Taken by Storm

This was an amazing book and I would recommend it to anyone over 14 years. Angela Morrison did a great job portraying these two. Leesie is a young Morman who takes her religion seriously. For that she is harrassed at school, called the "Ice Queen" because she sticks by her beliefs. Michael is a lost soul, whom just lost both of his parents in a horrible accident. These two have different idea's about love and learn a hard lesson because of their actions. I do not care for the ending, but was told that this story is not over yet, so it give's me hope that their will be a happy ending in the future. Angela Morrison is a great writer and I can not wait to read her next book.

As I was looking for my twelve-year-old at the library, I walked by the teen section. There, sitting on top of one of the selves was a book that captured my eye, "Taken By Storm". I admit it, I'm a romance fanatic. Love to read a good romance, and not necessarily the mushy kind. Actually that's not really my preference in reading or writing. I took the book from the metal cradle holding it and flipped it over. Not much there to give me any real hint of what it was about. Inside, there was a better synopsis. Now I'm intrigued. I leave the teen section with book in hand as I seek out my daughter. Mind you this is the first book I can remember, other then non-fiction, that I've personally checked out from a library in so many years I can't even remember the last time I had. I love books, and would rather own them. But the book was there and beckoned me to read it...now. I took the book home but first needed to finish the book I was currently reading, Isolation, by Travis Thrasher. A great book by the way. You should also check out his amazing love stories. I had flipped through the pages of Taken By Storm, several times, and was actually thinking of returning it. There were Chatspot Logs, Dive Logs and poems, all amongst what you would normally see between the pages of a fictional romance. I'm so not a poems person. When I finished the book I'd been reading, I hesitated to start this one. My daughter wouldn't allow that. She made a big deal about, "When are you going to read that, mom?" So I picked it up and started to read. And as I read, I quickly found I couldn't put it down. As I was looking for my twelve-year-old at the library, I walked by the teen section. There, sitting on top of one of the selves was a book that captured my eye, "Taken By Storm". I admit it, I'm a romance fanatic. Love to read a good romance, and not necessarily the mushy, kind. Actually that's not really my preference in reading or writing. The writing was amazing. The story was amazing. I loved the whole idea of the story, two young people who desperately need someone, and how their paths cross and intertwine. The message of need, love, grief, beliefs and one finding their self is emotionally wonderful. Needless to say, I loved the story of Michael and Leesie. I loved how Michael went from being a full-of-himself teen male, to one that learned to respect a woman's wishes and beliefs. I loved how Leesie was so rooted in her beliefs and though she swayed at times, stuck to them...at least most of them. The reason for titling this review, "I'll still give it five stars", is because I did not like the ending. In fact, I was upset when reading it. The last section before the poem wasn't too bad, though not what I'd expected but the ending poem through me off. Remember, I'm not a poem person. I didn't get it, though most of the pomes in the book were actually pretty good...I got them. Maybe I just didn't want to believe how the aut

Unlike most novels written about Mormons, TAKEN BY STORM is accurate, honest, realistic and not at all preachy. It takes an unflinching look at a complicated relationship - Michael is a bad boy who is grieving the loss of his parents. He doesn't understand Leesie's adamant refusal to have sex with him. He hates to pressure her, but if she loves him, why won't she put out? Leesie, on the other hand, is a good Mormon girl determined to "be good" and keep herself pure and "clean." In a tiny town with no real prospects, that hasn't been too difficult. Until Michael comes along. Suddenly, she's at war with herself - she wants Michael, but she also wants to be a good Mormon girl. This book should appeal to anyone who's ever been in Leesie's shoes. Even if you don't identify, it's a compelling read that's both engrossing and satisfying. [...]

I love romances and TAKEN BY STORM is a very romantic story about two young people who are really not meant to be together: wild boy, Michael, whose life and family have just been literally blown away; and Leesie, young woman with her head on her shoulders, her future mapped out, and her life and outlook comfortingly grounded in her faith. But meet, they do, and fall in love they do. This is a story told in intimate journal entries, Michael's log book, online chats and IMs, whereby we see Leesie and Michael's attraction grow and develop into passion, longing, boundary-pushing, and healing. We also see that they ultimately learn what love really means.

Leesie is the good girl, everything that is expected from her by her parents and religion: kind, thoughtful, driven, and pious. She has a bright future ahead of her, and hopes to attend Brigham Young University. Michael will be lucky if he can just make it until next week with his sanity intact. He's tormented by Isadore, the hurricane that ripped his parents away from him and left him alone in the world, his only family his aging grandmother who lives far away from everything he knows. At first, Michael is distant and out of reach. But Leesie can't deny her strange urge to reach out and help him. And slowly, Michael learns to trust Leesie. But even though physically, Isadore has run her course, she's still very much alive within Michael: can he and Leesie hold on long enough for Isadore to blow over? Taken by Storm is a heartfelt and romantic novel told in alternating viewpoints through a unique mix of dive logs, poetry, and online chats, which is a very personal and fitting approach to such an emotional story. The setting of the novel is described beautifully and goes to great lengths at establishing the mood of the story: a bit dreary, mysterious, and overcast, but not without the potential for sunshine. Michael's grief is portrayed very realistically, and his honesty contributes to the authenticity of his character, making him lovable despite his many flaws. Leesie is a unique character in the sense that she is very religious (a trait usually glossed over in most Young Adult novels) and very firm in her beliefs, but also quite vulnerable as well. Her endeavors to help Michael are admirable, and the roadblocks she encounters along the way realistic. The interactions between Michael and Leesie excite as often as they exasperate, creating a much more believable relationship between the two as they struggle to find common ground between their desires and beliefs. Unflinching, honest, and sometimes sorrowful, Taken by Storm is a novel that is not only romantic and entertaining, but thoughtful and moving. Cover Comments: I love this cover. At first, I was a bit apprehensive and not sure if I liked it, but the font and the intimate photo really help establish the mood of the book, and the colors are just gorgeous. The small details on the front and the watermarked appearancereally make it personal and unique. It's a great pick!