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Taken by Storm (Taken by Storm #1)

by Angela Morrison (Goodreads Author)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 764 ratings · 174 reviews

Leesie Hunt has many rules: No kissing. No sex. No dating outside the Mormon faith. When Michael Walden?a deep-sea diver who lost his parents in a violent hurricane?arrives in town, Leesie sees someone who needs her. They fall for one another, even though his dreams are tied to the depths of the ocean and hers to salvation above.

Will their intense chemistry be too strong t...more

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published March 5th 2009 by Razorbill

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Oct 23, 2009 Tristi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Leesie is a Mormon. She’s never smoked, never tasted alcohol, doesn’t make out, goes to church, and tries to live her life according to her beliefs.

Michael is a surfer dude. He’s been raised on the ocean, in touch with nature, and has learned to express his deep emotions by having sex.

When Michael’s parents are killed in a freak storm, he comes to live with his grandmother in Washington. He is filled with grief over his parents’ death and hates being uprooted from the only life he’s known. When...more

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Jun 17, 2010 Janette added it

Woowza!

This book is proof that you can write a steamy novel full of romantic tension without having your characters ever actually have sex. In fact, the forbidden love aspect notched the romantic tension way up.

The main premise is this: Michael is a wounded hot guy. He was out with his parents and other members of his diving club when a hurricane hit their boat. He is pretty much the sole survivor. He needs somebody to help him through his nightmares and give him a reason to live again. He needs...more

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Oct 23, 2009 erinbobarin94 rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I picked this up in the library 2day, I FINALLY finished my now infamous "Chimp Book". (Which I'm so happy about, I was really dreading having that hanging over me all summer. Thanks to My Read, I was saved!) Anyway, I showed it to Beth, and we both thought it looked really cute. Aww... love. I MUST READ IT! I'm such a romantic sucker. Anyway... Leesie is this completely controlled, focused Mormon girl who's smart, and intent on getting into BYU. She's shy, studious... and she writes poetry! KA-...more I picked this up in the library 2day, I FINALLY finished my now infamous "Chimp Book". (Which I'm so happy about, I was really dreading having that hanging over me all summer. Thanks to My Read, I was saved!) Anyway, I showed it to Beth, and we both thought it looked really cute. Aww... love. I MUST READ IT! I'm such a romantic sucker. Anyway... Leesie is this completely controlled, focused Mormon girl who's smart, and intent on getting into BYU. She's shy, studious... and she writes poetry! KA-ZAM! But then this boy Michael moves to her tiny town, Tekoa. (It's a real place, the author grew up there.) During the first parts with him in the book, it describes his passion for scuba diving (along with his parents') and about his yearning for his lost love, Carolina. (Spanish, pronoucned Caro-LEE-na.)He seemed like areally sensitive, respectful guy at that time. But then his parents, and everyone on board the yacht is killed in Hurricane Isadore. Except him. Everyone. Except him. And then he becomes this completely depressed, totally numb guy. This girl DeeDee, at Leesie's school, makes a complete show of herself for him. (Like she does with all the boys... this is a pretty awful school... just wait, it gets worse.) And he starts thinking about how *Paraphrasing Here* "Oh, this display of skin is enticing, and I probably needed it. I'd normally have taken her up on her off, but I just couldn't find the motivation inside me." That's the gist, anyway. So he's a litte vain, but at least he has feeling. But I feel awful for Leesie because the boys at school pinch her butt, and grope her. They call her "The Mormon Ice Queen." Sick. But she keeps her outlook positive, expressing herself through her writing. This book is different, because the entire story is written through journals, poems, and IMs. It's... intriguing. (Ha. And I got all of this from less than 100 pages.)Ah... I can't wait until they fall for each other... FORBIDDEN LOVE! Between an innocent, intelligent, Mormon girl. And an adventurous, tragic, and definitely not-Mormon boy. *Sigh.* Another strange thing is I'm not even into religious books. I think the main plot of this book is her faith, and how their relationship will test it. I was actually disappointed when I read a review that said they don't even end up together because she;s so determined to stick to her beliefs. But I know there will be a little romance in between, so I'm willing to stick it out... *UPDATE* I just finished. I knew the ending, but I'm still disappointed. The high note is that it wasn't really her religion getting in the way. It was BOTH her religon, and his heartache. In the end, he says, "You have your dreams. Now I have mine." After multiple fights(and make-ups)he finally comes to terms with his parents death, and he decides to become a professional diving trainer. She gets a full scholarship to BYU. And they end up just being friends. I'm so thrilled. (Note: Sarcasm.) But I had no idea how entirely focused on her religion it would be. She keeps trying to convert him, and it agitated me. The point of the story was this: she thought he needed saving, but it was actually he who saved her from temptation. Still... it's well-written, a good read, but not one of my favorites.(less)

