time to read just makes me roll my eyes. I usually sacrifice sleep (something all you other moms know we treasure dearly) just so I can get my “me time” in by reading. But, alas, I didn’t have time to read because of various crazy things going on in life and actually *needing* any few minutes of extra sleep I could get.

So I didn’t read. For an entire month, possibly. (I honestly can’t believe it, either.)

But this past weekend, I finally settled down and gave myself a break. I picked up my Kindle, turned it on, scrolled through my alarmingly huge list of To Be Read books (and, I admit, this always makes me a little giddy), and finally selected Lecia Cornwall’s debut from last year, SECRETS OF A PROPER COUNTESS. (I had read her second book and loved it, so was pretty certain this one would be just as great.) And guess what?

Reading again was one of the best feelings in the world. It was like…chicken noodle soup…for my soul. Wait–I think that’s a nonfiction inspirational book series, isn’t it? Well, it’s true. It felt like I was with an old friend, like I was wrapped up in a cozy afghan in front of a roaring fire (let’s use our imaginations and imagine it wasn’t 90 degrees outside…), and that there was a knight in my kitchen making double chocolate brownies just for me.

I think you get the picture. =)

Reading romances again…after not reading for so long…made me realize again just how much I love reading them. In fact, I enjoyed myself (and the book) so much that I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up past my own bedtime to finish it, and of course then I had to go on to Goodreads and find the next book the author was writing. Reading after this hiatus made me remember why I became a writer, too: to be able to put my own words together and create my own hero and heroine and their own sigh-worthy love story? Amazing.

So, dear friend, consider this my tribute to reading romance novels. There is no need for you to put aside your books and take your own month-long hiatus; in fact, I don’t recommend it. That’s just masochism! But, like me, if you ever come to a point in your life where you simply aren’t able to take any time at all to read and you have to give up romance for a while, know that when you come back, it will be as if you never stopped reading at all. Your heart will race when the hero and heroine first meet, your cheeks will blush when they have their first wicked encounter, your chest will ache when all seems impossible, and you will sigh with happiness when you reach their happily-ever-after.

And all will be well with the world again. =)

What about you? How do you feel when you come back to reading romances after it’s been a while (or even if it’s just when you open up a new book)? Chicken noodle soup for your soul? Cozy afghan in front of roaring fire? Handsome knight making brownies? Or is that just me? =)