Christmas Stray

By: Rachelle Ayala

Narrated by: Kate Marcin

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

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.

good book

amazing book loved it
enjoyed listening to it
five star for everything
i would so listen to this again

A Christmas miracle

What a wonderful story about loss, forgiveness, and a fresh start.

After Juliette and Gabe lost their son on Christmas Eve, the holidays could never be the same, and their marriage was crumbling. Can a little boy and his puppy help to heal the pain of loss and set help Juliette and Gabe find their way back to each other?

I think this is one of Rachelle Ayala's best stories.

Heartfelt Listen!

I loved this touching story! The story was original and heartfelt and full of so many emotions. As a parent, I could not imagine the pain of losing a child. This book was so well written and the performance of the narrator was top notch. I loved the emotions one could hear and feel in this book. The story was a sweet Christmas story that gives hope. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review.

Absolutely heartwarming story perfect for holidays

This is a story about Christmas miracles. Juliette and Gabe are at the end of their marriage. Without giving away spoilers, they take one final getaway together in the hopes of working things out, but both have little hope at this point. Well, some wonderful stuff happens and you'll just have to listen to hear their story.

I'm always a little leery of short novellas, as many often don't have fully realized stories or things are rushed and skipped over in an effort to tell the story in so little time. This was not the case in Christmas Stray at all. Rachelle Ayala crafted a perfect, heartwarming story about hope and love, and I'm so glad I listened. Kate Marcin did a great job narrating, both with the various characters as well as with cadence, etc. I would happily listen to another story written by Ms. Ayala and narrated by Ms. Marcin again.

If this story sounds interesting to you at all, take a chance and get it. You'll be happy that you did! I think that I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher for an honest review.

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

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.

Believe in miracles

Any additional comments?

This is such a wonderful story of loss and forgiveness. Juliette and Gabriel are going to a cabin for Christmas. It's been a year since the tragic death of their 6 year old son, Jeremiah. Juliette has terrible feelings of loss and doesn't want to celebrate Christmas ever again and this is causing problems in their marriage to the point that they may divorce. A snowstorm traps them at the cabin and they find a little boy, Patrick and his dog, Puppy. Juliette tries to steel herself against feelings for Patrick and Puppy. You'll have to listen to find out how they help heal Juliette and Gabriel. This is a wonderful Christmas story that can be listened to at any time of the year since it has a timeless lesson. Rachelle Ayala has a real gift for telling these stories and Kate Marcin has done a great job narrating. I received a free copy and am giving this review in exchange.

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.

Very emotional read!

This was a well written but hard to listen to story. I would highly recommend you listen to it in private, for me this was not one to listen to at work. You get drawn into this short story very quickly, and you can't stop listening once you start! The subject matter tears at your heart, but stick with it and this is one of the HEA that will stay with you for a long time! You will experience the best characters any time you read/listen to one of the authors books and this is no exception. I thought the narrator was really good at bringing personality to this story!