Almost Doesn't Count

Book Description

The author of Loose Ends returns with a novel of a woman who can almost convince herself that love doesn't matter.

Mercedes needs men for one thing only-and it has nothing to do with her heart. Growing up with her mother has made her sure of that. Now Mercedes has to travel home to South Georgia, where her mama, Miss Betty, is recovering from surgery. Back to the rickety old house that holds a lot of memories for her. If she could only learn to deal with the bad ones.

Because a man has come into her life, a fine, bald-headed, church-going black man-the kind of man Mercedes never dared believe in. And she's going to have to get herself together to deal with what Darius is doing to her life-and with what he's hiding about his own.

Customer Reviews:

Do you know your worth???.......2007-09-12

This is another winner from Electa Rome Parks. This novel introduces us to Mercedes, a young woman born and raised in the projects who made it out and went on to finish college and land a job at the bank with a prestigious title. She was beautiful, sexy, and seemed to have everything together.....but the one thing that people couldn't see was the dirty secret from her past. This dirty secret made her not value herself and she vowed never to let a man make a fool of her. The way she distanced herself from love was by using the men before they used her. She sexed them and left them and her life was perfect until she met Darius. Darius was handsome and showed Mercedes what love was....she thought she had found the one until she found out a secret from his past. Will Mercedes be able to move forward from the past and give love a chance??? Will she ever truly know what her worth is?? Will Darius be able move forward from his secret and make it work with Mercedes?? You have to cop this book to find out!!! If you are looking for a upbeat romance with some HOT AND STEAMY sex that will knock your sock off, look no further than this book!!!

Impressive.......2007-01-29

I received this book as a Christmas present and was very pleasantly surprised. As an author myself I try hard not to "put myself in the writer's shoes" and diagnose the story and how I might have written it; rather, I read for enjoyment first, then read it a second time for content. This work is full of some of the more interesting plot lines I have read in African American fiction and I am proud of the writer for maintaining and speaking to the dignity of the characters in the story.

Excellent job Ms. Parks!

Decent Read.......2007-01-10

This story was about letting go of childhood secrets and really accepting who you are, and how you got there. Mercedes and her mother have always had a rocky relationship, but the summer that she spends with her mother proves worthwhile because both of them really come to grips with their past. Mercedes also finds a man (in a grocery store of all places) and develops a crazy summer fling that turns into more than she bargains for.

Unrealism.......2006-10-15

I was shaking my head early on due to a contradicting chain thrown at the reader from the start. One moment, Mercedes' bra size was 38C. A few chapters later she wore a 36C. First she was an Assistant Vice President of Customer Service at the bank. Later, she's a Customer Service Representative III? The author definitely got lost in her own details of the story.

I often pray for a forgiving heart, but the rate and extent of forgiveness in the book was highly unlikely in the real world. I couldn't possibly picture Shaneeka's boyfriend Jamal forgiving her for coldly trashing his place and begging for another chance to be with her. The fact that he had the money to repair the damage seemed irrelevant. Mercedes accepted Darius' apology for the way he physically and verbally abused her too easily and to also forgive him for not telling her about his child when she had been so open and upfront with him about her past all along and against her better judgment. It hardly made sense. And no woman will come to your job with baby in tow offering her blessings for a happy life with the father of her child...a man she's still deeply in love with and hoping to reclaim as her own. It just wouldn't happen. The contrary would seem more fitting.

This book was a good attempt at proving that true love is out there for everyone; even if you try to deny yourself, but the lesson is hardly learned when it's out of touch with what's real.

Good book.......2006-08-09

This book keep me wanting more. I finished it in two days. The main character was someone I could really relate to, a woman attempting to love and find herself. I would recommend.

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Almost Doesn't Count

Manufacturer: New American Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0739455648

Almost Doesn't Count: Mark Wills (Original Sheet Music Edition)

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Almost Doesn't Count: Mark Wills (Original Sheet Music Edition)
Guy Roche & Shelly Peiken
Manufacturer: Warner Bros. Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Sheet music
ASIN: B000TW9MFI

Customer Reviews:

I loved this book.......2006-01-25

Nobody beats Diana Palmers when it comes to finding love. I was stuck on the book from the first and could not put it down till I was though.

I highly recommend this book.

Got a stiff drink ?.......2005-05-01

Well you'll wish you had one handy while reading this book. Diana Palmer is a decent writer despite the fact that all her heroes and heroines are basically the same. The book started off good but slowly went downhill. The heroine and hero both have troubled pasts that separately would be terribly tragic but together, arghh. It's enough to drive you crazy. Not since Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley have two people been so wrong for each other. The male lead is a times viciously cruel(though not physically) and then seems to be a freakin saint. The heroine ranges from proud and spirited to unbelievably meek and mild. This book was so horrible and cliched and the charaters should be screened for schizophrenia. Don't let this review discourage you from her other books, just this one.