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Feb 02, 2013 Becky rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I did a tour stop for this book sometime last year and received a free copy, I've just got round to it on my pile. It was one that I wasn't sure I wanted to read. I don't tend to do books that focus on religion as I find them too preachy. This book wasn't too preachy, it depicts the Morman faith well, but I felt there was a lot of repetition. One of the main characters Leesie brings up her faith in practically every sentence, 'no my faith doesn't allow it', 'I can't it's not what we believe'......more I did a tour stop for this book sometime last year and received a free copy, I've just got round to it on my pile. It was one that I wasn't sure I wanted to read. I don't tend to do books that focus on religion as I find them too preachy. This book wasn't too preachy, it depicts the Morman faith well, but I felt there was a lot of repetition. One of the main characters Leesie brings up her faith in practically every sentence, 'no my faith doesn't allow it', 'I can't it's not what we believe'... that sort of thing (not direct quotes). There were times when I was literally reading the book and saying to myself "yes I get it, move on now."
Michael however is not religious, his parents have just died in an accident and he is fighting off depression and despair. However, I found him to be a complete ass. He knows about Leesie's religion from the beginning but instead of accepting it and moving on he is sure he 'needs' her, and then gets annoyed when she says no. And when it comes to her future plans he more or less tells her at one point that she is selfish for following her dreams if it means leaving him. I mean, get over yourself dude!
The actual writing in this book was very well done, a mix of poetry and prose that actually works very well together. The author obviously has great talent in that area, but for me the characters irritated me a lot. THey had their moments when I could see the plus side, but mostly I didn't like them.
This book was short at just 186 pages which is why I finished it to be honest, by the time I reached my 'trial' period (I always read at least 100 pages of a book) I was already over halfway so I thought I might as well go all the way, although it took me 4 days, which is a lot for me, should have been able to read it in 2 hours at that length.
The ending does get better and I liked the character development and changes that happen in the last couple of chapters, it's just a long time coming.
I don't think I'll read other books based on religion, I respect people's religions and hope people respect mine, but reading about them just didn't work for me.

Of course, if that is what you enjoy, then you will probably love this book, but for me it just didn't hit the spot.(less)

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Aug 16, 2012 The Itzel Library rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religion, series, trilogies, contemporary, couples, cover-love, romance, drama

4.5/5
Un libro poéticamente impresionante.
Antes, quiero decir que mi formación antireligiosa (desde luego sin autorización de mi familia) me llevó a interesarme por este libro -igual que por Salvaged by Stefne Miller (Reseña) y Losing Faith by Denise Jaden (Pronto la reseña)-, en fin… El punto era, ¿y si Morrison no sabe introducir los temas religiosos en un libro? Me moría de los nervios sólo de pensarlo.
Michael y Leesie son dos chicos completamente diferentes, salvo en la fortaleza que cada uno...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Jackie(No Bent Spines) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: don-t-like-the-ending, reccomended-to-me, contermperary-ya-a

2.5 stars
This book had me addicted..but i really didn't like it.
The writing style was cool. I liked how in the beginning Michael thoughts all had a lowercase 'i' instead of an uppercase 'I' like was used in the end. To me the lowercase signaled vulnerability and the uppercase gave me a sense of new found strength. I loved how for Leesie's thoughts all of it was in chat or poems.How you were never told what was happening to her outright, how it was always told in poetry really spoke to me.
I get...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

