Finding Mercie

by Blaine M. Yorgason

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Genres: Lds Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Fiction, Religion

307 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2010

About the author

Blaine M. Yorgason was born in Sanpete County, Utah. He attended Brigham Young University and received both a BA and MA in History. Blaine and his wife Kathleen have 7 children and numerous grandchildren.

Reviews

[RayDean · Rating 4 out of 5]

When this book was recommended to me it was with the comment that it's one of those books where everything turns out with a happy ending. With challenges I'm facing right now, I was NOT interested in reading about other peoples' happy endings, even if they're fictitous. But I read it anyway (perhaps as a diversion from things I'd rather not face).

The couple of things that struck me for good from this novel are things I already know, but that I needed reminding about. First is that whatever challenges we face, we don't have to let those challenges define us. We can lead happy, fulfilling lives while we keep those challenges just "nipping at our edges" instead of consuming us.

The second reminder I appreciated is that "soon" all our challnges will be a blessing, we just don't know how yet. So maybe given enough time and perspective, happy endings can still happen!

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was the best book I have read in a long time! I loved the suspense and mystery. I loved the love stories. I especially loved the realistic part that explains the need to repent, and the blessings that come from staying on the covenant path. What a wonderful story of faith.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slower moving book, but stick with it and you will be amazed at the meanings that come from the title. Hector, a widowed father and latino bistro owner comes to the rescue of a little girl, Mercie, when he finds her bleeding from a gunshot and cold. he takes her to the hospital even at the expense of his failing health. He is then a suspect in her attack. Meanwhile, his adopted son, 17 year old Raul has sinned with his best friend and co-worker at the bistro, Consuela and are now facing being parents and an early marriage. They are working through their repentance when the little nina is brought to the situation. They find mercy as they repent and accept responsibility for their actions and ask for forgiveness.
Hector also has a secret for being in the area where he found the nina, the protection of the woman he loves and also his oncologist, Liliana. Liliana was attacked herself and beaten severly. This incident has created a real fear and so Hector while not being able to protect her visibly has hired a PI to watch her house during the night and then he checks on her himself on his "walks."
All these people are connected to each other by the bad people that caused the murder of the little girls mother, her wounds and the attacks on Liliana. The little girl who is in a comatose state responds to the visit of Consuela and Raul. She has a story of her own about angels helping her till help arrived in the form of Hector and then the angels telling her of what will happen when her real mom goes away and that their will be a new family ready to love her.
Hector's cancer comes back and although liliana turned Hector's love away 3 years earlier because she didn't think that she could deal with the end, she changes her mind and they are sealed. Hector's first wife is who Mercie tells was one of the angels that helped her.

[Ada · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows Hector, who finds a little girl shot and bleeding in a parking lot and in spite of his ill health runs with her to a clinic to save her life. The policemen decide he is the one who shot her because he won't say why he was at that particular spot that morning. His adopted son tells him that he and Consuela are going to have a baby and adds additional sorrow since he won't be going on his mission. Then there is the news from Hector's cancer doctor/girl friend that his cancer is back. In spite of it being a little preachy and quite perfectly fitting all the many pieces together, it is interestingly written and a nice fluff book when you don't want to think much.
A gal in our book club works with him in the temple and arranged to have Blaine Yorgason come and talk to us about this book. I very much enjoyed hearing him talking about the dream that spurred his writing of the story and the side lights of where he used real people's names and personalities in some instances. The nice cop in the story was a neighbor of his. Betty and Atwood Bundy were mentioned once (great people in our stake)and the lawyer in the story was Jim Slemboski. He spent a lot of his time telling about a couple of his other books. The Bishop's Horse Race was from his family history so he told about what really happened as the bishop bet on his horse and the fall out afterwards. He spent most of his time talking about his writing right now about temple work that President Hafen asked him to write. It was fascinating to hear about the things he was reading to enable him to do the writing. I just know I will be looking for it when it comes out. He is a great story-teller in person and it's fun to have a signed copy of his book! (And my finding a copy is too long of a story to tell here!)

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. This book was about 200 pages too long, due mostly to people having the same conversations over and over and over again. And then, something would happen, and then they would keep telling you about it for the next few chapters. Got very tedious.

2. The teenagers used very outdated slang- cringe inducingly so. (ie 'legit'). And then the little girl comes put of her coma, and she uses it too- but even worse! "Totally awesome"? Is she using it ironically and I'm just not getting it?

3. The main character was just so stinking good, the man was a freaking saint, but all the time he is so worried because he thinks he has done all these terrible things. This frustrated me. His character just made me tired. And I had a hard time picturing him as a romantic lead: we know he is in his late forties and very short. Need a little more than that.

4. Apparently, all the crime in Chicago was being caused by the same 2 guys.

5. I did like the female oncologist who did Kung-Fu.

6. Liked the message on forgiveness. that was very sweet.

[Book Geek Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had very mixed feelings about this book. First, I liked the basic story line. It was fairly complex, there were multiple subplots happening, murder mysteries, romance, etc. It also had a strong message on forgiveness, which I thought was very good.

The most believable character was Hector Lopez. I thought Yorgason did a great job on him. However the other characters weren't so appealing to me. I felt like they were stereotypes and/or over the top. Several of them also used the same unique phrases in their dialogue ("thing is...").

It got a little preachy at times. I felt the messages were hit a little to hard and too often. I also felt like everything wrapped up a little to neatly with a great big bow. Not believable to me.

