F is for Forever + Indie Book Review: 27

Forever

That one word brings forth so many emotions and connotations. When we think “forever,” what often comes to mind is love and friendship. We all long for that forever love and friend in our lives. Then there’s the idea of pain, emotional and physical, which can seem to last forever when we’re in the midst of it. What gets my imagination going the most is global disaster, something that sets off the forever part of after-this-life. That idea must get many folks’ imaginations going, which is likely why disaster movies and TV shows are so popular. (I’ve recently become addicted to The Walking Dead – thanks to Netflix, I’m able to watch the earlier series!)

For me though, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of forever is God, who is the quintessential “forever” –  who was, and is, and is to come. (Rev. 4:8)

Six friends reunite in London. From the outside their lives are enviable; from the new father, to the rich entrepreneur to the carefree traveller. But underneath their facades they are starting to unravel. Dave is made redundant, Renee’s marriage is crumbling and Katie is forced to return home to her parents after six years abroad. In a world fuelled by social media and ravaged by recession, the friends must face up to the choices they must make to lead the lives they truly want to live.

My Review

An interesting tale of the twists in one year of life for these six friends. Not your usual story of angst, rather it speaks of real-life issues we get ourselves into, sometimes ending in good results, other times not. The emotions are real, the lives devastating. The author manages to tell the plight of these six people in a voice that fits each, and to tie endings to their stories that leave you haunted, questioning and yet, satisfied.

About the Author

R.J. Heald (Ruth Heald) is the author of "27," the story of six friends aged 27 who reunite in London. On the surface they lead enviable lives, but underneath their facades they are falling apart. "27″ was selected as a Quarter-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

In her spare time, Ruth runs Five Stop Story (www.fivestopstory.com), a digital publisher of short stories, which connects up-and-coming writers with new readers, through its iPhone and iPad app and its Kindle book.

You can purchase 27 from Amazon.com for $2.99