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Charting the Course
A ten-day Caribbean cruise might sound like a fabulous way to spend the holidays, but Liz would rather be anywhere than stranded on a ship with her estranged father for his high school reunion.
While an anonymous note, an onboard mystery, and a cute boy help turn the tide on the unwanted trip, Liz and her father drift even further apart. However, when Liz’s reckless actions create a tsunami of unintended consequences, she recognizes that she’s drowning in pent-up hurt and anger. As her carefully created façade begins to ebb away, she turns to her faith and sets off to chart a new course for her life.
While an anonymous note, an onboard mystery, and a cute boy help turn the tide on the unwanted trip, Liz and her father drift even further apart. However, when Liz’s reckless actions create a tsunami of unintended consequences, she recognizes that she’s drowning in pent-up hurt and anger. As her carefully created façade begins to ebb away, she turns to her faith and sets off to chart a new course for her life.
228 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2016
1 person is currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Leslea Wahl
25 books148 followersLeslea lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and three children. Their own life of adventure includes traveling, skiing, and scuba diving. Leslea strives to write fiction that will inspire readers to use their own talents and gifts to glorify God.
The Perfect Blindside has received a 2016 First Place Catholic Press Association Book Award and a 2016 Illumination Book Awards silver medal.
An Unexpected Role has was awarded a 2017 Moonbeam Children's book Gold Medal.
The Perfect Blindside has received a 2016 First Place Catholic Press Association Book Award and a 2016 Illumination Book Awards silver medal.
An Unexpected Role has was awarded a 2017 Moonbeam Children's book Gold Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 16, 2023
About this book:
“A ten-day Caribbean cruise might sound like a fabulous way to spend the holidays, but Liz would rather be anywhere than stranded on a ship with her estranged father for his high school reunion.
While an anonymous note, an onboard mystery, and a cute boy help turn the tide on the unwanted trip, Liz and her father drift even further apart. However, when Liz’s reckless actions create a tsunami of unintended consequences, she recognizes that she’s drowning in pent-up hurt and anger. As her carefully created façade begins to ebb away, she turns to her faith and sets off to chart a new course for her life.”
Series: Book #2 in the “Finding Faith” series. Book #1 is “Into the Spotlight” (formally published as “An Unexpected Role”) and was reviewed Here!
Spiritual Content- A couple Scriptures are mentioned & discussed; Talks about God, His work for us, & praying; Most 'H's are capital when referring to God; Prayers, Crossing oneself, & Thanking God (and the Holy Family and the saints); Going to a church; Liz’s best friend (Josie) encourages her to pray and come to church youth group, but Liz doesn’t get her enthusiasm for her faith; Josie gave Liz a novena to pray for family healing, it’s explained that “novenas for simply structured prayers that ask certain saints to pray for us”, & Liz prays them for multiple days; Liz says she’s “not exactly” Catholic, as her mom would attend a non-denominational church and her dad is Protestant, but she’s attending Mass with Josie’s families; Liz thinks that her faith is lukewarm and that part of her wants to stay in the “bitter, complaining stage” because in some ways, it’s easier; *Spoiler* ; When Liz says that God’s been “less forthcoming with any guidance”, Cole says “God is a busy fella some days”; A discussion question at the end mentions about seeking out a priest to talk to if you don’t have someone to talk with about difficult things; Mentions of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, faiths, & forgiveness; Mentions of those in the Bible; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Christmas, baby Jesus, the Holy Family, and Bethlehem; Mentions of Mass, churches, church going, & youth groups; Mentions of becoming Catholic, confirmations, confessions, priests, Easter Vigils and sponsors, & popes; Mentions of saints, novenas, & a novena to pray for family healing (Liz thinks her family is beyond repair, but tries the prayers for Josie’s sake); A couple mentions of rosaries; A couple mentions of miracles; A mention of the Bible; A mention of a cross necklace; A mention of a nativity set; A mention of a shrine to Mary; A mention of sins;
*Note: A few mentions of wishing on a star; A few mentions of karma; A mention of a devilishly cute grin.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘crummy’, a form of ‘ticked off’, two ‘geez’s, four ‘darn/darn it’s, four forms of ‘heck’, four forms of ‘idiot’, four forms of ‘screw up’, six ‘dumb’s, and fifteen ‘stupid’s; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Liz is not happy to be on the cruise and has a bit of an attitude about it at first (sulky and disrespectful towards her dad and a couple rude adults) *Spoiler* ; Liz has a few non-alcohol cocktails; *Spoiler* ; A comedienne makes hurtful jabs and disses at others; Many mentions of crimes, criminals, stealing, thefts, & thieves; Many mentions of alcohol (including many types & also Liz calling it “liquid courage” for her dad), bars, drinking, having too much to drink, hangovers, & adults socially drinking at parties; Many mentions of divorces (Liz’s parents are divorced and she calls that their “D-day”; Her father walked out on them and since her mother was so distraught, Liz hide her emotions but is still upset about it; She thinks that logically, she should give him a break, but she hates coming in second to his social life and says that he destroyed their family; She thinks that she’s always wanted to cause him pain because of the pain he’s caused her, but feels worse when he’s hurt by her honest words); Mentions of married couples arguing; Mentions of neglectful parents (emotionally and not giving attention to their child); Mentions of cliques, mean kids in high school, bratty teenagers, bullies, & being bullied (Liz); Mentions of gambling, poker, a poker tournament, & casinos (Liz’s dad plays a bit and breaks even at one game); A few mentions of a fight; A few mentions of blackmail; A few mentions of lies, lying, & liars; A few mentions of high school parties; A couple mentions of cheating; A couple mentions of hatred; A mention of grief over the death of a loved one; A mention of jealousy; A mention of rumors; A mention of a slaughterhouse;
*Note: Mentions of movies, actresses, & fiction characters (Audrey Hepburn, My Fair Lady, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman Holiday, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver, Titanic, Forest Grump, Psycho, Gone With the Wind, The Godfather, Freaky Friday, The Wedding Singer, Die Hard, Singing in the Rain, & Some Like it Hot); Mentions of Broadway musicals & songs (Bye Bye Birdie, &Les Misérables); Mentions of singers & songs (Bon Jovi, Madonna, Van Halen, Billy Joel, Nat King Cole, Police, & Elvis); Mentions of brand names & products (iPod, Ray-Bans); A couple mentions of a play (Pygmalion); A couple mentions of MTV; A couple mentions of books & authors (‘Treasure Island’); A couple mentions of Ken & Barbie; A couple mentions of Pictionary & Jenga; A mention of a zombie; A mention of someone looking like a gypsy; A mention of plastic surgery (judgmental tone).
Sexual Content- Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Shivers, & Warmth (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Three forms of ‘hot’; At a tango lesson, Liz is told that tango is the “art of seduction” and that if the couples “keep [their] gaze on each other, your bodies will become one” (she blushes); When Cole comes out of the pool, Liz tries to hide that she’s looking at his chest; Mentions of kissing & couples kissing; Mentions of flirting, blushes, & winks; Mentions of dating, dates, boyfriends/girlfriends, exes, old flames, & cheating; A couple mentions of all the girls in a high school wanting to run their fingers through a popular guy’s hair; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of making out; A mention of a married couple kissing; A mention of a paramour; A mention of a player; A mention of a fling during a vacation; A mention of someone having a “thing” for another; A mention of a guy being called “a dish”; Some love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: The phrase “hook-up” is used but not in the sexual fling meaning; Mentions of Liz’s father’s ex-girlfriend who was barely older than her; A few mentions of another man having a very young wife; A few mentions of a trashy romance book with a “shirtless hunk” on the cover (a mother is reading it); A few mentions of a woman’s skintight dresses and plunging necklines; A couple mentions of canoodling couples; A mention of older men arguing about what music video was the hottest; A mention of testosterone; A mention of a guy’s muscles; A mention of a woman’s figure.
-Liz Kennedy, age 16/17
1st person P.O.V. of Liz
262 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
Since I’ve enjoyed the other book I’ve read by this author, I was very excited about this new one. Contemporary YA is my original favorite genre and it’s always exciting to see new, clean ones being published. Rather than calling this book Christian Fiction, I would note it as Catholic Fiction as the author, the characters, and the discussions are Catholic based. I have to say that even though the faith changes in Liz felt a bit quick, it was interesting to learn a bit about the Catholic church. I felt like the faith content was very sincere and I really liked that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit were mentioned, because I rarely see both mentioned in Christian Fiction books.