Matt Caldwell: Texas Tycoon.......2005-02-28

Back cover reads:
A LONG, TALL TEXAN FINALLY MEETS HIS MATCH...?
He was rich, powerful and every woman's fantasy. Although many had tried to lasso Jacobsville's sought-after bachelor, none had managed to catch Matt Caldwell's eye. However, mysterious Leslie Murry was about to change all that. For the cynical Texas tycoon's spirited new employee roused his temper like no one ever had before. And despite his fierce denials, her soft vulnerability also brought out his every protective instinct. After sampling her soul-searching kisses, Matt was sorely tempted to possess the enticing innocent who clearly ached for a man's tender touch. Still, this Long, Tall Texan wasn't about to let down his guard until he sweet-talked Leslie into surrendering her heart!

Thumbs Down.......2004-09-07

Matt Caldwell cruelly harasses his female employee (both verbally and sexually) to the extent that if in the real world, he would be experiencing serious difficulties with the legal system. She, following the typical Palmer formula, falls in love with him. He discovers the truth about her, instantly turns into a charming and caring man, and they live happily ever after. Give me a break. A real woman would find a good attorney and file charges against this abuser. Not one of Ms. Palmer's finer moments in literary history.

Matt.......2003-05-24

A good book. It is a lot like the other books she writes. It starts out with Matt being a selfish, insensitive and rude man but by the end of the book you love him. I enjoyed it.

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Matt Caldwell Texas Tycoon
Diana Palmer
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OWKZOK

Matt Caldwell : Texas Tycoon (Long, Tall Texans) (Silhouette Special Edition #1297)

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Matt Caldwell : Texas Tycoon (Long, Tall Texans) (Silhouette Special Edition #1297)
Diana Palmer
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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$The Hart Brothers Rey & Leo: A Man Of Means\Lionhearted$ The Hart Brothers Rey & Leo: A Man Of Means\Lionhearted

ASIN: B000NBQR0I

Book Description

The day after Luke Skywalker's climactic battle with Emperor Palpatine and the sacrifice of his father, Darth Vader, who died saving Luke's life, Luke helps
recover an Imperial drone ship bearing a startling message intended for the Emperor. It is a distress signal from the far-off Imperial outpost of Bakura which is under attack by an alien invasion force, the Ssi-ruuk. Leia sees a rescue mission as an opportunity to achieve a diplomatic victory for the Rebel
Alliance, even if it means fighting alongside former Imperials. But Luke receives a vision from Obi-Wan Kenobi revealing that the stakes are even higher: the invasion at Bakura threatens everything the Rebels have won at such great cost.

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

The Truce at Bakura is one of the very early Star Wars novels. Just for
a change, here we have evil lizard men, who were of course on the side
of The Empire. What else would evil lizard men do?

Bakura is a planet in the way of the scaly aliens and their plans for a good healthy game of conquer lots of galaxy.

Luke and Leia must therefore go for a trip, and Luke gets a bit of advice from the dead Obi-Wan before setting off.

Disappointing follow-up to Return of the Jedi.......2007-05-22

The Truce at Bakura was ok, but not that epic for the story that immmediately follows the climactic conclusion of the Star Wars movie saga. It makes almost no attempt to continue the thematic elements of Star Wars Episode VI, so it I don't feel The Truce at Bakura is even worthy of being a epilogue. The Force ghost of Anakin appears to Leia to ask for forgiveness for all his evil deeds as Darth Vader, but that's about it. And the "entechment" of human souls into machines seemed out of place for Star Wars.

Instead of this book, I highly recommend the following 5-star novels that are extremely relevant to the film series:

Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul)
Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)

