Taken by Storm (Taken by Storm, #1) by Angela Morrison

Mar 04, 2009 Tristi rated it liked it

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

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Apr 11, 2009 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

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Jul 07, 2012 Jackie (No Bent Spines) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

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

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

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 27, 2009 erinbobarin94 rated it really liked it

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- 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. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 19, 2009 Lisee rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. REVIEW IS PRIMARILY AIMED TO LDS READERS~

I had been home from my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the church the main character Leesie belongs to) a week and was in Borders (eager to enjoy reading books again), and by happenstance I came upon this book which- I'll be honest, caught my eye because of the cover. When I read that it was about an LDS girl, and that it was written by an LDS author, that's all it took for me to buy it- I was very intrigued by an LDS book be REVIEW IS PRIMARILY AIMED TO LDS READERS~

I had been home from my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the church the main character Leesie belongs to) a week and was in Borders (eager to enjoy reading books again), and by happenstance I came upon this book which- I'll be honest, caught my eye because of the cover. When I read that it was about an LDS girl, and that it was written by an LDS author, that's all it took for me to buy it- I was very intrigued by an LDS book being sold outside the walls of Deseret book.

It was more than I bargained for. If you look at some of the other reviews, they will also tell you it's the story of Leesie, a sweet pure LDS girl with a strong desire to attend BYU who's grown up on the farm her whole life, always lived the way her parents and faith expected of her, and has a passion for poetry. Michael is a boy who lost his parents in a storm while they were freediving- which was his whole life. He has had a lot of experience with sex, and he doesn't understand how love and sex are two different things.

My thoughts? First off. The other LDS reviewers are right- this is spicier than any other LDS-written teen novel I've yet to read. The lust is heavily implied even if not spelled out, and Leesie, according to our standards, does cross the line. She doesn't have sex, but she compromises her virtue. This isn't for young readers under sixteen or seventeen. I'll confess, I'm not comfortable recommending it to all people. I also wasn't comfortable reading certain make out scenes either, but that discomfort allowed me to understand the guilt that Leesie later experiences for those actions.

However, a real gem of the book is Leesie's inner struggle. As a sister missionary, growing up in high school, and later going to college I encountered several young women and young adult women who knew they'd crossed the line and struggled so hard to find a resolution. They didn't know what to do, because they'd fallen in love with the guy they'd gone overboard with- and that love is a powerful emotion. Yet, at the same time, they did believe in their faith. I appreciated the fact that Leesie isn't trying to "stick it to the man" (meaning the church) by acting out. She sincerely believes in what she's been taught and wants badly to be the daughter of God that she's knows she is. Eventually she realizes that nothing but repentance will bring the peace that she's looking for, yet she is daunted by it, and is very cautious after she's done it. Yet, here's this boy who comes along, and as many girls are prone to do, tries to save him from himself. I felt Morrison was very honest to how Leesie as a true blue Mormon girl would react.

What is also a great morsel is the way Michael reacts to how Leesie reacts. He just doesn't get why she'll kiss him, then pull back, go a little further, then pull back- all the while trying to explain away why she can't sleep with him. He doesn't understand that she's having an inner struggle every moment she's with him. He doesn't get why she wants him to go to church. He doesn't understand why she is so devoted. Yet, he can't resist her anyway, because underneath it's the very things that he doesn't understand that bring the light, purity, and joy that he's attracted to. This I felt, was incredibly true to life. Michael's confusion about this is so true to form I was almost surprised by it.

Michael's inner struggle about his parents death is the under arching theme in the book which brings the two teenagers together. I did enjoy the ending, unlike many others who didn't share the same opinion, because they don't cut off contact, but end up supporting one another's pursuits in life. I know most interpret it as they aren't dating anymore, but I saw it as they don't know quite what to do with each other. She knows she wants to marry an LDS guy, but she still loves him despite that. It's that giant question mark of what Leesie and Michael will do relationship wise at the end that I think was a good move by Morrison.

Overall! As a young adult reader, I loved the book. It was fresh, different, and new. As an LDS young adult woman, I have my reservations, but was deeply impressed with Morrison's keen understanding of LDS girls and their struggles with relationships versus beliefs. I'm almost certain this isn't sold on the Deseret book shelves (but I'm not one hundred percent on that), but it was an honest look that didn't sugar coat or downplay adolescence. I too look forward to Morrison's future works; I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of her. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 28, 2015 H. rated it it was amazing

I learned to SCUBA dive and snorkel when I was young. I've never really been able to get enough diving in, however. I miss the gradual change from cerulean top waters to the Stygian blackness of the depths, the darting fish, the lurkers. I miss the denizens of the deep--even the sharks and jellies and halibut of my Alaskan waters.

