| Title | : | Stormed: A Contemporary Romance Set in Guam |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | Published May 19, 2020 |
A medical doctor educated in the United States, passionate and fierce Liz Taimanglo must now fulfill her promise and return to her island home. Liz makes the long flight across the US and the North Pacific Ocean to Guam, uncertain of what her future holds. Heading into the epicenter of her family and prime typhoon season for the Mariana Islands chain, the disquiet of her heart threatens to do more damage than any typhoon might inflict on Guam. Little does Liz know, the man featured in the newspaper would indeed unleash delicious torment rivaling even a Category 5 super typhoon.
Manny Artero is adamant about fighting for his island, his culture, and the rights of Guam’s Chamorro people, after having been fired from his teaching job. That is, until Liz walks up to him with her machete-wielding eyes and her undying respect for the American military. Manny had vowed never to risk his heart again and to become a more vocal activist, but this woman threatens to challenge all his intentions about love and life on Guam. Brushing off the safer choice, he plots a series of surprises to change her mind.
For Liz, becoming a doctor of medicine was supposed to be the right path, but her universe imploded when her training failed to save the life of the most important person in her world. Though a former US Marine, Manny could no longer accept the loss of land, rights, and freedom that Chamorros continue to suffer in their own homeland. Helpless against the strengthening attraction between them, Liz and Manny must face not only their opposing political views, but the storms stirring in their hearts and the very land upon which they stand.
“Set in the early 1990s, Stormed is teeming with as much political unrest and protest as it is with an unlikely and irresistible romance between its two protagonists. After reading Conquered, the first book in the series, Stormed was a welcome return to Guam, which gave my inner anthropologist the opportunity to learn more about the astonishing Chamorro culture—past and present. Not only is Stormed a complex and intriguing addition to novels about the South Pacific, this historical romance will help raise awareness of the effects of American colonialism on the people of Guam.” – Stacey Donovan, Writer, Editor, and Author of Dive
Stormed: A Contemporary Romance Set in Guam Reviews
-
Wow! I have never felt so immersed in the cultural content of a book before! The author transported me to Guam with every detailed passage!
The author provided such extensive detail I truly believe I pictured every scene just as the author had intended when she wrote it.
I absolutely loved the historical enrichment and authentic narrative!!
It is clear the author did a thorough and extensive amount of research while constructing this book. That plus her own unique advantage of growing up on Guam created reliable and credible details throughout the story line.
I honestly had very little knowledge about Guam or her people before reading this book series. This book provided such strong insight and gave this reader a better understanding of how Guam became liberated, the people of Guam aka the Chamorro, and Guam’s beautiful culture and traditions. Quinene made the story both educational and intriguing without sounding monotone.
I really enjoyed the main characters, Liz and Manny. There was an obvious attraction and an enjoyable lead up of them trying to fight their feelings. I also really enjoyed catching back up with the main characters from book one, Jesi and Johan! It was great to see how their lives had unfolded and played out.
However, I felt that this book had a bit of an overwhelming amount of characters with multiple nicknames. Thankfully the author provided a names and character reference section at the back of the book which really helped for a quick check to identify the character's details.
I loved all the extras at the end of the book! The author included a map of Guam in 1992, a recipe section for chocolate sugar cookies and custard pie, a glossary, a names and characters reference section, a places reference section, and a list of the many books and online articles used while writing this book! These extras really enhanced the story and provided important details for the reader to follow along in the story. I also can’t wait to try the recipe for the chocolate sugar cookies!
I enjoyed that the author used many Chamorro written phrases throughout the book which only added to the genuineness of the story! However, at times it felt a bit confusing. Thankfully, the author included a glossary at the end of the book which provided a Chamorro to English translation and came in very handy for this reader.
There are some predictable scenes. However, there are still a few very unexpected twists and turns that you won’t see coming!
This book is Book Two in The Set in Guam Book Series. I had previously read book one before reading this book. This book can absolutely be read as a standalone without any confusion. However, there is significant story line and character overlap that I believe this book would be even better enjoyed having started with book one.
All in all, there were just a couple hang-ups for me, but overall, I still enjoyed reading this book and would still recommend it! I think all historical and contemporary romance readers will like this book too! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading – you won’t be disappointed!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.** -
This was an interesting story, full of cultural history, language, and food, and family. Liz had a large family, and I loved her interactions with everyone. She had her past and sadness to deal with, but she found a way past all that to find happiness. Manny was smitten with Liz, and he came to love her, almost pushing too hard with his possessiveness. Together, they steamed up the pages, explored that side of their relationship, and supported each other through the political turmoil of recent history in Guam.
I received a copy of this story through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review. -
Oh I loved it! The setting was described so beautifully I almost could just reach out and experience the culture for myself while the romance was a bit complicated just as I had imagined it would be. I used to would have shied away from historical type romances but now am lured to them. I guess my tatses just keep evolving which is a great thing because I would have hated to of missed out on this gem!
I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.
