Review: Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball*
By: Donita K. Paul
Publisher: Waterbrook
ISBN: 978-0-307-45899-5

About the book:

In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. As she searches 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 surprising discovering 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:

If you’re looking for a charming, whimsical holiday read to get you in the Christmas spirit, look no further than Donita K. Paul’s delightful contemporary novella, Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball. When long-time co-workers Cora and Simon meet unexpectedly at the delightfully named Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s bookshop, they never expected to receive invitations to a ball that could change the course of their lives forever. But in order for the master matchmaking plan of the Wizards of Sage Street to work, Cora and Simon must each lay aside their preconceived ideas about faith, family, and each other, and risk everything on the possibility of love found in a most unconventional way.

Though Two Tickets is set in the present day, the charm and almost courtly appeal of the Christmas Ball made me feel like I was reading a story set at the turn of the 20th century. And with the rather reserved manner of the main characters and the magical aspect of the storyline this tale would fit comfortably in that time period. Since Paul is primarily known for her fantasy novels, she brings a unique and refreshing spin to this modern-day story of love and new beginnings to be found at Christmas, the most magical time of year in my opinion. The faith element may feel rather overt to some readers, but I found it flowed well within the context of the story and the characters’ personalities. And though brief, Paul’s treatment of Cora’s family troubles really shines in this novel – her struggle to reconcile her faith and her difficult, often outright hostile family felt absolutely genuine and authentic.

This little book begs to be made into a Christmas movie (Hallmark Channel please take note!). Its blend of faith, charm, and a dash of holiday magic would be the perfect addition to my Christmas movie collection. My only qualm with Two Tickets is that given the novella format, readers aren’t given enough time to see Simon and Cora’s relationship develop, and to further explore the delightful, magical Sage Street shopping district Paul has created. While I do feel that overall the faith and magical elements of the novella were integrated well within the confines of Paul’s contemporary setting, the manners and quirks of the setting and characters make me wish just a bit that this Christmas Ball was set in the early 1900’s. That setting would ideally fit the mood of this story. That qualm aside, Two Tickets is a fun diversion for fantasy and romance lovers looking to add a dash of whimsy to their Christmas reading.

*Side note: Isn't this the most gorgeous cover EVER? :)

Review: DragonSpell by Donita K. Paul

DragonSpell (The Dragon Keeper Chronicles #1)
By: Donita K. Paul
Publisher: Waterbrook
ISBN: 978-1-57856-823-9

About the book:

One dragon egg holds the key to the future.

Once a slave, Kale is given the unexpected opportunity to become a servant to Paladin. Yet this young girl has much to learn about the difference between slavery and service.

A desperate search begins...

A small band of Paladin's servants rescue Kale from danger but turn her from her destination: The Hall, where she was to be trained. Feeling afraid and unprepared, Kale embarks on a perilous quest to find the meech dragon egg stolen by the foul Wizard Risto. First, she and her comrades must find Wizard Fentworth. But their journey is threatened when a key member of the party is captured, leaving the remaining companions to find Fentworth, attempt an impossible rescue, and recover the egg whose true value they have not begun to suspect.

Weaving together memorable characters, daring adventure, and a coore of eternal truth, DragonSpell is a finely craffted and welcome addition to the corpus of fantasy fiction.

Review:

Kale is a young o'rant slave girl, used to taking orders and living a safe, predictable existence, until her world is rocked by the discovery of a unique talent. She possesses the rare and unique gift of discovering valuable dragon eggs. Sent to the city of Vendela to undertake training at The Hall so she can enter the service of Paladin, her carefully laid plans go awry when she's nearly kidnapped and then her rescuers inform her that she must go questing. Kale and her new comrades have been commissioned to discover the location of a rare and valuable meech dragon egg before the evil Wizard Risto can harness the egg's power to cast an evil spell. Feeling utterly unequipped, Kale is thrust into an adventure beyond her wildest dreams as she receives a crash course in managing her new powers (mindspeaking and dragon raising) and discovering the secrets of her destiny. It's a destiny that both terrifies and intrigues Kale as she must decide whom she will serve - if she survives.

I honestly have no idea why I've waited so long to delve into Paul's fantasy fiction. The plus side for me is, of course, that I have the entire Dragon Keeper series ready and waiting for me to devour. I really love speculative fiction, running the gamut from science fiction to fantasy, and it's a thrill to discover an author so adept at crafting a unique fantasy realm like Amara. DragonSpell feels like it was clearly inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's fiction, particularly The Hobbit in both tone and scope. Like Tolkien's Middle Earth, Paul's land of Amara is filled with a wild variety of races, each with their own unique languages and customs. Everything from the fabrics that make up the characters' clothes to the food they consume is unique and inventive, and adds rich detail to Kale's world and her adventures. Like all good fantasy, Paul sets up a classic battle between good and evil - the seven high races in service to Paladin and Wulder, and the seven low races in service to the Pretender and Risto. Paul's Christian worldview is rather obvious in this fantasy's allegorical elements, but it really never feels heavy-handed or preachy. Rather, Paul's superb world-crafting abilities provide the colorful backdrop for characters to live out and learn eternal truths.

It took me a couple of chapters to really get into DragonSpell. It's as if there's so much Paul wanted to accomplish with this first book - establishing the setting, introducing new characters, etc. - that it took a while for the story to find its rhythm and focus. However, once that happens Kale's quest becomes quite the page-turner. Kale is a great heroine-in-training - sure, she's got a lot of growing up to do, but I can't wait to discover more about her hidden history and destiny as Paladin's Dragon Keeper. And Kale's companions are absolutely delightful - from the furry and fastidious doneel Dar and his sly, teasing humor, to the absent-minded hilarity of the Wizard Fentworth, all of Paul's creations are hilarious, unforgettable, and genuine. But the dragons and their unique personalities and gifts are by far my favorite characters. Kale's journey is funny, heart-warming, and suspenseful - I can't wait to lose myself in her world again!