Customer Reviews

Taken By Storm (Highlander)

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Wealthy American Burke Longton has come to Scotland for his deceased father, in order to find the brother his father had to leave behind, and who has been lost to them ever since. Once there, he soon finds himself in jail, falsely accused, where he is taken by Storm-a female rebel and outlaw against the Scottish government-from the prison to safety.

Storm rescues those wrongly imprisoned for stealing food and like crimes, driven by the death of her own husband, whom she saw die in similar circumstances. His death has made her a strong crusader against such injustice, but she has walled herself off from any intimate ties or feelings-a wall which Burke soon determines to tear down.

Fletcher has written an endearing and interesting tale of love on the wrong side of the law, with a gentle and masculine hero and a strong-willed and vulnerable heroine. As they set out together to find Burke's long lost brother, Burke sets out to conquer a Storm, and slowly overcomes her fears with his wooing and talk of the wonders of America and its freedoms.

A tale as much of the times as of the two lovers, this book has the kind of depth that brings to life both the characters and the times, as we are swept along with the lovers' trek to solve the mystery surrounding a man being held prisoner who may be Burke's lost brother, to a surprising ending that will leave you ready for the next tale the book obviously sets us up for. Recommended.



Reviewed by Lee M



Copyright © 2006 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved.

Burke Longton a wealthy American has come to Scotland to find a brother he's never met. Unfortunately before he's made any progress, he's thrown into prison on a trumped up charge. Luckily, before Burke has arranged an escape for himself he and other prisoners are rescued by a ragtag bunch led by a tiny virago female with attitude! Accustomed to giving orders, Burke is noticeably annoyed to be told to obey HER commands without question.

Going by the name of Storm, she is a self-appointed angel fighting against the injustices perpetuated against the innocent and poor who out of necessity must steal food in order to survive. Having been too late to save her husband from the terrors of Scottish justice, she vowed to never let that happen and rescued as many as she could. She's walled her heart off vowing to never love again, but the arrogant American Burke Longton is doing his best to change her mind with gentle protective embraces and fevered kisses that Storm is finding harder and harder to resist.

*** Storm and Burke were both compelling and likeable characters in this non-stop action page turner. The story was well written and though it portrays Storm as a `Scottish lass' her dialogs were not written with any of the Scottish pronunciations that are more customary for these historicals. However, the dialogs were sharp, witty, and the foreplay banter between the protagonists was amusing and sensual. In the quest to locate Burke's long-lost brother the author kept the pace perfectly adequate right up to the rather surprise ending while masterfully setting up the sequel for another quest in finding a missing child. Fletcher gives an enjoyable read in a very tender love story that shoots straight to the heart as Storm is finally able to acknowledge that it's okay to both love and live again. This should score well with fans and leave them all in high anticipation for Cullen's quest.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

In the historical romance Taken By Storm, the dashing and brave American Burke Longton is in Scotland on a mission to save his imprisoned brother when, unfortunately, he also finds himself wrongly imprisoned. He is amazed when he is freed from the prison by a ragtag band of outlaws led by the beautiful and courageous Storm. When Storm and her men agree to help him locate and free his brother Burke joins the outlaws and finds he cannot resist his attraction to Storm. Burke is challenged to break the walls that Storm has built around her heart as she is determined to never love again. Even though Burke declares his love for Storm and is the first to touch her heart in years she knows that they can have no future as their destinies lie in separate lands.

***** Donna Fletcher's Taken By Storm is an adventurous romance set in the wild Scottish Highlands. It was exciting to read about a stubborn and courageous woman who leads a band of outlaws and who goes head to head with an obstinate American. This was the first historical romance I have read in many years, and it was a very enjoyable read with a surprisingly bittersweet ending. *****

Reviewed by Barbara Stabler for Huntress Reviews.

This book, as well as The Highlanders Bride is like reading on a loop. How many times do the heroines in both these books poke the "out-of-my-mind-in-love-with-this-woman" hero in the chest. I thought I was reading the same page over and over. This writer needs to expand her vocabulary. It drove me to distraction. And why is it that the women NEVER, EVER, listen to the guy, but are ALWAYS right. Read Garwood, Woodwiss, McNaught or even Putney for real historic romances.

Locked in a Scottish prison, American Burke Longstan is rescued by outlaw woman Storm. She tells him to follow her men out, but he disobeys her order and instead follows her to insure she remains safe. He explains to her he is on a mission for his late dad to find his brother Cullen lost as an infant when his father fled Scotland leaving the child with his sister-in-law who died shortly after he departed. His dad never found his other son. Burke offers his help and money when his ship arrives. She agrees with the stipulation he follows her orders.

Burke and Storm learn that a man is reportedly being held prisoner at Glencurry, home of the abusive Earl of Balford. In the forest haven they talk strategy until Burke cannot resist kissing Storm. Though she liked the kiss Storm is a bit shook by the pushy American. No man has reached her like Burke has since her spouse was killed three years ago. They continue to work together to rescue the prisoner they assume is his brother while falling in love, but he has a future waiting for him in America while she has the gallows waiting for her.

Readers will root for the lead couple and her outlaw band to free his brother while wondering why there is a shroud of secrecy surrounding the prisoner. The story line is loaded with action from the moment that Storm and her band of merry outlaws free the stubborn Scottish-American and never slows down until the final confrontation. Though the heroine too often allows the hero to get away with disobeying direct orders from her even though she warns him of the consequences, the fine mystery of the prisoner and the delightful outlaws in love romance provide plenty of enjoyment to readers of great historical romances.

Harriet Klausner

I had completely forgotten that I had a copy of Taken By Storm sitting on my bookshelves. I purchased this one years ago after having read and enjoyed Return of the Rogue by this author.

For some reason I though that Storm was going to be the hero in this story. I was looking forward to reading about a Highlander with a Scottish burr. I was wrong, Storm is actually the heroine and she is the one who is Scottish. She's the leader of a group of men who rescue and bring justice to those in need. On one of her rescue missions, she frees Burke Longton. Burke is an American who has traveled to Scotland in search of his half brother, Cullen.

Burke asks for Storm for help in finding his brother. She reluctantly agrees to help him for a price. Storm likes to be in charge, she is the female leader of this group of rag tag men. Burke does not take orders from anyone and he is having a tough time taking them from Storm.
Storm has a past, her husband died and she feels guilty. Although she swore she'd never love again, she finds herself attracted to Burke and fights the attraction as best as she can. Burke however, wants to whisk Storm away and even possibly marry her, after he finds his brother of course.

I wanted more from this fluffy historical romance. The sexual tension between Storm and Burke was there from the start. However, there's always a 'however' right? I felt like Storm, who was supposed to be so tough, gave into Burke too easily. If she was supposedly so hard core and a leader of this group of men, why would she allow this American to just step in and romance her? He was stealing kisses early on in the story and I felt a character supposedly as tough as she was would have smacked him for it.

The back and forth conversations between Burke and Storm quickly became annoying. They constantly debate getting together, he wants her, but she resists. She doesn't want to fall in love, but he insists they belong together. Then when they do finally do 'it', then the issue becomes Storm not allowing herself to love him. Burke wants to whisk her off back to America with him.

I was expecting a more vivid description as far as the Scottish setting was concerned, and I didn't get that at all. Absolutely nothing about the Scottish Highlands was described in this book. The couple does get their HEA, but the ending leaves Burke's brother's story open for a possible sequel.
Overall, I quickly read this book, I didn't want to give up on it but it disappointed me. If it were a bit more descriptive, I would have enjoyed it more.