Historical Romance, anyone?

All right, it's been a long while since I updated my blog site. After viewing a friend's blog, I got inspired to write again.

My office had been giving me Fridays off. The economy has negatively impact my company so one old proven method to cut cost is to have more frequent shutdowns. The good thing is that I'm freer to do my personal things but the bad side is that it cuts into my annual leaves. And frankly, I do not have that much personal things to complete.

So what do I do with my free time? I read. It's my favourite past time and not just any type of books. I'm a romantic fool. I just love romance but not any type of romance, it's gotta be historical romance and I'm extremely particular about the accuracy regarding these bygone eras. I once read a book that did not get the old English hierarchy correct; the author gave incorrect titles for the dowager duchess and several others, that I ended by being let down. Did not buy another book of that author.

Authors with flairs for bringing stories to life are worth my time and money. I'm a fan of Elizabeth Thornton and recently, had added Julia Quinn (mostly because of her humour). I was a fan of Amanda Quick but her recent novels left much to be desired. They were getting repetitive. Based on a recommendation from a book critic, I bought 'Mr Impossible' (of which the author has simply slipped my mind for the moment, but no matter I will surely remember later) which was an absolute delight because it was witty and hilarous.

I absolutely abhor those books where the boy and girl ends up in bed within minutes of meeting each other. Huh. Come on, I do not pay good money, and I surely do not want to spent time reading about them frolicking in bed or wherever other places they choose to do it (hmmm....that should be plural because books these days do set importance on this part. That's why I sometimes retire with Betty Neels. Her proper English heroine always always abstain until after the wedding. Oh so you know Betty Neels do not do historical romance. See, I'm quite open to other varieties). I will admit that those love scenes are sometimes crucial to a book but I really want to read about the interactions, the witty conversations, the beautiful scenes surrounding that era and the buildings. I want something that inspire my imaginations. I find Quinn's description of her characters' feelings attarctive and absorbing.

Ah, see! I was right. I remembered the author (the brain cells not so dead!). She's Loretta Chase, the accomplished author of 'Mr. Impossible'.

Before I end, I gotta admit I did not like all books of the authors I mentioned above but they did have some delightful ones which made it worht my while to mention them. Lisa Kleypas also did a magnificent job with a book, oops forgot the title, but it's about Derek Craven. One of my all time favourite.

Cheers.