What do you think?
Rate this book
Coastal Christmas
When Christmas magic fills a house, the charm of falling in love becomes possible―especially in this heartfelt holiday story from award-winning author Lori Hayes.
An old farmhouse on a salt marsh is said to have Christmas magic. As the legend goes, whoever moves into the homestead will not only fall in love but be married by Christmas. Terri McMillan is burnt-out on city life. She wants to buy the house, but the owner, Matt Baker, requests one final Christmas in his grandparent’s home before selling it. When Terri and Matt discover letters and a diary from the Vietnam War era, an old family secret is revealed. Could love like this still exist? The magic of Christmas just might be working.
An old farmhouse on a salt marsh is said to have Christmas magic. As the legend goes, whoever moves into the homestead will not only fall in love but be married by Christmas. Terri McMillan is burnt-out on city life. She wants to buy the house, but the owner, Matt Baker, requests one final Christmas in his grandparent’s home before selling it. When Terri and Matt discover letters and a diary from the Vietnam War era, an old family secret is revealed. Could love like this still exist? The magic of Christmas just might be working.
- GenresChristmas
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2021
13 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 8, 2022
It wasn’t a mystery, but I still loved it !! The underlying story was unusual and I wanna live by the beach 🐚🐚
August 31, 2021
This is my most favorite of Lori Hayes' beach novels. The story within the story made me want to read on . It was a romantic mystery withing the main story line.
Lori always adds a happy ending, but not before she leads you through adventures along the way.
Very good read!
Lori always adds a happy ending, but not before she leads you through adventures along the way.
Very good read!
November 23, 2021
Tear jerker,but a great story - love stories about the North Carolina coast. Real human interest on so many levels - not just a Christmas romance. Highly recommend!
September 4, 2021
Great story. Loved the characters. Perfect beach read.
October 19, 2021
Romance, Christmas and the coast, what could be better. Great read!
September 22, 2021
Great “feel good” beach read book with depth of characters… nothing better than romance, coastal location, and Christmas in one book!
October 14, 2021
This has everything you need! All the feels! I'll be reading this again♥️
October 11, 2021
Coastal Christmas
From author Lori Hayes comes Coastal Christmas a heart-warming novel that takes place on the N.C. Crystal Coast near Morehead City. A young woman, Terri, living in Raleigh takes a trip down to visit her mother and older sister. Her hectic life and full schedule as a nurse, had her thinking this place might be a perfect place to slow down. She happened to find a very special house she was immediately drawn to that had a magical feeling. She meets new and old friends. She buys the cottage from the owner a man named Matt which was his Grandmother Nana’s home. When exploring the house, she found a hatbox in the attic that will reveal the history and magic of the historic cottage. The house comes with a magical legend that whoever moves in will be married within a year. Wonderful love story that brings families together new and old and leaves the magic of Christmas in your heart and spirit.
Margarette Leggett
From author Lori Hayes comes Coastal Christmas a heart-warming novel that takes place on the N.C. Crystal Coast near Morehead City. A young woman, Terri, living in Raleigh takes a trip down to visit her mother and older sister. Her hectic life and full schedule as a nurse, had her thinking this place might be a perfect place to slow down. She happened to find a very special house she was immediately drawn to that had a magical feeling. She meets new and old friends. She buys the cottage from the owner a man named Matt which was his Grandmother Nana’s home. When exploring the house, she found a hatbox in the attic that will reveal the history and magic of the historic cottage. The house comes with a magical legend that whoever moves in will be married within a year. Wonderful love story that brings families together new and old and leaves the magic of Christmas in your heart and spirit.
Margarette Leggett
October 10, 2021
The coast at Christmas—can it get any better? YES. IT. CAN. with a copy of Lori Hayes’s sweet holiday romance. Hayes grabbed me with the title and kept me hanging on. This is the second book I’ve read by this talented author. Her descriptive writing always firmly plants my feet on the Carolina shore, and my heart in the middle of an intriguing storyline.
Terri McMillian thrives on city life, isn’t looking to move, and never makes snap decisions, but since when does that matter? One trip to see her mother in Big Cat, a small NC coastal town can change everything. If Terri’s initial captivation with an enchanting old two-story house for sale on the sound isn’t enough to sell her on coastal living, maybe it’s owner’s rugged good looks will. Add a box of old Vietnam letters and a teenage runaway to the mix, then sprinkle in a handful of Christmas magic, and you have an irresistible holiday read.
