Christmas Stray

By: Rachelle Ayala

Narrated by: Kate Marcin

Length: 1 hr and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

Juliette Martin does not ever want to celebrate Christmas again, not when it means reliving the last one after her six-year-old son, Jeremiah, passed away on Christmas Eve.

She and husband, Gabe, find themselves snowed in at a mountain cabin with a pair of strays. Juliette desperately needs a miracle to save her marriage and restore her faith in God. Can a stray dog and an orphan boy help her believe in the magic of Christmas and the power of love?

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

Heartwarming and Emotional!

Rachelle Ayala tells a compelling story that takes the reader on a journey of love, hope, forgiveness and healing. Juliette and Gabe Martin have lost their son to leukaemia and are spending this Christmas at a cabin in the woods, as Juliette vows to never celebrate Christmas again. The strength of their relationship is tested as they deal with their loss. When they become snowed in with two strays they pray for a Christmas miracle. This is a story about love and loss, tragedy and forgiveness, inspiration and faith. You’ll be teary-eyed many times throughout the story, so keep a box of tissues close by. I found myself becoming so completely involved in the story that I just refused to accept the fact that there could be anything but a happy ending! It is emotional, inspiring and unforgettable. This will be a book I will listen to every Christmas and will recommend it to everyone I can.
Kate Marcin does a fabulous job of narrating. She has a lovely singing voice and the small singing parts added to the story. This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

KLEENEX IS A MUST!!

Christmas Stray had me catching my breath while losing my heart. Juliette and Gabe's story is as profound as it is heartbreaking. What once was strong, has been fractured by grief and hopelessness. Ms. Ayala tackles the subject of lost faith and broken hearts, while inspiring readers with her courageous characters. No parent should have to endure what this couple did. However, an adorable puppy and an equally lost little boy give this broken couple a chance at healing and moving forward. KLEENEX IS A MUST!!

A well-written story from a very good author

Christmas Stray (Sweet Holiday Romance), my third read from author Rachel Ayala and the second the week. A captivating Christian tale, quieter in tone than my previous reads by her. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing. Kate Marcin’s narration adds to the book's enjoyment & was perfect for this book. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

A touching and magical story

This is a sweet, touching and at times heartbreaking story about losses, sadness, hope, second chances and new beginnings.
After the loss of their little boy, Gabe and Juliette Martin have drifted apart. Each with their own grief. While Gabe is trying to mend their lives with hope of a future, Juliette wants to forget their love and the life they had and is thinking about a divorce.
Gabe’s desire to give it a try, brings them to an isolated cabin for the Christmas holiday.
Meeting a young boy and a dog, has them re-evaluated life . Can this magical encounter restore their faith, hope and love?
A lovely story not only for the Christmas holiday, but anytime of the year.
The narrator, Kate Marcin, does a very job rendition of the various voices.

Great story

Christmas Stray by Rachelle Ayala was a great read. Juliette doesn’t like Christmas since the death of her six year old son on Christmas Eve. Her and Gabe, her husband, go to a mountain cabin that they snowed in at with two strays. This was a great book about rekindling their love.

Heartfelt Christmas Story

I loved, loved, loved this story!! Beware you will need tissue to listen to this one!! Narration was awesome! A must read for everyone!! I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review. The fact that I was gifted this book had no influence over my opinion of it.

Lovely story of hope

Juliette and Gabe are a couple who are still very much in love, but their relationship has suffered since the loss of their young son a year ago, on Christmas Eve. They travel to a remote cabin to try to save their marriage. Juliette also looks at the trip as an escape from all things Christmas, since she never plans to celebrate the holidays again. The couple find a little boy and his puppy just after losing power in the cabin, and everything changes.

I adore this story. Juliette and Gabe both seem very real to me, and Patrick and Puppy are adorable. I absolutely love the magical elements. The writing and the narration are wonderful.

A story of loss, love, and the power to heal...

Juliette is like a shell of herself. After losing her son, she wants nothing to do with the holidays. She can't help but feel the loss all the time, and she never feels happy. When her husband, Gabe, insists on a weekend at a cabin, she demands there be no Christmas decorations. Gabe and Juliette find a young boy and a puppy, and Juliette takes him in as if he is her own. As she cares for him, she starts to find joy again. She knows this isn't her son, but she feels closer to him anyway. Can a little boy and a puppy help heal the broken heart and soul of a couple that lost the most important thing in their lives? This story will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will make you believe in the power of love. I absolutely loved this story. The narrator was enjoyable to listen to as well. I highly recommend this book!

This was a real tear jerker!

For a relatively short book, this book packed a punch. My emotions were all over the place with this one. It deals with a couple trying to revive their marriage which is in danger of falling apart after the death of their small son. He passed away at Christmas time and the woman, Juliette, is just totally done with Christmas and swears she will never celebrate again. During a snowstorm, she and Gabe discover what can only be described as curious and miraculous beings. The two may be able to lead Juliette back to Christmas and back to happiness, if she will only open up her heart again!
This was just a lovely, lovely story worthy of tears and heartache! I couldn't quite listening to the audio book. The narration by Kate Marcin was wonderful.

5++++ stars!

This story had me cryiing like a baby. Beautifully written story and perfect narration. I loved these characters and my heart hurt so much for everything they had been through. There was a lot to this book for being a short story but it is well worth the credit! Highly recommend this author - especially her Christmas stories!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. The fact that I was gifted this book had no influence over my opinion of it

Story About Love, Loss and Finding One's Way

Most romances are about the initial meeting and love between two people. It usually ends with a HEA. Reality is that this is when the hard stuff comes in and most relationships are only as good as the commitment, trust, respect, communication, etc. it is built on.

This book is about a married couple who lost their 6 year old son to leukaemia one day before Christmas. It is one year later and they are struggling in their relationship, grief and Christian faith. They have come to a cabin to give their relationship a fighting chance. Just when they are connecting, at least physically, they are stranded in a snow storm with a little boy and his puppy. Their guests, as only children can do, bring the couple out of their comfort zone and force them to really consider themselves. There is always room for growth, the possibility of second chances and the potential for a Christmas miracle.

The story is touching and sweet. Rachelle Ayala creates realistic characters, which makes it easy to relate to them. Definitely Christmas feel-good vibes!

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

Merry Christmas!

No one prepared me for this novella. I love Christmas stories, and when I started to listen to this one, I was all ready to have Christmas in September..then the plot started, and the heartache with Juliet and Gabe dealing with the death of their son, trying to get their life back on track and would it be together. This is not happy, this is not singing Christmas carols!!! Then...Rachelle Ayala takes the story and completely turns it around. The introduction of Patrick and Puppy creates a healing process for all the parties involved, turning a sad time of year in the middle of a blizzard into the changing of lives. Rachelle Ayala has a way of creating this story giving you so many feels and emotions(yes, you will tear up!) in the end making you smile!

The narration of this book by Kate Marcin was pure perfection. She had each voice, each feel and every emotion spot on for me. I was feeling everything as she performed this short and will definitely look for more of her narrations.

You could

You could get freaked out by the fact that he a ghost or you he's an 👼

A truly heartwarming story!

A tip to a cabin 1 year after the death of their son. Julieette and Gabe are on the cusp of divorce when they a stray puppy and an orphaned boy abandoned in the snow. Together they learn to believe in miracles and have faith in God. I'd highly recommend this book.

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