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Palm Island #2

Taken by Storm

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Chef Storm is moody, antisocial...and he just asked me to be his fake boyfriend.

Most people on the island avoid the hot-tempered chef, but he doesn't scare me. Sure, he's prickly, but I've also caught him feeding a stray cat, so I know there's more to him than the sky-high, barbed-wire fence he's built around himself.

When Storm's ex-husband shows up unexpectedly during the off-season and refuses to go home, pretending to be Storm’s boyfriend is apparently my new job.

Faking it with my grumpy boss should not be this much fun, especially since the last thing I need is to make a fool of myself by falling for anyone else on the island.

Is there anything more exciting than being swept up in a storm? Maybe taming one…

***Taken by Storm is a grumpy/sunshine, sort of boss/employee, definitely fake boyfriend (except how fake is it if they’re ACTUALLY hooking up?), second book in The Off-Season series where the residents of gay resort island get up to WAY too much fun once all of the tourists leave for the season. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but trust me when I tell you that you won’t want to miss all of these shenanigans.

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2022

273 people are currently reading
607 people want to read

About the author

K.M. Neuhold

101 books3,287 followers
K.M.Neuhold has long since been a romance junkie. When she’s not writing she’s reading or spending time snuggling with her husky or her husband. She fell in love with M/M romance last year and hasn’t been able to turn back. There’s nothing she loves more than love in all its forms.

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5 stars
1,161 (44%)
4 stars
989 (37%)
3 stars
416 (15%)
2 stars
45 (1%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
Profile Image for Ana  Nimity.
1,298 reviews62 followers
April 4, 2022
If you're looking for a sexy read with great characters who'll make you laugh one minute and swoon the next, look no farther. KM Neuhold has perfected found family, and taken it to new heights in this series.

I loved grumpy Chef Storm and mostly sunshiny Hennessey together. They just fit so well. Storm's the perfect level of antisocial, and Hen knows just how to handle him.

Taken By Storm is perfect escapist reading, filled with humor and plenty of heat. I can't wait to see what happens to this crew next!
Profile Image for Dani (Daniiireads).
1,969 reviews324 followers
May 8, 2023
- fake dating
- grumpy x sunshine
- boss/employee

Chef Storm, nicknamed for his tempestuous attitude, needs a fake boyfriend when his ex husband Donnie randomly pops up on Palm Island & refuses to leave until they talk. & ends up kissing Hennessy, the cute line cook and waiter who works him during the tourist season.

Hennessy is chaotic and funny, and Storm’s opposite in almost every way. Fake dating his boss is more fun than he anticipated, but Henny has to remind himself to be careful and not make the same mistake that landed him on the island in the first place—falling for a local.

Storm & Hennessy are a mess and a half, but so cute! He brought out such a sweet and soft side to Storm’s blunt and moody self.

Again, if you don’t question things like hurricanes in January in the South East, it’s wonderful 🤣
Profile Image for Simona.
679 reviews62 followers
April 18, 2022
The level of grumpiness I like
Profile Image for Nicole Dykes.
Author 95 books2,533 followers
April 3, 2022
I loved this book so much! Storm and Hennessey were everything! I love me a Broody character and watching them open up to their person!

I loved the banter and the heat! I loved every single thing about this book! I can't wait for more!
Profile Image for Kaity.
1,985 reviews24 followers
April 12, 2024
Reread/Relisten: April 2024

I do think was better than book one, but still a fun, low angst book. I am looking forward to Trick and Boston's book next!!

Original Read/Listen: May 2022
Audio: 5 stars
Book: 3.5 but rounding up to 4 stars

Iggy Toma made this book! I think I enjoyed book one more…? But this book was just as good. You can definitely read this as a standalone but you might be confused with all the characters…

I am honestly looking forward to Ravens book the most haha so hoping that happens after Trick and Bostons!
Profile Image for Cadiva.
3,995 reviews437 followers
August 15, 2023
Another sweet and steamy island romance

Apart from the fact Chef Storm's name changed between the sneak peek at the end of book one from Seth to Stephen, this was another sweet and steamy, low angst read.