I received an advance reader copy of Coastal Christmas from the publisher. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Terri McMillian thrives on city life, isn’t looking to move, and never makes snap decisions, but since when does that matter? One trip to see her mother in Big Cat, a small NC coastal town can change everything. If Terri’s initial captivation with an enchanting old two-story house for sale on the sound isn’t enough to sell her on coastal living, maybe it’s owner’s rugged good looks will. Add a box of old Vietnam letters and a teenage runaway to the mix, then sprinkle in a handful of Christmas magic, and you have an irresistible holiday read.
I received an advance reader copy of Coastal Christmas from the publisher. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 22, 2022
There were several wonderful components to this Christmas story. First, the amazing house Terri bought. (I want it!). Terri and Matt (the former owner) spruce it up while keeping the ambiance of the past. The other is Terri's draw to help foster, runaway, needy teens. She endures the weeks-long classes, inspections, and interviews to obtain a Foster Care license. This is an eye-opener. How many of us realize what all is involved in this process?
Love Sophie. So much. Hayes paints her as a real teen, with real problems. One who is starving for someone to love her. Readers will love watching her grow. She is my favorite character in this story.
The overall storyline was wonderful. Restoration and family are the keys. These made great themes for this charming Christmas story.
The opening is sluggish, but hang in there, the story improves.
Love Sophie. So much. Hayes paints her as a real teen, with real problems. One who is starving for someone to love her. Readers will love watching her grow. She is my favorite character in this story.
The overall storyline was wonderful. Restoration and family are the keys. These made great themes for this charming Christmas story.
The opening is sluggish, but hang in there, the story improves.
October 19, 2021
This was a great book! I loved the setting and it being a “beach read”, but I also really enjoyed that it was a different vibe from so many beach reads. The book being a Christmas book and set in winter added a different perspective. The two story lines from Terri’s current life and Matt’s grandparents was intriguing and kept me interested until the very end. Christmas and the beach…what more could you ask for??
December 28, 2022
a Hallmark story
And if you love Hallmark movies, this is a great story. I found it all a little too fast and perfect, which isn’t always a bad thing. The writing was a bit choppy at first, and didn’t seem to flow from one sentence to the next, but it got better and I definitely wanted to know how it all ended.
And if you love Hallmark movies, this is a great story. I found it all a little too fast and perfect, which isn’t always a bad thing. The writing was a bit choppy at first, and didn’t seem to flow from one sentence to the next, but it got better and I definitely wanted to know how it all ended.
October 2, 2021
Lori has an amazing ability to bring characters to life and weave beautiful stories. This may be my favorite book yet!
October 19, 2021
Coastal Christmas is a caring tale full of precious memories, heartwarming holiday tradition and very sweet, meant to be romance! Grab a tissue and prepare to be inspired!
Glenn Leonard
Glenn Leonard
November 30, 2021
Wonderfully written, keeping me wanting to snuggle up in a cozy spot and read. I found myself being part of the story.
This is my first Lori Hayes book and will not be my last.
This is my first Lori Hayes book and will not be my last.
December 16, 2023
Sweet read
This book leaves you with warm tissues inside. It is a sweet story of how the past shapes us for better or for worse.
This book leaves you with warm tissues inside. It is a sweet story of how the past shapes us for better or for worse.
March 4, 2024
Very good!
December 13, 2021
Coastal Christmas brings along pieces from each of the previous Crystal Coast series books by Lori Hayes. Imagining the sweet smell of the beach takes you back to Big Cat, where you finally get to know more about the sister we’ve heard so much about.
With new characters intertwined with the ones we already know and love, I’ve enjoyed this book from the start. A story in itself, yet a continuation in the series. As much as I would like to say that this is the best one yet, the other three books from the Crystal Coast series (High Tide, Coffee Break, Island Summer) were delightful as well. I would love to see this whole series on film! Great work!
~ Christal
With new characters intertwined with the ones we already know and love, I’ve enjoyed this book from the start. A story in itself, yet a continuation in the series. As much as I would like to say that this is the best one yet, the other three books from the Crystal Coast series (High Tide, Coffee Break, Island Summer) were delightful as well. I would love to see this whole series on film! Great work!
~ Christal
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews