Book Review of 'Charting the Course' by Leslea Wahl

All Aboard Bookworms!

It's been awhile since I've read a good YA and today I've got the perfect quick, summer read and all the action happens aboard a picturesque cruise ship! I've never had the opportunity to go on a cruise myself but my mom has been on several and says they're a lot of fun. After hearing some of the horror stories that have happened on cruise ships over the years I'm not sure if I'll ever set foot on one, but that's what's so great about books, I can have the experience and enjoy it all I want in my imagination.

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Charting the Course by Leslea Wahl, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Charting the Course
Series: Finding Faith series
Author: Leslea Wahl
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing
Release Date: June 27, 2023
Genre: YA Christian Adventure

Stuck on a ship with her estranged father for this high school reunion – not a merry way to spend the holidays. But could an onboard mystery and a cute boy be the course correction Liz needs?

Set amid the beauty of the Caribbean islands, Charting the Course delves into the topics of fractured families, generational high-school dramas, taking responsibility for your actions, and focusing on faith to keep us anchored. The twists and turns in this high-seas adventure will keep the reader bracing for the next wave of intrigue.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

My Review

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.

My Rating: ★★★★★

Also Available

About the Author

Leslea Wahl lives in beautiful Colorado and is the author of several award-winning teen novels. She strives to write stories that encourage teens to grow in their faith through fun adventurous mysteries. Leslea is often inspired by her family, their travels, and real-life adventures. She particularly enjoys including the furry, four-legged members of her family in her novels. Besides writing Leslea also reviews faith-based novels on her website and is a founding member of CatholicTeenBooks.com.

Connect with Leslea by visiting lesleawahl.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each win signed copies of Charting the Course, Into the Spotlight, and Where You Lead by Leslea Wahl!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 26, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 3, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!