At the beginning, Liz can come across as…well, a bit much, or even bitter. Which can be totally understandable and even relatable when you think that Liz has been forced onto this cruise and her very strained relationship with her dad. Once she started helping others and focusing not on herself or her problems, I found her to be much better and I enjoyed the story more. Thankfully, that happens pretty quickly into the story. I was actually completely shocked at a twist and didn’t see it coming—which is very unusual for me!
I’m always down for books that have riddles or treasure hunting themes, and this one definitely kept my interest as I tried to solve the mysteries and riddles.
One more thing to note: The romance was very sweet and clean (Top tier YA flirting that doesn’t cross a line or have a sexual innuendoes—A+ in my book) and was more of a friendship first. I was squeeing over some parts with the two of them, hahaha!
Overall, this was a really entertaining story with good lessons and a super cute romance.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
“A ten-day Caribbean cruise might sound like a fabulous way to spend the holidays, but Liz would rather be anywhere than stranded on a ship with her estranged father for his high school reunion.
While an anonymous note, an onboard mystery, and a cute boy help turn the tide on the unwanted trip, Liz and her father drift even further apart. However, when Liz’s reckless actions create a tsunami of unintended consequences, she recognizes that she’s drowning in pent-up hurt and anger. As her carefully created façade begins to ebb away, she turns to her faith and sets off to chart a new course for her life.”
Series: Book #2 in the “Finding Faith” series. Book #1 is “Into the Spotlight” (formally published as “An Unexpected Role”) and was reviewed Here!
Spiritual Content- A couple Scriptures are mentioned & discussed; Talks about God, His work for us, & praying; Most 'H's are capital when referring to God; Prayers, Crossing oneself, & Thanking God (and the Holy Family and the saints); Going to a church; Liz’s best friend (Josie) encourages her to pray and come to church youth group, but Liz doesn’t get her enthusiasm for her faith; Josie gave Liz a novena to pray for family healing, it’s explained that “novenas for simply structured prayers that ask certain saints to pray for us”, & Liz prays them for multiple days; Liz says she’s “not exactly” Catholic, as her mom would attend a non-denominational church and her dad is Protestant, but she’s attending Mass with Josie’s families; Liz thinks that her faith is lukewarm and that part of her wants to stay in the “bitter, complaining stage” because in some ways, it’s easier; *Spoiler* ; When Liz says that God’s been “less forthcoming with any guidance”, Cole says “God is a busy fella some days”; A discussion question at the end mentions about seeking out a priest to talk to if you don’t have someone to talk with about difficult things; Mentions of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, faiths, & forgiveness; Mentions of those in the Bible; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Christmas, baby Jesus, the Holy Family, and Bethlehem; Mentions of Mass, churches, church going, & youth groups; Mentions of becoming Catholic, confirmations, confessions, priests, Easter Vigils and sponsors, & popes; Mentions of saints, novenas, & a novena to pray for family healing (Liz thinks her family is beyond repair, but tries the prayers for Josie’s sake); A couple mentions of rosaries; A couple mentions of miracles; A mention of the Bible; A mention of a cross necklace; A mention of a nativity set; A mention of a shrine to Mary; A mention of sins;
*Note: A few mentions of wishing on a star; A few mentions of karma; A mention of a devilishly cute grin.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘crummy’, a form of ‘ticked off’, two ‘geez’s, four ‘darn/darn it’s, four forms of ‘heck’, four forms of ‘idiot’, four forms of ‘screw up’, six ‘dumb’s, and fifteen ‘stupid’s; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Liz is not happy to be on the cruise and has a bit of an attitude about it at first (sulky and disrespectful towards her dad and a couple rude adults) *Spoiler* ; Liz has a few non-alcohol cocktails; *Spoiler* ; A comedienne makes hurtful jabs and disses at others; Many mentions of crimes, criminals, stealing, thefts, & thieves; Many mentions of alcohol (including many types & also Liz calling it “liquid courage” for her dad), bars, drinking, having too much to drink, hangovers, & adults socially drinking at parties; Many mentions of divorces (Liz’s parents are divorced and she calls that their “D-day”; Her father walked out on them and since her mother was so distraught, Liz hide her emotions but is still upset about it; She thinks that logically, she should give him a break, but she hates coming in second to his social life and says that he destroyed their family; She thinks that she’s always wanted to cause him pain because of the pain he’s caused her, but feels worse when he’s hurt by her honest words); Mentions of married couples arguing; Mentions of neglectful parents (emotionally and not giving attention to their child); Mentions of cliques, mean kids in high school, bratty teenagers, bullies, & being bullied (Liz); Mentions of gambling, poker, a poker tournament, & casinos (Liz’s dad plays a bit and breaks even at one game); A few mentions of a fight; A few mentions of blackmail; A few mentions of lies, lying, & liars; A few mentions of high school parties; A couple mentions of cheating; A couple mentions of hatred; A mention of grief over the death of a loved one; A mention of jealousy; A mention of rumors; A mention of a slaughterhouse;
*Note: Mentions of movies, actresses, & fiction characters (Audrey Hepburn, My Fair Lady, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman Holiday, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver, Titanic, Forest Grump, Psycho, Gone With the Wind, The Godfather, Freaky Friday, The Wedding Singer, Die Hard, Singing in the Rain, & Some Like it Hot); Mentions of Broadway musicals & songs (Bye Bye Birdie, &Les Misérables); Mentions of singers & songs (Bon Jovi, Madonna, Van Halen, Billy Joel, Nat King Cole, Police, & Elvis); Mentions of brand names & products (iPod, Ray-Bans); A couple mentions of a play (Pygmalion); A couple mentions of MTV; A couple mentions of books & authors (‘Treasure Island’); A couple mentions of Ken & Barbie; A couple mentions of Pictionary & Jenga; A mention of a zombie; A mention of someone looking like a gypsy; A mention of plastic surgery (judgmental tone).
Sexual Content- Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Shivers, & Warmth (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Three forms of ‘hot’; At a tango lesson, Liz is told that tango is the “art of seduction” and that if the couples “keep [their] gaze on each other, your bodies will become one” (she blushes); When Cole comes out of the pool, Liz tries to hide that she’s looking at his chest; Mentions of kissing & couples kissing; Mentions of flirting, blushes, & winks; Mentions of dating, dates, boyfriends/girlfriends, exes, old flames, & cheating; A couple mentions of all the girls in a high school wanting to run their fingers through a popular guy’s hair; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of making out; A mention of a married couple kissing; A mention of a paramour; A mention of a player; A mention of a fling during a vacation; A mention of someone having a “thing” for another; A mention of a guy being called “a dish”; Some love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: The phrase “hook-up” is used but not in the sexual fling meaning; Mentions of Liz’s father’s ex-girlfriend who was barely older than her; A few mentions of another man having a very young wife; A few mentions of a trashy romance book with a “shirtless hunk” on the cover (a mother is reading it); A few mentions of a woman’s skintight dresses and plunging necklines; A couple mentions of canoodling couples; A mention of older men arguing about what music video was the hottest; A mention of testosterone; A mention of a guy’s muscles; A mention of a woman’s figure.
-Liz Kennedy, age 16/17
1st person P.O.V. of Liz
262 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
Since I’ve enjoyed the other book I’ve read by this author, I was very excited about this new one. Contemporary YA is my original favorite genre and it’s always exciting to see new, clean ones being published. Rather than calling this book Christian Fiction, I would note it as Catholic Fiction as the author, the characters, and the discussions are Catholic based. I have to say that even though the faith changes in Liz felt a bit quick, it was interesting to learn a bit about the Catholic church. I felt like the faith content was very sincere and I really liked that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit were mentioned, because I rarely see both mentioned in Christian Fiction books.
At the beginning, Liz can come across as…well, a bit much, or even bitter. Which can be totally understandable and even relatable when you think that Liz has been forced onto this cruise and her very strained relationship with her dad. Once she started helping others and focusing not on herself or her problems, I found her to be much better and I enjoyed the story more. Thankfully, that happens pretty quickly into the story. I was actually completely shocked at a twist and didn’t see it coming—which is very unusual for me!
I’m always down for books that have riddles or treasure hunting themes, and this one definitely kept my interest as I tried to solve the mysteries and riddles.
One more thing to note: The romance was very sweet and clean (Top tier YA flirting that doesn’t cross a line or have a sexual innuendoes—A+ in my book) and was more of a friendship first. I was squeeing over some parts with the two of them, hahaha!
Overall, this was a really entertaining story with good lessons and a super cute romance.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
September 25, 2023
Leaving this here just so I can say I left the first review for my favorite author's new book! 😁
(though I plan on leaving the first actual review as well if I can!)
