7 Hours Omnibus

7 Hours #1-7

by Mike Dellosso (Rearview), Rene Gutteridge, Travis Thrasher

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?

In this collection of seven full-length novellas, seven writers come together to tackle the questions of life, death, and time as we know it. Each author has taken the same concept, featuring a mysterious central character, and spun their own story.

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

7 Stories. 7 Writers. 7 Hours.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction

ebook

First published June 22, 2012

About the author

Mike Dellosso is the author of numerous novels of suspense, including Kill Devil, Centralia, Darkness Follows, Darlington Woods, and Scream. Mike is a popular conference and workshop teacher and an adjunct professor of creative writing. He lives in Hanover, PA, with his wife and five daughters. Mike is also a healthcare worker and survivor of colon cancer.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2G54M5M...
Review on my blog: http://www.christianbookshelfreviews....

4.5 stars

~Rearview~

I found Rearview to be a really good read! I did, at times, think it was a bit too descriptive/wordy which made it hard to get into the story. The characters were good and there were some surprising things that made the book all the more interesting to read.

~Escapement~

I really liked Escapement! After reading Rearview, I thought I knew what to expect with the 7 Hours series (regarding Thomas), but Escapement was way different, yet still very good. I liked all the references to the makings of a clock and thought the characters were nice, although not that gripping to me.

~Teardrop~

Teardrop is my favorite in the 7 Hours series so far! I loved it! The characters were great and I loved the whole premise to the story (how a man chooses to go back in time to when his wife met her eventual killer to try and prevent the murder from ever happening). Great read!

~Recollection~

Recollection was a wonderful story! I was surprised by a lot of things in this book - especially what all the numbers meant.

~Whole Pieces~

I really liked Whole Pieces. I loved the whole military aspect and thought the story was well written. I liked the characters, but none of them stand out as a favorite to me. Thomas Constant's actions were very interesting in this installment and I was really surprised by something Hawk did. Overall, a good read.

~All of Our Dreams~

All of Our Dreams was another good installment to the 7 Hours Series. The story was interesting and I liked getting to see another side of Thomas Constant - and learn more behind what started the 7 Hours. While I didn't agree theologically with everything in this book, it was still a good read.

~The Last Night of Alton Webber~

The Last Night of Alton Webber is definitely my favorite of the 7 Hours series, which is fitting since it's the final installment in the series and the best was saved for last (at least in my opinion). I loved how the story switched from present day to the past almost every chapter, and I have to say I did not expect some of the things that happened in this story at all - so surprising! As with the previous books, I loved getting to know more about Thomas Constant and some of the things he did in this book were fascinating.

Overall thoughts:

All in all, this was a very interesting series that I extremely enjoyed reading! I loved how so many of my favorite authors came together with this series and I really enjoyed all the installments, though my two favorites were The Last Night of Alton Webber by Robin Parrish & Teardrop by Travis Thrasher.

I recommend the 7 Hours Series if you enjoy quick reads with some intriguing and supernatural aspects.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this series for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Trish Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

7 Stories. 7 Writers. 7 Hours.

With a teaser like that, how could I not want to read this new collection of short stories, especially centered on such an intriguing question as they are?

7 Hours is a fascinating look at the concept of time and what different people would do with a choice to relive a portion of their life. In each story, a dying person is approached by a man calling himself Thomas Constant who claims to be the personification of Time itself, and offered a choice to live for seven more hours or go back to any point in their life to relive seven hours.

Although the premise remains the same from story to story, each writer handles the dilemma and the telling of it in their own way. In the first story, Rearview, we meet a college professor who is driven to desperation by false accusations by a student from a prominent family. Upon meeting Thomas, he makes a decision which has surprising implications for not only him and his family, but also touches other lives in the process. I was so moved by this story that I was actually a bit nervous to keep reading, for fear that the remaining ones wouldn’t be as good.

I’m glad I did keep reading, however, because I truly loved several of the stories in this collection. More than one of the characters make their choice with murder in mind, some are focused on saving the person they love, and others are attempting to stop events in the past that they think should never have happened. While all of them deal with issues of the heart, especially forgiveness and redemption, this last category also brings out the startling possibilities of what could happen when a person thinks they know better than God what should be allowed to happen.

All of Our Dreams had the most difficult storyline to follow, as the description of events kept jumping around to different time frames. It did become gradually easier to understand and made sense in the end, although it was still my least favorite of the seven.

[Roberto Mattos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of seven novels versing on the same theme. Death arrives at your door in the form of a mysterious man named Thomas Constant and proposes you a deal: you can either just die now, or you can live another seven hours during any period of your life in order to try to make right some wrong things you did or you regret. All seven stories from these seven different authors are completely different, but they explore this idea in different perspectives. Clock is ticking. What will you do with the time you have left?
All are wonderfully written stories and this book is an excellent entertainment for hours. It took me around 21 hours to read the whole book. I highly recommend it to any reader who likes to think about life, death, and time.

This book was published by Tyndale House Publishers in July 2012 and they were kind enough to send me an electronic copy for reviewing through their blogger book review program.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved all of the books except for one that a military theme - not a favorite of mine. Otherwise, the concept was really interesting and loved how each author took a different spin on the idea of having 7 hours to do with your life when faced with death.

[Greg Reimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book in 2014 and have read one of the seven stories each summer while on an annual camping trip. In 2020 I finished the last story. Each one is unique and takes an interesting twist on an already intriguing premise. These stories all chronicle the journey of time and the the effects of the choices we make. There has been a meta story going on in my own life as. I have read the story and the years have passed, each year I've made choices, big and small. I went to university, then Bible college, got a degree, paid off student loans, got a job, got another job, and another one, got engaged (not just in a good book), got married, and now am heading back to school part time while working full time at yet another job. Lots has changed in my life and I don't necessarily agree with everything this book says (although 7 years ago I probably would have), but I can still fully endorse a read.

Only one thing is constant, and Thomas is his name. The clock is ticking. Time waits for no one (save seven). Will you take a chance? Will you take the leap?

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting concept. Seven people can choose to add seven hours to their life or go back and relive seven hours. All of the authors had a different take on it and I loved the creativity of it.

[Caryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time is a gift. Each of these unique stories are an engaging and thought provoking look at how one might unwrap the gift of time. I enjoyed each of these seven stories.

I recommend 7 Hours to those who enjoy thought provoking mysteries.

The views expressed are my honest opinion.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. What a concept! Seven novellas in one ebook, written by seven authors, each independent but tied by a common thread and one character. Action and suspense abound in each story, and the countdown of seven hours adds to the urgency. Since each one stands alone, though, they can be read without staying up all night. Assuming you can stop without going on to the next one, that is! Just to whet your appetite, here's a glimpse of a couple of the stories.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book free from Tyndale as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Suep · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a library e-book project. I really enjoyed the series. It's a book that will stick with you long after you are finished.

[Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series so much. Only negative is how short all the books felt, but it makes sense considering the fact that it's only supposed to be a 7 Hour time period.

[Terry Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all these books previously. When I found out that they had combined all the books together, I had to get it. Of course I had to read them all again. What a great idea. 7 stories by 7 different authors writing about the same subject. All original stories with great characters. I had as much fun the second time around.