Star Wars: The Truce at Bakura.......2007-05-01

Understandably obscure by virtue of its self-contained storyline, Kathy Tyers' little gem is nevertheless worth a read. It's limited in scope (perhaps by design, given that the story was billed as an adventure only days after the destruction of the second Death Star), but engaging. Most importantly, it captures the rabble-rousing energy of the Original Trilogy. The characters' emotions are left as raw, dangling threads - and quite wisely, too: they've just survived their trial by fire, so there's really no point in granting them a neatly packaged resolution so abruptly. Therein lies Ms. Tyers' wisdom: she understands that human spirits take time to heal and evolve. The story carries a significant sense of aftermath, with everyone shuffling around aimlessly in the wake of adrenaline: techs refuel and repaint starships, fighter jockeys wonder why in stars they were dancing with Ewoks twenty-four hours ago... The characters all bear a post-battle, achy-joints realism. They yell at each other; they break down and aren't ready to allow their own healing. Even the villains ring unpretentiously true. I loathe the trend that oversimplifies "good guys on the wrong side"; it's too basic a portrayal of the vagaries of war. Tyers, on the other hand, lends rational motivation to the longtime Imperials - nor do they immediately see the light and convert to the Alliance's cause. The alien Ssi-Ruuvi, while barely explored except from the perspective of Dev Sibwarra, are chillingly monomaniacal. The strained nature of the titular truce is constantly palpable, so that one can easily sympathize with the Rebel soldiers who face chilly stares from every street corner. Bakura is not the most exotic world ever depicted in Star Wars, but it is among the most complete, with local institutions and locations and resources and industries and customs. There's the Herbertian wisdom of planetology: just because a world is famous for one product doesn't mean that its local character is limited solely to that item. Bakura, announced in the early chapters as a world of advanced repulsor technology, is also a world of vast geological formations, stuffy high society, valuable minerals, marginalized indigenes, and ingrained xenophobia. The only downside of such all-encompassing sensitivity is that certain elements are relegated to the background: the repulsor coils, allegedly the Ssi-Ruuvi's motivation for invasion, are hardly mentioned, and the native Kurtzen are similarly forgotten, though their brief appearance as colonialized servants does leave an impression. Tyers' prose is transparent, but appropriately restrained - poetic in its most sweeping moments, but always controlled. Occasionally, the sentences can become tiresome or drab; in addition, transference between points of view can be choppily abrupt. Yet the author delineates her imagery and her characters' internal struggles by subtle placement of particulars rather than overwhelming data influx; this constant stream of little details - the way crystal glasses glint with the light of a chandelier, the glow of a lightsaber on a dark wall - solders the whole imaginary world together and grants it great depth. Religious philosophy is touched upon - not overwhelmingly or blatantly, but inserted through the characters' experiences. Beyond my admiration for Ms. Tyers' theology, her psychological insinuation of religion is amazingly human: the characters do not pontificate and are not unrealistically aware of their own mental tendencies, but frequently fool themselves subconsciously. When, in the course of time, their souls are laid bare in moments of epiphany, one can glimpse the elaborate emotional setup for those realizations. Like any Kathy Tyers book, The Truce at Bakura runs a little long and dry towards its tail end (I could have survived without some of the lengthier escape scenes, and there's little need to repeat multiple, inconclusive encounters in a single room), but it still maintains a good dose of color. Eventually, in a sustained battle which transmits the despair of an isolated society under siege but looses some of its impact by virtue of delay (setup takes precedence over execution in any Kathy Tyers work), the heroes oust their adversaries, only to realize that their galactic work in barely in its infancy. It's an appropriate wrap-up for a story which was never intended to go anywhere. In the end, The Truce at Bakura is an intermezzo to the larger aspects of Star Wars - and that quality is precisely its defining brilliance.

An Intense Action Packed Star Wars Adventure.......2007-04-20

This book has gotten mixed reviews but I thought it was great. I was perhaps a little disappointed with certain aspects of the ending, but I recommend it highly. This occurs literally hours after Return of the Jedi while the Alliance is still celebrating and recovering on Endor. The Rebel Alliance intercepts a desperate message sent from the Humans on Bakura to the Emperor requesting immediate backup for an impending crisis. The overwhelming majority of the Empire has not yet received the news about the death of their monarch and his enforcer Darth Vader. In order to defeat the mysterious, ruthless, and imperialistic forces of the Ssi-rruvi aliens and their force empowered human ali (Dev Sibwarra), the Empire and Alliance will have to coexist. These aliens imprison humans and then entench them (you'll find out what that means), they are determined to take over the galaxy. Kathy Tyers's novel is very well written, and she is a master of the Star Wars vernacular. There are mixed reviews but this book is one Star Wars fans should not pass up.

Relics of the Empire.......2007-04-08

Kathy Tyers attempts to tell the story of what happened after the Empire's defeat in "The Truce at Bakura". Regrettably, I do not feel that Tyers captured the essence of the characters in this book. For example, Han Solo seems more annoying than witty. To make matters worse, the book moves slowly and focuses on characters that the reader probably cares little about knowing.

