A Pet for Christmas

A Veteran's Christmas, Book 2

By: Rachelle Ayala

Narrated by: Elizabeth Klett

Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

Kelly Kennedy thought her life was finally on track. Engaged to the man of her dreams and with a baby on the way, she reassures her five-year-old daughter Bree, that the father she picked for Christmas still loves her.

Unfortunately, war veteran Tyler Manning has been away most of the year. Recovering from PTSD isn't easy. Rather than worry Kelly, Tyler spends his time traveling to Afghanistan to work at a children's charity he founded.

Kelly decides to distract Bree with promises of a pet for Christmas. When Tyler is taken hostage by terrorists, she finds it hard to convince Bree that they will truly be a family in time for Christmas.

A Pet for Christmas is a sequel to A Father for Christmas. While it can be listened to as a standalone, you'll get more of the relationship aspect between Kelly, Tyler, and Bree by listening to A Father for Christmas first.

A Veteran's Christmas Series:

Audiobook Number 1: A Father for Christmas

Audiobook Number 2: A Pet for Christmas

Audiobook Number 3: A Wedding for Christmas

©2015 Rachelle Ayala (P)2017 Rachelle Ayala Publishing, LLC

Edge Of My Seat!

Though this is a stand-alone story this is the continuation of Kelly, Tyler and Bree’s story from A Father For Christmas. It begins with Tyler being back in Afghanistan helping at a children’s charity he founded and Kelly is in a high risk pregnancy with their son. Bree is asking about her “real” father and not the one she found under the tree. She believes a real father will give her more than Tyler can give her. Unfortunately things go from bad to worse when he is blamed for a tragic explosion and is eventually taken hostage. A lot happens in this story and you go through so many emotions. I couldn’t help but sit on the edge of my seat and hold my breath wondering what was going to happen in the story and with their relationship. Looking forward to a happy conclusion with the next book in the series. Elizabeth Klett did a nice job of narrating. This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

A treasure not to be missed!

The holidays should be a time of family togetherness and joy. For Kelly and Tyler, it's anything but. A Pet for Christmas takes up where A Father for Christmas ended. Kelly, Bree and Tyler are on the verge of becoming a family, until circumstances throw a monkey wrench in their plans. It will take a Christmas miracle, a leap of faith and love's unending strength to guide this almost family to their happily ever after. Ms. Ayala is an emotional writer. She seeks out the heart and speaks directly to the vulnerability that makes us human. Getting to read her wise words is always a pleasureable experience, but what I enjoy most is when the characters come alive. Elizabeth Klett adds to that realism with animated vocal range. Getting to experience the two together is a treasure not to be missed.

Another Excellent Addition To A Veteran’s Christmas

This is a sequel to “A Father For Christmas”. Book 1. I really enjoyed book 1 and this one is a bit different than the first one but just as good. Rachelle Ayala is a great writer and she really sucks you into the story and holds you hostage until the conclusion!

Narration was excellent and brought the story to life.

This story is about Kelly, Tyler, and Bree. We got to know them in book 1 and it was great to see how they are doing. This book is definitely more stressful than the first one because we find Tyler in another Country having to deal with some scary people and situations. I was totally stressed and worried about what was going to happen next!

This story is action filled and kept me in the edge of my seat. You can not go wrong with this amazing writer. There are always so many important issues discussed in her books.

I’m looking forward to her next book!

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

Tugs at your heartstrings!

Rachelle Ayala is a pro at drawing awareness to conditions many face in our world today through her engaging stories. In A Pet for Christmas: A Veteran's Christmas, Book 2 (sequel to A Father for Christmas: A Veteran's Christmas, Book 1), we have the pleasure of seeing where life has taken Kelly, Tyler, and 5-year old Bree. I really enjoyed continuing their story because I felt like I really got to know these loveable characters in Book 1. Ayala's story helps you learn about PTSD and how it affects all involved. She speaks to the heart, puts you in the characters' shoes, and has you rooting for all of them through to the last page!

The narration by Elizabeth Klett is wonderful. She does a fantastic job with each character's voice, especially little Bree! Her volume, pace, and gentle story-telling manner make this book one worth listening. I love audiobooks, so I may be a bit biased, but I feel that the narration adds so much to the story...Ayala and Klett are a great team!

I rate this audiobook 5/5 stars across the board. As I stated before, it is so much more than just a sweet story about a couple in love. It draws awareness to PTSD, a condition that many in our world deal with daily in various forms. I don't know if this book has received an award for this aspect of the book, but it should! I feel so much more informed about PTSD...what it is, how to recognize it, and some possible ways to deal with it, if my life ever happens to be affected by it in the way Kelly's has. Ayala also addresses issues some parents are faced with as their children get older, such as common questions/concerns about step-parents, becoming a pet-owner, and last, but not least, Santa Claus! I highly recommend this book to fans of sweet romance, as well as to those who enjoy reading about family, love, and relationships.

Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was helpful. :-)

Perfect story!

