Review: The Storm’s Gift by A.D. Ellis

Title: The Storm’s Gift

Author: A.D. Ellis

Length: 34 Pages

Category: Contemporary, Holiday, New Adult

At a Glance: A cute, short story, but with some elements that seemed off for college life.

Reviewed By: Jennifer

Blurb: Snowed in together in their college dorm, two men share a quick connection that creates enough heat to spar with the blizzard outside.

Rory Blackwell plans to rejuvenate his mind and repair his battered heart after his world is shaken by an unexpected breakup. James Austin’s freshman-year plans of improving his social life crashed and burned, leaving him feeling as alone and outcast as he did back home.

One man is hurting while the other is eager to provide comfort. One is a virgin, the other experienced with other men. Both are looking forward to Winter Break, but can they take full advantage of their situation—or will the passion ignited between them fizzle out with the storm?

Review: Sweet stories where two people are stranded together and find love are just my thing, especially in the winter when they’re snowed in. Add a college romance, and I am so there. While I did like The Storm’s Gift, overall, there were some elements that pulled me out of the story and forced me to suspend disbelief.

During the final day of exams, a blizzard is set to hit town. James is desperately trying to finish his final exam and turn it in so he can get back to his family for Christmas. Rory is set to live in the dorms on his own and recharge after a break-up leaves him heartbroken.

It seems like a sweet setup, and it was cute, but I feel like the story would have been stronger as a longer novella or even a full novel. There is a little building of the characters, but they are thrown together so quickly, and fall so fast, that it was a little hard to believe. Also, as a teacher—both secondary and as a college adjunct at one point—I had a hard time believing the schedule of exams. I’ve never been in a setting where students are allowed to change the times of their exams, and I have never known a professor who would leave their student alone to take an exam just to get home before a blizzard, leaving said student possibly stranded. Those elements really pulled me out of the story. Others may not have issue with this, however, and there were some other elements of the story I liked. I did like how Rory checked in on James and helped him recover from nearly freezing to death.

Fans of stories where the protagonists are thrown together by the elements will likely enjoy this story.

You can buy The Storm’s Guard here:
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