Saturday, November 14, 2009

Book Review : Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison

Sometimes only love can save you...

Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison: Book Cover

Book Details:

• Genre: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (March 5, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 159514238X
• ISBN-13: 978-1595142382

Synopsis:

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 to resist?

Leesie and Michael must make the hardest choice of their lives: whether to follow their beliefs or their hearts.

My review:

Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison is a story about the romance that blossoms between a pious Mormon, Leesie Hunt and Michael Walden, a young man who lost both his parents in a storm. It is romantic, moving and thoughtful. The author uses first person narrative for both the main characters to tell the story from different perspectives. This is done through Leesie’s poems, online chatting and Michael’s Dive Log.

Leesie is a devout Mormon and she thinks it is important to follow the rules. She wants to live her parents’ expectations and is hoping to receive her tertiary education at the Brigham Young University. Then, everything changes when Michael Walden arrives. She feels that it is her responsibility to soothe Michael’s grieving soul and to help him as a friend. However, Michael likes her and he wants something more than friendship. It doesn’t take a long time before Leesie realizes that she is falling in love with Michael, just as he is with her.

Their relationship grows from attraction to passion and love. Leesie is a Mormon and she has her own rules to abide, but Michael keeps on pushing her to step beyond the boundary. Lessie thinks love and sex are two different things but Michael thinks they are the same.

Religion plays a minor part in this novel. This novel conveys some more important messages: Respect others while staying true to our own beliefs, help those who are depressed by loss and grief, hold on to the basic moral values (self-restriction), and learn to cherish what you have at the moment. If you're a teenager who enjoys romantic novels, do pick up this one. Who knows you might get swept by the storm?

Rating : 8/10

My deepest gratitude to Angela Morrison for sending me a signed hardcover copy of Taken by Storm.

Thank you, Angela!



Get swept by the storm on:
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17 comments:

Angela Morrison said...

Aik, What a lovely review! Thanks so much.

Melissa (Books R Us) said...

I have always been a romantic.I cannot wait to read the book

melissa@gingerhigh.com

Molly said...

Awesome review! I really want to read this one too! Never heard of either before but glad I read your reviews!! Thanks for the chance to win!

Mollydawn1981 at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

a fabulous review...would love to read this book :)

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)Com

Adaptable Kay said...

Now this book sounds a little more up my alley-Even though there isn't a lot of action/adventure, I love the whole tortured decision aspect of it!

Great review!

Anonymous said...

Interesting I have always wondered what the Mormans believe this is another great book!!

pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com

THANKS

Lucy said...

Thanks for the review. I'm always interested in books with a story about other faiths than mine. I know you said her Morman faith plays a minor role but it still comes into play I'm sure. Interesting book that I'd like to read. Will you abide by her parents and religion or go with love. Thanks.
makeupgirl21@comcast.net

Reyna Meinhardt said...

Thanks for the review! I enjoyed this book, it was unique, which I really liked! The one thing that I was a bit disappointed with was that Lessie didn't always seem like the strongest character, I still liked it never the less!

So Many Books, So Little Time said...

Ooh, I love a good romance! And the cover is gorgeous. Thanks for the review!

Ashley said...

What a great review! I wonder though, does she choose her values and beliefs of staying true to herself, or end up giving in to his temptation? If she DOES end up just sleeping with him, I might pass on the book. If not, I'll definitely be reading this one soon! I love romance books. :)

Anonymous said...

I've had my eye on this book for a while. It sounds really interesting and I love me a good love story. The cover is just eye-catching!

Great review!

nazarienne said...

That's a great review. I'm someone who knows how it is being depressed by loss... It's so hard.
I like the idea of getting the point of view of both characters especially through online chatting and poems... Poems are by the way the best way to express feelings, doubts etc.
That seems to be such a great & interesting book! Reminds me a little bit of A Thousand Splendid Suns where religion is, besides women's rights, a big subject too.

v said...

I would like to be swept by the storm ...

Borostyán said...

Great review! You made me want to read it. :)

Sara said...

Great review. This sounds like a really good book!

chocowafer said...

I love romantic novels! And this sounds like a good one! :)

J. Lee said...

Great review