This is a thoroughly enjoyable story! This second of three books of the series, it is well written and narrated. It was nice to go back and spend time with these complex yet likeable characters. This story is action filled, and the storyline flows so well. This is a clean sweet romance and I eagerly await the next installment. Well done!

Great Continuation!

I really enjoyed this story and thought it was well written. Bree in my mind stole the book with her sweet child character. Elizabeth Klett did a fantastic performance with the various characters voices and emotions. This story is a continuation and a standalone listen. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review.

A wonderful story to keep you hooked...

We met Kelly and Tyler in A Father for Christmas but in A Pet for Christmas, we fall deeper in love with this couple and their love. They struggle with the aftermath of Tyler's time in the military and his PTSD. But while trying to recover, Tyler finds it hard to cope with the weight of his past sins, and he runs away to the charity he founded, hoping that it would bring him peace.

Kelly's life is finally heading in the right direction. Bree is happy because she is getting Tyler for a daddy just like she wanted. But when Tyler spends so much time away, they both miss him terribly. While Tyler is gone, he gets taken hostage. Kelly is trying to stay strong for not only her sake but for her daughter. In order to help Bree through it, she promises Bree a pet for Christmas. Their faith in God, family, and each other helps them through this time of intense trial, but will Tyler make it home safe? This story was very good, and I loved listening to the narrator. I highly recommend it!

A sweet, Clean holiday story

What made the experience of listening to A Pet for Christmas the most enjoyable?

The narration. Elizabeth Klett is great at giving each character an unique voice and adds plenty of action to the story.

What did you like best about this story?

It was a tie between hunky Tyler and what happens to him and Bree the adorable 5-year-old.

Which scene was your favorite?

The end and I can't say what happens.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The scene where Tyler getting captured and all the events after that through his extraction.

Any additional comments?

A pet for Christmas is a lovely continuation of a father for Christmas. It has multiple storylines. Tyler dealing with his PTSD and his job working in Afghanistan. Bree and what she wants for Christmas, and Kelly and the problem with her pregnancy and dealing with her relationship with Tyler.
There is a lot going on, back and forth from Kelly to Tyler. it's almost like two stories that merge. I think that is kinda cool. There is a lot of christian elements, praying and scripture quotes. I don't mind some but there is quite a bit.

If you like sweet, clean romance with some drama, suspense, and action, the holiday stories that is also clean you will enjoy this book.

Wonderful continuation of Kelly and Tyler's story

A Pet for Christmas is the second book in Rachelle Ayala's A Veteran's Christmas trilogy. Tyler is in Afghanistan on a goodwill mission working for his new charity to open a sport complex for the kiddos to enjoy over there. Kelly is at home and quite pregnant at the beginning of this book. Bree is starting to obsess about who her real (bio) dad is and getting a puppy for Christmas, and Kelly is struggling with her inquiries and holding off on getting said puppy. Well, before too long, things in Afghanistan have blown up and Tyler is being taken...who knows where. Kelly is dealing with things at home and of course the fact that nobody know's what the status is with Tyler doesn't make things any easier. I don't want to give away any more of the story than that, though I will say that you will still get your HEA and it was a fun story that kept my attention.

I really enjoyed the characters and though this can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first book in the series first if you want a more in depth understanding of the characters from the time that Kelly and Tyler first met to where we begin the second book. Elizabeth Klett did a good job with the narration and thankfully Bree has grown a bit between the first book and this one, so she didn't sound nearly as annoying as she did in the first book! I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher for an honest review.

A Pet for Christmas

A Pet for Christmas, A Veteran's Christmas, Book 2
: Rachelle Ayala

This is book two in this sweet clean romance series. Kelly and Tyler are trying to workout the emotional baggage from their past lives. Things get complicated and it will take the will of God sending a Christmas miracle for them to be together with their little girl for Christmas. Wìll things work out or will hearts break for Christmas. Bree has really grown up in a year.


The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Elizabeth Klett brought this tale to life. I look forward to book three.



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Fast-paced, Enjoyable Christian Romance

First of all, do not be fooled by the title. It is actually perfectly appropriate and so deceptive! A Pet for Christmas... seems so innocuous, doesn't it? Except it really isn't.

This is the second book in the series. While the books are predominantly stand alone, the characters are the same and it works well to read/listen to the stories in order, one after the other.

This book goes beyond the HEA and is set one year after the first story. Kelly, Tyler and Bree are still together with a new member of the family on the way. Tyler continues to suffer from PTSD. The challenges of being pregnant, the PTSD, Tyler's job that takes him to Afghanistan and so on are putting pressure on their relationship. Throw in a bombing, the Taliban and pregnancy complications and the plot thicken.

But this series is nothing if not a celebration of hope, family and friends with the central theme being the characters' faith in God. The characters are flawed and very human which is clearly reflected in their faith. As a result, their faith feels like a natural extension of their personalities.

Overall, the story is fast-paced and interesting. It is easy for the audience to commit to the characters and story. In fact, I am looking forward to more books in this series.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.