*****
“Merry Christmas! And welcome to the most magical ten days of your entire life!”
Liz Kennedy, whom we first saw in Wahl’s very first book Into the Spotlight, is on a holiday/class reunion cruise with her dad—which she is less than happy about. Liz would much rather spend her Christmas with her best friend Josie back in Minnesota, even if that means hanging out with her popular boyfriend Ryan and hearing about how good youth group is, then chaperone her dad who wants to relive his high school days with classmates and rekindle old flames. Yeah, not fun. Liz doesn’t even want to spend another day with her own classmates!
But this ten-day cruise isn’t about to be as boring as she expected.
While she does have to do a few excruciating activities with her dad and his newest woman, Gwen, Liz finds her own entertainment. She joins a singing competition under a false name and steals the show, finds a member of the staff that is about to be fired from being framed, meets a very cute guy named Cole that joins her on these adventures, and finds a mysterious note that leads her on a scavenger hunt!
Leslea packs a whole lot into this book and I believe that was one of the reasons it was soooo good! We have the fun, the mystery, the heartbreak, and the journey all jammed into 210 pages. Every moment was precious and well used. Liz has obviously been hurt by what life has thrown at her with her dad and the divorce, and the knowledge and fear of why she wasn’t good enough. We see her raw and angry and bitter, and then we see her start to get passed it and grow beautifully into the person she was meant to be and find her faith. I think that’s something all of us can learn from her. Even if it’s not easy. Heck, it’s never easy. But God doesn’t just want us when we are happy and thriving, he wants us when we need Him too. It’s hard to let go of anger and pain that goes that deep.
“The truth is, Josie’s faith has grown, and mine has stayed lukewarm. She keeps trying to include me, but part of me just wants to stay in the bitter, complaining stage. In some ways, it’s easier.”
Liz’s sarcasm was top notch and beautifully written! I have started referring to her as ‘bitter Liz’ and I don’t plan to stop. I absolutely love her hostile wit. It’s hilarious! I’m glad she forgave her dad in the end though and they were able to make up on the trip. I also loved that scene when she was on the deck of the ship at sunset and she looked out onto the water and wondered if she had ever really noticed how much beauty God had made into the word.
“The expression of having to pinch yourself never made sense to me—until now. Because that is precisely how I feel; everything feels so right. Perfect. And that is a feeling I haven’t experienced in a long time.”
Cole was the perfect guy for her as well. Wahl always manages to make a perfect soul mate type of couple in her books that just seem to click for all the right reasons. He also made Liz believe that good guys still existed (which I myself am wondering if they do at the moment). *sighs* fictional guys, that’s my type XD. I hope we get to see more of these two! Or at least their tango dancing. Though shame on Liz for running out on the kiss when she had the chance!
Leslea managed to create another beautiful masterpiece that bled my emotional strings dry and hit home in all the right places. I don’t know how she manages to do it, but God has given her a talent for writing and she uses it marvelously well. I always have something to think about after reading her books and something that made me feel better and more confident about myself and my faith by the end. No matter how many times I read them. Thank you, Mrs. Leslea, for this beautiful gift! Please keep writing!
God Bless.
(though I plan on leaving the first actual review as well if I can!)
*****
“Merry Christmas! And welcome to the most magical ten days of your entire life!”
Liz Kennedy, whom we first saw in Wahl’s very first book Into the Spotlight, is on a holiday/class reunion cruise with her dad—which she is less than happy about. Liz would much rather spend her Christmas with her best friend Josie back in Minnesota, even if that means hanging out with her popular boyfriend Ryan and hearing about how good youth group is, then chaperone her dad who wants to relive his high school days with classmates and rekindle old flames. Yeah, not fun. Liz doesn’t even want to spend another day with her own classmates!
But this ten-day cruise isn’t about to be as boring as she expected.
While she does have to do a few excruciating activities with her dad and his newest woman, Gwen, Liz finds her own entertainment. She joins a singing competition under a false name and steals the show, finds a member of the staff that is about to be fired from being framed, meets a very cute guy named Cole that joins her on these adventures, and finds a mysterious note that leads her on a scavenger hunt!
Leslea packs a whole lot into this book and I believe that was one of the reasons it was soooo good! We have the fun, the mystery, the heartbreak, and the journey all jammed into 210 pages. Every moment was precious and well used. Liz has obviously been hurt by what life has thrown at her with her dad and the divorce, and the knowledge and fear of why she wasn’t good enough. We see her raw and angry and bitter, and then we see her start to get passed it and grow beautifully into the person she was meant to be and find her faith. I think that’s something all of us can learn from her. Even if it’s not easy. Heck, it’s never easy. But God doesn’t just want us when we are happy and thriving, he wants us when we need Him too. It’s hard to let go of anger and pain that goes that deep.
“The truth is, Josie’s faith has grown, and mine has stayed lukewarm. She keeps trying to include me, but part of me just wants to stay in the bitter, complaining stage. In some ways, it’s easier.”
Liz’s sarcasm was top notch and beautifully written! I have started referring to her as ‘bitter Liz’ and I don’t plan to stop. I absolutely love her hostile wit. It’s hilarious! I’m glad she forgave her dad in the end though and they were able to make up on the trip. I also loved that scene when she was on the deck of the ship at sunset and she looked out onto the water and wondered if she had ever really noticed how much beauty God had made into the word.
“The expression of having to pinch yourself never made sense to me—until now. Because that is precisely how I feel; everything feels so right. Perfect. And that is a feeling I haven’t experienced in a long time.”
Cole was the perfect guy for her as well. Wahl always manages to make a perfect soul mate type of couple in her books that just seem to click for all the right reasons. He also made Liz believe that good guys still existed (which I myself am wondering if they do at the moment). *sighs* fictional guys, that’s my type XD. I hope we get to see more of these two! Or at least their tango dancing. Though shame on Liz for running out on the kiss when she had the chance!
Leslea managed to create another beautiful masterpiece that bled my emotional strings dry and hit home in all the right places. I don’t know how she manages to do it, but God has given her a talent for writing and she uses it marvelously well. I always have something to think about after reading her books and something that made me feel better and more confident about myself and my faith by the end. No matter how many times I read them. Thank you, Mrs. Leslea, for this beautiful gift! Please keep writing!
God Bless.
August 3, 2025
This was another wonderful story by Leslie! I loved the location of this one, especially since we love to cruise and have visited a few of the ports mentioned. It was very much a mystery with a splash of romance and faith elements sprinkled throughout.
Liz is off on a cruise vacation with her father, but she doesn't want to be there and has many unresolved issues with him. Along the way, she charts a new course in her relationship with her father, her relationship with her faith, and even a possible romance with Cole. But can the romance last beyond the vacation? And what about the mysteries unfolding during the cruise, are they tied to the mysterious scavenger hunt she's on?
I loved that this story read like a continuation of book one. This book focused more on Liz’s personal growth and the Catholic faith, and less on the romance than book one did, which may be something to note if you're picking this up for the love story. That said, the emotional depth and development made the slow-burn romance feel rewarding in its own way. The mystery had me totally stumped, and I loved the mentions of Josie and Ryan from book one. I’m curious how book three will tie in with these.
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
Liz is off on a cruise vacation with her father, but she doesn't want to be there and has many unresolved issues with him. Along the way, she charts a new course in her relationship with her father, her relationship with her faith, and even a possible romance with Cole. But can the romance last beyond the vacation? And what about the mysteries unfolding during the cruise, are they tied to the mysterious scavenger hunt she's on?
I loved that this story read like a continuation of book one. This book focused more on Liz’s personal growth and the Catholic faith, and less on the romance than book one did, which may be something to note if you're picking this up for the love story. That said, the emotional depth and development made the slow-burn romance feel rewarding in its own way. The mystery had me totally stumped, and I loved the mentions of Josie and Ryan from book one. I’m curious how book three will tie in with these.
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
July 11, 2024
This is a touching story about a teen girl’s quest to move on from the pain of her parents’ divorce. I found Liz likable as a girl who stands out among other girls her age with her love of classic musicals. Her earnest desire to strengthen her faith and help others along the way made her easy to root for.
The author’s blend of humor, adventure, and family drama made for a compelling contemporary read.
The author’s blend of humor, adventure, and family drama made for a compelling contemporary read.