It is disappointing because this author is a great writer. Sing Me to Sleep was great writing until it got all hormonal and turned into a giant gross make out session. This book is similar -- but since it is her debut novel, the writing is not as good. The book is goopy and sappy and preachy and more gross teenage hormonal make out sessions. The girl is a Mormon and has her standards but the minute she gets a boyfriend she is either a) cold as ice and actually says while kissing "are both my fee...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Clarissa added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, annoying-main-character, christian-fiction, coming-of-age, grief, multiple-pov, ya

This novel is unique for a couple of reasons. First, is the format. This book switches POV back and forth from Michael and Leesie. Her POV is either written as her personal poetry or as chat logs or, sometimes, as a combination of the two. Her poetry was pretty good, not awesome, but not bad. I found the chat logs to be a little too kitschy, I would have preferred to read just a first person point of view, but whatever. Michael's story was told through his dive logs, which I guess is fancy talk...more This novel is unique for a couple of reasons. First, is the format. This book switches POV back and forth from Michael and Leesie. Her POV is either written as her personal poetry or as chat logs or, sometimes, as a combination of the two. Her poetry was pretty good, not awesome, but not bad. I found the chat logs to be a little too kitschy, I would have preferred to read just a first person point of view, but whatever. Michael's story was told through his dive logs, which I guess is fancy talk for a journal. Which, in the end, is just a clumsy way to deliver first person POV. Those were easier to read, but I hated him, so that didn't really help.

The second reason this story is unique, is that the main girl character is a Mormon (like myself). I mean, really a Mormon. The "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet made an appearance (if you don't know what that is google it.) This is the first book I've read that has a major Mormon character, was intended for a main steam audience, AND was published by a major publisher. This book was published by Razor Bill. Holy Horses. Morrison did a good job of explaining LDS (aka Mormon) Speak and other nuances like Branch President, Stake House and what "formal dress" means for Mormons. It also, surprisingly, didn't bog down the text, which I always imagined would be a problem. So, good job there.

However, like I said before, I hated one of the main characters. That took a lot of the enjoyment out of the reading. Michael loses his entire family at the start of the novel, and spends the rest of it with post traumatic stress disorder. I think we're supposed to cut him a break because of it. I do feel for the guy, but no excuse is good enough for the way he treats Leesie.

The main theme in this book is not grief, like you would think, it's sex. It's a classic will she or won't she, with a Mormon twist. I was very disappointed. It seemed like this novel could have shifted focus away from sex to explore some other issues. The main reason that Michael is getting my ire is that he puts some major pressure on Leesie. "Show me that you love me." What a jerk. Then Leesie feels guilty when she doesn't give in. He doesn't deserve her guilt. I realize that his behavior is plausible, and perhaps typical, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

At the end of the day, I'm not sure if I would recommend this book. It landed somewhere in the middle for me. I didn't hate it, but I have no love for it either.(less)

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Oct 15, 2011 Micheeline18 laura added it

Despues de una larga espera jijiji ya que fue al primer tour que me apunte.. pude leer este libro que me consquisto con su reseña jejeje
Este es un libro que me cuesta un poco poder describir, me gusto mucho y los disfrute, me tome mi tiempo en leerlo y en entender algunas partes.. Tiene una historia bonita y a la vez difícil, la perdida de las personas mas importantes en la vida tus padres y lo difícil que es ser de otra religión y los prejuicios y burlas que pueden hacer respecto a eso.
El libro...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Maria rated it 1 of 5 stars

Alright, so I like to consider myself a writer. And I know how vulnerable it can make you feel to have someone critique your stuff. So when I’m writing reviews, I normally will do anything possible to avoid blasting the negatives. I love all kinds of books and I always finish them (no matter what) – and by that time, I end up either loving them, or thinking “okay, won’t be reading that again”. But, oh my goodness….please don’t waste your time on this novel.

First off, the characters “fall in lov...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Gaby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2010, romance, young-adult, contemporary

Posted at http://oh-my-books.blogspot.com/2010/...

I wasn't very sure to read this book, because I'm not a Mormon. But in the end I read it, and really liked it.

Leesie is a Mormon girl. She has lots of rules, and her dream is to go to college. She can't stand being at her school, where people doesn't understand or respect her beliefs. But then she mets Michael, and everything changes.

