Review: Taken by Storm by LRC Featured Author Angela Morrison

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Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison 

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.
Readers will be swept away by this tale of forbidden romance told in online chats, Leesie’s chapbook poems, and Michael’s dive log. It’s as steamy asTwilight and just as clean.

Picture and book links to The Book Depository and teaser from Goodreads
Published in US:  Mar 5th 2009
1st book in series- 2nd is Unbroken Connection

**My rating: 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!!!! Highlight to read 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. 

I would love to hear what you think of the book and/or my review.