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Amelia Judd’s Top 5 Travel Destinations Perfect for Novels

May 2, 2017

My love of travel borders on obsession. Seriously … I never get tired of talking about, researching, or planning a trip. I’m that annoying friend who wants to know everything about your adventures in Europe or your trek to Machu Picchu. Yes, I even enjoy looking through the endless supply of pictures you took while away.

Even though I’d never turn down a nice beach vacation, my personal preference is to move on a trip. I crave activity. I get bored sitting around a pool and antsy by my second umbrella-decked cocktail. Exploring an area—whether a rainforest, chic urban local, or historic ruins—is my idea of travel bliss.

When I travel to a new location or research a possible future destination, I always consider each as a potential setting for one of my novels. Would it add beauty, depth, and interest to my story? Even better, would it provide my characters with challenges and rewards able to push them together, tear them apart, or both? (Why not let the setting do some of the heavy lifting in creating conflict, right?)

With these requirements in mind, here is a countdown of my top five international travel destinations that would make great settings for a romance novel.

  1. Cinque Terre, Italy

These charming, isolated seaside villages are located on the Italian Rivera and best traveled to by train or hiking trail since cars aren’t allowed in most areas of the towns. They’re Italian to the core and so astoundingly beautiful they make me ache to visit again. At the very least, I hope to return to these Italian gems through the eyes of my characters someday.

  1. Iceland

Iceland has been on my “must see” list for years. Its unique landscape and unpronounceable-to-me city names intrigue me. I find it fascinating that Iceland boasts geothermal hotspots and hot springs as well as glaciers and glacier caves. There are even glaciers that sit atop volcanoes. How cool is that?!

If you get lucky, you can catch the Northern Lights—another “must see” item for me—during certain times of the year in Iceland. From skinny-dipping in a remote hot spring to cuddling by a fire, Iceland would provide countless romantic scenarios for my hero and heroine. I suddenly feel the need to plan a trip there ASAP … solely for research purposes, of course!

  1. South Africa

From Cape Town in the southwest to a photo safari in the northeast, South Africa is near the top of my dream destinations list. This place has a lot to offer a curious traveler: a hip modern city on the coast, world-class vineyards with stunning views, a gorgeous coastline, and world-renowned wildlife to name only a few. What’s not to love?

  1. Costa Rica

After visiting Costa Rica, I knew I had to set my first book, A Venture of the Heart, in this amazing country. Its tropical rainforests, cloud forests, active volcanoes, pristine waterfalls, and jungle-rimmed beaches are full of romantic possibilities. As a bonus, the country’s colorful wildlife and countless adventure activities provide exciting challenges for my characters throughout the story.

  1. Queensland, Australia

With cosmopolitan cities, fascinating wildlife, rugged beauty, and, of course, friendly people with super cool accents and fun slang, the Land Down Under truly lives up to its stellar reputation.

While I loved everywhere I traveled in Australia, Queensland topped my list of loves. The capital city of Brisbane is located in southern Queensland and is a laid-back urban oasis offering its lucky residents a year-round active lifestyle and subtropical climate. Travel farther north and you can explore the world’s oldest rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. With all this romantic potential, Queensland is first on my list of travel destinations that would make amazing settings for a love story.

Please shoot me an email or contact me on Facebook if you have any great travel destinations for me to consider for a future trip or my next book!

About Amelia Judd

Amelia Judd

Award-winning author Amelia Judd writes fun and flirty contemporary romance. She loves to entertain her readers with memorable characters and fast-paced plots that blend humor, heart, and heat.

After receiving a degree in international affairs, Amelia lived and studied in Belgium for over three years. During her time in Europe, she traveled extensively, earned a master’s degree, and fell in love with writing contemporary romance.

Amelia now lives in the Midwest with her sports-loving husband, two active kids, and a lovable dog that stays by her side day and night. When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with family, hanging out with friends, chauffeuring her kiddos around town, sneaking off to the movies, or planning her family’s next getaway.

Silver Bay

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CRASHING TOGETHER by Amelia Judd

Silver Bay #2

Crashing Together

Amelia Judd Returns to Silver Bay with a Novel about Finding Love in Unexpected Places

Next step: seduce Logan. Which would likely be as difficult as convincing him to take his next breath of air. After all, how hard could it be to strike up a game with the world’s biggest player?

Determined to hide a fear too embarrassing to admit, recently-evicted Kat Bennett accepts an impromptu offer to crash with her brother’s best friend and player extraordinaire, Logan McCabe. When things heat up between them, spitfire Kat decides to embrace temptation rather than fight it. A steamy fling might be just the distraction she needs from her own problems. And who better to fling with than a gorgeous Australian who’s only in the country for a few months?

Logan loves his no-strings-attached lifestyle. Or at least he did until Kat, a woman he has always been attracted to but vowed not to touch, moves in with him for the summer. Even though getting to know beautiful, fiery Kat heats his blood and shoots his relaxed vibe to hell, Logan is determined to keep his word and his hands to himself.

But Kat plans to prove some promises are meant to be broken. Will living with Kat for the summer convince Logan it’s time to start playing for keeps or will their unexpected love crash and burn?

Romance Contemporary [Author Self-Published, On Sale: April 11, 2017, e-Book, ISBN: 2940154300565 / eISBN: 9781946517029]

On Sale for only 99¢ at Amazon

A VENTURE OF THE HEART by Amelia Judd

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LOVE IS A RISKY VENTURE IN AMELIA JUDD’S AWARD-WINNING NEW ROMANCE

“Hello, Pax. It’s good to see you again.”

And with those frigid words, karma kicked his ass and blew his dreams into a million tiny fragments.

Paxton Bennett walked away from a privileged upbringing to devote his life to La Vida de Ensueño, the socially responsible luxury resort he manages in Costa Rica. No way will Pax let a hotel chain swallow up La Vida and turn it into another lifeless clone. All he needs is a loan so he can match a buy-out offer. Unfortunately, every damn bank keeps saying no. He has one last hope–an on-site visit from a loan officer that he’s sure he can impress…

Banker Sage Somerset doesn’t want to see Pax Bennett across a busy coffee shop, let alone spend a week at a tropical resort with him. After their cringe-worthy last encounter, just hearing his name makes her blush or curse. Plus, there are snakes in Costa Rica. A lot of snakes! Determined to remain professional on her unwelcome assignment, Sage hopes she can survive a week in Pax’s world…

But a quirky staff, meddlesome family, and the night-time visit of a tiny green gecko soon threaten to turn business into pleasure. Will Pax and Sage fight their troublesome chemistry? Or will they take a chance on the biggest venture of all–each other?

Romance Contemporary [Author Self-Published, On Sale: January 24, 2017, e-Book, ISBN: 9781946517012 / eISBN: 9781946517005]

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