Customer Reviews

Mercy, Mercy Me

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It is wonderful to see men writing inspirational books like this. Mercy, Mercy me is an entertaining read about the lives of three "Christians", Dwayne, Nina and Beverlyn and what happens when their worlds collide. Dwayne Grandison, the main character, is trying to decide between following his heart or what others have told him is God's plan for his life. I didn't understand the first ten pages of the prologue (it was as if the author was trying to tell us everything up front even though it unfolds later.) I almost stopped reading the book there - but if that happens to you, hang in there. Once you get pass that, you'll enjoy every page. This is a read that entertains, inspires and teaches great life lessons.

Sucessful therapist Dwayne Grandison was still mourning the loss of his wife from a car accident when his brother, Pastor Lafayette Grandison approaches him about working with a new ministry at New Covenant Assembly. The position involves working closely with counselor Nina Jordan, an ex child star. Nina has successfully founded a female counseling program at the church and needs Dr. Grandison's expertise for the new male counseling program.

Approximately around the same time, Dr. Grandison is recruited by well-known evangelist Beverlyn Boudreaux for a talk show host position on her brand new Christian television network. Sparks fly as Dwayne works with both women in two very different atmospheres. Beverlyn's world is glitzy and glamorous, while working with Nina is more laid back and in the trenches of the church.

As the talk show becomes increasingly successful, Dwayne gets caught up in the traps of fame. He also grows closer to Beverlyn who reminds him more and more of his deceased wife. Unfortunately somebody very close to Beverylyn does not appreciate the budding relationship and proceeds to destroy Dr. Grandison's reputation with false rumors. Dr. Grandison will soon find which one of the two women will stand by his side as everything falls apart.

As the first novel by real-life therapist Ronn Elmore, this was a pretty good read. Dwayne's story felt authentic especially during the counseling sessions. Also while the mega minstry represented was fictional, the glimpse behind the scenes was informative. Even when doing God's work, people can easily get caught up along the wrong path --- the one leading to destruction.

Ronn Elmore's Mercy, Mercy Me was right on point dealing with the challenges and issues that Christians face when we get caught up in the glamour, prestige and politics of this world!

Mr. Elmore demonstrated through the character of Dr. Dwayne Grandison that scripture that says, "Seek Ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you"!

I want to applaud Mr. Elmore for writing such a reality based but yet Spirit filled book! There are so many messages of great joy that can be garnished by reading this book, the author was so on point with the many issues that the mordern day Christian has to face. God bless you Mr. Elmore and keep on writing such inspirational stories.

I am going out and buying your other books and add them to my library! I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read an entertaining yet mind altering story!!

Dr. Dwayne Grandison, a highly successful private psychologist living in Los Angeles, struggles to fulfill God's will for his life as he determines how best to use his talents. His client list includes some of the top music and Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes. Dr. Grandison is talented, handsome and anointed to counsel people and to bring healing to their lives. His conflict stems from whether to follow his ambition to be the star of his own television show or to follow his spirit's leading to direct a low-profile ministry at his family's church and avoid the limelight. On each side of the turmoil is a lovely woman hoping he will see things her way.

Dr. Grandison is the central character. He enjoys a simple life and desires to have children, but his wife presses him to reach for more of the spoils of success in the world. She urges him to delay parenthood in order to reach his full potential in his career. After his wife dies in a car accident, Dr. Grandison finds that two paths diverge before him, and if he chooses wrongly, he may lose all he has gained.

In Mercy, Mercy Me, Ronn Elmore writes about what he knows. Like the main character, the author is a Psychologist and a minister. His expertise on personal growth and relationship issues is apparent in this novel that addresses the tensions present in relationships between men and women.

The story of Mercy, Mercy Me is built on the relationships between the main characters. Dr. Elmore does an excellent job at developing the characters, so that the reader can identify with them and their desires, dreams, fears and temptations.

The reader also will identify with the challenge of being in the world but not of it that the Christian characters face in this novel. Dr. Elmore impresses me with his skill in creating realistic Christian characters. He adroitly shows how sincere Christians can stray from the straight and narrow path by deceptive traps and their own worldly desires.

In the beginning of this book, the first 20 pages or so, Dr. Elmore tries to say too much about the story and the characters. I found the initial chapters cumbersome to read; however, before I knew it, the book really started to flow. It is as if Dr. Elmore started off cold but quickly found his zone and got hot just like an athlete that suddenly breaks out of a slump and starts playing at the top of his game.

This novel touches on many challenges that Christians face today while trying to serve God such as marriage conflicts, greed, selfish ambition, sex, sickness, betrayal, time management, parenting and wolves in sheep's clothing. Dr. Elmore expertly addresses these subjects and more in a very entertaining Christian novel that I think you will enjoy.

Just by reading the prologue in Ronn Elmore's debut Christian fiction novel, Mercy, Mercy Me, you know there is going to be some excitement in the life of the main character Dr. Dwayne Grandison.