Michael just lost both of his parents at a hurricane. He's broken, and doesn't feel like living. But the he mets L...more

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Oct 23, 2010 Brandi Kosiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 4.5/5

Taken by Storm is a heart wrenching, beautifully written story of forbidden love. It is written from dual points of view- Micheal's dive book written journal style and Leesie's in the form of poems. I devoured this book and am left craving more.
Micheal is a diver and he is the survivor of a hurricane that killed his parents, and understandably he is broken and depressed. He has flashbacks and yearning to get back into the water. He moves in with his Grandma in the winter in Teacup and is...more 4.5/5

Taken by Storm is a heart wrenching, beautifully written story of forbidden love. It is written from dual points of view- Micheal's dive book written journal style and Leesie's in the form of poems. I devoured this book and am left craving more.
Micheal is a diver and he is the survivor of a hurricane that killed his parents, and understandably he is broken and depressed. He has flashbacks and yearning to get back into the water. He moves in with his Grandma in the winter in Teacup and is numb. The Mormon "Ice Queen" of the school breaks through his walls and they fall in love. Leesie feels for him and wants to help him, and Micheal comes to need her, and begins to want to feel, want to heal.
They are both wonderful characters with voices that come through strong in their writing. I felt emotionally invested in the characters, and wanted the best for them. But it is hard to discern what really is the best. Can love conquer all? Loving one another and staying together means that one of them will have to cave- Micheal is used to showing his love through sex, and Leesie strong religious convicts her that she is to stay pure (no tongue, both feet on the floor among other rules.)
Though religion is important to Leesie, she does not come off as preachy to me. I think that she does well to show that God is important to her, she does not want to cave in her beliefs and convictions, but she doesn't want to force it on Michael. She invites him to events and she talks to him about it, but she truly hopes that it might be the thing to help.
Spoiler!!!!

The ending to me is hard to process- but I also really appreciate it. They do what is best for them personally- pursuing college and his diving- their dreams, and hold off on their love because it would hold them back. It is hard though because I want it to work out for them to stay together and still fulfill their dreams, but I do know that there is a second book out, and I am eager to read it and see how it all comes together.

All in all I loved this story and would recommend it. It is a story of romance, staying true to self, healing, and friendship. (less)

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Sep 11, 2010 YA Reads Book Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Leesie is a Mormon. She’s wholesome, pure and innocent and devoted to the teachings of her church. Dating boys outside her church is frowned upon and the guidelines about dating in general are very strict in the Mormon world:

- Thou shalt not be alone with a boy who is not your brother or your father.
- No parking
- No necking
- No tongue kissing
- No groping
- And obviously, no sex unless you’re married.

And these are just some of the acts that are off limits. But Leesie doesn’t mind, not really, beca...more Leesie is a Mormon. She’s wholesome, pure and innocent and devoted to the teachings of her church. Dating boys outside her church is frowned upon and the guidelines about dating in general are very strict in the Mormon world:

- Thou shalt not be alone with a boy who is not your brother or your father.
- No parking
- No necking
- No tongue kissing
- No groping
- And obviously, no sex unless you’re married.

And these are just some of the acts that are off limits. But Leesie doesn’t mind, not really, because she’s never really met anyone that made her want to do any of those things anyway. And then Michael moves to town…

Meet Michael – he’s not wholesome, not pure, and certainly not a Mormon. When Michael arrives in town, he’s a bit of a mess. You see, the poor kid just watched his parents die in a diving accident and is being haunted by their faces in his dreams.

At first, Leesie just tells herself that she’s hanging out with Michael because he needs help. He’s broken and she wants to fix him. Michael likes Leesie, though – a lot – and he wants more than friendship with her. It isn’t too long before Leesie realizes that she feels exactly the same way. But what about her church? And what about her dreams to head off to Brigham Young University at the end of the school year? Is it even possible for a Mormon like herself to have a proper relationship with someone who doesn’t believe in the things that she does?

The Mormon guidelines pose some serious challenges for Leesie and Michael. Michael isn’t a virgin when he comes to town and he wants nothing more than to make sweet, sweet love to Leesie. But he can’t even use his tongue when he kisses her, how on earth is he going to get her out of her clothes? He says he loves her, but does he love her enough to respect her religion and their teachings? Leesie doesn’t understand why Michael can’t separate love and sex. For her, they’re two separate entities, but for Michael, they’re one and the same.

