Customer Reviews

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball: A Novella

5 star:		(74)
4 star:		(88)
3 star:		(27)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A lovely novella with a beautiful cover,a new to me author Donita K. Paul writes a charming story that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.

When Cora Crowder finds herself needing a book for an uncle's Christmas gift she heads into the Warner,Werner, Wizbotterdad book store. She has no idea that she will wind up on the receiving end of the stores matchmaking scheme to throw her and her boss Simon together.

I loved this book, it had the right balance of romance, fantasy along with a great underlying spiritual message. The characters were fabulous, and I loved the cat.

A delightful Christmas romance that will get you in the holiday spirit,and would be great read anytime of the year. I highly recommend this wonderful book!

If you ask anyone for directions, you're bound to get some strange looks.

If you try to Google it on the internet, it doesn't exist.

If you drive there to try and find it, you'll be wasting your gas.

On Sage Street, lies a part of town that few often see and even fewer know exist. Most carry on with their day to day lives and barely look up to see this part of town. Lined with an old candy shoppe, a toy store, a hotel, a costume shop, and a unique book store called Warner, Werner and Wizbotterdad's, you find the most quaint and pleasant place to be.

When Cora Crowder attempts to find a book for her uncle to finish off her Christmas shopping early, she finds an unexpected surprise waiting for her at the book store.

Simon Derrick, is a man who lives with his family including his Down Syndrome sister, Sandy who loves books. What better surprise to get her than a book at this unique book store on Sage Street.

Only when they both arrive home and find a ticket tucked into their books for a Wizard Ball does the holiday magic begin to arrive thanks to some angels God has so graciously provided along the way.

In the magical Christmas story, Two Tickets To The Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul, the reader is transported to an enchanted tale of God's divine intervention to help Cora and Simon find the real meaning of Christmas. I could not book this book down as I didn't want to leave the story, it felt real and full of hope as you came to know Cora and Simon. Each has a different history that when woven together creates a lasting masterpiece in God's eyes.

I received this book compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers for my honest review, and not only did I receive an early Christmas present in reading this heart-warming story but I discovered a 5 out 5 perfect stars and comes with my highest recommendation. This is a must have if you collect Christmas classics and treasures like I do. I am keeping this one as part of my permanent library and can see reading it through the month of December with my children.

This was an absolutely adorable book. Loved. It. I have to say, it's not everyday that you read a christian book about magic and wizards! This was a really light read and I finished it in 3 days of bedtime reading - so I could have easily read it in a few hours time if I wasn't sleepy! Perfect light holiday 'warm fuzzies' book.

The character AND plot development, I felt, were both stellar. It was very whimsical and romantic and both the dialogue and storyline flowed well. I even really liked both the cover (beautiful!) and the dust jacket (it just felt nice... and, hey, how many book reviews do YOU read that talk about the dust jacket?)Also, the main character shares the same not-so-common name as my daughter, so that won it a few extra brownie points too. ;-)

So, here's the basic storyline:

When Cora Crowder, who is a relatively new believer, needs a Christmas gift for her uncle, she discovers Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad's bookshop in a part of town that she didn't know existed. While she is there she bumps into her boss, Simon Derrick. Simon is a no-nonsense anti-social type at work, but at home he is a happy, loving, attentive brother to her special needs sister, Sandy.

While they are both in the bookstore the co-owners - father and son - exchange conspiratorial glances and cryptic comments regarding Cora and Simon. The two don't think a lot of the behavior, chalking it up to the owners being somewhat eccentric, and thus go their separate ways. They both discover later that they've each received tickets to The Christmas Ball. That's when strange 'coincidences' start occurring that keep bringing Simon and Cora back together.

And that is where I'll leave you, as I don't want to spoil the ending (I hate it when people do that). I highly recommend this book - two thumbs WAY up. I'll definitely be seeking out Donita K. Paul's other titles for some fun reading in the near future.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

This book is a light, easy read that I could have easily finished in one day, but I chose not to rush my reading. The focus in the book is on Cora and Simon's budding romance.

I can honestly say I never expected to read a Christian book that involved wizards and magic! It was very unique in that regards. It didn't bother me at all, just surprised me. The wizardry and magic was not the main focus of the story, but served as a way to get the couple together (fyi, for those who think they might not enjoy the magical aspect of the story).

All of that being said, I found the characters likable and I felt that I got to know them a bit. I really enjoyed Simon's character for being close to his family, especially his sister Sandy.

This book does switch back and forth between Cora and Simon, something I usually dislike, but the author makes it work well in this case. She doesn't switch back too soon. Very well written, kudos to the author!