While the defeat of the Empire does not immediately reach the outer rim, the work of the Empire continues. The people of Bakura, under Empire rule, need help with the threat of an alien invasion. The "entechment" procedure, which seems to be borrowed from another science fiction series, shows the aliens aiming to convert human life power into machine power. When the alliance intercepts the message that was intended for the Emperor, the Force tells Luke to aid the people of Bakura. This puts the alliance in the unlikely situation of working with storm troopers. When the aliens are defeated, the relics of the Empire have other ideas though. Much of the story is very predictable. Luke finds the Force strong in a lot of people as he begins looking for apprentices. This seems to currupt the exclusivity of the Force demonstrated in the original series.

There are far better books in the Star Wars series than this one. While I was disappointed, this book did have some traits which made it worth reading. The after-effects of Return of the Jedi are explored in this book which draws some interest. Yet reader may wonder, is this the best follow-up to "Return of the Jedi" that they could make? I don't think it is.

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Star Wars, The Truce At Bakura
Kathy Tyers
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B000HFGZOI

Truce at Bakura Sourcebook (Star Wars RPG)

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Truce at Bakura Sourcebook (Star Wars RPG)
Eric S. Trautmann , and Kathy Tyers
Manufacturer: West End Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0874312566

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On Grandaddy's Farm: Truce @ Bakura
Allen Thomas
Manufacturer: Random House Value Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0517154943

Star Wars - The Truce at Bakura (Star Wars)

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Star Wars - The Truce at Bakura (Star Wars)
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Manufacturer: Bantam Books
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Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Star Wars: The Truce at Bakura
Kathy Tyers
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NXWC46

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Star Wars, The Truce at Bakura
Kath Tyers
Manufacturer: New York: Bantam Books, 1994
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NVAFWY

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Star Wars: The Truce at Bakura
Kathy Tyers
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000LNVPK0

Book Description

Bringing wisdom to a fresh and compelling topic, Mark Epstein shows how desire can be a teacher in its own right, helping us to reconcile our conflicting thoughts about it from both a Buddhist and a psychological point of view.

It is common in both Buddhism and Freudian psychoanalysis to treat desire as the root of all suffering and problems, but psychiatrist Mark Epstein believes this to be a grave misunderstanding. In his defense of desire, he makes clear that it is the key to deepening intimacy with ourselves, one another, and our world. An enlightening tapestry of psychotherapeutic practice, contemporary case studies, Buddhist insight, and narratives as diverse as the Ramayana and Sufi parables, Open to Desire brings a refreshing new perspective to humanity's most paradoxical emotion.

Proposing that spiritual attainment does not have to be detached from intimacy or eroticism, Open to Desire begins with an exploration of the dissatisfaction that causes us to both cling to, and fear, desire. Offering a new path for traversing this ambivalence, Dr. Epstein shows us how we can overcome these obstacles, not by indulgence or suppression, but by learning a new way to be with desire. Full of practical advice, this is a lasting guide for finding peace both in ourselves and in our most highly charged interactions.

BACKCOVER: Advance Praise for OPEN TO DESIRE

"Mark Epstein's Open to Desire is a masterpiece in his unique genre of combined Buddhist, psychological, and poetical insight. It teaches us how not just to fear and repress, but to re-channel and harness the most powerful energies of life toward freedom and bliss. I heartily recommend this work."--Robert Thurman, Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Buddhist studies, Columbia University; President, Tibet House, US; author of Infinite Life

“Open to Desire shines a bright beam of wisdom into an ever-confusing, ever- seductive realm. Mark Epstein, using his rare gifts of insight, brilliantly shows us a way through the confusion of craving to the treasures of intimacy and clarity hidden within our yearnings. The Buddha and Freud meet the Kama Sutra in this essential guidebook for anyone with a healthy lust for life."-- Daniel Goleman, author, Destructive Emotions: A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama

“Mark Epstein writes with the keen insight of a skilled psychotherapist, the compassion of a long-term meditator, and the gift of a compelling storyteller. He courageously explores the true nature and potential of desire, which we depend on for our very connection to life. This book is an outstanding new view of an emotion at the core of our being..”--Sharon Salzberg, author of Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience

“At last a book that doesn't shy away from the troubled topic of desire. Mark Epstein has written a beautifully crafted, intimate account of the struggle to come to terms with the contradictory yearnings within us. An illuminating, original and provocative work.” -- Stephen Batchelor, author of Living with the Devil

"A beautiful book. Heals the split between psychotherapy and spirituality by showing positive aspects of desire common to both. Mark Epstein's portrayals of the goodness of desire and its gaps move us in ways that heal and enlighten, always sensitive to who we are and who we can be."--Michael Eigen, author of The Sensitive Self and Emotional Storm

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!.......2007-02-08

My husband, Taylor, recommended this to me. I'm normally not a huge fan of Eastern philosophy; there's nothing wrong with it, but I suppose at this point I'm still pretty Western in my worldview. However, he gave it rave reviews, so I decided to see what all the fuss was about.