I recently plunged into a beautiful series by Angela Morrison, having already enjoyed her book, SING ME TO SLEEP.

TAKEN BY STORM starts off the trilogy. It's about a yo I learned to SCUBA dive and snorkel when I was young. I've never really been able to get enough diving in, however. I miss the gradual change from cerulean top waters to the Stygian blackness of the depths, the darting fish, the lurkers. I miss the denizens of the deep--even the sharks and jellies and halibut of my Alaskan waters.

I recently plunged into a beautiful series by Angela Morrison, having already enjoyed her book, SING ME TO SLEEP.

TAKEN BY STORM starts off the trilogy. It's about a young man who grows up beneath the waves, exploring with his parents the seawalls and shipwrecks and long descents and swim-throughs. Water is his soul and his safe haven. He prides himself on his ability to free-dive to over 107 feet. All of it comes to a hideous, crashing end one night when Hurricane Isabel sweeps the dive boat beneath its swells, carrying everyone but Michael to their deaths.

Michael washes up in a small town far from his regular haunts, finding haven in the arms of Leesie, a farm girl with morals. She becomes his lighthouse in the storm, although she drives him nuts with her ubiquitous rules. Luckily Michael realizes Leesie is worth waiting and sacrificing for.

And Leesie? She has to decide just how much of herself she can give without dumping her morals and beliefs. She has plans for her future which don't allow for love or for boys who don't belong to her faith. But she can't let Michael sink. How could she when he's her lifeline as well?

Their dilemma reminds me of the one in Ladyhawk, where they can't really interact until they break the curse. Until then, never the twain shall meet. How do Michael and Leesie learn to live in the same universe? Part of their problems are mirrored in the way Michael tries to teach Leesie not to be afraid of the water, and then to dive. She's petrified of the water, and of life, and of "doing it wrong."

This book touched something on my soul's ocean floor. Through the lens of dive log and IM and journal, we watch a journey from broken to whole. I was so glad to see that Leesie didn't toss her morals out the window because of Michael's need and her love. Watching them discover what a brilliant gift a moral life can be made me cheer for Angela Morrison. They're dedication to each other warmed my heart. And I also found myself aching to get back into the water. There is something so medicinal about the waves and depths.

Thank you, Angela, for this lovely vacation into the sapphire water and the lives of Leesie and Michael. Thank you for Taken By Storm. Next try UNBROKEN CONNECTION and CAYMAN SUMMER. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 30, 2009 Sara Grochowski rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

I can honestly say that I didn't expect to love Taken by Storm as much as I did, which is why I read it so long after it was released. I had heard mixed reviews and never found time to read it. When I saw that Morrison had a new book, Sing Me to Sleep, scheduled to be released in 2010 that I thought looked interesting, I remembered her 2009 debut. When I was lucky enough to get a chance to read Sing Me to Sleep and ended up really enjoying it, I ran out to get Taken by Storm! It took me forever I can honestly say that I didn't expect to love Taken by Storm as much as I did, which is why I read it so long after it was released. I had heard mixed reviews and never found time to read it. When I saw that Morrison had a new book, Sing Me to Sleep, scheduled to be released in 2010 that I thought looked interesting, I remembered her 2009 debut. When I was lucky enough to get a chance to read Sing Me to Sleep and ended up really enjoying it, I ran out to get Taken by Storm! It took me forever to finally read it, but I am SO glad I did because it is an amazing novel!

One of the reason that I was hesitant to read Taken by Storm was the fact that one of the main characters, Leesie, is Mormon and a main focus is a romance between Leesie and the other main character, Michael. I wasn't really sure that I would like that combination... it isn't that I didn't think it would be "hot" enough or that their romance wouldn't be engaging necessarily, I just wasn't sure how in depth the religious aspect of the book would be and if I would find that to be a distraction. These factors all came together though to make great story with interesting and original details. The Mormon faith played in intersting role in Leesie's actions and motivations, without being overwhelming or overbearing. It helped that Michael was not at all chaste or religious: it created an interesting dynamic between the couple.

