The Arctic Cruise

by Caroline James

Pack your bags for the adventure of a lifetime…From the #1 bestselling author of The Cruise, embark on an unforgettable journey and sail through Norway’s winter wonderlands to see the spectacular Northern Lights.

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Will the Arctic wonderland work its magic this winter?

Joy never imagined stepping aboard a cruise ship without her husband, Tom. Now widowed, Joy wonders what her voyage on the Emerald Dream will hold – and as it glides through breathtaking Norwegian fjords, she longs to believe in happiness again. However, she carries a secret that could unravel her fragile hopes if it ever came to light…

Elsewhere on deck, as the sun dips below the horizon and the polar night sets in, Henry, a lifelong bachelor, is living his dream of seeing the Northern Lights. Having long since given up on love, he now dedicates himself to his passion for photography. But when he meets Joy, is it more than the aurora borealis that catches his eye?

As they embark on a snow-dusted adventure which takes them from bustling ports to reindeer-drawn sleigh rides, will Joy and Henry find the courage to embrace love again? Or will hidden truths sink the possibility of a new beginning?

A heartwarming, feel-good voyage of self-discovery, romance and second chances, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Judy Leigh.

Genres: Romance

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 15, 2026

About the author

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 best-seller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide, and her eagerly anticipated follow-up novel, THE CRUISE CLUB, is out now.

Her new novel ATTICUS ARNOTT’S GREAT ADVENTURE is described as “A heartwarming and uplifting read where the characters shine from the page.”

Caroline’s vibrant storytelling stems from her colourful career. Before becoming a full-time writer, she carved out a fascinating path in the hospitality industry, owning a charming country house hotel and a lively pub. As a media agent, she worked closely with celebrity chefs, giving her an insider’s perspective on the glitz, glamour, and grit of the culinary world. When she finally turned her focus to writing, she discovered her true calling, penning best-selling novels that have garnered her legions of fans.

When she’s not writing in her cosy writing retreat, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and refreshing swims in a local lake. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a champion of lifelong creativity.


Books by Caroline James:

Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure
The Cruise Club
The Cruise
The French Cookery School
The Spa Break
Boomerville at Ballymegille
The Best Boomerville Hotel
Hattie Goes to Hollywood
Jungle Rock
Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me
Coffee Tea the Chef & Me
Coffee Rea the Gypsy & Me

Contact Caroline:

website: www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk
Twitter: @carolinejames12
Facebook: Caroline James Author
Insta: Caroline JamesAuthor

Reviews for Caroline’s books:

"Caroline is a natural story-teller with a gift for humour in her writing." The Write Stuff, London Book Fair.

"A fabulous Story, it made me shriek with laughter and I loved every twist and turn." Valentina Harris, Author, Chef and International Cookery School Host.

"Caroline James has spun a tale that is enjoyable, funny, charming, believable and page-turning." Nigel May, TV Personality & Author

"A strong plot with likeable characters makes it a great read." Ebook of the week - The Sun:

"Caroline writes quite beautifully - great descriptions, vividly drawn characters, sparkling humour, a touch of real sadness - this book was the perfect escape."

"A thoroughly enjoyable read that takes you from the loneliness of single life in the wet UK through to the magic of the Caribbean. An indulgent feast of the best things in life - sun, rum, fun, love and laughter."

"Caroline James has served up a comedic masterpiece that proves retirement doesn't mean retreating—it means going full throttle with absolutely zero effs left to give."

Reviews

[Vivien Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous mix of interwoven characters setting sail to the Arctic at Christmas. Each has their own story to tell, some sad, some poignant, some finding new friendships or romance. I particularly loved Filipino housekeeper Jennifer and her attempts to woo passenger 'Mr Henry' and, despite him trying to avoid falling into her clutches, the wonderful way he repays her, And who couldn't be amused by the awful Montgomery Joneses, chatting up the captain, battling with wayward toupees and taking social climbing to its peak? This is a warm and witty book in which no one character takes centre stage, and I found myself rooting for them all to get exactly what they deserved!

[Karen]

Reviewing for blog tour. A lovely read with great characters. I thoroughly enjoyed my time sailing to Norway on the Emerald Dream.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James is a delightfully fun novel that entertained me from the start.
A Christmas cruise is very charming. Along with the traditional festivities, we see the rather energetic Santa who wears swimming trunks on board ship; and we travel ashore to take in the delights of Norway.
The cruise is made up of an eclectic bunch of people – those who brave the ice-cold swimming pool for a daily swim, and those who prefer food, drink, and more leisurely activities. There is something for every taste.
We drop in on a small group of six guests – a couple where the husband has terminal cancer and who are determined to make memories while they can. “When the Beast [cancer] came back, it would be hungry…Her husband’s decline would be rapid… In the meantime, their lives were for living.”
There is a retired school master from Skipton, and a new widow from Lancashire. She was “in a widowed world she hadn’t been ready to enter.”
The final pair are a loud, showy couple determined to be the centre of attention.
We see the generosity of hearts who want to help those less fortunate. They are angels in disguise as they see those who are invisible to others.
A character is struggling with grief and guilt. For years she hid in the shadows. “His death didn’t delete you… You lost him, but you mustn’t lose yourself.” Finally able to trust someone and unburden herself, we learn that “no one was truly aware of the man I lived with; they only saw the public performing side of Tom.” For years she kept silent about the abuse she had suffered, believing it was her fault. Now it is time to seize the day. We only get one shot at life – so live it.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Arctic Cruise. It was charming, entertaining and funny, whilst maintaining pathos and dignity as some hard-hitting themes were portrayed. I cannot wait to cruise again with Caroline James.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5



Un crucero navideño con destino al Ártico promete paisajes inolvidables, pero para Joy Bradley representa un desafío mayor que el frío polar. Viaja sola tras la muerte de su esposo y carga con un duelo que la mantiene anclada al pasado. A bordo conviven pasajeros que buscan experiencias distintas: Leticia y Jim, quienes desean llenar de luz un momento complicado; Henry Halliday, un profesor retirado que anhela fotografiar el cielo ártico; y un festivo director de crucero empeñado en crear recuerdos para todos.

