Mills & Boon novels were Julia JamesтАЩ first тАЬgrown upтАЭ books she read as a teenager, and she's been reading them ever since. She adores the Mediterranean and the English countryside in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking тАЬextremely gooey chocolate cakesтАЭ and trying to stay fit! Julia lives in England with her family.