Books have always been a huge part of my life. In fact, they’ve been my companions through some of my most formative years, and I don’t think I could ever live without them. When we first moved to Portugal, it wasn’t as easy to get my hands on English books, so I would literally devour anything I could find! From Mills and Boon to Stephen King, I was reading it all—regardless of the fact I was so young. I remember reading a particularly creepy book about an arm that attached itself to people, making them do horrible things. It terrified me so much that I still can’t believe I actually finished it! But, that was the beauty of being a bookworm—there was always something new to discover, no matter how bizarre or chilling.
As I got older, my taste in books began to develop and refine. I found myself drawn to Chick Lit, then later YA Urban Fantasy and Cozy Mysteries, especially the ones with a magical or fantastical twist. I loved the escapism and the thrill of a good mystery, with a bit of magic sprinkled in. I wrote my first novel in my early twenties, but that was just the beginning. I didn’t actually self-publish until about 12 years ago, and since then, I’ve published a variety of YA urban fantasy, chick lit and romance.
Even though I still love those same genres, my reading taste continues to evolve. These days, I’m still a huge fan of YA Urban Fantasy, Chick Lit, and Cozy Mysteries, with the occasional book from a completely different genre thrown in. But I’ve also become a big fan of books that help me become a better person. One of my all-time favourite books is You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. It’s been transformative for me and continues to inspire my journey toward self-love and positivity. It was a godsend for me when I needed it the most, after the loss of someone very special to me.
With the house move on the horizon, I’ve been on a bit of a book-buying spree to fill up the ‘new’ bookshelves we bought second-hand for my fabulous office. I’ve been picking up gems from Vinted, and I’m so excited to add them to my growing collection. Some of my latest finds include The Potion Diaries (which just arrived yesterday), The Monk Who Drove a Ferrari (I’m not sure if that’s the exact title, butI’ve packed all the books away ready to take them over the road!), and a variety of books about supernatural places, miracles, and angels. I just love being surrounded by books. They’re not just objects—they’re windows to other worlds, sources of wisdom, and sometimes even the best kind of company.
So, what about you? What kind of books do you find yourself drawn to? Do you have a favourite genre, or are you like me, happy to read anything and everything you can get your hands on?
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