I think it just shades book one because of the secondary plotline involving Storm's ex-husband, although it wasn't something that went anywhere too deep.

These are definitely easy reads without much in the way of complicated narratives but sometimes that's all I need.
Profile Image for yaishin.
904 reviews118 followers
October 16, 2022
aww🥺. i love grumpy characters because it means the other MC had to put some effort into getting know them so its a guarantee that it won't be an insta-love. finding good grumpy-sunshine books is like finding banter heaven, so that's a plus too.
Profile Image for Sonia.
210 reviews98 followers
November 17, 2025
(listened to the audio version)

Iggy Toma was awesome as Storm... all those grunts and hummmssss dang! Is it hot in here or it's just me?
Profile Image for Mariah.
1,395 reviews503 followers
September 23, 2025
it's been a bit since I read the first book in this series, but I think it delivered a bit more than this one.
while the steam and spark were present and accounted for, I wanted more of a build on the feelings department.
I can't wait for Boston and Trick's book!
Profile Image for Kim.
2,850 reviews177 followers
March 27, 2022
Hennessy came to Palm Island to escape his busy, stressful life, had a weekend fling, and ended up staying. Chef Storm runs his restaurant on the island with an iron fist. He’s grumpy, anti-social, bossy, and hot-tempered. But when his ex-husband shows up on the island, he makes an impulsive decision to grab a hold of a fake boyfriend...and the man closest to him is his worker, Hennessey.

Henn is sweet and sassy, but he’s also a bit impulsive. He is not intimidated by the moody Storm. These guys may be faking a relationship, but they can’t fake the chemistry between them...and they just seem to keep riding the barrage of sensations no matter how bad an idea it is. Both of these guys know that they’re not good at real relationships, but when real feelings start swirling into the mix, it has the potential to make things messy.

Can these two find a way to be vulnerable and brave enough to ask for what they want and maybe even be a port in the storm?

This is an opposites-attract, boss-employee, grumpy-sunshine, fake boyfriend, island fling turned unexpected romance. I loved Storm and Hennessey together. They’re different, but they also share some common fears. They both have such big but damaged hearts and they are able to see the real person hiding under the facade they put on for everyone else. And their chemistry is volatile once uncapped.

There’s a whole menagerie of quirky gay men as part of their friend crew and always something goin going down on Palm Island. I am really looking forward to the next couple because they’ve been fighting and competing for two books now.
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Profile Image for Jennifer.
550 reviews26 followers
July 10, 2023
Another win for Harold

I love this island and the entire cast of characters!

Storm is a grumpy softie and I love him. Hennessy is a little lost but he finds his way by the end.

I love Mr. Tubbs even if Storm give him dairy milk because he shits in Storms shoes if he doesn’t. Move your shoes dude you’re giving the cat diarrhea

I’m excited to see what happens with Boston in the next one so I’m going to read start it right now!
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,075 reviews517 followers
Read
April 8, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars


Taken by Storm is the second book in K.M. Neuhold’s Palm Island series (that has now changed names from originally being titled the Off Season series). I love the premise of this series as it looks at the lives of the locals in a gay island resort and what they get up to during the off season while the tourists are gone. There is a large cast of side characters here and we met both Storm and Hennessy in the first book, but you can start here with no problem.

This book is a sort of fake relationship, sort of boss/employee story. I say “sort of” because we get light versions of both the tropes. While Hennessy and Storm are pretending to date to throw off his ex-husband, everyone else on the island knows darn well that they are faking (until they are not), so this is more of a chance to give the men that spark to get their relationship started than a serious pretend dating situation.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.