I'm a fan of tension between characters who are romantically involved and Morrison definitely delivers! I think that the romance between Leesie and Michael was way sexier than in novels that contain actual sex scenes. Morrison definitely delivered when it came to the romantic plot line of Taken by Storm!

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing: 10
Romance: 10!!
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A!)

Taken by Storm was an amazing novel from an extremely talented YA author! Having read both Taken by Storm and Morrison upcoming novel, Sing Me to Sleep, I feel confident when I say that Morrison is an author to watch. For those of you intersting in Taken by Storm or who have read the book, I've been told that there will be another novel continuing Leesie and Michael's story!! I was super excited to hear this! :)
...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 01, 2009 Princess Bookie rated it really liked it

Taken From My Blog: princessbookie.com

My Thoughts: I was hesitate to read this one at first, I am not Mormon and than from the bad reviews I've read, I didn't know if I should. I also had seen it a few times on amazon while browsing and told myself I would eventually read it. A couple of buddies told me not to waste my time. But I'm glad I did. We meet Leesie who is Mormon. She has all these rules she has to follow so when she meets Michael, she wants to start breaking them, even though she know ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 23, 2010 Ashley Nettlebeck rated it it was amazing

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

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 09, 2011 Maria rated it did not like it

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

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 13, 2010 Michelle Sallay rated it did not like it

Me being Mormon or not, I couldn't get over this completely abusive relationship between Leesie and Michael. I get it, his life is destroyed and all, but the whole time they are together I felt like all he wanted to do was destroy her life with his.

Leesie totally came across as a mind controlled Mormon girl with no idea what she really believes. She seems to go through the motions of her faith that made me (as a Mormon girl myself) want to cringe. She is so caught up with Michael she is willing ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 29, 2014 Tiffany rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, tough-subjects, favorites, ya-romance, lds-fiction

Read my full review at:
http://TheBestBookonTheBlock.blogspot...

The Taken by Storm trilogy has the potential to be quite a controversial series. This series approaches the subject of inter-faith dating and the "gray" lines that sometimes arise from dating a person not of your faith. This book is written in a very unique way, alternating chapters between Leesie's poem book and Michael's Dive log. It took me a few chapters to get used to it, but it didn't take away from the story line at all. I thi ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 30, 2009 Brenda rated it it was ok

I was SOOOOOOO disappointed by this book. I loved the way it was written, dive logs, poem, and online chatting,....but the story was such a downer! I think it was supposed to be about healing and love, but it was about destruction, darkness, desperation and giving up what you want most- for what you want at the moment. Instead of someone helping someone who is broken, someone else gets broken herself in the process. Left me sad and wondering why the author didn't resolve and fix fixable things. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 26, 2010 Sheri rated it it was ok

Shelves: action-love-mystery-adventure, lds-novels

Hmmm... this book is very controversial to me. I found it on a LDS youth must read list, and I'm not sure it is a must read, or that I would let my daughter read it. It is kind of steamy and the main female character is not very smart in her decisions, (lets herself get very close to the line too many times).

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2018 Sara rated it liked it

In this story we have a Mormon girl, Leesie, who falls in love with a non Mormon guy, Michael. I like, every now and then, reading christian romance because sometimes, in this kind of books, a greater space is left to the emotional aspects of the love story. But in this case I was not quite comfortable with the religious aspect of the thing in the sense that I didn't appreciate the judgemental mormon perspective towards the "non-believer's" style of life and values, particularly in regard of sex ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 24, 2020 Olivia rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, should-i-continue-this-series

Taken By Storm was good, but definitely not what I had expected it to be like. However, I did like it, especially how Leesie was able to help herself and her new love.

flag Like · see review

Aug 24, 2010 Joanne rated it it was amazing · 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 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 ...more

flag Like · see review

May 03, 2010 John rated it it was amazing

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

flag Like · see review

Jul 07, 2011 Morgan rated it really liked it

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 RELIGION ( 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 RELIGION (Well sorta). (I’ll save politics for …well hopefully NEVER!)

Let me start by saying, I LOVED the Taken by Storm trilogy by Angela Morrison. I really wish I could recommend this trilogy for everyone, but I can’t because not everyone is going to love it! I think a lot of people will really enjoy this series, but some people won’t care for it because of the religious theme throughout the series.