If you're looking for a sweet, cute and romantic book for the holidays, this book is for you.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Simon and Cora both mysteriously receive tickets to a Christmas Ball that seems quirky at best. It is an attempt to start a romance between the two of them. Will it work?

Donita K. Paul is obviously a talented author. Her character development is superb. Her plot is well-defined. However, this is a whimsical fantasy novella. I really disliked the book for that reason. I was going to give this book a negative review, but my personal preference for specific genres should not get in the way of objectivity.

Anyone who would enjoy a whimsical, romantic Christms tale, will love this book.

THIS book "Two tickets to the Christmas Ball" is one of the CUTEST and SWEETEST book ever!! I just LOVE the characters! Cora, who is a new believer and deals with the pains of her past and learns how to press on and be "like" Christ each day. I truly appreciated how she comes to love and accept her family.....a task that everyone can benefit from, no matter how dysfunctional they might be! Mr. Derrick is the CEO of his company and happens to be Cora's boss. He is a very focused man and goes about his job so much that he rarely takes the time to "notice" his employees. He is a godly man and takes wonderful care of his family!
Suffice it to say, that both Cora and Mr. Derrick both receive tickets to this Christmas ball and neither one of them can find out much about it.
Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball is a wonderful story of love, and hope. If you look closely you will find some beautiful life lessons as well as seeing the LOVE of your FATHER and mine in every written word! I highly recommend Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball! It is a precious story that will just have your heart filled with JOY and "Believing" once again!

I found this to be a delightful little story. It was sweet: a sweet premise, a sweet shop, sweet characters and a sweet, charming bookstore. Love it! I will admit to not loving the sentence fragment style of writing, but the story itself was a bit enchanting. I liked Cora and Simon and I loved Sandy. What a sweetheart. Cora grew up in a very dysfunctional, non-Christian home and she struggles with integrating the worldly Christmas traditions with her Christian beliefs. I think this is something that many people struggle with: how to blend the materialistic Christmas trappings with the celebration of Christ's birth.

I've seen reviews where people thought the magical and Christian elements didn't mix. I had no problems with it. Christmas itself is a magical time for me. It's a time of miracles, and celebrating our Savior's miraculous birth is the reason for the holiday itself. The Christmas season is a time when many people are focused on others and give of themselves and their time, talents, energy and money. You don't get much more Christian than that. Christmas is a time when children's eyes sparkle, people are a bit kinder, and yes, everything is magical.

I loved the magical, wizard characters. Nothing about them took away the spirit of Christmas, or the Spirit of God itself from the story or the characters. They were funny and everything they did was to help other people find each other.

I have other, more favorite Christmas stories. But, this is a sweet story, just like Christmas stories should be. It's a short, easy read and perfect for a cozy afternoon by the fire.

I thoroughly enjoyed this grown-up fantasy Christian fiction novella that evokes memories of Cinderella. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the delightful. yet surprising end.

The protagonists are well-written characters, Cora and Simon, who experience unexpected romance at Christmastime. Sandy, a secondary character is written so well that I learned a good bit about how to interact with a person of special needs.

(sigh) I would prefer the writing style of sentence fragments be eliminated, though. However, even that did not detract me too much from my joy while consuming this sugary treat.

What a super Christmas gift this would be!

I loved this sweet little book! Donita K. Paul is a new to me author-one whom I've always heard wonderful things about. I'm so happy to have had the chance to see first hand, the amazing work of Ms. Paul!

This adorable Christmas book has two characters (three if you include the sweet, tender hearted Sandy!), Cora and Simon, who immediately steal your heart. Reading about them and then all the strange and mysterious things that started happening by "coincidence", I felt like I was pulled into a magical and God filled fairytale Christmas. And with names like Wizbotterdad and Booterbaw, you can't help but chuckle at the matchmaking characters!

Everything about this 5 star book is worth recommending-the characters, the plot, the cover- all of it. Donita K. Paul is an author whose books will continue to be sought out by me and I will keep my fingers crossed for more magical, sweet books such as this one!

Determined to catch a bit of the Christmas spirit, Cora Crowder enters the Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad's bookshop in search of a perfect gift. What Cora doesn't expect--or want--is for the Christmas Spirit to catch HER in a Divinely inspired matchmaking scheme.

If you're looking for a sweet, nostalgic, romantic delight, this book is it. Donita K. Paul has created the perfect balance between inspirational romance and fantasy--as soothing as a box of gourmet chocolates! I just finished this book--for the second time, and it's going on my keeper shelf.