One of the tenets of Buddhism is overcoming of desire. This is often translated into pure asceticism, particularly in the right hand path of Tantra. The left hand path, however, takes a different approach, one that Epstein combines with 30 years as a psychotherapist.

He makes a great distinction between desire, and clinging, which is what causes desire to overpower us. We objectify and idealize that which we desire, and are disappointed when our desires are not met exactly as we expect. Epstein shows how to move beyond that clinging and to let go of expectations.

This is a remarkable look at desire, and how to work with it within the left hand philosophy of Tantra (which, by the way, is not the same as Left Hand Path as defined by modern paganism--yet another casualty of neopagan appropriation of other religions). The psychotherapeutic influece is a nice touch, and the author gives anecdotes which support his ideas quite nicely. Anyone with good observational skills should be able to use this material without needing a spoon-fed how-to.

All in all, excellent!

Kill attachment and not desire.......2007-01-31

Epstein's latest book argues that, according to both Buddha and Freud, it is not desire that we need to abandon, rather it is attachment that needs to be resolved in our daily lives. He presents this argument in an unabashed and intimate manner, which sets a very different tone from the clinical though spiritual style of his previous books.

Many buddhists believe that desire is an enemy of spiritual growth but Epstein says that not only should we not be afraid of desire, it is actually a good thing and is a possible path toward enlightenment. He says that intimacy is not a barrier to spiritual growth and that desire can be used to experience some of the lessons that Buddhism teaches about bliss and emptiness. To support his case, Epstein uses an impressive range of sources, ranging from the Ramayana to case studies of patients. At times the breadth of the sources, such as clinical case histories juxtaposed with tanta, detract from the clarity of his arguments.

In the buddhist community saying that desire is not the enemy is like wearing a Clinton t-shirt to a republican convention. Well not exactly, but you get the idea. So he is taking a bit of a risk here which adds, dare I say it, passion to his arguments, making this book a more interesting read than typical pedagogical books in the area. Epstein reverts to his usual style at the end of the book by talking about how one can work with desire in a positive way. He suggests we do this by just "being" with the desire and not clinging to it or rejecting it. Overall an excellent book on buddhism and psychology (mainly Freud) and how these two disciplines deal with desire (but be warned it is quite a bit different from my previous books both in style as well as content, if that is what you are looking for)

Mindfully acknowledge and enjoy your desire .......2007-01-13

I was really impressed by this book. Epstein explains the possibility of feeling desire but not succumbing to cravings. He draws on Buddhist principles to explain the difference between desire and craving. Desire is acknowledgement of something you want, without clinging, while craving involves seeking satisfaction (which is rarely, if ever achieved).

I found the various examples he used to be instructive in learning how desire can become an obsession, and ways for being mindfully aware of desire and still enjoying it in your everyday life. The lession here isn't that you need to get rid of desire, but rather acknowledge it in such a way that understand its effects on you.

I highly recommend the book. It will help you see how you treat others and yourself and recognize the impact desire has on you.

Thank you Dr. Epstein.......2006-08-08

I recommend this book to anyone who has ever desired for anything that he or she can never achieve. Though I found this book in Religion/Buddhist section of the bookstore, I will encourage non-Buddhist to read this book as well.

This book brought enormous amount of peace to me during difficult times.

I am a neo-Buddhist and for the past two years, I had been working on the "cessation of attachment" to objects. I felt that I was almost there.

Then I met a remarkable woman who simply swept me off my feet with her beauty and intelligence. As it happens in life, I will never be able to "have" her. All my self-training on "cessation of attachment" were forgotten. I was missing her so badly that one evening I developed symptoms of a heart attack and had to be admitted in the hospital.

It was at the time of despair and heartache when I found this book. This book has afforded my the best psychotherapy I could ever imagine. This book has taught me to separate my desire from craving. I have learned to preserve and not feel guilty for my desire and fight, to some extent, defeat the craving I had for my friend. I have learned to acknowledge and respect my friend as "whole person" and not only the perspective of her that I see.

I recommend this book to every man and woman of this earth.

Open To Desire: Embracing a Lust for Life.......2005-08-04

Excellent book on Buddhism and desire from Mark Epstein. Epstein illuminates what seems to me a broader, more cogent, and more useful interpretation of the Buddhist position on desire.

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