However, I'm still glad I read it. The message was good.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I might give it more stars, but I really struggled with the stereotyping in the book. I guess because I know so few people like that, I had a hard time believing an intelligent officer would let his prejudice go that far. The idea of finding mercy for our sins, though, was well done. I like that Hector feels bad for all of them, even what most of us would shrug off. As a character, he made me think more of what kind of person I want to be. The whole ending, though, with Mercie was also too much of a stretch for me. The story is good in many ways, but a little too preachy and a bit too many unbelievable situations for me.

[Terrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and it made me do quite a bit of introspection on three facets contained in the book. 1) My relationship with my Savior; 2) racial profiling, and 3) forgiveness. The book is definitely loaded with LDS doctrine even though it is a novel. I probably would have given it 4 stars but I felt the ending was too unrealistic.


**SPOILER**


I also felt the author glossed over the trauma and behavioral issues Mercie would have exhibited from having seen her mother murdered. However, I do believe in angels.

[Michelle Llewellyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my heck, 143 chapters I had to wade through. And the small print! Then there's the story filled with stereotypes and lots of repeating messagages-don't judge your fellow man, girls who dress immodestly just to catch a boyfriend should consider other options, and by page 58 I get so ver' tired of Hector's accent I must skip to chapter 95 before I go muy loco!
Reader be warned-this book is a heavy read! If this is your first Yorgason title do yourself a favor and pick up "Charlie's Monument" or "The Bishop's Horserace" don't waste your time with this one.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have listened to the reviews on this one, but sometimes I like books that don't get the best reviews. This was one of the longest most rambliest book I've ever read. It reminded me of a rich persons garage sale where they think too much of their crap! Only this time he thought too much of his words. It would have been an Ok story with about half the pages and normal (not tiny) print. I almost quit several times. I'm not sure why I didn't.

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time deciding whether or not to give this book 3 or 4 stars. It was a very good
story with great messages. Occasionally it gets a little preachy, but with an open heart and
mind, you will feel the goodness in the words and scriptures being quoted. This book has a very strong LDS based story, but it is a very enjoyable read. For those who said they could not get through the story, I encourage you to go back and give it another try. You will not be disappointed in the end.

[LuAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I really loved this book; other times I was frustrated by it. The story took so long to unfold and much of it was too coincidental, yet there were moments when I found myself swept up by the story, wanting to know more. I liked the characters, but wanted the events to unfold a little more quickly and with more clarity. Sometimes I had to reread passages to find the critical details I was sure I had missed.

[Jodee Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book about the power of telling the truth, forgiveness, repentance and being a good person. Forgiveness has a power to change people.

I enjoyed the story but was ready for it to end about 3 chapters before it did.

It all wrapped up very nicely (almost too perfectly.)

Overall an enjoyable read.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure if this is an accurate rating--I was so busy that I had to keep reading in little tiny bits, and it kind of ruined the flow for me. Good story, though--and may I just implore my friends NOT TO READ THE ENDING FIRST!! It makes up for everything--and will just wreck it if you don't wait until the end!

[Janet Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I lived in Chicago 3 yrs and attended the old Logan Square Ward so Finding Mercie felt like coming home. The story is well-plotted/organized but somewhat wordy and slow-moving. I felt the ending was tied up rather too neatly in a nice big bow. Definitely a book with Christian values and flawed but likeable characters, for the most part.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of the best books i have read lately. well written and double meaning title - finding mercie, a little girl badly wounded with no one looking for her - and finding mercy - a story of forgiveness and redemption. good story line, although pretty easy to determine how it will end. but that is ok! it is good to have happy endings.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book. It was painful to read. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I think my mom really liked it so that is why I didn't give up on it. There was a blatant overuse of the word "darling". I didn't like any of the characters. I didn't like the story. I do not recommend this book.

[Betty Ann Baer]

This book puts a lot of incite as to how we need to repent and the little mistakes that we make. A man finds a child that has a gunshot wound and rushes her to the hospital. He has lots of secrets and has kept a lot of things from others.
Through the book repentance and feeling sorrow and knowing the Lord has forgiven you is a message through out the book.

[Margene Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

MaRGENE WROTE: I liked this book a lot. Of course I think it was a little slow in some areas, but overall it was good, lEFT me with the good feeling I like with all his books. I would recommend this book for all ages. (Plus I know the author and he told us how hard he worked on this book).

[K.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very touching story. My interest was held throughout the book (though I could kind of tell where it was going--probably the writer in me) and I enjoyed the characters. Though the ending is redeeming, a little sad for those wanting a "pick me up" right away.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mercie is, of course, Mercy. Good story of repentance and Mercy. I found it a little heavy and preachy. I prefer to find my preaching in small doses or illustrated by action. This does that but then brings a heavy hand in specifically preaching as well. Recommend it as the point is important.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Blaine Yorgason is a very good author. His story kept my interest. I had a hard time putting it down to go to sleep.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty fast paced, but I felt it could have been shorter. Still a good read.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to read this book, but after reading the first 30 or so pages I still couldn't get into it. I like to be sucked in way before that.

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quit at page 100. Didn't feel like this story was going anywhere.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a really slow start for me. I'm glad I didn't give up on it though because it was a heart warming story, one that reminds you to keep the faith even when things seem at their worst.

[Sherilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the beginning of this book and the story. But the further I got into it the more I just wanted it to end. It got to preachy, too wordy, and kind of depressing.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with this book. I had hoped it would be better.

[Liz Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, I liked it!

[Tamara Hart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't get into this book. I found 3 of the 4 POVs really boring and started skipping. This eventually led to me putting the book down when there were about 100 pages left.