September 13, 2025
I really enjoyed this story about a teen girl trapped on a cruise ship with a dad she's angry at and a bunch of strangers. There was never a dull moment as Liz discovered mysterious notes that led her on a scavenger hunt plus got involved in another mystery to try and help someone. There was a cute boy who was also incredibly nice and understanding; he seemed almost too perfect! There was a hint of romance and a lot of other fun characters. She also joined a competition plus doing excursions and just enjoying all the fun things on the ship made me feel like I was there with them. I hadn't realized when I asked to review this book and the first one that they were Catholic books. She mentioned praying to Mary, saints and the Holy Family, which I don't believe in. Jesus said he's the only way to God and that He's interceding for us. She does have her pray to Jesus and another character mentioned praying to God and also asking the Holy Spirit to guide their words when speaking to someone. I liked that she realized she couldn't keep going on like she had and prayed for help. She also confessed to a priest, which again the Bible says we just need Jesus for that. Overall, I liked the story a lot and the Catholic parts were minimal. There was also a surprise twist! If you like a clean story about forgiveness and starting over, plus just a fun teen read, you should check it out!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
September 12, 2025
Charting the Course is the fourth book I have read by Leslea Wahl. This is a YA book and is the second book in the series. It can be read as a stand-alone, though there are some overlapping characters. This is a YA mystery with coming-of-age themes.
The character development was good. Liz is dealing with the emotions and challenges of being a teenager and working through being a child of divorced parents. Liz’s dad, Wade, on this trip, is confronted with his true self. Seeing how his actions have affected people, especially his daughter. Watching the relationships being rebuilt was touching.
The setting was so fun. Set on a cruise ship for a high school reunion was such a fun idea. Reading it made me want to be there. The storyline was fun and perfect for YA. Liz is forced to come on this 30-year reunion cruise with her father because he has no one else to bring. As the trip goes on, Liz is swept up in a singing competition. While competing, she also runs into some people who know her friend Josie from the previous book. They ask her for help to find out who is stealing on the ship. Things get uncovered interestingly. But that is not the only mystery Liz is trying to figure out; she is being sent on a faith journey as well. With mystery, stealing, high school feuds, old flames, and new crushes, there are lots of elements that make this story a fun read
The romance aspect is light and sweet, kisses-only. This is a YA with the main focus not being romance, so it was the perfect amount for this genre.
Leslea Wahl did a great job of intertwining faith throughout the book. Though written from a catholic aspect, it can be enjoyed by all.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.
The character development was good. Liz is dealing with the emotions and challenges of being a teenager and working through being a child of divorced parents. Liz’s dad, Wade, on this trip, is confronted with his true self. Seeing how his actions have affected people, especially his daughter. Watching the relationships being rebuilt was touching.
The setting was so fun. Set on a cruise ship for a high school reunion was such a fun idea. Reading it made me want to be there. The storyline was fun and perfect for YA. Liz is forced to come on this 30-year reunion cruise with her father because he has no one else to bring. As the trip goes on, Liz is swept up in a singing competition. While competing, she also runs into some people who know her friend Josie from the previous book. They ask her for help to find out who is stealing on the ship. Things get uncovered interestingly. But that is not the only mystery Liz is trying to figure out; she is being sent on a faith journey as well. With mystery, stealing, high school feuds, old flames, and new crushes, there are lots of elements that make this story a fun read
The romance aspect is light and sweet, kisses-only. This is a YA with the main focus not being romance, so it was the perfect amount for this genre.
Leslea Wahl did a great job of intertwining faith throughout the book. Though written from a catholic aspect, it can be enjoyed by all.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.
August 16, 2024
I read Charting the Course by Leslea Wahl as soon as it came out last year and loved it! The characters were amazing, the plot was great, and the mystery had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I recommend this book to fans of YA romance and Christian fiction.
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August 30, 2025
Charting the Course was an excellent sequel to Into the Spotlight, and I loved getting to spend some time with Liz! I’ve really enjoyed reading a couple books set on cruise ships recently, and this was no disappointment on that front. There’s something about that bougie experience…
Mind you, I’ve never been on a cruise, so that may be part of it. XD
Anyway, what I liked about this book:
Liz was great, although there were a few points where I felt disconnected from her. Overall, however, I think her struggle with bitterness and resentment toward her father is very realistic, and I loved seeing her grow out of it and learn to appreciate and accept him. I’d love to see that father-daughter relationship continue to develop!
Cole was delightful, although perhaps just a bit too perfect. He was so sweet, he had a great family, and he supported Liz so well, even when she faltered.
It was fun seeing the Consuelos brothers again, and as I mentioned, I loved the cruise ship setting—the various decks and locations, the restaurants and food, the stops and destinations they were able to visit. Also, the SINGING. YES. Makes me want to go find a cruise ship where I can join a singing competition, because it sounds so fun!
What I didn’t like:
I felt genuinely blindsided at one point in the book, and it really bothered me. These books feel like deep POV, however, I learned about halfway through that Liz was doing some things I knew nothing about. Literally nothing. There was no hinting at it, no little bits of foreshadowing… there was just this sudden reveal, and I thought for sure it had changed to someone else’s POV for a second. I was SO confused. I think the author could have been a better job building up to that so it felt more cohesive.
All that said, I’m only docking one star. I did enjoy this book, and it was definitely appropriate for any teens looking for clean, Christian reads. The faith content was light but sweet, and I loved watching Liz grow. Definitely a great beach read (even though it takes place over winter break).
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Mind you, I’ve never been on a cruise, so that may be part of it. XD
Anyway, what I liked about this book:
Liz was great, although there were a few points where I felt disconnected from her. Overall, however, I think her struggle with bitterness and resentment toward her father is very realistic, and I loved seeing her grow out of it and learn to appreciate and accept him. I’d love to see that father-daughter relationship continue to develop!
Cole was delightful, although perhaps just a bit too perfect. He was so sweet, he had a great family, and he supported Liz so well, even when she faltered.
It was fun seeing the Consuelos brothers again, and as I mentioned, I loved the cruise ship setting—the various decks and locations, the restaurants and food, the stops and destinations they were able to visit. Also, the SINGING. YES. Makes me want to go find a cruise ship where I can join a singing competition, because it sounds so fun!
What I didn’t like:
I felt genuinely blindsided at one point in the book, and it really bothered me. These books feel like deep POV, however, I learned about halfway through that Liz was doing some things I knew nothing about. Literally nothing. There was no hinting at it, no little bits of foreshadowing… there was just this sudden reveal, and I thought for sure it had changed to someone else’s POV for a second. I was SO confused. I think the author could have been a better job building up to that so it felt more cohesive.
All that said, I’m only docking one star. I did enjoy this book, and it was definitely appropriate for any teens looking for clean, Christian reads. The faith content was light but sweet, and I loved watching Liz grow. Definitely a great beach read (even though it takes place over winter break).
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
July 1, 2023
Charting the Course combines many of the elements I enjoy in books: romance, mystery, and exploring relationships. Although she is initially far from thrilled, the main character Liz agrees to join her estranged father on a Christmas week Caribbean cruise. The cruise is a 30-year high school anniversary cruise for her father, setting the stage for Liz to see her father in a new light and mend their relationship. I have read several equally delightful books by this author and highly recommend this one as well for teens and up.
September 4, 2025
This was a sweet, Catholic, young adult romance and mystery. This is book 2 in the series and has more of the specific Catholic faith and less on the romance angle. Now, I’m Christian, but not Catholic. There were a couple aspects that didn’t really click with me because of it, but most of it is more generic and translates over.
Liz is going on a cruise with her dad (her parents are divorced) where his 30th high school reunion is taking place. I enjoyed the unique locale of a cruise ship with the reunion setting. There were some fun and engaging aspects. A big theme is the rift between father and daughter. This rift leads to both good and bad times on the cruise and leads them both, eventually, to do some heart searching. She also meets Cole on board, another teenager, and they have a sweet romance as well as work to solve a mystery. I wasn’t as engaged for the first half of this book, but the last third picked up greatly on the mystery angle. This book has faith, family, fun, forgiveness, friends, mystery, and more. This is a just kisses romance, intimacy level 1.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Just Read Tours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Liz is going on a cruise with her dad (her parents are divorced) where his 30th high school reunion is taking place. I enjoyed the unique locale of a cruise ship with the reunion setting. There were some fun and engaging aspects. A big theme is the rift between father and daughter. This rift leads to both good and bad times on the cruise and leads them both, eventually, to do some heart searching. She also meets Cole on board, another teenager, and they have a sweet romance as well as work to solve a mystery. I wasn’t as engaged for the first half of this book, but the last third picked up greatly on the mystery angle. This book has faith, family, fun, forgiveness, friends, mystery, and more. This is a just kisses romance, intimacy level 1.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Just Read Tours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
September 2, 2025
You’re never too young (or old) to learn valuable life lessons. And forgiveness is life changing.