Profile Image for Book Binge: Reviews by Melissa DaSilva.
935 reviews91 followers
August 27, 2024
I didn’t quite know what I wanted to read so decided I’d pick up the next book in this series as the first one was a fun, easy read. I’m so glad I did because I loved this story just as much. It can be read as a standalone but highly recommend reading them in order just to get the most out of the characters and story!!

Hennessy and Storm were awesome together! I love fake dating especially when both MCs never thought about the other like that before and then the first kiss happens and their eyes are opened to each other! So fun!

There’s one part where we find out some secrets of a lot of the side characters and it made me sooooo excited to read more in the series especially cause I’m not quite sure who all the secrets belong to and I’m super intrigued! I love how these two work so well together and I can wait to read more in this series!
Profile Image for Heather Duff.
1,841 reviews38 followers
May 4, 2022
Audiobook review addition:
This is the 2nd audiobook in the Palm Island series, and it’s just as good as the first. This series really was made for audiobooks. It’s a fun, boisterous series that really comes alive under the narration of Iggy Toma. He does a great job at capturing the different characters and their personalities.

I really love this story, with the grumpy chef and the sweet waiter. Grumpy men are my thing, so I absolutely accept grunting as a form of communication! LOL

Original review:
You’ll never find a more fun and sexy island around. In this story, we get to the heart of the mysterious and cranky Chef Storm in this grumpy/sunshine, boss/employee, fake dating story. All the best tropes in one! Hennessy is sweet and flirty and a bit impulsive. Together they create the perfect pairing, forcing each other to find a better balance. Throw in a surprise visit from an ex-husband and an underwear stealing cat and you’ve got yourself a good time.

This is a sweet, fun, steamy easy read with no real angst. It’s the perfect book if you are lying sick on your couch feeling like death warmed over (to specific? LOL), or you know, just looking for something light and fun. I highly recommend you read the first book, there are a lot of side characters so it's helpful, and fun, to get to know them all.

< ARC provided and this is my honest review >
Profile Image for Tim.
1,003 reviews6 followers
April 27, 2022
Will not recommend.
This was a mildly better effort, a dual POV story mostly centering on Chef Storm, the local grump and island restaraunteur. Five years after their divorce, his ex-husband has shown up on-island and is trying to talk to Storm, who is still trying to recover from their toxic marriage. So instead of talking to his ex and put it behind him, he does something stupid and ropes Hennessey, his assistant and employee at the restaurant into being his fake boyfriend. Which, predictably spirals into the real thing.
Most of the character development in this story focuses on Storm. There's a small bit about Hennessey resolving his anger with another local, who rebuffed him somewhat unkindly when he wanted to rush into a relationship.
I generally liked this one, but there was one scene that nearly ruined the book for me. When they're the shower having sex, the hair conditioner is used for lube. Uh.... NO. Rant mode ON: Hair conditioner contains chemicals like glycerin, parabens, and other substances which can cause irritation, allergies, or bacterial infections. The use of conditioner as lube sends chemicals into your bloodstream. These preservatives, fragrances, and other additives can settle in the liver and brain, causing long-term damage.
Using conditioner as lube is neither healthy or safe. Stop promoting this idea as okay. Do you want to drink it? This is how we get kids eating Tide pods.
DO. BETTER.
This hit one of my major pet peeves. I almost rated 1 star. I originally was going to rate it 4 stars until I thought about this stupid thing. decided to be fair and rate it three stars. However I will not recommend at all.
Profile Image for ❀ Jess ( Semi hiatus ).
874 reviews96 followers
March 29, 2023
Light-hearted, spicy & fun ~

•grumpy x sunshine
•fake dating
•oblivious to feelings until later
•both MCs have been celibate for years
•epilogue 7 months later ♡

A little OTT but still very enjoyable. 😊
I didn’t read the first in the series and I’m not planning on reading the 3rd either but I did enjoy this one and it worked fine as a stand alone. ~
Profile Image for DLB2572.
3,252 reviews26 followers
March 31, 2022
Loved This Book

This book was another great addition to this series. Storm and Hennessey are both characters i will love reading again and again. If you're a fan of grumpy/ sunshine trope, they are definitely for you.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
Profile Image for Mir.
1,114 reviews62 followers
April 20, 2022
3.5 Stars

Much better than the first book! This is a fluffy, sexy, entertaining quick read and I very much liked the two mains despite their stupid nicknames.

