Customer Reviews

Anything Goes

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jessica Tilles' debut novel "Anything Goes" will have you swept into a tangled web of drama and intrigue. Raven Ward, the main character, will take you through the full gamut of emotions when you journey into her world. Whether you love her or hate her she will leave you breathless. It is a brilliantly penned piece of ethnic entertainment that will have you craving for more.
Kaisha Moss, Co-Founder
Jackson Mississippi Reader's Club

"Anything definitely Goes in this Steamy novel!
Reviewer: Linda Johnson from Jackson, Mississippi
This novel was definitely a page turner. The character Raven was a sister to be reckoned with to say the least. There were so many twist and turns in this novel you couldn't start it and put it down, that was not an option. I applaud the author's boldness, and her ability to cut to the chase in this novel. Jessica's novel was featured at our book clubs kick off book discussion, each club member embraces Jessica Tilles as an author that will definitely give us a lot to discuss. We impatiently await her next novel! The 'Jackson Mississippi Readers Club'(JMRC), would like to wish the author success in her writing endeavors, and look forward to a book tour in our state.
Founder Of 'The Jackson Mississippi Readers Club'

Raven and Morgan are about as tight as two sisters can be-and as different. Morgan is the older sister-responsible, happily married, hard-working, trying hard to keep her little family together. Raven is irresponsible, irreverent, over-sexed and totally immoral-a young woman without much of a conscience. She is also tough as nails. Man, you don't want to get on the bad side of Raven Ward.

The plot of the book is simple. Raven engages in a series of erotic adventures, has her feelings hurt by some sleazy men, is caught up in plotting revenge, hurts a lot of people, and plunges headlong toward disaster. She has some feeble impulses toward living a decent life with a decent man, but-well-you'll just have to read it. There are a number of supporting characters-all interesting, well-drawn, and over-sexed.

WARNING-this book is not for everyone. If you are at all squeamish about explicit language or immoral behavior, don't touch it. I learned more about female anatomy from this book than I ever wanted to know. The book also needs a bit of editing-for things like misspelled words, missing words, and incomplete sentences. Having said that, author Jessica Tilles writes with verve and energy. She sweeps the reader along from one over-the-top scene to the next. By the time you finish you may be short of breath. The book is definitely a page-turner. Author Tilles has a way with words and a talent for quickly developing scenes and characters. We will be hearing more from her. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

In her debut novel, Anything Goes, Jessica Tilles offers a novel highlighting seven characters with the common denominator being sex. Remember Linda Lovelace? Looking for Mr. Goodbar? Now let us fast forward to 2002 and add a little ghetto fabulous flair to both. Raven Ward, twenty-something sassy and always horny will stop at nothing to get her boots waxed. Her greatest accomplishment in life is to seek revenge on those who have wronged her, by any means necessary. Her morals are straight out of the "me generation." The reason given for Raven's irresponsible behavior however is not a plausible one. It feels like foreplay without the actual act.

The flow of this book sometimes seem uneven from paragraph to paragraph. On several occasions characters' voices changed so quickly I had to re-read the paragraph. This book should be applauded for the racey language used in the detail of events expressed and knowledge of sexual acts. The omission of the storyline and character history is an oversight which caused this reader to give a mediocre rating of a 2.5 on the APOOO scale. I enjoy reading books that show the antics of characters but in order for me to enjoy them, I need background history to feel a connection with the characters.

The premise of the book was a good one and I look forward to her second novel tentatively titled In My Sister's Corner. If you enjoy reading about the sexual acts of one woman and her profound desire to self-destruct this is the book for you.

Missy
APOOO BookClub

In Jessica Tilles' debut novel, Anything Goes, we are introduced to the sexy vixen, Raven Ward. Raven knows what she wants and how she wants it. Just don't ever cross her or you will see the full wrath of a woman scorned.

Raven has been sexing Ramone for the past three years. She has had her suspicions for why he leaves her place at 2 in the morning, but they don't have a commitment to each other. Still in the back of her mind she wouldn't mind if there was more. Just as long as he's not lying to her. One crazy afternoon introduces her to Charles Walker, Chas, a good friend of Ramone's. Chas turns out to be someone that Raven could really see herself falling for, and does. Chas proves to her that he will be there with her through it all, even murder.

Morgan Carrington, is Raven's sister. She is Raven's world and will protect her at all cost. Enter Arthur, Morgan's husband, who knows that Raven gets a little crazy when it comes to her sister, but he has found his self in a situation that he sees no way out. So, he turns to Raven for some sisterly help.

Anything Goes, takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. There's sex, love, revenge, and insanity. The beginning was a little rough with the language, but eventually died down into a great story. Then Jessica does a U-turn that has you re-reading the passage. From there on, you are taken on a journey. This is a very fast paced page turner. I await to see Jessica grow as a writer, and the sequel.

Jacki

R.E.A.L. Reviewers

That's what I did to get the plot of Ms. Tilles story. Oh sure, I could have just read it for a good time, but I knew there was something going on here with this MS. RAVEN. And after I started the book I knew I'd have to read fast to find out what. I'd been hearing alot about this book in different groups that I'm a part of and so finally I braved a peek and THERE IT WAS...a strong storyline. I was totally engrossed after just the first chapter.
Raven's mind set was not one that most of us would call normal...or reasonable but for fiction, which takes a real situation and makes it bigger or more fantastic or unbelievable than it would be...Raven's mind set was right on.
I don't think Ms. Tilles was planning on writing a book that would go down in history as a literary classic. But I do think Ms. Tilles wrote herself a book that could be read all the way through and appreciated within the genre for which it was intended. I think Ms. Tilles took serious subjects----betrayal, lust, unbridled sexual appetite, vengence, adultry, personal orientation----all that, and put it in a fashion to where she could make a point for those who were looking for one, yet, have fun with those who were not! And for those who missed both boats...ah well, another book that was just NOT FOR YOU.
The only thing missing was Ms. Tilles disclaimer: REAL PEOPLE, don't try any of this stuff at home...in the office...in the tub...in your car...on your head...etc...etc...
Looking forward to your next venture Ms. Tilles...and you're off to a strong start with that one as well!

Jessica Tilles' debut novel "Anything Goes" will have you swept into a tangled web of drama and intrigue. Raven Ward, the main character, will take you through the full gamut of emotions when you journey into her world. Whether you love her or hate her she will leave you in literary awe. It is a brilliantly penned piece of ethnic entertainment that will have you craving for more.

Raven was a woman scorned by Jay and she wouldn't have let herself go to the level she went to if only he had married her and not mislead her. She did what she had to do in order to get what she wanted..too bad others got in her way and had to tail along for the ride. Jessica did a wonderful job writing about a woman we can all relate to in some form, just not as bold. This was the first novel that kicked off our club and it was a good one. Our book club luvs U Jess. Thanks

The Jackson Mississippi Readers' Book Club featured this book during one of our meetings. This book is very well-written with a suspense out of this world. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am anxious to view her next works. Keep up the good work Jessica.

Jessica Tilles has broken the mold on compelling novels of love, sex, and murder.This book captures the reader from its very begining and holds you from chapter to chapter until you are released at its ending having satisfied what ever you hungered for. The characters are so realistic and unfettered that one has the feeling of interacting with them in a real sense. Jessica creates people you feel that you know, doing things you might wish to do yourself. I found the book a real tutor on sexual involvement and will re-read to be sure I got it right. Admittedly, I fell in love with the one of the main characters, Raven Ward, because her mischiviousness, and saucy behavior appealed to my own saucy instincts. I could not put this book down until the last page and Jessica's surprising ending. This is truly a must read novel.