It’s Christmas time and Shane has gone to the college to pick up his best friends son, Riley. Shane joined the military at the age of seventeen and met Russ his squad leader. He celebrated with the family often, as they had become his family. Shane recalls, Russ and Terry celebrating their twentieth wedding anniversary and Riley would be graduating in a couple of weeks. Shane remembered Riley being embarrassed about a poem he wrote. For Shane he liked the poem, it was of loneliness and the distance between the stars. Riley not only talked about when his Dad was gone, but he really missed Shane too.

For Riley home life was good but hectic. A Dad, Mom and siblings. His Dad being military was Commander and Chief at home. He wanted Riley to be a man and be more like him. But Riley wasn’t like him and he kept that secret to himself. He knows his Dad would try and fix him. Sometime he was just better off staying on campus.

For Shane this is supposed to be an easy assignment, get the target to his parents. It would all be on schedule but an upcoming blizzard and the unknown could interfere with that schedule. Riley was ready and offered, with a bright smile, to show Shane the robotics lab. Riley would be in this lab next year, with science and the magic. Shane had an interest in Riley for some time, but now he noticed that the nineteen year old, has gone from a boy to a man and it’s a greater temptation.

Now Shane would be spending three hours alone in the car with Riley. But a blizzard isn’t the big issue and Shane and Riley find themselves on the run from danger. Both Riley and Shane have their secrets. Will they finally share what they’ve been hiding and what will the outcome be for them both?

Mere Rain does really well with “Blizzards and Bullets.” For a short story it’s an easy quick read, packed with fast paced action, suspense, various emotions, a small fraction of violence, secrets to be revealed, and a romance that touches the heart.

The author creates an age-gap story with the perfect characters: Riley and Shane. They are both likable and show their emotions as the story goes along. Riley at one point seems to take on more of the adult role. Shane has to deal with the loneliness he has always faced and a job that can endanger Riley and his family.

For me “Blizzards and Bullets” is an entertaining short story and has all the elements that I like. Mere Rain always seems to pop-up with the best stories at the right time.

REVIEWER FOR QUEEROMANCE INK