For half of her young life, Liz has held a grudge and resented her father. And now, she is being forced into spending her Christmas holiday with him. Not at all what she had in mind. And definitely not her idea of a jolly holiday.
But as the cruise sets sail, Liz meets some interesting people on board, not the least of which is the oh-so-cute fellow teen passenger, Liz begins to realize that the cruise isn’t such a bad gig after all.
Throw in some mystery—and her own shenanigans [SPOILER]—and contrary to everything she expected, Liz discovers that she’s actually enjoying herself.
Ms. Wahl takes the reader on a delightful yet meaningful ‘cruise,’ as we, too, meet the various characters, and the challenges Liz faces. But most of all, the author takes Liz on a journey of another kind, a heart journey, leading her to discover valuable lessons in her young life.
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
FOUR FEATHERS
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Charting the Course, Leslea Wahl, Finding Faith, JustRead Publicity
For half of her young life, Liz has held a grudge and resented her father. And now, she is being forced into spending her Christmas holiday with him. Not at all what she had in mind. And definitely not her idea of a jolly holiday.
But as the cruise sets sail, Liz meets some interesting people on board, not the least of which is the oh-so-cute fellow teen passenger, Liz begins to realize that the cruise isn’t such a bad gig after all.
Throw in some mystery—and her own shenanigans [SPOILER]—and contrary to everything she expected, Liz discovers that she’s actually enjoying herself.
Ms. Wahl takes the reader on a delightful yet meaningful ‘cruise,’ as we, too, meet the various characters, and the challenges Liz faces. But most of all, the author takes Liz on a journey of another kind, a heart journey, leading her to discover valuable lessons in her young life.
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
FOUR FEATHERS
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Charting the Course, Leslea Wahl, Finding Faith, JustRead Publicity
June 25, 2023
In Charting the Course by Leslea Wahl, Liz is dragged away from her home and her best friend to spend the second half of her Christmas break on a cruise with her dad. Between her hesitation and hurt with her dad, his class reunion on the ship, and Liz’s own experiences on and off the ship, the author packs a lot into this book.
While there is a budding romance in this book, the story is all about Liz. Her love of music and theater. Her strained relationship with her dad. Her best friend back at home and all the high school drama there.
I appreciated how Wahl allows Liz to view her classmates and where she’s at through the lens of the interactions between her dad and his classmates. There are the typical stereotypes and while most of the people at the 30-year class reunion have grown out of their teenage self, a few are still hanging onto those days.
The author also brings readers along on the cruise experience, showing us many of the activities on the boat and excursions at the ports that Liz enjoys. And I was really impressed that she took me by surprise with a nice plot twist about three-quarters of the way through (y’all, I love a good plot twist).
If you’re in search of clean and engaging reads for your teens that include great life lessons, reconciliation, and a faith thread, Charting the Course is a good choice.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.
While there is a budding romance in this book, the story is all about Liz. Her love of music and theater. Her strained relationship with her dad. Her best friend back at home and all the high school drama there.
I appreciated how Wahl allows Liz to view her classmates and where she’s at through the lens of the interactions between her dad and his classmates. There are the typical stereotypes and while most of the people at the 30-year class reunion have grown out of their teenage self, a few are still hanging onto those days.
The author also brings readers along on the cruise experience, showing us many of the activities on the boat and excursions at the ports that Liz enjoys. And I was really impressed that she took me by surprise with a nice plot twist about three-quarters of the way through (y’all, I love a good plot twist).
If you’re in search of clean and engaging reads for your teens that include great life lessons, reconciliation, and a faith thread, Charting the Course is a good choice.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.
September 4, 2025
Wow!! This book is a rare gem!! It was just what I needed. The inspirational quotes were perfect. I loved that there was a little mystery wrapped up in the book. This is a clean, very humbling book that will stick with me for years to come. I love that it is acknowledged that life isn’t easy, relationship with those you love can be hard, there is a way to move forward. I would love to read this with a book group full of youth, there are already questions ready to go for a book club discussion. This will be read again. I can’t get over how many quotes I highlighted in this book. This is part of the finding faith series, book 2. You can read it as a standalone. I honestly didn’t even know it was part of a series. I would love to thank the author personally for the inspiring read!
All opinions are my own honest opinions.
All opinions are my own honest opinions.
June 22, 2023
Leslea Wahl continues her Finding Faith series with Charting the Course. The book revisits characters from the first book in the series but I don’t think you necessarily have to read the first book to understand the story.
In Charting the Course Liz is “forced” to attend her father’s 30th class reunion cruise over the Christmas holidays. Liz’s parents are divorced and she does not have a good relationship with the man who walked out on her and her mom. Her friend encourages her to pray the novena for healing a family during the cruise. As you might guess with it being a class reunion and a cruise there are good and bad events. The question is will those events drive Liz and her father together or further apart. The book does have a satisfying ending although you don’t know until the very end just what the conclusion to the different conflicts will be.
The drinking and gambling on the part of most of the adults in the book will be concerning to some audiences, especially those who have addiction issues in their families.
Leslea Wahl is a Catholic author who shares many aspects of her Catholic faith through her characters.
Because of my concerns I recommend that librarians read Charting the Course before placing it in their K-12 Christian (or Catholic) school library.
I received a complimentary copy of Charting the Course. This is my honest review.
In Charting the Course Liz is “forced” to attend her father’s 30th class reunion cruise over the Christmas holidays. Liz’s parents are divorced and she does not have a good relationship with the man who walked out on her and her mom. Her friend encourages her to pray the novena for healing a family during the cruise. As you might guess with it being a class reunion and a cruise there are good and bad events. The question is will those events drive Liz and her father together or further apart. The book does have a satisfying ending although you don’t know until the very end just what the conclusion to the different conflicts will be.
The drinking and gambling on the part of most of the adults in the book will be concerning to some audiences, especially those who have addiction issues in their families.
Leslea Wahl is a Catholic author who shares many aspects of her Catholic faith through her characters.
Because of my concerns I recommend that librarians read Charting the Course before placing it in their K-12 Christian (or Catholic) school library.
I received a complimentary copy of Charting the Course. This is my honest review.
June 28, 2023
I can only imagine being in Liz's shoes, to be a high school age kid stuck on a cruise with your parent for their class reunion. Not the most fun way to spend part of your Christmas break! Although, a cruise does sound nice....
This book has a lot going on, with Liz being in high school and still being in the thick on things, while her dad is at his 30th class reunion. They also have the chance to work on their relationship. The author weaves quite a bit into this story, with it's surprising twists and turns. It's a fun read to pick up and enjoy!
I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review.
This book has a lot going on, with Liz being in high school and still being in the thick on things, while her dad is at his 30th class reunion. They also have the chance to work on their relationship. The author weaves quite a bit into this story, with it's surprising twists and turns. It's a fun read to pick up and enjoy!
I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review.
June 26, 2023
I thought this was a good YA story about learning to let go of past hurts and to forgive those that hurt us. I liked how Liz learned to forgive her dad as she got to know some of the other passengers on the ship and as she tried her friend’s prayer suggestion. I liked how her faith grew and she was willing to move past the hurt. I also liked that their was a mystery that needed solving and that was how she got to know they other passengers and to grow. I thought it was a good story about growing up and trying to make your sphere of influence better.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
August 15, 2025
Charting the Course by Leslea Wahl
An engaging story where adventure meets heartfelt lessons!
This contemporary YA tale centers around Liz, a teenager who finds herself on a ten-day Caribbean cruise with her estranged father for his high school reunion—not quite the holiday she envisioned. Yet, her adventure unfolds with a fun karaoke competition, a mysterious scavenger hunt filled with anonymous clues, and twists that keep her on her toes.
While she’s trying to help an innocent woman whose job is in danger, and feeling increasingly ignored by her dad, Liz struggles with the challenge of bridging the emotional gap between them. It's only through turning to her faith that she begins to find a way to make things right.
Set against the backdrop of a tropical cruise complete with ballroom dancing and an intriguing mystery, this story goes beyond the surface. It delves into themes like forgiveness, both of others and oneself. Liz navigates issues such as a parent's divorce, anger, and unhealthy coping mechanisms, but ultimately gives readers a powerful example of the need to turn to God with our struggles.
This book is a must-read if you enjoy:
- Contemporary YA narratives that whisk you away on a journey.
