Taken By Storm by Angela Morrison

Title: Taken By Storm
Author: Angela Morrison
Publisher: Razorbill (March 5, 2009)
Pages: 304
Reading Level: Young Adult

"Sometimes only love can save you... Seventeen-year-old Leesie Hunt has rules: no making out. No sex. And definitely no falling for a non-Mormon. She pours all of her passion into poetry, thoughts of escaping her tiny town and getting into her dream school, BYU. The Michael Walden arrives in Tekoa and everything changes. He is a free diver, which means he can hold his breath for minutes at a time. This is how he survived the storm that took his parents' lives, and the world as he knew it. Leesie and Michael couldn't be more different: his dreams are tied to the depths of the ocean and hers to salvation above: Yet they are drawn to each other, even when jealousy, unbearable rules, and haunting memories threaten to tear them apart. Every time Michael goes diving, Leesie is afraid he'll never come back up. He is drowning in tragedy and she knows it's up to her to save him. Somehow. But when temptation becomes too strong to resist, who is going to save her?"

Taken by Storm has completely TAKEN ME BY STORM! I was expecting a cliche romance; the whole Romeo and Juliet forbidden love plot, but instead, I was met with a completely heartbreaking story line that totally inspired me.

The plot was exciting and full of romance at the same time. Every time Michael dived into the water, I'd hold my breath to see if he ever came back up. The obstacles that both of them had to go through were tough and deep. They went through so much. It was amazing to see how both characters grew as their relationship progressed.

Michael was one of those guys whom I found captivating in a dark, brooding sort of way. Morrison revealed, piece by piece, the puzzle of Michael's parents' death to Leesie. It was the only reason he was closed and secretive to Leesie. Leesie on the other hand, was mostly open. I thought that she was too religious-oriented, but without that, and without her parents' rules, the book would be kind of bland. The way others treat her at school was really an eye-opener to what really happens at school. She was made fun of, just because she was a Mormon..

Overall, Morrison has completely enthralled me with this novel. Read it. You'll love it.

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*I borrowed this copy from my sister who got it from Angela, thanks for sending a review copy!