Christmas is approaching on the island of Jersey, but Libby is feeling far from festive. Her police work and duties as vicar’s wife weigh heavily on her, she’s anxious about her troubled children, and now her best friend, Stella, has suddenly turned against her, citing a mysterious family grudge.

I absolutely devoured this book, it had everything I needed in a Christmas read and more. So much attention to detail, great characters, a complicated family and a mystery thrown in too. Perfect for a wet winter afternoon and I read it in one sitting.

Excellent easy to read Christmas Story that I could not put down. Absolutely brilliant and I highly recommend to others.

Interesting story that pulled together threads across the time of the Second World War and present day.

I enjoyed this short, dual-timeline Christmas story set on Jersey, in the Channel Islands. I often feel like I've read too many WWII books and don't get excited for more, but this one was new to me (especially since I haven't yet read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society). The wartime situation on the island was interesting, and I wanted to find out what was going to happen to these characters. Libby's storyline was a bit frustrating, but got better once she got away and stood up for herself. I recommend this short trip into Jersey history.

I really enjoyed this dual-timeline story set on the isle of Jersey. In the present, Libby is a vicar's wife, a mother and works as an investigator of financial crimes. She is extremely busy, but always makes time for her friend Stella. When Stella's mother dies, Libby heads over to comfort her and Stella asks her to leave. Apparently, her mother told her something about Libby's family that Stella can't ignore. At the same time, Libby's mother breaks her arm. She takes a leave from work and heads to her parents to help with Christmas preparations. When she talks to her father about Stella's reaction, he give her his Aunt Queenie's journal to read and it explains what the long held feud was all about. I really enjoyed Queenie's story. It takes place during the occupation of Jersey in 1941.

I have read a couple of other books about the Nazi Occupation of the channel islands, but I always learn something a bit different. This one has Russian POWs used a slave labour, Nazi's who treated the residents not too badly, requisition of possessions, forcing farmers to raise specific crops and the few Wehrmacht officers who thought they were above everyone and flaunted their power. Of course, that is one of the major issues and plots. I really felt for the islanders, they tried to live life as normal as possible, but they were hiding and protecting some people that caused a lot of fear. As we find out what the issue was that caused the rift, I felt bad for Libby and just wanted to shake Stella. In Libby's life, she has a selfish family that she realizes that she overindulged over the years. Will they understand what Libby is going through and come around? This was a nicely plotted story with some relatable characters as well as a plot that pulled on my emotions. I enjoyed this Christmas story and recommend it to those who enjoy Historical Fiction, Dual-timelines and a Christmas setting.

With thanks to Netgalley and Lake union publishing

With the title Christmas on the Coast you think this book is a 'fluffy Christmas read'

However this book has two story lines running through it, one set during the Nazi occupation of Jersey and the other set today.

Christmas on the coast is a engrossing read that kept me hooked throughout,

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

Libby is having a hard time, as Christmas gets closer. Her kids all take advantage of her, and her husband takes her for granted as does her boss. Most don't seem to realize, as she takes it all, but when she goes to spend a time with her parents it makes an impact on them and her. Before she left, her best friend also gave her a cold shoulder, but didn't explain why. Asking her father, he gave her a journal written by her great aunt during the occupation of Jersey by the Nazis. From the beginning, I didn't see a connection between each chapter being here and there, so skimmed the first ones from the past. Once I got into the story further of course it made sense, and really added to the mystery of what happened. A bit more could have been stressed about the families though, as it took me awhile to get that too. These are minor, and it may just be me, but made me scratch my head a time or two. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this story, and it is interesting to read about the island of Jersey. Christmas stories are also fun too, and this one is well done. Highly recommend.

This was a different type of story from what I normally choose. I was attracted to it because I like books set in wartime. This was a poignant tale and was lovely, if not sad, to read at a festive time of year. It wasn't the feel good, fluffy books that I normally enjoy, but i did 'enjoy' reading this title.

Two stories, one book, both are interwoven. One set in WWII the other closer to today. There is a lot more to this book than the cover and synopsis lends itself too.

I’m not usually one to read stories from WWII but I loved this and that’s the pleasure of receiving arcs. You read a wide range of books.

Thank you for the copy and apology it’s taken awhile to post a review.

