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Hello, passionate cruisers! This is Paul and this week on The Joy of Cruising Podcast, I am delighted to welcome JD Harbor, author of the new seafaring novels, Emerald Tide, and Sapphire Seas. They are both set aboard a luxurious cruise ship and were inspired by JD’s own experience. You see, he met his wife onboard a singles cruise in 2014, and they have sailed together ever since. Man, that sounds fun! As JD notes, “Meeting my wife on that cruise is proof that the magic of the sea really can lead to unexpected connections!”

 JD Harbor is an author and long-time cruise enthusiast. His own love story started onboard the Carnival Sunshine, and it’s been a huge inspiration in his writing. He says, “There’s something about being at sea that allows people to leave behind the stresses of life and open themselves up to adventure and possibility. That’s the energy I wanted to capture in my novels, pairing romance with personal growth against the dreamy backdrop of the open sea.”  

JD’s debut novels, Emerald Tide and Sapphire Seas, are two interconnected stories following Aidan Murphy and Harper Brooks, who meet onboard the Elysian Serenade during a hosted group voyage for single sailors.

The two books explore themes of self-discovery, second chances, and how love can flourish when we allow ourselves to embrace change and vulnerability. Cruising provides such a unique and romantic backdrop—it’s a world where you can truly leave everything behind and focus on the moment. There’s a special kind of magic onboard a cruise ship that brings people together in ways they don’t expect, and JD tried to infuse that same feeling into these stories.

The books are the beginning of a series, RomantiSea Serenades, with each installment exploring new characters and love stories, all tied together by the romance and adventure found at sea. It’s a project JD is deeply passionate about. 

Find JD Harbor online:

TikTok:  @jd.harbor

Instagram:  @jdharbor (send me a DM with the keyword “Joy” and I’ll send you a free sample)

Facebook: @jdharbor.author

Website: www.jdharbor.com

Email: [email protected]

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