The Taken by Storm series is built around Lessie, a Mormon who struggles with staying true to her religious beliefs. (I am not Mormon. In fact, before I read Taken by Storm my knowledge on the Mormon religion was basically nil.) A large part of the plot in this novel is about Lessie’s faith, and a large part of who Lessie is is tied into her religion. However, Morrison shows us how much Lessie’s faith is a part of her life without being “preachy”. In my opinion, Lessie is a great protagonist. (In fact, she is one of my favs!)

After reading the Taken by Storm series, I developed a strong respect for Mormons who practice their faith because, from what you read in this book, they are very dedicated and have very high standards. Lessie doesn’t drink, smoke, experiment with drugs, cuss, go to parties, lie to her parents, etc. In fact, she lives by a set of rules that are, in my opinion, admirable: Do not go into the house alone with a member of the opposite sex. Keep both feet on the floor. Never go into a guy’s bedroom. No parking. No necking. No petting. No fornication. No tongue. Etc. She also attends church every Wednesday night, Sunday morning, and wakes up every morning before school for seminary- where her dad teaches her and her brother more about their religion. Morrison doesn’t really go into details about what goes on at church or seminary. In fact, she only very briefly mentions that Lessie attends seminary every morning. What I am saying is: Morrison doesn’t try to covert you over to the Mormon faith by writing scripture, she simply shows you how dedicated Lessie is to her faith.

Again, I am not Mormon. But I do have my own values and morals that I live by, and I can understand what it’s like to have those values tested. In fact, when I was a teenager I lived by pushing my limits. I think no matter what your religion, or even if you don’t have one, almost every young adult can relate to this novel (no, maybe not the religious aspect, but having faith in other people, pushing your limits, having your values tested, etc.)

This series is told through Lessie’s poems, Michael’s dive log (which is basically his journal) and IM chats. I appreciated how Morrison gave us her characters raw, uncensored feelings, especially Michaels. He doesn’t immediately love Lessie, and it wouldn’t have been realistic if he did. Also, she tells this story within a very realistic time frame, and we get to see Michael and Lessie’s relationship develop, falter and progress. I really connected with Lessie and Michael and I think it was mainly because Morrison showed us their raw thoughts and feelings.

The Taken by Storm series made me feel such a wide array of emotions: sad, depressed, happy, ecstatic, frustrated, pissed, embarrassed, livid, hopeful, angry. AGH! At times I wanted to punch Michael in his face. A few pages later, I’d want to give him a hug. I’d want to shake Lessie and a second later I just wanted to cry for.

Angela Morrison – Thank you so much for introducing me to your characters and your beautifully written story.

I gave the Taken by Storm series by Angela Morrison 4 STARS. My recommendation: read this series!!

READING, EATING & DREAMING ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 10, 2009 Kym McNabney rated it it was amazing

I'll STILL GIVE IT FIVE STARS

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 I'll STILL GIVE IT FIVE STARS

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 author chose to end it.

Although the story ended as maybe it should have, and I do see the point in ending it the way it did, it just wasn't what I was expecting. I WANTED them to... Okay, I won't say it, ruining it for those that haven't yet read it. Oh how I would love to see a second book continuing their story.

Needless to say, I will be looking for the next book by this author. Being a write myself, I'm once again feeling nudged to one day write YA. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 17, 2014 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'd read quite a few negative reviews on Taken By Storm a while back. I don't remember specifics as to why some people didn't enjoy this novel all I know is that I was a little apprehensive to read it at the time. However, with much praise for Angela's novel Sing Me To Sleep, I decided that I wanted to give other work a read as well.

I have to say that I really enjoyed this book a lot. It was nice to have a story of loss and grief told through a male perspective. I liked Michael very much. I felt I'd read quite a few negative reviews on Taken By Storm a while back. I don't remember specifics as to why some people didn't enjoy this novel all I know is that I was a little apprehensive to read it at the time. However, with much praise for Angela's novel Sing Me To Sleep, I decided that I wanted to give other work a read as well.

I have to say that I really enjoyed this book a lot. It was nice to have a story of loss and grief told through a male perspective. I liked Michael very much. I felt for him and sympathized with his loss and the turmoil he had to endure. Michael was far from perfect and at times, he did do and say things that didn't go over well with me but that's okay. I enjoy flawed characters seeing as they're an accurate portrayal of how people really are...imperfect. I think he experienced fantastic growth as the novel progressed.