Mientras la embarcación avanza hacia la noche perpetua del norte, cada viajero descubre que el verdadero viaje ocurre dentro de sí mismo. Los días se llenan de conversaciones inesperadas, complicidades que brotan sin aviso y momentos que desafían las reservas personales. En el corazón de la oscuridad ártica, la belleza de las auroras se convierte en un recordatorio de que siempre es posible encontrar un nuevo punto de partida.


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Como me cayo mal la hija de Joy. Tanto se la paso criticando a su mamá para que al final saliera con su "siempre supe como era mi padre, pero no quería aceptarlo" y prefirió dañar a su mamá sabiendo perfectamente el infierno que paso.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Angela Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t wait to start this book as I have enjoyed all Caroline’s books especially her cruise based stories.

Set on the cruise ship the Emerald Dream on a Christmas cruise of a lifetime all the guests are hoping for a glimpse of the stunning northern lights.

This is where we meet a wonderful and unforgettable group of characters who all have their own stories to tell and I enjoyed reading about them all. Some parts of the book were hilarious, especially when Babs and Kenneth were involved which had me laughing out loud.

And although the book has many humorous parts it also delicately touches on other themes and is written beautifully as we hear Letitia and Jim’s story and also Joy.

I would one hundred percent recommend this book as it was fantastic read and I impatiently wait for Caroline’s next book The Nile Cruise.


Thanks to NetGalley, Caroline James and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James is a great contemporary romance that I enjoyed.

This is a cozy, warming, entertaining, and sweet contemporary fiction that takes place on a cruise ship traveling through the Norwegian fjords. I went into this thinking it was going to be a book focussing on Joy and Henry, but it ended up being much more. The author including a small cast of characters that are aboard the ship and by doing this, the author was able to incorporate humor, grief, romance, and a wide range of life experiences. I think I liked this pleasant surprise.

3.5 rounded to 4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Avon Books UK for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/15/26.

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can relate to what's written because I am there in age. I would say that not all people are in control of there lives per se but there's a valuable peace of advice in what she says in most of her talks. I have seen the Northern Lights in Duluth when I was a lot younger and I can say that they were fantastic giving all the colors not just some of them, for hours at a time. Let's just say I wasn't there for the lights but were they ever wonderful surprise. I was wondering how the book would treat the different people that would be on the cruise and I can say that she did a fantastic job of plugging each type of person into the book. Then she also takes the people to where she feels they belong in the story. I like the book a lot.

[Lisa Roppel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read that made me want to book a cruise to the Fjords in Norway. I am a huge Aurora chaser here in Canada so the appeal just on that front is enough for me. This was my first book by Caroline James and I understand that she writes lots of cruise stories. I will definitely check out other books by this author. The characters were perfect and I loved the details about the various places visited. There were a couple of places in the story where it was a little long but, overall I enjoyed it!

Thank you Net Galley, Caroline James and Avon Books (UK) for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
The Arctic Cruise is expected to be released Jan. 15, 2026.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book a lot because it reminds me of the titanic movie. At first this was gonna be a 4 star. But it turned out to be a 5 star. This book is perfect to any romance book girly out there. The characters were very interesting. I love that it has northern lights in it. I have seen northern lights before and that’s why I wanted to read this book so badly. And I want to say a big thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book as an ARC. ❤️❤️❤️

[Sara Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t think this book was for me. The writing style made it hard to fall into, and I felt there were too many POV and characters for me to keep track of. I feel like I was misled because the synopsis I read only talked about a Joy and Henry, but there were others we followed too. I’m not a fan of books with more than 2 POVs, especially if there are different couples or have different lives.

*_An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute festive cruising tale across the Arctic. I really enjoyed this novel, from the characters to how the plot unfolded to the descriptions of the northern lights and the different excursions. It was so easy to imagine you were alongside them on the Emerald Dream. A perfect, cosy festive read. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

[Rachel Stansel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story of several older passengers who are brought together on an Arctic Cruise. Overall the theme focuses on living in the moment. I enjoyed the characters and the story, though it did drag a bit at times for me.

Full disclosure - I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joy is joining the Arctic cruise solo for the first time since her husband Tom's death. A little unsure if it's the right thing to do, she becomes friends with some of the people on her table.
Beautifully described places and well rounded, multi-layered characters brought to life, the story is very entertaining.
A real snapshot of cruise life.

[TD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This book was fun and I had a good time reading it, but I don't think it'll leave a lasting impression on me. There were some parts I wasn't a fan of but overall it was a decent book. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Lorraine Joad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great fun read with lots of interesting characters and laugh out load moments. The storyline kept me turning the pages at speed from start to finish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fun winter read following the lives of holiday makers on a cruise, each character has a story to tell about their lives and friendships are made. an easy cosy read