This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Rachelle Ayala is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Her foremost goal is to take readers on a shared emotional journey with her characters as they grow and become more true to themselves. Rachelle believes in the power of love to overcome obstacles and feels that everyone should find love as often as possible, especially if it's within the pages of a book.
Her book, Knowing Vera, won the 2015 Angie Ovation Award, and A Father for Christmas garnered a 2015 Readers’ Favorite Gold Award. In 2016, Christmas Stray won the Readers’ Favorite Gold Award, A Pet for Christmas got an Honorable Mention, and Playing for the Save earned a 2017 Readers’ Favorite Gold Award.
She is also a writing teacher and founder of the Romance In A Month writing community. She recently released many of her books in audiobook.
Reviewed by Deborah Stone for Readers' Favorite
In Christmas Stray by Rachelle Ayala, Gabe and Juliette Martin head off to a cabin in the woods to spend Christmas together. A time to be alone and find out if their strained marriage can be salvaged. Christmas Eve the year before, their six-year-old son, Jeremiah, died of leukemia and Juliette has been lost in her grief ever since. She had prayed to God for a miracle, but Jeremiah still died. Their time at the cabin would give Juliette and Gabe a chance to reconnect, if it's not too late. They find a stray puppy and his companion, a young boy, during a snow storm. Gabe and Juliette take them both inside the warm cabin and, as they wait out the severe storm, Patrick and the puppy may just be the Christmas miracle that Juliette has prayed for. How will she deal with turning Patrick back over to his own family when the storm passes?
Rachelle Ayala's characters are well thought out and the emotions of grief and loss are well defined. As Gabe and Juliette still mourn the loss of their only child, this strange boy appears to fill that void, if only temporarily. Juliette struggles to open her heart to feel love again for her husband and this temporary family. Rachelle Ayala's unexpected ending is both touching and delightful, and puts a smile on your face while it warms your heart. God is gracious and merciful and we see the evidence of that in Gabe and Juliette's unexpected and unusual Christmas miracle. This is a delightful story with a heartwarming and tender ending. I enjoyed reading it and plan to read more of this author's work.