Taken By Storm implements the technique of dual narration and readers are able to navigate the story through both Leesie and Michael’s perspective. This technique validates both characters’ arguments and places the reader in a position which allows them to weigh up both sides equally before passing judgment over one character or the other. Michael’s grief over his parents’ death is gut wrenching, but does that justify the way he pushes Leesie? And Leesie’s religious beliefs explain why she resists so much but is it fair of her to preach at Michael, and is it fair for her to deny him the way she is? When two people who come from such opposing ways of life find each other, is it better to just walk away? These are all very good questions and Taken By Storm does a stellar job of addressing the issue fairly and objectively.

This is one of those heart-wrenching tales which demonstrates that, sadly, sometimes love just isn’t enough.(less)

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Aug 24, 2010 Joanne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-contemporary

Sometimes only love can save you.
Leesie Hunt's Unbreakable Rules: No Kissing (at least not of the French variety)...No Sex (hah! Not even close to happening anyway)...No Dating Outside the Mormon Faith (what would be the point?)...ABSOLUTELY No Falling in Love with the Wrong Boy (would ruin everything).
Leesie thinks she has her whole life planned out: get into the school of her dreams, write her poems, meet the perfect guy, and settle down. Then she meets Michael--a boy whose parents were killed...more Sometimes only love can save you.
Leesie Hunt's Unbreakable Rules: No Kissing (at least not of the French variety)...No Sex (hah! Not even close to happening anyway)...No Dating Outside the Mormon Faith (what would be the point?)...ABSOLUTELY No Falling in Love with the Wrong Boy (would ruin everything).
Leesie thinks she has her whole life planned out: get into the school of her dreams, write her poems, meet the perfect guy, and settle down. Then she meets Michael--a boy whose parents were killed in a diving accident during a terrible storm.
Michael is drowning in tragedy. And all Leesie wants is to save him. With each day, her heart hurts more. Could it be, perfect Leesie is falling from grace? Or is she just falling in love?
But if Leesie gives in to temptation, who is going to save her? From Amazon US

I fell in love with Angela Morrison's writing when I read Sing Me to Sleep two months ago. That beautiful story touched me so much, I was desperate to read more, so I quickly bought Taken By Storm, Morrison's debut novel, prepared to be swept away. I am thrilled to tell you I was not disappointed! I absolutely loved this story! So much emotion, it's wonderful!

I'm going to start with the writing, because it's just brilliant. I'm not a diver, nor am I a Mormon, but you don't need to be either to follow this story. Morrison goes to great pains to make sure we understand what's going on, whether it be how a diver prepares for a dive, or the beliefs of Mormans, and it's all so fascinating! The way Morrison describes the world in our oceans is just so beautiful; you can actually see it, the reefs, the fish, the plant life. It's just gorgeous!

The structure is just genius! Most of the story is told in first person from Michael's point of view, through diary entries into his diving log, which contains details at the beginning of each entry such as dive buddy, date, dive #, location, site, etc. At the start and end of the book, those categories are all taken literally, but as time goes on, it can refer to who he's with, where, how he's feeling, and so on, and it's a great way to see Michael's state of mind before actually reading the entry. For some reason, he never capitalises "I", but it's a little quirk that makes him seem more real.
Leesie doesn't narrate at all, but we do get inside her head through the numerous poems she writes, and the online conversations she has with a friend, Kim, who lives in a different state, and Michael. For someone who isn't exactly telling the story, I found her really relatable, and feel I heard her voice just as much as Michael's. Just fantastic.

The plot is just awesome. Michael is grieving over the death of his parents, and isn't coping too well, suffering from nightmares and visions, and Leesie is the only one who can seem to keep it all at bay. However, Michael isn't used to having to control himself, so finds it really difficult to stick to Leesie's rules as a Mormon. Having been passionately in love twice before, Michael doesn't see how you can get close enough to someone to fall in love without actually loving them, like he feels so much he's unable to express it well in any other way.

