Almost Doesn't Count [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Electa Rome Parks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 2005

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.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Mercedes "Mer" Lexus Jackson is leaving Atlanta and traveling home to a small Georgia town to spend the summer taking care of her mother, Miss Betty. They have a tumultuous relationship because during Mer's childhood, she witnessed her mother's unscrupulous lifestyle with anger and fear. Mercedes has lived her adult life with feelings of low self-worth and behaved as if she neither needs nor deserves a man or loving relationship. When she meets the handsome, churchgoing, and hardworking Darius, he challenges her self-destructive behavior and self-deprecating attitudes. After spending every available moment with him and sharing secrets about her family, she discovers that he has not been honest with her. His revelation confirms all of her negative feelings about men and relationships. Yet, even with the hurt and disappointment, she acknowledges her destructive behavior and vows to make changes. The summer proves to be a turning point for Mercedes--she repairs her relationship with her mother and takes real inventory of her self-worth and feelings about men and relationships. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Electa Rome Parks lives with her husband, Nelson, and two children. With a B.A. in marketing, she is currently working on her next novel and fulfilling her passion as a writer. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• ISBN-10: 045121515X
• ASIN: B000EPFVX2
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #751,256 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After successfully self-publishing her debut novels, The Ties That Bind and Loose Ends, New American Library, a division of Penguin Group, bought the rights. Electa signed a three-book deal with New American Library. All three books were immediately chosen as Black Expressions Book Club main selections and embraced as Books of the Month by book clubs across the country. Dubbed a "book club favorite," avid readers have embraced Electa's true to life characters that tackle prevalent and heavy hitting issues.

Since then Electa has become a best-selling author of several mainstream and erotic novels, Almost Doesn't Count, Ladies' Night Out, These Are My Confessions (anthology), Diary of a Stalker, True Confessions and The Stalker Chronicles(dropping 2-1-12)with Penguin Group, HarperCollins and Kensington. Electa has been a frequent guest on radio shows, has been nominated for many industry awards and has been interviewed by newspapers and several national magazines.

Electa is currently following her passion and working on her next novel.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost DOES Count!, August 11, 2005

By 

Latoya Carter-Qawiyy - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Almost Doesn't Count (Mass Market Paperback)

Electa Rome Parks introduces readers to the dysfunctional life of Mercedes in her third literary offering, Almost Doesn't Count. Mercedes is independent and happily living the single life. After growing up with her promiscuous mother, she decided that she was not going to allow any man to get close to her heart so she developed a sex `em and leave `em mentality toward relationships. Childhood memories and secrets that come to light when she is forced to return home to care for her ailing mother, Miss Betty, also haunt Mercedes. Miss Betty was not an ideal mother figure and paraded her lovers both men and women around Mercedes. It is because of this Mercedes has a twisted view of relationships and the male species...until she meets Darius. Darius is everything that Mercedes has shied away from in the past. He is a good church going man that is genuinely interested in all that she has to offer, but he too has secrets that if exposed threaten to ruin any possibilities of a relationship.

Almost Doesn't Count is an excellent novel that shows how deep the wounds of a dysfunctional family can cut. The author's vivid character descriptions had me feeling as if they were personal friends and on more than one occasion, I found myself scolding or laughing at their actions. The book was definitely a page-turner and had a unique twist. This book is a must read for anyone looking for an intriguing story that has elements of love, sex, familial relationships and lots of drama.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
APOOO BookClub

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Electa just keeps on bringing it!!, August 9, 2005

By 

Lori Holman (Hamilton Twp., NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Almost Doesn't Count (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a much read! Electa has woven a story like only she can. She touched on some real issues, that some are truly afraid to venture to. Every character and their situation were so very real to me.

Mercedes (the main character, who had issues to work through), Miss Betty (the mother that we can all relate to), Redman (the maintenance man in your life) and of course Mr. Darius (Mr. Right if you'll allow him to be).

Electa pulls you in from page one, and the two explosive scenes with the women (Mercedes & her best friend) fighting back were hilarious!!

Always remember that holding on to past hurt will only hinder who you are as a person. What's done in the dark will come to light! Always tell your children what they mean to you and show it before its too late!! And finally, Almost Doesn't Count!!

Keep up the good work Electa!! - Your #1 fan forever!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Electa does it again!, August 7, 2005

By 

Sharise - See all my reviews

This review is from: Almost Doesn't Count (Mass Market Paperback)

I read Almost Doesn't Count and was very pleased with the storyline. The characters were well developed and Mercedes was off da chain!! This book is a page turner!!!