Lessie was another great character that I enjoyed. I think most people may not pick up and read this book because of the mention of religion in the summary. Lessie is Mormon and has very strong values and morals that she will do anything to uphold. I respected Lessie a lot. She was very much focused on staying true to who she was and what she felt was right which is admirable. At times, she could be a little preachy but I felt she always had the best interests of others at heart, especially Michael who she would do anything to help. I'd never come across a character so devoted to anything in a novel as Lessie is to her faith. To me, this was refreshing. Lessie was refreshing. Another aspect I enjoyed surrounding Lessie is the beautiful poetry that she writes throughout Taken By Storm. Although the story is essentially told through Michael's point of view, the reader does catch a glimpse on multiple occasions into what Lessie is thinking and feeling through both her poetry and the conversations she holds with a friend over the internet.

I'm a sucker for a good romance story which is initially what drew me to Taken By Storm. I definitely felt the intensity that Michael and Lessie had for one another. Angela Morrison did a fantastic job of showcasing this immense connection between the two main characters through a multitude of well fleshed out scenes. At times however, I felt that these two characters relied far too much on each other. It's almost as if they were addicted to one another's company which although is not necessarily a good thing, I have to say it did make a lot of sense in the story. Michael is going through a terrible time where he feels empty and alone and then of course, Lessie is experiencing all of these emotions for the first time which made the heightened and dependent feelings coursing through the novel slightly more understandable.

Finally, I have to say that I enjoyed Angela Morrison's style of writing a great deal. It's very poetic in many places as well as staccato which I love. She writes with a lot of feeling, emotion and it is all believable.

In conclusion, I do recommend this novel. Although we're all different people with different preferences, I do believe that if this novel interests you that it is very much worth a shot. ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 29, 2010 Amanda-Lee (StoryWings) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2010

This book draws you in and doesn’t let go, even though you really want to get out.

Taken by Storm is good in the same way that it is bad. It depends how you look at it. It features Leesie, whose voice we hear through her poems and Michael whose voice we hear through his diving logs.

Leesie is the Mormon ice queen, no-one touches her and no-one wants to go near her, although it is a game for the guys to see who can pinch her the most.

Michael is the troubled orphan, who recently lost his parents and ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 30, 2013 Kelsey rated it it was ok

My Thoughts: Yeah...no. Okay, that's a tad harsh. This book was in the sale pile so I thought that it couldn't possibly hurt to check it out. After returning to it multiple times I decided to just buy the stupid thing. It was interesting to say the least. To be honest, I probably shouldn't have picked it up because, well, I don't like reading poetry and I like grammar and I'm not Mormon. I'll share why I think this book was both good and bad, which it was.

It was told from two perspectives but no My Thoughts: Yeah...no. Okay, that's a tad harsh. This book was in the sale pile so I thought that it couldn't possibly hurt to check it out. After returning to it multiple times I decided to just buy the stupid thing. It was interesting to say the least. To be honest, I probably shouldn't have picked it up because, well, I don't like reading poetry and I like grammar and I'm not Mormon. I'll share why I think this book was both good and bad, which it was.

It was told from two perspectives but not really. It was told from Michael's poorly written note book and Leesie's poems and online chats. The diving note book needed have capital I's. There was no reason for it to not have that. I could have handled the poor sentence structure but the lack of capital I's when other letters managed to be capitalized nearly killed me. I understand it was pretty much a diary but I was not okay with this choice. The poems...ah, the poems...I don't really like poetry. I like my poetry to have the same syllables in lines and to rhymes. Call me close minded. In the end, I tried to just read it as if it was a normal sentence and did my best to move past it. The online chats were okay except I had a hard time remembering to check to see who was speaking when. It was too much work to read. It also bothered me that since it was not just narrated normally, things happened almost out of nowhere. Somethings the readers does not hear about until reading it in a poem but we get nothing else about what happened. This caused the book to jump around and be too bumpy for my tastes.