Leesie knows it's possible, because of how she feels for him, and has to stop him on more than one occasion. I found Leesie's predicament really relatable. As I said, I'm not a Morman, but I do have strong morals for myself that are similar to her own to a certain degree, and can understand her having trouble balancing wanting to do what's right - or not doing what's not right - as she believes with what Michael wants and, if she's truthful, she also wants. So there's conflict in whether Leesie can actually get Michael past his grief, and if Michael can accept her rules and stick with her. Although Michael is never too much of an idiot about it all, Leesie is amazing in her strength to say "no" to him and herself and stick to her guns. I was rooting for her throughout. I have to say, this may be the only YA novel I've read so far where I haven't been going mad at the characters to get a move on, but the actual opposite.

There really isn't any way I could possibly do this book justice. It's an amazingly beautiful, powerfully emotional story that I can now add to my favourites. I'm now eagerly awaiting the sequel, Unbroken Connection, which is now avaiable as an ebook, to come out in paperback so I can jump right back into Michael and Leesie's story. Absolutely brilliant.

From Once Upon a Bookcase - YA book blog(less)

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Jul 11, 2010 Dwayne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-reads

Reviewed @ Girls Without a Bookshelf.

Angela Morrison's debut novel is a stunning piece of work. Michael and Leesie's story is in itself, moving - but Angela delivers this through a superb writing that is both poetic and honest. It's hard to tear myself away from this book. It's so beautiful.

Taken by Storm will introduce into a romance that will take your breath away; heartbreakingly sad yet honest in every turn, Michael and Leesie's story will challenge, question and provoke readers. The author'...more

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May 18, 2010 Precious added it

Taken by Storm is told using three forms: ChatSpot, Leesie's Chapbook and Michael's Dive Log. The dive log is so brilliant!! I haven't encountered any book that used a dive log before. The great thing about this form is that it allows a personal touch from Michael to seep into the pages - diver fashion. It also simplifies the presentation of the setting, the mood and the story itself and even makes the unraveling of the events more interesting.

In a fast-paced world that's getting more and more l...more

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May 03, 2010 John rated it 5 of 5 stars

Title: Taken by Storm

Author: Angela Morrison

Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)

This book defied all of my expectations. After hearing Angela on blog after blog promoting her new book, Sing Me to Sleep, this one began to creep into the edges of my TBR pile. I love romance novels, so the idea of pure teen romance always gets me giddy. I may never have gotten around to actually buying it if the hardcover hadn't found its way into an Ollie's Bargain Outlet shelf for four dollars. Then, I simply had to pi...more

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Apr 27, 2010 fennie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, things-that-make-you-go-hmm

an intriguing book in many respects - from its mormon main character to its format to the raw emotion that is displayed. it's a story of grief and love and moving forward.

i wasn't sure how i was going to react to the fact that leesie is mormon. obviously it means that a romance with michael is not only difficult, its technically forbidden. but as she goes about trying to 'save' him from his grief and perhaps his soul as well, she learns that things aren't as black and white as she had been taugh...more

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Apr 22, 2010 Erika Trenas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: international-book-tours

Plot: 4/5
Leesie's life revolves around her rules. Rules strictly following her Mormon faith, rules strictly forbidding anything that has to do with the wrong boy. But Michael comes along, and Leesie sees something in him that's beyond anything she's ever imagined- pain, tenderness, adventure- which eventually leads her to question her own faith. Full of twists and turns in Michael and Leesie's turbulent relationship, the plot is a hurricane of events that'll have the reader feeling warm all over...more Plot: 4/5
Leesie's life revolves around her rules. Rules strictly following her Mormon faith, rules strictly forbidding anything that has to do with the wrong boy. But Michael comes along, and Leesie sees something in him that's beyond anything she's ever imagined- pain, tenderness, adventure- which eventually leads her to question her own faith. Full of twists and turns in Michael and Leesie's turbulent relationship, the plot is a hurricane of events that'll have the reader feeling warm all over one minute, and in the brink of crying the next.

Creativity: 5/5
The entire novel is presented in Michael's and Leesie's points of view, but with a twist- Michael's thoughts are presented in the form of his diving journal which served as his makeshift diary, and Leesie's are presented in her poetry and chat conversations. Although there are a few books that tell stories primarily through e-mails and intant-messages (like Rosie Dunne by Cecilia Ahern and Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot), mixing both poetry and online conversations as a medium was a refreshing take on storytelling, since the reader did not only catch a glimpse of the characters' thoughts, they were also able to experience Leesie's creativity through her narrative poetry.