- themes of faith and redemption.
- Clean romance.
- Mysteries that keep you guessing.
Content to consider: Some rude remarks, adults drinking alcohol, and brief mentions of gambling.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead Tours and the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
An engaging story where adventure meets heartfelt lessons!
This contemporary YA tale centers around Liz, a teenager who finds herself on a ten-day Caribbean cruise with her estranged father for his high school reunion—not quite the holiday she envisioned. Yet, her adventure unfolds with a fun karaoke competition, a mysterious scavenger hunt filled with anonymous clues, and twists that keep her on her toes.
While she’s trying to help an innocent woman whose job is in danger, and feeling increasingly ignored by her dad, Liz struggles with the challenge of bridging the emotional gap between them. It's only through turning to her faith that she begins to find a way to make things right.
Set against the backdrop of a tropical cruise complete with ballroom dancing and an intriguing mystery, this story goes beyond the surface. It delves into themes like forgiveness, both of others and oneself. Liz navigates issues such as a parent's divorce, anger, and unhealthy coping mechanisms, but ultimately gives readers a powerful example of the need to turn to God with our struggles.
This book is a must-read if you enjoy:
- Contemporary YA narratives that whisk you away on a journey.
- themes of faith and redemption.
- Clean romance.
- Mysteries that keep you guessing.
Content to consider: Some rude remarks, adults drinking alcohol, and brief mentions of gambling.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead Tours and the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 14, 2025
Charting the Course by Leslea Wahl is a wonderful and charming story. This is actually the second book that I have read of Leslea's so I will say that she is a talented writer. I really enjoyed this story because it included a wonderful message of learning to love yourself and working out your issues. I really admired the main female character Liz because she was more than willing to do the work of rebuilding her relationships.
When the story starts she is actually on a cruise with her father for his class reunion which is a peculiar location to have a class reunion. Although through the years Liz and her father have had a strained relationship. However this trip gives them the opportunity to work on rebuilding their relationship. With this reestablished relationship she also works on learning to love herself.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions are of my own.
When the story starts she is actually on a cruise with her father for his class reunion which is a peculiar location to have a class reunion. Although through the years Liz and her father have had a strained relationship. However this trip gives them the opportunity to work on rebuilding their relationship. With this reestablished relationship she also works on learning to love herself.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions are of my own.
July 3, 2023
Wow! What a cruise! I enjoyed this soooooo much!
Oh my! This author made me feel like I was on board with Liz and her dad. I know I would have branched out on my own bc to me class reunions are the most boring things on earth. Exactly why I don't go to mine. The popular people never change. It seems like they stay the same all their lives. So why have reunions? Never got that part.
But anyway I still enjoyed the book and honestly why I got the book was because I love ships. Anything to do with ships I'm hooked.
Beautiful cover by the way.
A fantastic job with the mystery part. Another reason why I chose this book. I love guessing games, so I really had fun with this book.
Liz was such a good character. I really admired her from the get-go. This little lady has spunk, and that's what I like in a character.
I didn't really much care for Tad at all!
But what can I say about Karma?.
The supporting characters were wonderful, too. I loved Linda a lot! She made me snicker in some places. A very wise person and Liz couldn't have choosen a better friend in my opinion. Then we have Josie. Josie reminds me of my friend. Friend who used to hang out with us and then all of a sudden who doesn't. I get that I really do but at the same time it hurts because it feels like they want to move on without you.
God puts people in your path for a season. People aren't meant to stay. It's how we grow and learn to trust God to do His job. I'm really trying but changes are hard especially for me.
Here's another quote that I liked too and this really fits about me and Liz
Don’t dwell on what you can’t change. Just make the future different. See why i loved Linda?
I understand how Liz feels and in that way I feel like we are so like minded.
I'm not going to say anything more. I don't want to give it away but I had so much fun with this book.
Here's a quote from Cole to Liz;
“I’ve wondered about them over the years, but my folks are amazing, and I’ve realized that this is the life God chose for me, for whatever reason. You know, every family is unique. Some certainly have more issues than others. But our families, whether they are filled withcertainly have more issues than others. But our families, whether they are filled with
hardships or blessings, help form us into the people God needs us to be in order to do His work.
So very true and for some it's a hard lesson to learn like I've had to learn and am still learning. God is good all the time!
I highly recommend it!
5 stars for keeping me engaged throughout this awesome novel.
I will be adding this to my list of favorites.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Oh my! This author made me feel like I was on board with Liz and her dad. I know I would have branched out on my own bc to me class reunions are the most boring things on earth. Exactly why I don't go to mine. The popular people never change. It seems like they stay the same all their lives. So why have reunions? Never got that part.
But anyway I still enjoyed the book and honestly why I got the book was because I love ships. Anything to do with ships I'm hooked.
Beautiful cover by the way.
A fantastic job with the mystery part. Another reason why I chose this book. I love guessing games, so I really had fun with this book.
Liz was such a good character. I really admired her from the get-go. This little lady has spunk, and that's what I like in a character.
I didn't really much care for Tad at all!
But what can I say about Karma?.
The supporting characters were wonderful, too. I loved Linda a lot! She made me snicker in some places. A very wise person and Liz couldn't have choosen a better friend in my opinion. Then we have Josie. Josie reminds me of my friend. Friend who used to hang out with us and then all of a sudden who doesn't. I get that I really do but at the same time it hurts because it feels like they want to move on without you.
God puts people in your path for a season. People aren't meant to stay. It's how we grow and learn to trust God to do His job. I'm really trying but changes are hard especially for me.
Here's another quote that I liked too and this really fits about me and Liz
Don’t dwell on what you can’t change. Just make the future different. See why i loved Linda?
I understand how Liz feels and in that way I feel like we are so like minded.
I'm not going to say anything more. I don't want to give it away but I had so much fun with this book.
Here's a quote from Cole to Liz;
“I’ve wondered about them over the years, but my folks are amazing, and I’ve realized that this is the life God chose for me, for whatever reason. You know, every family is unique. Some certainly have more issues than others. But our families, whether they are filled withcertainly have more issues than others. But our families, whether they are filled with
hardships or blessings, help form us into the people God needs us to be in order to do His work.
So very true and for some it's a hard lesson to learn like I've had to learn and am still learning. God is good all the time!
I highly recommend it!
5 stars for keeping me engaged throughout this awesome novel.
I will be adding this to my list of favorites.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 30, 2023
It’s a trip that Liz never wanted to take but her holiday Caribbean cruise ended up being everything she didn’t even know she needed.
Right off the bat I felt bad for Liz. What teenager wants to spend their holiday break with their dad on a cruise ship and his 30th class reunion for a week? To make matters worse, Liz’s relationship with her dad has been fractured since he walked out on her and her mother, and her parents divorced several years prior.
I love a good YA and I really enjoyed Charting the Course. It is all told from Liz’s perspective, which is a refreshing point of view, and really resonated with me, as I went through an eerily similar situation when I was in high school with my own family. The unforgiveness of past hurts is real, and I feel like it goes even deeper when this huge life event happens early in adolescence, and feel like the author handled this masterfully. Seeing the nudges of faith is beautiful and my favorite part of the novel was actually when Liz seems to hit rock bottom, because the only way to go is up, and the only way to move forward is to let go. It was a good reminder for me, and I know this will touch younger audiences as well.
Seeing Liz’s growth during such a short amount of time is refreshing, and I loved all of the supporting characters and the unique setting. I’ve never been on a cruise ship myself but it sounds very fun! This novel is part of the Finding Faith series, though it is easily read as a standalone, but it was such a good read that I now want to check out the rest of the series. It is a week of unimagined adventures and a personal journey for Liz as she gains a healthy, new perspective and I am so grateful that I got to witness her adventure.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
Right off the bat I felt bad for Liz. What teenager wants to spend their holiday break with their dad on a cruise ship and his 30th class reunion for a week? To make matters worse, Liz’s relationship with her dad has been fractured since he walked out on her and her mother, and her parents divorced several years prior.
I love a good YA and I really enjoyed Charting the Course. It is all told from Liz’s perspective, which is a refreshing point of view, and really resonated with me, as I went through an eerily similar situation when I was in high school with my own family. The unforgiveness of past hurts is real, and I feel like it goes even deeper when this huge life event happens early in adolescence, and feel like the author handled this masterfully. Seeing the nudges of faith is beautiful and my favorite part of the novel was actually when Liz seems to hit rock bottom, because the only way to go is up, and the only way to move forward is to let go. It was a good reminder for me, and I know this will touch younger audiences as well.