Dr. Dwayne Grandison is a well known, sought after therapist to the stars. His childhood dream was to follow in his father's footsteps and become a minister. His wife, Yvette, had other plans as she dreamed of the glamorous life. She convinced him that being a therapist was ministry and he was still doing good for people. Yvette dies in a terrible car accident and a year later, Dwayne is trying to get his life back on track. His brother, Rev. Lafayette Grandison invites him to work with former child star Nina Jordan in the church's counseling program. The Reverend`s ulterior motive is that Dwayne and Nina would become more than colleagues. Also noticing Dwayne is gospel singing and speaking sensation Beverlyn Boudreaux. She wants Dwayne to join her Jubilee Network as a television personality. The offer she presents to Dwayne has many amenities that his wife would have loved, had she lived. It becomes obvious that Beverlyn is falling for Dwayne, much to the dismay of her uncle and manager, L.W. L. W. fears he will be out in the cold if Dwayne and Beverlyn get involved in a relationship, so he makes plans to ruin Dwayne and anyone who gets in the way will be hurt.

The first two-thirds of the book is devoted to setting up the stage for the eventual drama. The pacing at times is slow as the characters are introduced and the scenes are being set up for the climax. However, Elmore does a fine job of providing useful information on overcoming obstacles by using counseling techniques and scriptures in the storyline, without being overbearing. He succeeds in making his famous clients problems common enough in which anyone could relate. Elmore also does an excellent job of showing how easy it is to get caught up in a glamorous lifestyle. The scripture that says it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven has never rang more true than in the case of Dr. Grandison, Beverlyn Boudreaux and L.W. Mercy, Mercy Me was an enjoyable book. I would recommend adding to your reading list.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
Motown Review Book Club

I waited and waited until I purchased this book to be certain that I wanted it because other reviews that I had read were not favorable, but like a fool, I purchased it anyhow. But thank goodness that I purchased it used or else I would have really been aggravated. Although the premise of the book was a good idea about people that allow their "material possessions" to take their focus off of important people and things, mainly GOD; the book was not good to me. After I got past all the typos (which were vast in number in the book with the black cover), then I was able to better understand the book. It also was boring for the first couple of chapters, as well as predictable. My mother and father were married for 45 years before he died and she did not allow her grieving to go on that long because she truly believed that "God heals all wounds", so his lamenting over a wife that only had $$$ signs in her eyes from the very beginning and only was out for herself was beyond my belief. I will not be recommending this book to anyone, and even my 17-year old daughter told me that she had NEVER seen me take longer than 1 or 2 days to read a book. But I refused to go on to another book until I read this one, which caused me to get 4 weeks behind in reading a really good book, which only took me a day after finishing this one. If you want to read this, borrow someone's, DO NOT PURCHASE IT!

Anointed therapist, author and inspirational speaker, Ronn Elmore gives readers a literary backstage pass to the world of the "business" of Christian concerts and mega conferences. One can't help but conjure images of real-life personalities when reading about the larger-than-life Beverlyn Bourdeaux, her self-serving uncle/business manager, L.W. and the child star turned ministry leader, Nina Jordan. Elmore has the artistic saavy not to lead readers down to happily-ever-afterville; instead he infused just enough drama with just enough joy to make the story one that readers can relate to, and be inspired by.

Psychotherapist Ronn Elmore normally uses his relationship counseling expertise to write bestselling non-fiction books (How to Love a Black Man and How to Love a Black Woman). However, with Mercy, Mercy Me he takes a leap of faith and delves into the fiction genre. Again, relying upon his professional knowledge, Elmore creates realistic fictional characters-- characters who are experiencing difficulty in their personal relationships.

A prime example is Dr. Dwayne Grandison, a successful psychologist in Los Angeles. Although his career is soaring to new heights, it's not a profession he necessarily wants. In fact, it's his wife who pushes him to pursue clinical psychology. Dwayne actually has a yearning to help people, perhaps by ministry, like his late father and his brother Lafayette. But when his wife and unborn child die in a tragic accident, Dwayne's career is the least of his worries as he mourns and wallows in uncertainty. Suddenly life brings new opportunities, but will they be blessings or burdens?

First, his brother asks him to run a new men's ministry program at church with the help of Nina Jordan, a former television actress. While everyone knows about her previous battle with drugs, she has a secret that has yet to be revealed. Then, there's mega-evangelist/singer Beverlyn Boudreaux, who hand picks Dwayne to host a talk show on her new network. Although he is not the type that enjoys being in the limelight, he accepts the job offer. In addition, he is committed to his practice and to volunteering with the men's ministry. Realizing there are not enough hours in the day for all three of his commitments, he is forced to make choice.

Meanwhile romantic sparks begin to fly and he finds himself attracted to both Nina and Beverlyn, but again, he has a choice to make. The decision is made easier when he gets caught in an ugly scandal and one woman remains by his side.

Elmore's fiction debut is commendable, but it is not quite worthy of a bestseller status. The story started with a powerful prologue full of suspense and intrigue, but the excitement was tapered off with slow, uneventful chapters. It took a while to get to the actual plot, which was your basic love triangle.

While the author perfected the main character, others such as Sean, Dwayne's best friend, were not developed well. Elmore gave readers a true sense of Dwayne's profession, but included far too much dialogue from patient sessions, which detracted from the story.

The most interesting aspect of the novel was the behind-the-scenes look at television evangelists and the realistic portrayal of the business side including the temptation of money, glitz and glamour. The author also successfully presented spiritual messages, without being preachy, which is a definite plus. All in all, I'm sure fans of Elmore will love Mercy, Mercy Me.

Too many typo's. I thought they were supposed to have people edit these books. It's just ridiculous.

Mercy,Mercy Me a story of greed,power,pride,lies and distruction a powerfully written inspriational story. This book was hard to put down, a well put together plot and storyline. A must buy!