Review: Overall, the story flows well.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 28, 2014
Taken by Storm is a tumultuous love story with many twists and turns. By the end of this story, you’ll certainly feel like you’ve been through a “storm”.Syleena is an African-American woman with a past…or rather lives as the daughter of a horrible mother who’s a “proud prostitute” and a money hungry leech. Everything Syleena does in life is geared to move her farther away from her mother’s reach and the painful memories of her childhood.The hero, Storm, is a super alpha male carrying the wounds of mistrust of women. The two initially meet through Storm’s younger sister, Courtni, who’s Syleena’s roommate in college. Courtni invites Syleena to spend summer vacation with her in Texas on her ranch.Sparks fly or better yet lightning hits when Storm and Syleena meet. Storm, as his name suggests, is powerful and controlling. He’s a wealthy banker and a part time cowboy. However, Syleena is the type of woman who never wants to be talked down to, controlled by or dependent on a man no matter how attracted she is to him. The two clash in less than 24 hours. Syleena leaves the ranch in tears.Five years later, the two meet again in Texas at Storm’s uncle’s wedding. Even though Storm tried to get Syleena out of his head and heart, the attraction is still there. Storm takes full advantage and vows not to allow her to get away again!One of the major obstacles to their love is Storm’s crazy ex-girlfriend, April. She hates Syleena on sight because it’s clear that Storm is in love with her. She plots to take Syleena out of Storm’s life by threatening to expose Syleena’s mother to Storm and the rest of the town. Since Storm is a respectable and wealthy man with trust issues, a stain such as Syleena’s mother would ruin this relationship. The inner obstacle of Storm’s distrust issue is inherited from his father. It keeps Syleena and his relationship on edge at all times, especially when other men are around her. In Syleena’s case, she has the obstacle of shame that stems from her mother’s “occupation” and pain from her father’s suicide. Those keep her from fully being truthful with Storm about her family’s history.Overall, the story flows well. However, as a Southerner, the dialog of these Texans is not believable. It’s entirely too “proper”. I really like the heroine, Syleena; she’s just a good girl trying to make the best out of her life. Storm is definitely a man with some trust and entitlement issues. Again, overall it’s a good read.-Reviewed by Pamela