Caroline James
Agent: Juliet Pickering
Assistant: Finlay Charlesworth
Biography: Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 bestseller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide.
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 Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie. 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.
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THE SCOTTISH CRUISE
Romance, 384 pages
Avon, February 2027
All aboard the Celtic Dream as she sets sail on a magical Highland escape around the Scottish Isles…
When widow Maggie Blenkenship books a Scottish cruise to celebrate her seventieth birthday, she expects breathtaking scenery and quality time with her sister. She doesn't expect to fall in love.
Joined by a colourful cast of fellow passengers – a secretive actress battling frightening memory loss, a sharp-tongued expat running from family ghosts, and a reserved gentleman haunted by his late father's wartime secret – Maggie discovers that the open sea has a way of loosening hearts and unlocking truths.
As the Celtic Dream weaves through the dramatic Scottish isles, unlikely friendships form, long-buried secrets surface, and love arrives quietly, unexpectedly, and right on time…
The Scottish Cruise is a warm and witty story about second chances, the courage to begin again, and the beautiful, surprising things that can happen when you finally step out of the shadows.
THE NILE CRUISE
Contemporary, 384 pages
Avon, July 2026
Set sail this summer on an unforgettable cruise along The River Nile…
Hattie Mulberry is exhausted. Weary and worn out from the demands of everyone around her, she decides she’s long-overdue an adventure. So, she decides to take a holiday – the adventure of a lifetime that’s set to follow in the footsteps of her literary hero, Agatha Christie.
Before she knows it, Hattie’s embarking on a glamorous Nile cruise. Not only a voyage steeped in history and romance, but one where the passengers are almost as fascinating as the views from her luxurious cabin.
Among the eclectic band of travellers are a lottery winner from Canada, an Instagram sensation and her long-suffering husband, and a sausage-maker from Clitheroe with a tendency to blur fantasy and reality. As the group journeys between ancient temples and legendary tombs, guided by handsome Egyptologist Sam, secrets surface, desires awaken, and tensions simmer beneath the Egyptian sun.
Each traveller is searching for something. Escape, love, or maybe even reinvention. But not everyone’s dreams will come true…
Will the magic of moonlit nights on the Nile bring romance and renewal? Or will whispers of the past and the infamous curse of Tutankhamun cast a shadow when least expected?
THE ARCTIC CRUISE
Contemporary, 379 pages
Avon, January 2026
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?
THE CRUISE CLUB
Contemporary, 379 pages
Avon, July 2025
Set sail on the Diamond Star for sunshine, romance – and just a little bit of mischief…
Cosy crime writer Carmen Cunningham is in trouble. Her inspiration has vanished, her deadline is looming, and her meddling elderly mother Betty consumes her every waking moment.
Hoping to revive her creativity, Carmen books a dream cruise, featuring workshops with her literary idol, Ruskin Reeve. It’s the perfect plan – until Betty insists on tagging along…
However, as the Diamond Star sails through sun-soaked ports and magical Mediterranean islands, Carmen finds the escape she needs as she discovers new friendships, and unexpected sparks with the grumpy, but charming, Ruskin.
But mischief is afoot on board the ship, with talk of items going missing and a secret club that’s got everyone talking… Will the cruise reignite Carmen’s writing muse or plunge her into the biggest plot twist of her life? Because, as she's about to find out, anything can happen at sea…