We still don’t really get to know the characters very well, but it’s fine cuz they’re cute and having great sex.
Profile Image for Katharina.
630 reviews24 followers
September 6, 2022
Handjob island is not for me. Just too OTT all over.
Profile Image for Colleen (colleenreads40).
418 reviews17 followers
March 11, 2024
Taken By Storm is the second book in K.M. Neuhold's Palm Island series. It can be read as a complete standalone (but it's more fun to read about all the shenanigans on what is affectionately known as Handjob Island). Taken By Storm is a MM grumpy/sunshine romance with a guaranteed happily ever after. You can expect a boss/employee dynamic, a fake relationship with real hooking up, and a temperamental stray cat.

Synopsis: Most of the island's local residents tend to avoid Chef Storm - he's hot-tempered and prickly on the best of days. He doesn't scare Hennessey, his loyal waiter. One thing that does ruffle Storm's feathers? When his ex-husband shows up unexpectedly trying to make amends. Enter Hennessey, his new fake boyfriend. Except faking a relationship with your sunshiney employee shouldn't be this fun and tempting, right?

This was an easy low-angst read! These two were the perfect grumpy/sunshine pairing, and what I loved about it that Storm was still his grumpy self at the end of the book - maybe just a little more social than he was before. The steam in this book was great, and I loved the little teases of the other characters we received. I'm looking forward to Boston and Trick's story next, as there's some interesting bad blood there!
“I feel like you see me,” Storm murmurs, his words partially muffled, his face pressed into the crook of my neck. “You see me like no one else has.”
I nod, arching my body against his. “I do.”
Profile Image for Chelsea Moore.
456 reviews11 followers
April 3, 2022
Palm Island is such a fun, quirky, steamy and amazing series! I am loving this world of sexy men, and fun times! I literally love everything KM Neuhold writes and this one is no different. This series is so much fun and these men are incredible! Hennessy and Storm are literal perfection. Henn is sweet, sassy and impulsive. He is the complete opposite of Storm. Storm is moody, grumpy and antisocial. When Storm’s ex husband shows up on the island he makes a super quick and impulsive decision to grab himself a fake boyfriend. That fake boyfriend just so happens to be the fun loving Hennessy. Even thought the relationship may be fake they for sure cant fake the insane chemistry they have. They both suck at real relationships and feel like all relationships are destined to fail. They have to decide if its work the risk to take the shot with one another or just walk away. I loved this book so much and I’m so excited for the next one in this incredible series.

I received a copy of this book from the author, and this is my honest review.

POV: 1st Person Dual POV

Standalone or series: Book 2 in the Palm Island series

Would I recommend it: 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ highly recommend!! 🤩

Would I read it again: Most definitely!
68 reviews1 follower
March 27, 2022
If you love the grumpy/sunhine, low angst, high heat, silly banter, and just overall fun then this is your book! I knew before I picked up this book that I was in a bad mood and weird book funk but I wasn't concerned because I knew the men of Palm Island would pull me out of it.

Storm and Hennessy compliment each other so well. I loved being able to see them slowly help each other overcome what's been holding them back.

I just wish that when I read the first book in the series, I had made myself a cheat sheet of all of the side characters, as there are quite a few, and how they fit together. I remember them all being discussed in Perfect Ten when being introduced to everyone the first time so I'm kicking myself for not doing it then. While it isn't necessary to understand this story, it would have been easier for me to follow the side friendships and frustrations.

