Escapement by Rene Gutteridge

Mattie Bigham is losing everything that matters to him. He lost his job and now his wife says she wants a divorce. Since he now weighs just under 450 pounds, he expects to lose his life soon, too. So, when Thomas Constant shows up to tell him that he has 7 hours left, Mattie decides to go in search of the bully who made his life miserable as a schoolboy. Nothing turns out as he expects, and his time is about to expire...

I loved the story and soon cared about the characters, especially Mattie. Rene reveals different layers to this man who has made some poor decisions, and let the opinions of others color his image of himself. He has let bitterness seep into his being, yet also has some quirky aspects that made me smile, and compassion for the faults in others that are endearing. This is a quick read, yet one that packed a lot in and is well worth reading for yourself.

This is one of the stories in 7 Hours, an anthology from Tyndale. This is a collection of seven full-length novellas, each written by a different author. Each story features a character is visited by the enigmatic Thomas Constant. The message he delivers to each is "You are about to die. But you may choose from one of three options: Live seven more hours, travel back in time and relive seven hours, or accept the inevitable and die now.” (from the publisher)
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Death comes for everyone. But what if you were given seven more hours? Would you go back and relive a previous time in your life? Or would you live those seven more hours, starting now?

Stories include: All of Our Dreams, Whole Pieces, Teardrop, Escapement, Recollection, Rear View, and The Last Night of Alton Webber.

7 Stories. 7 Writers. 7 Hours.

In compliance with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I am required to state that I received a free download of Escapement from Tyndale House Publishers for the  purposes of  writing a review.