Donita K. Paul's Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball ` Reviewed

TWO TICKETS TO THE CHRISTMAS BALL
By Donita K. Paul
Published by: Water Brook
ISBN# 978-0-307-45899-5
226 Pages

Back Cover: Can mysterious matchmaking booksellers bring two lonely hearts together in time for Christmas?

In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.

Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they’ve decided to bring together.

This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers’ best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?

REVIEW: I was thrilled to receive a review copy of such a fun and enchanting book. The preparations and events leading up to the ball reminded me of the movie Ever After with Drew Barrymore. There was so much excitement, mystery and fun just thinking about the Christmas ball. I loved every minute.

Cora Crowder is in search of just the right Christmas gifts this year. She thought it would help her get into the Christmas spirit. “Cora had been trying to catch the spirit for four years. Somewhere, sometime, she’d get a hold of how to celebrate Christmas.” And catch the Christmas spirit in her heart.

Cora has an unexpected encounter with a co-worker Simon Derrick. They both find themselves in the most unusual book store trying to find the perfect gift. Inside their bags they discover tickets to a one-of-a-kind Christmas ball. The tickets read, “Admit one to the Wizards’ Christmas ball costumes required, dinner and dancing and your destiny.”

Cora and Simon are curious. They’d never heard of this before. Simon is thrilled to take his younger sister to the ball, she’d love it. Cora has second thoughts about going, “..smart girls trusted their instincts and didn’t hang around places that oozed mystery. She didn’t feel threatened, just intrigued…” There was quite a mystery surrounding this book shop and she didn’t know if it was wise to entertain going to a ball that they sponsored.

Simon’s sister Sandy is full of life, Godly insight and fun. She has downs syndrome.Sandy’s elated at the fact she gets to go to pick out a grown for a ball. She loved dressing up like a princess. Sandy insists that Simon ask Cora to go to the ball with them. He hesitates. He doesn’t really know Cora. He finally gets up his courage to ask and Cora says she’ll pray about it. What’s there to pray about? Is God concerned with Christmas balls?

“What right did he have to mock Cora’s desire to ask God for direction? Praying was something he did, but he didn’t talk about it. And if he prayed about going to a dance, it would be one of these quick ‘this is what’s going on’ prayers!”

Donita K. Paul pens a fairy-tale that will get you in the Christmas spirit and then some. Donita masterfully weaves golden spiritual nuggets and other lessons through her fun, mysterious and intriguing novella. I enjoyed all of her characters especially Sandy. She had such child like faith and spoke her mind about the deeper matters of the heart with youthful confidence. There were ‘aha’ moments in this journey too. This encouraged me, made me laugh and smile. I enjoyed the surprises along the way. It didn’t turn out the way I had suspected, I liked that. I adored this novel and its message. It defiantly warmed my heart and brought a big grin to my face. I like when a story stays with you long after you read the last page! This books a keeper.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network