Seeing Liz’s growth during such a short amount of time is refreshing, and I loved all of the supporting characters and the unique setting. I’ve never been on a cruise ship myself but it sounds very fun! This novel is part of the Finding Faith series, though it is easily read as a standalone, but it was such a good read that I now want to check out the rest of the series. It is a week of unimagined adventures and a personal journey for Liz as she gains a healthy, new perspective and I am so grateful that I got to witness her adventure.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
November 12, 2023
A Write to Review
Note: I received a copy of this book from ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op via NetGalley.
Liz would prefer any destination other than a ten-day Caribbean cruise with her estranged father attending his high school reunion. Despite the distraction of an anonymous note, an onboard mystery, and the company of a cute boy, the trip only widens the gap between Liz and her father. Liz's impulsive actions, triggering unintended consequences, force her to confront her deep-seated hurt and anger. Struggling to maintain her carefully crafted facade, Liz turns to her faith, embarking on a journey to redefine her life.
Honestly, I felt like I was reading a highlight reel of a cruise vacation. You know, the kind where everyone is nonchalantly partaking in a multitude of activities, from salsa dancing lessons to synchronized swimming. I've been on my fair share of cruises, and either I'm missing out on the secret life of cruisegoers or Liz has some kind of time-stretching device that the rest of us don't. The narrative was zipping through activities faster than the ship itself. Now, the plot. I appreciate a good mystery, but this felt like a cozy mystery's distant relative. I kept waiting for the surprising twist, but it was more like a predictable turn.
However, what did strike a chord with me was Liz's internal struggle. The portrayal of her relationship with her father, the emotional turbulence, and her attempt to navigate through the hurt and anger felt genuine. It was like sailing through a sea of emotions, and in that regard, the author did well in capturing the turmoil within Liz.
Note: I received a copy of this book from ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op via NetGalley.
Liz would prefer any destination other than a ten-day Caribbean cruise with her estranged father attending his high school reunion. Despite the distraction of an anonymous note, an onboard mystery, and the company of a cute boy, the trip only widens the gap between Liz and her father. Liz's impulsive actions, triggering unintended consequences, force her to confront her deep-seated hurt and anger. Struggling to maintain her carefully crafted facade, Liz turns to her faith, embarking on a journey to redefine her life.
Honestly, I felt like I was reading a highlight reel of a cruise vacation. You know, the kind where everyone is nonchalantly partaking in a multitude of activities, from salsa dancing lessons to synchronized swimming. I've been on my fair share of cruises, and either I'm missing out on the secret life of cruisegoers or Liz has some kind of time-stretching device that the rest of us don't. The narrative was zipping through activities faster than the ship itself. Now, the plot. I appreciate a good mystery, but this felt like a cozy mystery's distant relative. I kept waiting for the surprising twist, but it was more like a predictable turn.
However, what did strike a chord with me was Liz's internal struggle. The portrayal of her relationship with her father, the emotional turbulence, and her attempt to navigate through the hurt and anger felt genuine. It was like sailing through a sea of emotions, and in that regard, the author did well in capturing the turmoil within Liz.
October 18, 2023
"The key to happiness is forgiveness."
Thank you to NetGalley and Vinspire Publishing for an ARC of Charting the Course in exchange for an honest review.
Charting the Course is about a young girl named Liz taking a cruise with her estranged father for his high school reunion over the Christmas and New Years holidays. She ends up getting more than she bargained for when she meets a cute boy and starts to form a bond with the other people that share her dinner table each night. As the cruise continues, she slowly learns the importance that happiness and forgiveness play in a relationship.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end, though a little bit less than I actually thought that I would. I loved the characters and relationships that develop throughout the book but I felt like the religious aspect sometimes interrupted the storyline and took it in a weird direction. I really enjoyed Liz's musical theater interest as well as the fact that she sang some of my favorite songs in the book. Although it was a small inclusion, I liked the mention of "Livin' on a Prayer". I have a great cruise memory with this song and it was great to relive it for a little while.
One thing about this book that I didn't really enjoy was the extra storyline that involved the crew on the ship. I thought that with this extra storyline, the book as a whole got a little bit confusing because by the end, there were character traits emerging from Liz that hadn't been mentioned the entire book and just suddenly showed up.
Overall, I would give this book 3/5 stars and would recommend it for anyone who enjoys vacation rom-coms.
Thank you to NetGalley and Vinspire Publishing for an ARC of Charting the Course in exchange for an honest review.
Charting the Course is about a young girl named Liz taking a cruise with her estranged father for his high school reunion over the Christmas and New Years holidays. She ends up getting more than she bargained for when she meets a cute boy and starts to form a bond with the other people that share her dinner table each night. As the cruise continues, she slowly learns the importance that happiness and forgiveness play in a relationship.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end, though a little bit less than I actually thought that I would. I loved the characters and relationships that develop throughout the book but I felt like the religious aspect sometimes interrupted the storyline and took it in a weird direction. I really enjoyed Liz's musical theater interest as well as the fact that she sang some of my favorite songs in the book. Although it was a small inclusion, I liked the mention of "Livin' on a Prayer". I have a great cruise memory with this song and it was great to relive it for a little while.
One thing about this book that I didn't really enjoy was the extra storyline that involved the crew on the ship. I thought that with this extra storyline, the book as a whole got a little bit confusing because by the end, there were character traits emerging from Liz that hadn't been mentioned the entire book and just suddenly showed up.
Overall, I would give this book 3/5 stars and would recommend it for anyone who enjoys vacation rom-coms.
September 9, 2025
Charting the Course is a young adult Christian/Catholic novel. We meet Liz going on a 10-day holiday, high school class reunion cruise with her father. She and her father haven’t had a good relationship since their parents had divorced. She doesn’t understand why she can’t just stay at home for the holiday break, instead of going on this cruise. Her best friend assures her that she will enjoy it and tells her to spend time in her novenas and prayers. Liz doesn’t really feel any of it will help her father-daughter relationship, but will it?
Once she boards and meets some people on the ship, especially this boy named Cole. He’s really nice and they befriend each other. Also, there becomes a little of a mystery on board with a scavenger hunt with clues and a thief. Will Liz solve the issues and will she figure out the scavenger hunt with Cole’s help of course? You will have to find out for yourself.
I really enjoyed this book and this was probably one of my first young adult books I’ve read in a long time. It was refreshing and I enjoyed reading it, because it was different from the romance novels I usually read. Forgiveness and reconciliation was definitely the message of this novel. I loved the mystery and I could relate to the cruise, because this was something I’ve done recently for the Christmas holiday. I recommend this book to teenagers and younger adults.
I want to thank the author, Leslea Wahl, Vinspire Publishing, and JustReads for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I’m so glad I was able to review and read this book for my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way. I just love to read books and share them with you.
Once she boards and meets some people on the ship, especially this boy named Cole. He’s really nice and they befriend each other. Also, there becomes a little of a mystery on board with a scavenger hunt with clues and a thief. Will Liz solve the issues and will she figure out the scavenger hunt with Cole’s help of course? You will have to find out for yourself.
I really enjoyed this book and this was probably one of my first young adult books I’ve read in a long time. It was refreshing and I enjoyed reading it, because it was different from the romance novels I usually read. Forgiveness and reconciliation was definitely the message of this novel. I loved the mystery and I could relate to the cruise, because this was something I’ve done recently for the Christmas holiday. I recommend this book to teenagers and younger adults.
I want to thank the author, Leslea Wahl, Vinspire Publishing, and JustReads for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I’m so glad I was able to review and read this book for my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way. I just love to read books and share them with you.
June 27, 2023
I really enjoy Christian Romance books. I don't normally read Young Adult Romance books, but I read Book 1 in this series and really enjoyed it. Charting the Course by Leslea Wahl is the most recent book that I have read and will be sharing with you.
Liz has been invited to join her estranged Father on a 10 day Caribbean Cruise. She is not exactly thrilled about going, but figures it is a way to spend time with her Dad. Her Dad is busy with High School Reunion activities and Liz is getting bored. While that is until a Mystery Note, a boy her age and a mystery come about, Liz finds herself in a bit activities. Liz then finds that her actions have created some major consequences for herself and she begins to see her true self under the wall she built up. Can Liz come back to her faith and create a better life for herself? Will Liz and her Dad ever recover from their estranged relationship?