Characters: I thoughts that Leesie was good though I, apparently, had been reading her name wrong and didn't figure that out until I started to write this review. I could relate to some of her religious beliefs but some of it I just couldn't. I also hated that she would have been willing to throw her life and dreams away for a boy. I hate when female characters don't take control of their own lives and what they want. It makes me want to cry for them. It makes me so angry. Another thing was that she often pushed Michael to her religion. Sure, sometimes it helps but that clearly wasn't what he needed. It was what she needed and that bothered me a lot. Every time she brought it up, I fought the urge to close the book for awhile. Also, Leesie's online friend kind of sucked. I thought she gave some really bad advice for someone who was supposed to be a good friend.

Ah, Michael...He's some kind of broken toy. I understand that what happened to him sucks but he was a jerk through a lot of the story. Then, suddenly, at the end, he wasn't anymore? It confused me. There was no big moment or anything. I mean, yes, something happened but it was not what it could have been. Maybe I shouldn't talk because I have been lucky enough to not have lost someone close to me but still... I feel like maybe his reactions were a bit of a stretch. Also, he was kind of a pig and I hate that he pushed Leesie.

http://one-chapter-ahead.blogspot.ca/... ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 11, 2010 YA Reads Book Reviews rated it liked it

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 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. ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 29, 2009 Mandy K rated it it was ok

Michael just moved in with his grandma, after being the sole survivor of a devastating hurricane that killed his mom and dad. While his life once revolved around diving and girls, it now depends on little blue pills. That is, until that first encounter with Leesie. He hopes that Leesie can re-awaken his animal instincts, and make him normal again. Leesie is the daughter of a Mormon family, and a pretty religious Mormon herself, which is what gives her the school nickname of The Ice Queen. She kn Michael just moved in with his grandma, after being the sole survivor of a devastating hurricane that killed his mom and dad. While his life once revolved around diving and girls, it now depends on little blue pills. That is, until that first encounter with Leesie. He hopes that Leesie can re-awaken his animal instincts, and make him normal again. Leesie is the daughter of a Mormon family, and a pretty religious Mormon herself, which is what gives her the school nickname of The Ice Queen. She knows that something horrible happened to Michael's parents, and that he is suffering and needs her help. Both of them had there own motives after that first encounter, but neither one of them planned on falling in love. Can love really heal all?

Cover: I really love this cover, it looks like a page from a scrapbook or something, which fits because a majority is written in the form of a divers log or poems.. I love the colors, and the picture is nice. And the little graphics are fitting.
StoryLine: Like I mentioned above, the book is written in the form of Michael's diving logs, with a few chatspot chat logs between him and Leesie or Leesie and her friend, and the occasional poem written by Leesie thrown in. One think that irked me, was Michael always used lowercase i's instead of uppercase I's. During his dialog, and during his narration, from when he firsts starts writing again after the storm, to the condo scene. I guess it's like supposed to show that he lost himself? I mean its really poetic when you think of it like that actually, it just bothered me to see at first. =) Anyway, to the point. The story's pace changed accordingly, which I really liked. At times it was fast and at others it was more leisurely. But alas, the tragic ending. It was so upsetting! Why oh why couldn't work out? It was soo close! But that the beauty of Morrison's story telling; I was so engrossed in the tale she weaved, that when it didn't end fairytale perfect, it destroyed a small part of me.
Characters: I just loved Michael. At times he seemed arrogant, egotistical, and stuck up, but his grieving was so heart-wrenching at times, and then watching him do what he thought was impossible, falling for someone without actually making love with them, was just, ah, amazing. And the poems and chat logs did wonders for Leesie's character, because on the outside, she does seem pretty Ice Queen.
Parting Thoughts: Even the though ending rubbed me the wrong way, this book was beautiful and highly recommendable.
...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 23, 2010 Alyssa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: religious

It's like unwrapping the biggest present when a book surprises you like TAKEN BY STORM did me. I had never read anything by Morrison when I grabbed this one but had heard great things. Even though I became absolutely obsessed by Morrison's writing after the first dive log, honestly, at first I wasn't too sure about reading a book based completely on poems, CHAT conversations, and "observations." In fact, I almost gave the book away because of it. I am so glad I didn't.
It kept me wondering the wh It's like unwrapping the biggest present when a book surprises you like TAKEN BY STORM did me. I had never read anything by Morrison when I grabbed this one but had heard great things. Even though I became absolutely obsessed by Morrison's writing after the first dive log, honestly, at first I wasn't too sure about reading a book based completely on poems, CHAT conversations, and "observations." In fact, I almost gave the book away because of it. I am so glad I didn't.
It kept me wondering the whole time, this one. The lyrical way of writing, the fantasies I could dream upon imagining the characters, the visions and futures I could see with Leesie and Michael...truly, reading this was a gift. There wasn't a dull moment - passion took over anything that could have turned boring - and the emotions that captured me in reading this exploded with each page. I actually found tears in my eyes and I never cry. I'm not a crybaby. Morrison was able to dig into the deepest parts of me to take my hopeless romantic and put her into action.

