ReviewsByErin

Thanks to the participation of Olympic ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White, I watched my first episode of Dancing With the Stars last year. This happened to be the same season that Candace Cameron Bure was competing, and when my friend (and DWTS fan) Robin recommended Candace's book reflecting on her time on the show, I decided to check it out. I'm glad I did!

Candace writes with candor and courage about what she learned during the 10 weeks of competing on DWTS. As a born-again Christian, Candace wanted to shine for the Lord and stay true to her identity as a child of the King. It wasn't easy, though. Obviously it was a physically challenging endeavor that only got harder the farther she advanced on the show, but spiritually and emotionally she was faced with things like confronting her fear of man, the need to be perfect, and even pushback from other Christians who felt she didn't live up to their standards of what a Christian should do or be.

I really loved the format of this book. Candace devotes one chapter for every week of competition, and talks about the process of learning each dance and things that were particularly enjoyable or difficult that week. She talks about what she was facing internally, and then turns it around and lays out a practical application for herself and us readers to take home to our real lives. I didn't find Candace's style preachy (I have to admit I was a little worried about this at first!), and really got a lot out of what she shared.

My two favorite chapters were "All Grace and No Truth" and "In His Image." In the former Candace discusses what it is like when people only tell you things you want to hear. In the end it doesn't do anyone any good. We desperately need grace, but we also need truth to help us grow better. The chapter titled "In His Image" focuses on how Candace went through a little crisis about 'owning' her womanhood. Being a woman is a gift from God, and makes us uniquely different from men. So many things about the beauty of womanhood have been twisted by the world, but we still have room to make a stand for Godly womanhood. It will look a little different for every woman because God has given each of us different personalities and talents, but we shouldn't be afraid to be who we are because God is the One who made us that way!

If you enjoyed watching Candace on DWTS, I really feel like you'd enjoy this book. It's entertaining, convicting, and encouraging all at the same time.

The year is 106 AD. Julian is a Roman citizen running from the persecution which has taken the lives of some dear fellow Christians. Cassia is a young mother seeking a new start with her beloved son. T.L. Higley presents us with another masterpiece of historical fiction, using her descriptive style and unique gift to make this ancient city come alive. You'll ride along with a caravan, climb Petra's sandstone steps, scout out the Nabataean palace and ache or cheer with our characters through this journey.

I was intrigued to see how Higley handled the spiritual aspect of a book written after Christ's coming. I have loved her novels set at the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and each of them has featured believers looking forward to the Redeemer. "Petra" has a wonderful focus on the early Church and those who claim the Jewish Messiah as their own. There is a powerful spiritual war ongoing throughout the novel, culminating in a Peretti-esque battle before it is all over. Petra's fate hangs in the balance as a new heir to the throne is discovered and the Roman army marches across the desert to overtake take them and bring them into their empire.

I strongly related to the character of Julian. Like Julian, I am an organizer, a natural leader, and by God's grace have a great deal of personal strength. Strength can be a weakness, though, when one believes they can live by their own power rather than letting the Lord guide. How often I've found myself in Julian's shoes, going strong on a plan I've devised on my own without seeking God's wisdom or will. To see where Higley takes our hero was like a personal challenge to myself. I really enjoyed it and have found myself recalling lessons learned in these past few days since finishing the book. It made an impact, and that is the mark of great story-telling.

As ever, you know the historical side is covered well when you find yourself wanting to research the location and setting on your own! I've had some time to look things up, both on Higley's own NoPassportRequired website and other places, and everything I found seemed familiar because she had seamlessly included so many actual facts and references that I had assimilated much information just by reading the novel. You can't ask for more than that as a fan of this genre! Higley continues to be a favorite and I can't wait for her next release!