A brilliant read that gives insight into life during the second world war in an area that's often overlooked by history. Although not a true account, the based on history diary is a brilliant read, and the accompanying story is well paced and relatable.

Engrossing read, perfect for fans of dual-timeline historical novels (like me!) This is so much more than a sweet Christmas tale. It's a story of resiliency and bravery, of the grudges families hold, of misunderstandings, and ultimately, one of of forgiveness.
Libby was an interesting, relatable character who is taken for granted and taken advantage of by her children and her work. Where Libby is drowning in the chaos of her life, Queenie is grace and hope. The two stories weave neatly together but it was the historical aspects, the story of Queenie and her family, and all they endured that really sucked me into the story.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I selected this book based on the cover and title for a light holiday read. Surprisingly, this book was much more complex. It is two stories that take place in the same place, Jersey Island, but 75 years apart. One story takes place in 1941 during the German occupation of the island. I found this story very compelling, imagining how awful and frightening it must have been for those people. The other story takes place in modern day. This story was more of what I expected the book to be. Family conflict, the Christmas rush, but nothing as life threatening as the story in '41. As the book progresses, we learn how the two stories are intertwined. I'm not sure what the author wanted the book to be - a light holiday read, or a thriller based on actual events. I like both genres, but someone looking for just one or the other may only like that portion of the book.

I’ll forgive the writer for living in the other island and wave instead. This is my first book by this writer and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing and the now then plotting. I’ll certainly look out for more in the future. Book via NetGalley, opinion my own

I honestly could tell by the writing of the first 2 chapters that it wouldn't be a good fit for our box and had to put it down. I may read it again in the future!

It was a lovely feel good christmas read. It was lovely and perfect for the season. I wasnt so keen on the present day, but the german part made up for that

I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction but I enjoyed the parallel time lines of World War II and present day. Libby lives on the Island of Jersey off the coast of England with her husband, the local minister, her children and works as a police officer. Her best friend Stella has suddenly become cold and very unfriendly. When Libby visits her parents and starts reading a family diary from the occupation of the Nazi's she is amazed and shocked by her relatives and the islanders behavior and fight for survival. The parallel time lines are easy to follow and I learned an amazing amount of history that I never knew existed. There is a healthy amount of Christmas lore and traditions mixed in both story lines.

This was a wonderful Christmas book with a twist. Not only does it take place in current day leading up to the big day, but also in 1941, during the German occupation of Jersey, in the Channel Islands.
In current day, we meet Libby, a busy police worker, vicar's wife and mother of 3 older children- all who are contributing to her worries. Her best friend, Stella, has fallen out with her, based on an incident that took place in 1941.
In 1941, we meet Queenie who is keeping a journal of all that is occurring during the German occupation.
Of course, the two stories come together as we learn the truth of what actually occurred.
I liked the way the author highlighted the stress of getting ready for Christmas. The present day story definitely resonated with me. I felt Libby's anxiety. At one point Libby has a meltdown and shouts to her family" If you want Christmas this year, then you lot organize it, because I quit."
Ultimately, this book is about the love and magic of Christmas and the importance of family and friends!
A lovely Christmas read!

This is another great Christmas book!

I liked that Libby is older than the typical protagonist in a Christmas women’s fiction story. She has a grown up daughter who was getting married. Usually the protagonist would be her daughter’s age. This gives a different perspective of the holidays.

There was some mystery about Libby’s background. It kept the story interesting. The War in Queenie’s story also held some mystery, since there were soldiers in the town who kept disrupting their lives. It made the story unpredictable.

At first, I didn’t realize Libby would be related Queenie. I liked Queenie’s parallel diary entries because they contrasted well with Libby’s modern story.

This is a great Christmas story.

Two Christmas tales told at very different times as Libby, feeling taken for granted and having her best friend fall out with her in the run-up to Christmas is reading a journal written by her Great Aunt Queenie of her Christmas in 1945 when the Nazi's had taken over Jersey.
It was quite a good book, the journal was very interesting and told of a time of fear muddled with fierce determination. I wasn't so sure about the present-day tale of Libby's lifelong best friend Stella falling out with her over something that had happened back in 1945, I'm not certain this is something that would really happen.
Overall a nice read for the season.