I fell in love with Michael as Leesie did and wanted the best for both characters. That being said, don't mistake me for agreeing with everything the characters did. Micheal's love for Leesie, as he stated a multiple number of times, was a lot different than her love for him. And yet, the both learned how to expand their horizons. Leesie especially appeared as such a strong heroine for me - how many can disobey every "rule" their family, community, etc. has set for them, just to end up with a boy who may or may not love you just as you do him? She took huge leaps throughout the book and at the end, the amount of growth I felt she'd endured literately blew me away.

The added bits of religion mixed in with this and how one can be ostracized because of their faith, beliefs and decisions. I loved that extra aspect Morrison threw in - Leesie, the Ice Queen. But not only did I learn a lot about the technicalities of the Mormon faith - I also learned the patterns of grieving and how stricken it can make someone.

The ending made my heart break but guess what? There's a sequel! You can just imagine what I'll be picking up on my next trip to the bookstore!

Taken by Angela Morrison
Audience: 14+
Rating: 5 of 5 (can I give it 6!?)
Recommend?: ONE. HUGE. NOD.

A whopping 5 of 5 for TAKEN BY STORM by Angela Morrison! Hopefully UNBROKEN CONNECTION won't disappoint!
...more

flag Like · see review

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

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

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 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. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 13, 2009 Jennifer Wardrip rated it liked it

Shelves: read-by-other-reviewers, trt-posted-reviews, teen

Reviewed by Amber Gibson for TeensReadToo.com

Angela Morrison's TAKEN BY STORM is a romance with heart - a tale of love, not lust.

Leesie is a good Mormon girl, living by her faith and following the rules of her church in all realms of her life. Even though kids at school think of her as a prude and call her the "Ice Queen," Leesie is proud to be Mormon. From the official bathroom graffiti tally, Leesie is deemed by her male classmates to have the best behind in school. However, even the most per Reviewed by Amber Gibson for TeensReadToo.com

Angela Morrison's TAKEN BY STORM is a romance with heart - a tale of love, not lust.

Leesie is a good Mormon girl, living by her faith and following the rules of her church in all realms of her life. Even though kids at school think of her as a prude and call her the "Ice Queen," Leesie is proud to be Mormon. From the official bathroom graffiti tally, Leesie is deemed by her male classmates to have the best behind in school. However, even the most persistent of the boys know that there is no hope of ever getting with her.

When Michael Walden arrives in Leesie's small town, barely surviving a tragic scuba diving storm that killed both of his parents, everyone is intrigued. Anti-social and enveloped in his own post-traumatic stress, Leesie is the only person that Michael will open up to. The two may seem to be an unlikely match, innocent Leesie and disturbed Michael, but each offers the other priceless comfort and care.

As their relationship progresses, Leesie learns what love means for the first time, exploring the boundaries of her Mormon beliefs and bending her strict rules to the point of breaking. It is not easy to hold back when she experiences a snowballing passion unlike anything she has ever imagined.

Meanwhile, Michael longs to return to the scuba diving that is in his blood while overcoming the pain of his parents' sudden death. His relationship with Leesie is especially valuable at this vulnerable time, in spite of the self-imposed boundaries of her Mormon faith.

Can Michael and Leesie's love blossom despite their differences in background?

TAKEN BY STORM is never preachy, but a genuine and heartfelt struggle of faith. Morrison portrays teenage romance from an unusually elegant perspective. The importance of physicality in a relationship is never denied, but Morrison shows that teenagers are capable of rising above carnal temptation to appreciate a more spiritual and emotional side of love.

Morrison's experience with scuba diving and her Mormon upbringing add a very personal and realistic element to her story. Like fellow Mormon author Stephenie Meyer, Morrison approaches the theme of romance from a rare angle, shying away from the crass and blunt. Fans of Meyer's TWILIGHT will enjoy this non-vampiric tale with similar romantic chords.
...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 14, 2009 Elle rated it it was amazing

The Original Review - Here!