WOW, I didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did the first, but I actually like it more. Liz was very gracious to accept the trip with her estranged Dad in hopes to reconcile the relationship. I really enjoyed the twists and turns in this storyline, especially Liz trying to solve a Mystery aboard the Cruise. I think this book really touches on many things that Young Adults go through in life these days. The book is on of Mystery, Self Discovery Forgiveness and FAITH! I highly recommend this book for Young Adults and anyone who enjoys Christian Romance. WONDERFUL BOOK!
Liz has been invited to join her estranged Father on a 10 day Caribbean Cruise. She is not exactly thrilled about going, but figures it is a way to spend time with her Dad. Her Dad is busy with High School Reunion activities and Liz is getting bored. While that is until a Mystery Note, a boy her age and a mystery come about, Liz finds herself in a bit activities. Liz then finds that her actions have created some major consequences for herself and she begins to see her true self under the wall she built up. Can Liz come back to her faith and create a better life for herself? Will Liz and her Dad ever recover from their estranged relationship?
WOW, I didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did the first, but I actually like it more. Liz was very gracious to accept the trip with her estranged Dad in hopes to reconcile the relationship. I really enjoyed the twists and turns in this storyline, especially Liz trying to solve a Mystery aboard the Cruise. I think this book really touches on many things that Young Adults go through in life these days. The book is on of Mystery, Self Discovery Forgiveness and FAITH! I highly recommend this book for Young Adults and anyone who enjoys Christian Romance. WONDERFUL BOOK!
February 28, 2024
CHARTING THE COURSE by Leslea Wahl
After reading so many novels over the years, I didn't think any author could surprise me, but I was wrong. Leslea Wahl got me good.
The story is about Liz Kennedy, the seventeen-year-old daughter of divorced parents. Liz wasn't wild about the idea of going on a cruise with her dad, especially since it was his high school reunion. How fun was it going to be listening to a bunch of old people reliving their glory years? But then she discovered that not everyone on the cruise was over thirty. Cole was around Liz's age. He was also handsome and charming. Things were looking up. And then, things started going terribly wrong. Suddenly, the ten-day cruise wasn't nearly long enough to set things right. As Liz tries to beat the clock, she falls more for Cole every day, knowing she will eventually have to say goodbye.
Leslea is very good at making you care about some people and dislike others. The thing is, you can't always trust what you see in a person. Motives determine a lot of what we do, and some people will do just about anything for what they believe is a good reason. You'll see what I mean when you read this book.
Back to that surprise twist. What I liked about it was I didn't see it coming, and Leslea was masterful at explaining it in a totally believable way. That isn't easy to pull off!
Good job, Leslea!
After reading so many novels over the years, I didn't think any author could surprise me, but I was wrong. Leslea Wahl got me good.
The story is about Liz Kennedy, the seventeen-year-old daughter of divorced parents. Liz wasn't wild about the idea of going on a cruise with her dad, especially since it was his high school reunion. How fun was it going to be listening to a bunch of old people reliving their glory years? But then she discovered that not everyone on the cruise was over thirty. Cole was around Liz's age. He was also handsome and charming. Things were looking up. And then, things started going terribly wrong. Suddenly, the ten-day cruise wasn't nearly long enough to set things right. As Liz tries to beat the clock, she falls more for Cole every day, knowing she will eventually have to say goodbye.
Leslea is very good at making you care about some people and dislike others. The thing is, you can't always trust what you see in a person. Motives determine a lot of what we do, and some people will do just about anything for what they believe is a good reason. You'll see what I mean when you read this book.
Back to that surprise twist. What I liked about it was I didn't see it coming, and Leslea was masterful at explaining it in a totally believable way. That isn't easy to pull off!
Good job, Leslea!
June 27, 2023
Leslea Wahl is one of my favorite authors. Her works are considered teen fiction or YA fiction, and, being a former teenager, I love the contemporary, sweet-first-love, adventure stories that she writes. Charting the Course, which features Liz Kennedy, who was a supporting character in the book An Unexpected Role, is one of my favorite books of Wahl's so far. Part of what makes her books so enjoyable is that she creates strong female protagonists who are so easy to relate to. Another factor I appreciate is that Wahl constructs realistic settings. You feel like you're in the story yourself. Charting the Course is set on a cruise ship sailing the Caribbean. If you've ever had a chance to go on one you'll recognize so many typical cruise scenarios, those things that make cruises so much fun. There are a couple of interesting twists in the story that I didn't see coming and I loved the ending. Whether you're getting ready to depart on your next cruise or are planning a staycation this year, Charting the Course is the ideal book to bring with you. It'll be a hard one to put down!
June 30, 2023
Charting the Course by Leslea Wahl is a YA cruise ship story with mystery, adventure, entertainment, self-discovery, and powerful themes. The mystery and sense of adventure begin slowly but then take on speed, making this a real page-turner.
Wahl’s skill at conveying emotion and faith at pivotal moments had me spellbound. I enjoyed the twists in this story, and I loved the unfolding of story themes. Charting the Course made me think about how the choices parents make can affect their children, and more importantly how important it is to forgive others and let go of the hurts in our past. I’m reminded how God knows us through and through, and how He only allows bad things to happen in our lives because He wants us to grow in love and holiness. This is a story of forgiveness of past hurts, of others, and of ourselves, and of the humility that is required to accomplish that forgiveness.
Wahl’s skill at conveying emotion and faith at pivotal moments had me spellbound. I enjoyed the twists in this story, and I loved the unfolding of story themes. Charting the Course made me think about how the choices parents make can affect their children, and more importantly how important it is to forgive others and let go of the hurts in our past. I’m reminded how God knows us through and through, and how He only allows bad things to happen in our lives because He wants us to grow in love and holiness. This is a story of forgiveness of past hurts, of others, and of ourselves, and of the humility that is required to accomplish that forgiveness.
July 28, 2023
I really like Leslea Wahl's YA fiction and how her characters learn Biblical lessons, and Charting the Course did not disappoint! This book is the sequel to Into the Spotlight and it's a great addition to the series, however, it could definitely be enjoyed as a standalone. Charting the Course centers on Josie's best friend Liz as she learns about reconciliation with her dad. The excitement (or rather trepidation, through Liz's eyes) of the cruise ship vacation make a great setting for the character growth that Liz is about to go through. With realistic characters and witty humor, a fun scavenger hunt, and an unexpected mystery due to her own mistakes, Liz learns about repentance and reconciliation in a way that will resonate with teen readers. I highly recommend Charting the Course for Christian teens, and I believe that Catholic teens will especially appreciate the book and series because of the Catholic references.
August 2, 2023
I was eagerly awaiting the release of another fun, suspenseful book from Leslea Wahl, and Charting the Course exceeded my expectations! I enjoyed the experience of being on a cruise ship and getting to know Liz, whom we met in Into the Spotlight. Liz was funny, real, and relatable. There were great themes about not holding grudges, understanding other peoples’ perspectives, and righting your wrongs. I loved how Wahl showed that forgiveness is an ongoing process. She showed that even after we commit to forgiving, things can happen that tempt us to hold onto past hurts, but there are ways to overcome these temptations. I loved how there were several plot lines happening at once. Many books are predictable, but Charting the Course had several surprises and twists that I did not see coming. I couldn’t stop reading, but I didn’t want the book to end! I recommend this for any woman, age 12 to 112.
September 13, 2025
This book was a fun, sweet YA contemporary novel that readers will enjoy!
I enjoyed seeing Liz's personality and how she tries to keep a cheerful outer appearance, even though she is hiding some heavier pains. It is interesting watching as she tries to fight obstacles in her path (especially when her attempts are a bit misguided). I really enjoyed the scenes where she's singing.
Cole was a sweetheart. I love how he was willing to support Liz through everything and match her adventurous energy.
My favorite scene was the part with the towel animals. (cause it was sweet!)
The characters in this book were Catholic, and I enjoyed seeing their faith journey, even if I did not totally agree with their beliefs.
Overall, this book was an enjoyable read for those looking for a light, YA contemporary novel to enjoy.
I received an advance copy from the author. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
I enjoyed seeing Liz's personality and how she tries to keep a cheerful outer appearance, even though she is hiding some heavier pains. It is interesting watching as she tries to fight obstacles in her path (especially when her attempts are a bit misguided). I really enjoyed the scenes where she's singing.
Cole was a sweetheart. I love how he was willing to support Liz through everything and match her adventurous energy.
My favorite scene was the part with the towel animals. (cause it was sweet!)
The characters in this book were Catholic, and I enjoyed seeing their faith journey, even if I did not totally agree with their beliefs.
Overall, this book was an enjoyable read for those looking for a light, YA contemporary novel to enjoy.
I received an advance copy from the author. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
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