Characters: 5/5
The characters of Leesie and Michael get the most exposure in the novel, but they alone are enough to captivate the readers' hearts. Both of them are such deep, complex characters that there's something new to unravel in every chapter, leaving readers wanting to read more and more. They're far from the typical stereotypes found in a lot of novels nowadays, since they have unexpected quirks that don't seem to fit their characters at first, but make them all the more believable and, on some level, relatable.

Writing: 5/5
Angela Morrison has a way with words that pulls on the readers' heartstrings. Everything, from the flow of the sentences to the selection of the words, made the imagery so crisp and vivid. The emotions that were portrayed in scenes translated effectively and beautifully because of her meticulous writing. Although the text throughout the entire novel was captivating, one instance where the writing shined the most was in Leesie's poetry- she was able to tell the story in a clear manner without sacrificing the beauty of the poems or the personality of the character.

Impact: 5/5
The story is one emotional roller coaster- there were times that were incredibly high up, but they were sometimes followed by the lowest of lows. As complicated as the characters and their intertwined stories got, though, the reader is drawn in by the genuine feelings that Michael and Leesie have for each other. The chemistry and connection between the both of them is so obvious, it can't be shaken.

Overall: 5/5
I don't usually read books with this kind of format. I'm more into prose, since I think I get more out of it, but with Taken by Storm I was not disappointed. I actually really enjoyed reading it, especially the poems. There was just so much fire between Michael and Leesie, that even though they were both going through complicated phases in their lives, their love for each other always followed through. Dramatic, romantic, heartbreaking, and touching, this story of two teenagers' unwavering love for each other is probably one of the most emotionally-evoking novels I've ever read.(less)

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Mar 03, 2010 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I hesitated to read this book because I don't particularly like to read books that deal with religion. I saw so many people talking about the romance of this story that I finally picked it up.

I sat down and read this book in one afternoon. And that isn't something that I normally do because I am the type of person that likes to get outside and do something when the sun is shinning, but this book had me captivated. And if there was a more descriptive word to use right there, I would use it becaus...more I hesitated to read this book because I don't particularly like to read books that deal with religion. I saw so many people talking about the romance of this story that I finally picked it up.

I sat down and read this book in one afternoon. And that isn't something that I normally do because I am the type of person that likes to get outside and do something when the sun is shinning, but this book had me captivated. And if there was a more descriptive word to use right there, I would use it because I was comsumed by this book. Just ask the laundry machine repair guy that was at the house. ;-]

If you are nervous about the religion in the book I will say this: The religion isn't preachy. You will learn about the Mormon faith, but the author doesn't try to convert you. Mormanism is what defines Leesie and is her backbone, until she meets Michael. This is a major speed bump in their relationship and a huge part of the story that makes it so compelling.

You read the story from Leesies POV through poems and chats that she has online with her friend Kim and with Michael. Then you get the story through Michael's journal that he keeps in a dive log. The tragedy of Michael losing his family and many of his friends to hurrican Isadore is another major aspect of this story, and how he deals with the death of parents.

I was so entralled in his need for Leesie and the rules that she set for their relationship. Only to be drawn in even further to see how she deals with her desires for him and what that means for her and everything that she believes. It really is such a captivating story. I honestly can say that I haven't read a book like this in a long time.

I live about 30 miles from where this book was set so I love hearing about all the places that they go in the story because I can sit there and picture it completely. I think there is always something neat about reading a book that takes place where you live or have lived before.

This was my first book that I read by Angela Morrison and I will most definetly be picking up all of her future books as well. Her writing is almost magical and I am very excited to read what stories she comes up with next. (less)

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May 24, 2010 BAYA Librarian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic, romance

High school senior Michael’s world has been devastated, a result of the hurricane that capsized his boat, drowning his parents and friends. Now living with his grandmother in a rainy Oregon town, far from his beloved ocean and scuba diving routine, he’s just going through the motions of life, trying to make the nightmares stop. Leesie is bright and motivated, likely headed to Brigham Young in the Fall. Nothing stands in her way, except her surprising relationship with Michael, which tests her wi...more

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Apr 10, 2011 Vivian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-reads

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. i expected this book to be just as great as sing me to sleep, another book she wrote but i liked it less. The main characters, Lessie and Michael were pretty much the same as Beth and Derek, just the whole story plot was different. Both guys were the one in pain going through hard times and both girls were like the moms. i honestly didn't like the girl in this book, she was too much like a mom and michael just seemed too desperate and the romance was just too much and serious for me.
however i...more

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Dec 05, 2010 Ayla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Unique idea, nonexistent plot, suckish poems, and a failed attempt at a tragic premise. As you can see, this is a very complex book.

