Review by MaryBurris -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

MaryBurris · Post by **MaryBurris** » 29 Sep 2017, 00:00

[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]

3 out of 4 stars

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When I had been first presented with this book, Strong Heart, I was uncertain if I wanted to read it. I read a few reviews and I changed my mind. I would give the author an opportunity to convince me of his writing prowess and tell his tale.

The book is two stories built into one. The main story takes place in current time, while the secondary story takes place centuries ago. The stories tell a tale of bravery, persistence, and survival. The setting for both stories is the Olympic Peninsula Wilderness of Washington State.

Sarah is only thirteen years old when she is dropped off at Tom’s home by his ex-wife. Tom is informed Sarah is his granddaughter. This puts Tom in a bind as he was planning on leaving in the morning for a trek into the wilderness with his Native American friends, William and Myra. This would be a special trip for Tom as they are headed to visit the place where years ago he had buried his grandfather. He wanted to make sure it is marked and cared for properly. Myra convinces Tom and William that Sarah should join them on the trek.

The author shows he is knowledgeable about the history of Native Americans, particularly those who are from the Pacific Northwest. He also shows he is familiar with the terrain of the area as it is described vividly. The characters appear well-developed, and I could picture an image of their personalities in my mind as I read the book.

I would recommend this book to those who love adventure, and to those who appreciate ancient history, particularly Native American history, and stories that take place in the Pacific Northwest. Should you choose to read this book, you will want to be prepared. Surround yourself with snacks and drinks, as you will not want to put this book down once you have started.

I found I enjoyed the book. Despite this being a good read, the end of the book left me confused. It felt as though the story of ancient times was concluded, but not the current story. I was left with significant questions about the ending. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be a cliffhanger, or if the author forgot to finish the story. Due to the confusion at the end of the book, I am giving this book 3 out of 4 stars.

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Strong Heart
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Spirit Wandering · Post by **Spirit Wandering** » 29 Sep 2017, 19:12

Like you, I was left with significant questions at the end of the novel. I bought the companion audio book and listened to it, rather than reading the Kindle version. At the end, there is an interview with the author. He indicates that a sequel is in the works, so perhaps the loose ends will be tied up in that book.

MaryBurris · Post by **MaryBurris** » 29 Sep 2017, 19:19

Spirit Wandering wrote:Like you, I was left with significant questions at the end of the novel. I bought the companion audio book and listened to it, rather than reading the Kindle version. At the end, there is an interview with the author. He indicates that a sequel is in the works, so perhaps the loose ends will be tied up in that book.

I can only hope that the author does tie up the loose ends. I find it rather annoying when they do cliffhangers and don't forewarn us about them. Thank you for commenting.

Kelebogile Mbangi · Post by **Kelebogile Mbangi** » 05 Oct 2017, 07:29

Great review, I love how easy it was to read, it just flowed. I haven't yet finished this book, but so far I agree with most of your points. Thank you for the review.

Ashley Simon · Post by **Ashley Simon** » 05 Oct 2017, 09:51

I also changed my mind about this book. Thanks for the review, Mary!

MaryBurris · Post by **MaryBurris** » 05 Oct 2017, 11:10

Kelebogile Mbangi wrote:Great review, I love how easy it was to read, it just flowed. I haven't yet finished this book, but so far I agree with most of your points. Thank you for the review.

I think that you will really enjoy the rest of the book as well.

Ashley Simon wrote:I also changed my mind about this book. Thanks for the review, Mary!

Thanks, Ashley. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

kislany · Post by **kislany** » 06 Oct 2017, 00:57

Nice review. I haven't read this book yet, but if I'll see it on offer, I might pick it up. I don't know nearly enough about the Native American history (we in Europe have our own history to still wade through), so this can be a good way to catch up a bit.

MaryBurris · Post by **MaryBurris** » 06 Oct 2017, 10:02

@kislany If I were to base my opinion on your past reviews, I would say that you would really enjoy this one. Thanks for stopping in to check out my review