Overall this is definitely a 4.5 star book for me and I cannot wait for book 3. I can't forget how much I loved the secrets as well as now I'm anxiously awaiting lace and power bottoms at some point too!
Profile Image for Vicki.
1,135 reviews25 followers
March 26, 2022
If you enjoy a fake boyfriends, grumpy/sunshine romance with lots of steamy times between the two main characters then this is a book for you.

Storm really is a very grumpy prickly chef who does much of his communicating via grunts. He is also anti social and a bit lonely. Hennessy, who works for Storm, arrived on the island over 3 years ago for a 3 day holiday and never left. He’s very social but also a bit lonely.

Circumstances have them pretending to be boyfriends but it doesn’t mean they don’t give in to the sizzling chemistry between them and indulge in numerous steamy times, even making it to the bed occasionally. After they both do some soul searching they realise that they are perfect for each other and get their HEA with very minimal angst or huge hurdles to overcome.

I found this to be a very easy and enjoyable read and it was wonderful being back on the Island with its wonderful but slightly crazy bunch of full time residents. I’m looking forward to more in the series.
Profile Image for Sharon L.
899 reviews15 followers
March 27, 2022
More shenanigans!!!

Palm Island, a gay resort island, (also known as Hand Job Island by the locals) is open to tourists 6 months out of the year. This series revolves around the off-season and what happens once the tourists leave and the locals reclaim their island. This is book 2 in the series.

Hennessy, left his executive assistant job in Silicon Valley to live on Palm Island after falling for a local while on vacation. He works as a waiter at Storm's restaurant.

Storm, sold his restaurant in Chicago, after his divorce, to take over a culinary school friend's restaurant on Palm Island.

When Storm's ex-husband unexpectedly shows up on the island, Storm pulls Hennessy into a kiss hoping to forestall his ex.

The relationship may start out as fake boyfriends/friends with benefits but the more time they spend together the closer they become.

Hot sex, grumpy boss, fat cat, lace panties, stormy weather and secrets revealed.

Can't wait for Boston and Trick's book next.
453 reviews6 followers
April 1, 2022
I loved Storm and Hennessey in K.M. Neuhold’s latest Taken by Storm. I found this to be a “Grumpy/Sunshine for him” type of story and these two characters were just perfect together. Both Storm and Hennessey had to work through issues in past relationships to be able to see how well they actually went together. They both start to open their eyes to new possibilities when Hennessey does the Fake Boyfriend act for Storm to try to dissuade his Ex-Husband who suddenly shows up. The introspection that both characters expressed was just wonderful to see. Two people taking a risk at opening up to someone else because they don’t want to miss out on something potentially wonderful, just fantastic! The payout at the end, not just for these two characters but for what it can mean to future stories makes me dying for what comes next! Really hope the author brings back Storm’s Ex though. Definitely a great story possibility there, maybe with someone we already know. Happy Reading!
Profile Image for Jamie.
2,067 reviews93 followers
August 8, 2024
I love a good grumpy/sunshine book. Chef Storm is the definition of grumpy, so I was excited to read his book. From the first book, you can see the attraction between Hennessy and Storm.

When ex-husband Donnie shows up, these two go on a journey that neither really prepared for, but just set everything in motion. The only thing I wish I would've changed is that they both were more confident in their feelings and talking about them. They both were very insecure in that aspect.

I also forgot that the epilogue in these books is really for the next book in the series. I hate that by the way. I wanted more of these two, because they didn't announce their true feelings until the last freaking chapter.
Profile Image for Mary Vitrano.
434 reviews7 followers
March 29, 2022
I received a copy of this book from the author, and this is my honest review.
Omg this Island!!!! This is a wonderful grumpy/sunshine boss/employee fake-boyfriend story you don't want to miss.
Hennessy and Storm are perfect for each other even if they don't know.
If you love cats, a sassy boy and his "stormy" opposite that stays grumpy even when his heart gets involved, that's the story for you.
And... Now we know secrets that need to be revealed. Can't wait!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews

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