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Sunny Shore Bay #6
The Christmas List in Sunny Shore Bay
Ever since the passing of her husband Darren, Mia Goddard is certain she’ll never enjoy Christmas again. All alone in her seaside home with only her tabby cat Hettie for company, she’s resolved to live the rest of her life as a hermit.
But everything changes when she receives a Christmas card from her grandmother-in-law. Tucked away inside is an old, yellowed piece of paper … a list. But this is not Santa Claus’ list - this is Darren’s list. His bucket list.
Along with the help of an unlikely new friend (and one very cheeky lifeguard!) can Mia overcome her fears and loneliness to cross off the goals Darren never had the chance to? Or is this one Christmas wish that will be left unfulfilled?
The Christmas List in Sunny Shore Bay is the sixth story in the Sunny Shore Bay book series, a charming set of novels revolving around the lives of the ordinary people who reside in an idyllic seaside community. It can be read as a standalone story, or as part of the series.
But everything changes when she receives a Christmas card from her grandmother-in-law. Tucked away inside is an old, yellowed piece of paper … a list. But this is not Santa Claus’ list - this is Darren’s list. His bucket list.
Along with the help of an unlikely new friend (and one very cheeky lifeguard!) can Mia overcome her fears and loneliness to cross off the goals Darren never had the chance to? Or is this one Christmas wish that will be left unfulfilled?
The Christmas List in Sunny Shore Bay is the sixth story in the Sunny Shore Bay book series, a charming set of novels revolving around the lives of the ordinary people who reside in an idyllic seaside community. It can be read as a standalone story, or as part of the series.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 18, 2025
❤️ Blurb -
Ever since the passing of her husband Darren, Mia Goddard is certain she’ll never enjoy Christmas again. All alone in her seaside home with only her tabby cat Hettie for company, she’s resolved to live the rest of her life as a hermit.
But everything changes when she receives a Christmas card from her grandmother-in-law. Tucked away inside is an old, yellowed piece of paper … a list. But this is not Santa Claus’ list - this is Darren’s list. His bucket list.
Along with the help of an unlikely new friend (and one very cheeky lifeguard!) can Mia overcome her fears and loneliness to cross off the goals Darren never had the chance to? Or is this one Christmas wish that will be left unfulfilled?
The Christmas List in Sunny Shore Bay is the sixth story in the Sunny Shore Bay book series, a charming set of novels revolving around the lives of the ordinary people who reside in an idyllic seaside community.
💜 Review -
Even though I hadn't read any of the other books in the series, I still enjoyed it and soon understood who was who and what was going on. This was such a cute and cosy, easy to follow festive read. I was hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. The place settings in the story sounded beautiful and I wanted the characters to have the happy ending that they deserved. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to the author for my free download of the book.
Ever since the passing of her husband Darren, Mia Goddard is certain she’ll never enjoy Christmas again. All alone in her seaside home with only her tabby cat Hettie for company, she’s resolved to live the rest of her life as a hermit.
But everything changes when she receives a Christmas card from her grandmother-in-law. Tucked away inside is an old, yellowed piece of paper … a list. But this is not Santa Claus’ list - this is Darren’s list. His bucket list.
Along with the help of an unlikely new friend (and one very cheeky lifeguard!) can Mia overcome her fears and loneliness to cross off the goals Darren never had the chance to? Or is this one Christmas wish that will be left unfulfilled?
The Christmas List in Sunny Shore Bay is the sixth story in the Sunny Shore Bay book series, a charming set of novels revolving around the lives of the ordinary people who reside in an idyllic seaside community.
💜 Review -
Even though I hadn't read any of the other books in the series, I still enjoyed it and soon understood who was who and what was going on. This was such a cute and cosy, easy to follow festive read. I was hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. The place settings in the story sounded beautiful and I wanted the characters to have the happy ending that they deserved. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to the author for my free download of the book.
December 17, 2025
Mia is only 31 years old, and absolutely shouldn't be a widow. But life is cruel, right? Outcasting herself from the community and the potential chance of friends, she stays alone with only her cat for company. When her husband's grandmother sends her a card, she also finds a list in there. All the things her husband wanted to do, and now can't.
Alongside a new and enthusiastic friend that she meets from her work as a music teacher, she's going to complete the list. The goals are fun and care free and they'll run Mia into deeper friendships and perhaps even romantic feelings. But those things, after losing someone so special, can come with conflicting feelings too. Mia needs to love and understand herself before she can dive into this new beginning.
This was certainly emotional. I couldn't imagine Mia's situation and every time she had a flashback when the door knocked, reminding her of that awful day, I wanted to reach in and give her a hug. Grief was portrayed well in this book, even when things were great and coming together, Mia let her love linger on inside her.
I always enjoy books with a sense of community too! If you're looking for a Christmas book that is heartbreaking and heartwarming, a rainbow after the storm sorta thing, this is for you.
Alongside a new and enthusiastic friend that she meets from her work as a music teacher, she's going to complete the list. The goals are fun and care free and they'll run Mia into deeper friendships and perhaps even romantic feelings. But those things, after losing someone so special, can come with conflicting feelings too. Mia needs to love and understand herself before she can dive into this new beginning.
