Not so good as I'd hoped - Rated 
This book received great reviews on Amazon but I am somewhat disappointed. It almost reads like a 'cozy' regarding the painting of location and locals (which is not a recommendation in my book) rather than an urban fantasy. Having given a list of rules on not abusing her power, Mercy then spends the rest of the book breaking them. Her 'press' - ability to make people do things she wants is just too much and I found the idea of someone setting up as a hypnotherapist with that amount of power somewhat disturbing.
I would hesitate before parting with money for the second book.
Fantastic little thriller - Rated 
This is great...buy it if you like books like those written by Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris and Kelley Armstrong although its not derivative of these, just a similar genre. Toni Andrews deserves your pennies for writing a story with a great heart, marvelous, believeable characters and an achingly real location...read her afterword, Balboa jumps off the page and she obviously loves the place. Where this novel is so strong is that although it is a supernatural read, it is rooted in reality and all the better for it. I am looking forward to the next one, and so will you be...delicious villains,realistically spiky heroine, good, solid plot, scrumptious men and generally just one of those books you can't wait to sit down and read. Roll on the next installment!
A great new paranormal series - Book 1 - Rated
The blurb on the back of this book made me wonder if Mercy Hollings is something like the Incredibly Hulk in that we're told that people around her are at risk when she gets angry. But no, Mercy doesn't turn into an unjolly green giant, instead she has an ability to 'press' or bend people to her will. For example, if someone annoyed her and she said "go and take a running jump" they would. Clearly this is significant in terms of her interaction with people; something said in the heat of the moment, when drunk, without thought, could cause significant harm - and has in the past done so.
So Mercy is a loner, newly working as a hypnotherapist (with very good results) and with a strong personal code of ethics as to how she uses her ability. Not much, in other words, unless with the person's full consent, which is only really possible as part of her hypnotherapy practice. However Mercy's life is undergoing something of a change - she's finding herself with some friends who seem to care about her and when she cares about them too, and rescues her ditzy friend Sukey from an unsavoury man, she opens up a whole can of worms. Sometimes breaking some of her code of ethics means having to break even more to clean up the mess.
The cast of characters in this book is excellent, from Mercy herself (yes, another Mercedes, like in Patricia Briggs' paranormal series) whose daily decisions about whether to use her talent, together with doubt over her own humanity and her origins, give her a vulnerable and yet powerful edge; to Sam, the love interest, a surprisingly phlegmatic man who sees enough in Mercy to overlook her secrets; and to Sukey, the friend with a frightening taste in men who grows up quickly in this book. There are many other side characters who are all interesting and add a flavour to the setting, Balboa in California, both from the Yacht Club set to the drug-running underground.
My only slight reservation about this book is that the baddie was finished off rather easily after quite a lot of plotting and difficulty but this was a minor quibble and the overall quality of writing and plotting was excellent. We are privy to Mercy's thoughts about the ethics of her talent and that's what makes the book so strong - it's not just a semi-magical tale set in today's world but genuinely tries to consider how life might be for someone with an unusual skill that sets her apart from others, rather like Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series, except Mercy's friends are all human.
The threads of the main plotline were tied up at the end but the relationships between some of the main characters weren't, thus this is the beginning of a new series (with "Angel of Mercy" to be released next). However it was a very enjoyable and satisfying read on its own and I will certainly be buying the next book in the series when it is published.
First Book in a New Urban Fantasy Series - Rated 
Mercy Hollings has an extraordinary gift. She has the power to make people do what she wants. She calls this power 'the press'. Mercy's friend Sukey has appalling taste in men, when her latest boyfriend (Rocko) slips her heroin and causes her to overdose, Mercy takes matters into her own hands to ensure it will never happen again. Unfortunately in getting rid of the sleazy boyfriend, Mercy manages to draw the attention of Dominic, drug dealer and Rocko's boss. Dominic wants his heroin back.
Mercy is just trying to live an ordinary life without hurting people. She has four rules for when she can and cannot use her power. The most important being - do no harm. But when a word spoken in haste or anger can do irreparable damage it's easy to understand why she's chosen to try and isolate herself. However, she's made friends in this community and when she puts those people in danger, she sorts her mess out and ultimately has to break her rules. (Though it has to be said, she sometimes seems to have a pretty flexible approach to most of them.)
Mercy does let her emotions over-ride her judgement, which considering the power she has isn't a good thing. She initially pursues Rocko without being certain of his guilt. She makes a big assumption because of her own self-recrimination. And when she uses the press on him, she sets in motion a chain of events that ultimately put Sukey, and Mercy's other friends in even more danger. I very much liked this ripple effect. Nearly everything that happens can be traced back to that initial press on Rocko. As Mercy tries to put things right, she ends up having to use the press even more. It shows how easily she could become corrupted by her power.
There is the beginning of a romantic relationship between Mercy and Sam, but this story mainly focuses on Mercy, so if you prefer the romantic relationship to be the central thrust of the story this one may not be for you. But you'd be missing out on a great tale.
Mercy has a power that can't be topped. These are tricky heroes to write about, and initially I was a little concerned. This is why Superman has kryptonite. There has to be something for the bad guy to exploit. But I needn't have worried because Mercy has her weak points.
She knows the consequences of using the press can be catastrophic, but even knowing this, she still uses it. She tries to take care, but even when she's being cautious, the results are unpredictable, because it's impossible for her to foresee all the consequences of her actions. She's also, without realising it, come to care for her friends - always a liability in fiction. And finally she meets someone on whom the press doesn't work - Dominic.
Dominic, Dominic, Dominic. An absolutely delicious bad guy. He's not a nice man. He's very, very bad. But Toni Andrews writes him as charmingly evil. He knows (or says he knows) much more about Mercy than she knows about herself. I can't help but hope we haven't seen the last of him.
Beg for Mercy makes a refreshing change from vampires, werewolves, elves and the end of the world. Recommended.
Angel of Mercy (Book 2) - May 2008
Chills and, yes, a few laughs, too. - Rated
I love paranormals but I've gotten a little weary of the mysterious stranger who turns out to be a vampire/werewolf, although I love the chills that go along with the urban fantasy genre. So Beg for Mercy turned out to be a wonderful surprise.
Not truly a romance (although Sam can put his deck shoes under my bunk any time!), this is the first book in a series that introduces one of the most complex and compelling anti-heroines I've ever met. Mercy's encounters with the villainous Dominic raised the hairs on my arms!
The book is also full of dark humor - Andrews' voice is often sardonic - and introduces a cast of characters that I'm looking forward to meeting again. I especially loved Sukey, Mercy's irrepressible side-kick. More installments, please!
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