If we gather poetry’s elegance, spirituality VS emotions where love and redemption fight for healing wounds left by tragedy we get: Leesie and Michael in Taken By Storm. Written on different POVs and three different narrative styles, the story’s narrated by Leesie from her poems and online chats, and Michael from his dive log journal. The story starts giving the reader an idea on how’s life for both main characters previous to their encounter; Leesie lives on faith w The Original Review - Here!

If we gather poetry’s elegance, spirituality VS emotions where love and redemption fight for healing wounds left by tragedy we get: Leesie and Michael in Taken By Storm. Written on different POVs and three different narrative styles, the story’s narrated by Leesie from her poems and online chats, and Michael from his dive log journal. The story starts giving the reader an idea on how’s life for both main characters previous to their encounter; Leesie lives on faith where she is constantly prejudiced by it and Michael lives on freedom… two opposed poles; one who lives at her moral boundary’s edge and the other one not aware of them. Michael arrives to Washington after miraculously surviving the accident that took away his parent’s life, empty and emotionally broken who’s life lacks of sense. This improbable by their differences couple tie their lives since each one sees on the other what’s invisible to the world; Leesie from the start sees someone worth saving and Michael sees in Leesie the capability and understanding to be healed. Throughout the story, the reader will be taken to see the complexity of human emotions, even more in the lives of two youngsters that are meeting love for the first time and their lives are ruled by two different moral codes. One of the biggest credits Morrison can get is for the narrators’ voices. Their emotion’s intensity is real and would be completely reachable with all the pros and cons. As a reader, the journey was intense. Sometimes I wasn’t happy with the character’s decisions and nevertheless at the end all this complexity made me admire them even more because they are a reflection of life itself and the circumstances in which youngsters could be going through. At the end, both made it to where I expected, especially when seeing that the Michael Walden I met at the beginning was not the same that left me heart ached. Leesie reminded me of my beloved spiritual mother Agnes on the teaching that redemption’s nature is always there on someone if they know a heart dedicated to God to give you the opportunity. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 29, 2011 Lola rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, fiction, christian-romance

It may seem odd, but for someone who has attended Catholic schools their whole life and been firmly entrenched in church, I really hate overly religious literature. It always comes off as cliched and tripe and not at all what I think of when I think of my faith. I got this feeling while reading Taken By Storm.

No matter how hard I tried, I could not like Taken By Storm. Maybe it was the overly restricted Mormon faith Leesie had. I was flabbergasted when Leesie started talking about the differen It may seem odd, but for someone who has attended Catholic schools their whole life and been firmly entrenched in church, I really hate overly religious literature. It always comes off as cliched and tripe and not at all what I think of when I think of my faith. I got this feeling while reading Taken By Storm.

No matter how hard I tried, I could not like Taken By Storm. Maybe it was the overly restricted Mormon faith Leesie had. I was flabbergasted when Leesie started talking about the different levels of heaven. I believe in heaven, hell, and purgatory. I believe once you're in heaven, it's heaven. I nearly laughed when I read that Leesie wouldn't even French kiss a boy. We had a discussion about French kissing in my Christian Morality class last semester, and my teacher said it was not a sin but probably is better avoided because of what it could lead to. I just didn't like Leesie overall. I know people who are other types of Christian from the Bible camp, and some are very religious, but not in the cold perfect way Leesie seems to be.

I also did not like Michael. I could understand his grief, but I just couldn't figure him out. I feel like Angela Morrison didn't really understand Michael either. Michael's chapters especially annoyed me because there were no capital Is for him after the first chapter. What, does losing your parents make you unable to write capital I's? I also had no interest in diving so I found the diving logs kind of stupid.

Another thing that annoyed me about Taken By Storm was the format. Verse, IMs, and standard format do not mix well. It's just plain odd, and it isn't effective. Stick to one please! Morrison tried to stick her toes into too many different areas, and her story payed the price. I actually did like how the ending played out. Leesie and Michael, however in love they might've been, just weren't suited for each other and were better off as friends. (I was pissed off that Leesie was willing to just drop everything for Michael? Seriously? Now your faith, everything you worked for, means nothing? *rolls eyes at patheticness*)

Recommend? No way! Too little satisfaction, too many holes, and not enough capital I's. ...more

flag Like · see review