This was certainly emotional. I couldn't imagine Mia's situation and every time she had a flashback when the door knocked, reminding her of that awful day, I wanted to reach in and give her a hug. Grief was portrayed well in this book, even when things were great and coming together, Mia let her love linger on inside her.
I always enjoy books with a sense of community too! If you're looking for a Christmas book that is heartbreaking and heartwarming, a rainbow after the storm sorta thing, this is for you.
June 1, 2026
Mia lost her husband a few years ago. Since then she’s cut herself off from the world. With only her cat for company she has no joy in life except the piano lessons she teaches to others. But then she finds her late husband’s bucket list. And with the help of Claire, the mother of one of her pupils, they decide together to try and fulfil some of the items on the list. Mia starts to come out of her shell, and when she meets James she starts to realise that her life is one worth living after all.
A book that I kind of enjoyed although, (and this might seem unsympathetic of me), it wasn’t really a joyful read.
I mean, I get that Mia lost her husband but for a large part of the book it was the ‘Mia pity party’. She almost made me feel depressed just by reading her thoughts. Did she not have some sort of counselling or anything after her husband died? Cos I got the impression she really needed it.
Also, I thought she was a tad heartless when it came to her friend Claire. She of all people should know that what you see on the surface isn’t always what’s going on underneath and she seemed to be quite selfish in that regard. Mia was the only person with problems, wasn’t she??
That was the problem I had with Mia. You were obviously supposed to feel sympathy etc, but I didn’t. She had too much of it for herself. At times I wasn’t even sure I liked the character. She made a lot of assumptions about others too. Surely that wasn’t what the author was going for when she wrote this?
Sadly I found Mia quite a self-pitying selfish sort of character. She redeemed herself towards the end (well over 75% into the book) but by then I was past caring whether she got her happy ending or not.
Btw, if a guy kept on calling me a ‘hermit’ (like James does to Mia) even after knowing the reason why, I think it’d get boring pretty quick. Mia accepts it for some reason. I didn’t think James & Mia had much chemistry either.
I also think it needed a better proof-reader/editor as there were quite a few errors. At one point Mia ‘dosed’ off to sleep, ‘no one to be seen’ instead of nowhere to be seen etc etc. There were a lot of missing words too.
So, an ok romance book, very clean, but if I’m not keen on the main character then it loses any charm it may have tried to achieve.
A book that I kind of enjoyed although, (and this might seem unsympathetic of me), it wasn’t really a joyful read.
I mean, I get that Mia lost her husband but for a large part of the book it was the ‘Mia pity party’. She almost made me feel depressed just by reading her thoughts. Did she not have some sort of counselling or anything after her husband died? Cos I got the impression she really needed it.
Also, I thought she was a tad heartless when it came to her friend Claire. She of all people should know that what you see on the surface isn’t always what’s going on underneath and she seemed to be quite selfish in that regard. Mia was the only person with problems, wasn’t she??
That was the problem I had with Mia. You were obviously supposed to feel sympathy etc, but I didn’t. She had too much of it for herself. At times I wasn’t even sure I liked the character. She made a lot of assumptions about others too. Surely that wasn’t what the author was going for when she wrote this?
Sadly I found Mia quite a self-pitying selfish sort of character. She redeemed herself towards the end (well over 75% into the book) but by then I was past caring whether she got her happy ending or not.
Btw, if a guy kept on calling me a ‘hermit’ (like James does to Mia) even after knowing the reason why, I think it’d get boring pretty quick. Mia accepts it for some reason. I didn’t think James & Mia had much chemistry either.
I also think it needed a better proof-reader/editor as there were quite a few errors. At one point Mia ‘dosed’ off to sleep, ‘no one to be seen’ instead of nowhere to be seen etc etc. There were a lot of missing words too.
So, an ok romance book, very clean, but if I’m not keen on the main character then it loses any charm it may have tried to achieve.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2025
Mia is a widow who is struggling to move on since her husband was killed in an accident. Walking on the beach she meets James who is the beach lifeguard.
Mia only has her cat Hettie, she’s lonely.
It was lovely to read how Mia goes out of her comfort zone when she befriends Claire.
If you believe and trust in yourself anything is possible.
A lovely short read which was emotional and romantic.
Mia only has her cat Hettie, she’s lonely.
It was lovely to read how Mia goes out of her comfort zone when she befriends Claire.
If you believe and trust in yourself anything is possible.
A lovely short read which was emotional and romantic.
March 30, 2023
The Christmas List in Sunny Shore Bay (Sunny Shore Bay Book 6)
I have just finished this book, a magical little book about love after loss. We can all be happy if we try and are brave enough. Read this book to learn how. Thank you Imogen Payne.
I have just finished this book, a magical little book about love after loss. We can all be happy if we try and are brave enough. Read this book to learn how. Thank you Imogen Payne.
May 8, 2023
good read
I’ve enjoyed all 6 books. The only thing that niggled me was that nearly everyone in sunny shore bay seemed to have curly hair!
I’ve enjoyed all 6 books. The only thing that niggled me was that nearly everyone in sunny shore bay seemed to have curly hair!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews