Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

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?

This is a magical book full of wonderful people that will get you into the holiday spirit. I read this book right before Christmas and it was a perfect escape to wonderland. I don't typically read Christian fiction but this book caught my eye and looked very interesting and entertaining - hmmm - maybe some magic at work here?

The characters in the book start out living in their own little worlds. Simon and Cora have worked together for several years but really hadn't 'seen' the other person until they both received tickets to the Christmas Ball. Each character grows and becomes a better person because of the love that they get from others. The magic of the tickets encounter quite a few hurdles before things work out the way they are supposed to. There are some amazing side characters in the story that help the magic work.

I love Sage Street and all the wonderful shops on it. The street is only visible to those people that are open to the magic of the shops and the magic of Christmas. I love Christmas and this is the perfect book to read for the holidays.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to exploring more works by the author, Donita K. Paul.

Watch the video trailer to this amazing book!

Download chapter one of Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball now!

Disclaimer -- I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

The 2011 Stephen King Reading Challenge

I saw this challenge on another blog, the Book Chick City blog and had to sign up for it. I love Stephen King's work and have almost all of his books. But the problem I have with collecting and owning his books is, I don't read them. The books constantly stay to my 'To-Be-Read' pile. This challenge will be my good excuse to read them!

My goal will be to read 6 of his books this year. And who knows, maybe it will be more - that is allowed.

The rules are posted on the Book Chick City's blog.

Here is the list of Stephen King books that I have read --
1. Ur

Books I've read/am reading in 2010

52. Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
51. Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul
50. Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian
49. Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton
48. Darkness Under the Sun (a novella) by Dean Koontz
47. The Floor of the Sky by Pamela Carter Joern
46. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
46. Vixen by Jillian Larkin
45. The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard
44. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
43. Eden Springs : a novella by Laura Kasischke.
42. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
41. Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson
40. Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener by M.C. Beaton
39. Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand
38. The Wake of Forgiveness by Bruce Machart
37. What is the What by Dave Eggers
36. This Book is Overdue by Marilyn Johnson
35. The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews
34. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
33. Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
32. Fantasy in Death by J. D. Robb
31. The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers
30. Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes
29. No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
28. I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass
27. Kindred in Death by J. D. Robb
26. Writing Circle by Corinne Demas
25. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
24. Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
23. Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
22. True Colors by Kristin Hannah
21. Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg
20. I, Alex Cross by James Patterson
19. Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
18. Still Alice by Lisa Genova
17. Knit Two by Kate Jacobs
16. Noah's Compass by Ann Tyler
15. Breathless by Dean Koontz
14. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
13. Little Women by Louisa May Allcott
12. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
11. The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
10. The Poacher's Son by Paul Doiron
9. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
8. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
7. The Grass Dancer by Susan Power
6. Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger
5. The Rock Orchard by Paula Wall
4. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
3. Run by Ann Patchett
2. The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
1. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen

I saw this reading challenge posted on another blog and was intrigued. It is a challenge against myself to read more in 2011 than I did in 2010. Sweet!! A reason to read more! You can read all about it on the Book Vixen's blog.

I am going for the "Out of Breathe" level - Read 6-10 more books. As of December 20th, I have read 50 books and I might be able to squeeze in another one or two before the end of the year. So that would make my goal around 60 books. I think I can do it!

Here is my list of books read in 2011 --
1. R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton
2. Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
3. Ur by Stephen King
4. Last Girls by Lee Smith