The cover of the edition I read was gorgeous, with a nice sunset and Michael was absolutely yummy. However, the Leesie model was a bit frumpy, and not how the book described her at all. Speaking of Leesie, what's up with her name? I can't stand how authors nowadays are trying to make their characters unique by giving them ridiculous names. (I'm looking at you, Meli...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Breanna Morgan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: yuck-books-i-wish-i-hadn-t-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 02, 2010 Ashley Nettlebeck rated it 5 of 5 stars

Book is great. Generally inspiring to better you and want to have a strong future. Also through hard times to forgive and move on. That sometimes it's okay to let your guard down and take healthy risks. This book impacted my way of thinking by making me think more about taking healthy risks and opening up to others and not holding my feelings in. I connected with both characters, as for the girl, Lessie we’re both self conscience and have trouble opening up to others. Also we feel very strongly...more

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Oct 11, 2009 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: psc, seattle, 2009

Michael has just lost his parents to a hurricane while on a dive trip in Belize. He moves from Phoenix to eastern Washington to live with his grandmother, and there he meets Leesie, a sympathetic soul. Leesie is a Mormon and has strict rules on what is and isn't acceptable behavior, but despite her limits, she and Michael quickly fall in love. The book focuses on Michael's grief and Leesie's desire to help him, despite her rules, like not dating outside of her faith. It's a good story, very sad,...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Charissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

The format of this book is different from other books I've read. It switches between Michael's dive log, Leesie's private poem book, to chat rooms. At first, I didn't know if I would like it. Michael seemed crass and I wanted to hate him. However, within a few pages, I was completely sucked into the 'ocean' of Michael's stormy life, and then Leesie's 'sainted' quest to save him. I finished this free book within a day, and then had to go buy the 2nd and 3rd books to finish the characters' story....more

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Jul 17, 2012 Siman rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, ya-contemp, ya-real-bittersweet, bad-waste-of-time-regret

The plot seems interesting and the concept and everything is nice. However, I felt that Leesie and Michael's love developed too quickly and was more of a physical-need-based thing than love; Michael was the taker, while Leesie was always the giver - it should be equal.

The whole physical-love-is-true-love-thing also got on my nerves. I felt like Michael was pushing her too much. I didn't feel drawn to any of the characters either.

I just am not absorbed into the story the same way I was absorbed...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Reading, Eating & Dreaming rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE YA REVIEWS AT READING, EATING & DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

My review for the entire Taken by Storm trilogy: (Don't worry this review doesn't contain spoilers!)

My parents raised me to avoid public conversations, especially with strangers, on two main topics: politics and religion. (Therefore, I am assuming that blogging about one of them probably wasn’t what they had in mind.) However, I am about to go against their advice because today I am going to blog about RELIGI...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Louisse Ang rated it 4 of 5 stars

I just want to say how powerful this book is. It's so very heartbreaking and sad. I was reading this in class and I practically bawled my eyes out. It's incredibly beautiful. Miss Morrison's writing is beautiful. Michael's pain was so...real. You could feel his heartbreak upon losing his parents. So sad. Her writing is so breathtaking. And beautiful. I really think that Leesie changed his life. When I finished the book I was like, "WHAT?! THAT'S IT?! HOW THE HELL COULD THAT BE IT?!" I really lov...more

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About Angela Morrison

In Kindergarten I wanted to become a veterinarian, have ten kids, and a hundred cats. Then I went to first grade and learned how to write. It took a few decades, but I'm living my dream and loving it. I did end up with a wonderful husband, four amazing kids, and a you'd-squish-him-if-you-could-catch-him grandson. No cats. After a dozen years living around the world, we're happily settled on the ed...more

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