Totally Folked, the all-new folking delightful and bestselling small town contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid, is available now!
One unforgettable night leads to an unlikely shared connection, and unlikely connections never go unnoticed by the good folks in Green Valley, Tennessee. . .
Jackson James follows the rules. He has to. He’s a sheriff’s deputy in a super small town with a super big personality. However, strict adherence to the law during the day has been enjoyably balanced by rakish rules at night. Jackson, typically happy to protect and serve (and serve, and serve), starts questioning the value of wayward evenings when they begin to feel more like being waylaid rather than getting laid. Could it be that Green Valley's most eligible—and notorious—bachelor longs for something (and someone) real?
Mega movie star Raquel Ezra follows only one rule: always leave them wanting more. Strict adherence to this single rule has served her well. Studio execs, reporters, audiences, fans, lovers—no one can get enough of the smart, savvy, and sexy bombshell. But when “generous offers” begin to feel more like excessive demands, years of always leaving has the elusive starlet longing for something (and perhaps someone) lasting.
When Raquel abruptly returns to the quirky Tennessee hamlet, her path crosses with the delectable deputy with whom she spent one unforgettable night. Unfortunately, scandal and intrigue soon follow. Raquel and Jackson must decide which is more important: following their rules? Or, at long last, finding something real.
TOTALLY FOLKED is a standalone, contemporary romantic comedy novel and book #1 in the Good Folk: Modern Folktales series.
***4 Stars***
I’m a full on Green Valley World/Pennyverse fan girl and get all kinds of excited any time I’m able to spend time in that world, so getting my hands on this book was a must ~ especially since the infamous Jackson James was finally going to get his long awaited HEA ~ and while I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Green Valley, it was a bit rockier than I thought it would be.
So why was it rockier? Well...I had a bit of a time with both Jackson and Raquel. This isn’t to say that I didn’t like them, or end up liking them in the end, but they were both….works in progress. Jackson, in all honesty, was a really good man. I know he didn’t come across that way when we first met him, but there was a maturity to him in this book that drew me in. He loved his job and truly wanted to protect and serve, but he had some big blindspots when it came to the people in his life and even himself. Raquel. She honestly just rubbed me the wrong way. I can say that I admired all that she had achieved when it came to her acting, but there were just too many little things that she did or said, or even thought, that had me close to throwing the kindle in the freezer. She does evolve throughout the book, and I can say that I liked her in the end, but I wasn’t in love with her.
As for their journey to their HEA. Well, considering how I feel about them separately, you can guess that I was a little wafflely when it came to them together. But what I can say is that the chemistry between them was HAWT and I actually really liked Jackson when he was with her. They have a lot of work to do to make them solid, but they do have a strong support system surrounding them, so I think they’ll make it in the end.
Outside of Jackson and Rae, I honestly loved hanging out with the Winston’s, the James’ and Charlotte ~ who I am crossing my toes gets her own HEA because she definitely deserves one. And then there are Dave and Miguel ~ who I ADORED. They definitely NEED some more love! So, while the romance side didn’t really work for me, I am totally looking forward to the next book and seeing where this series takes us!
~ Copy provided by SBPR & voluntarily reviewed ~
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“Rae. It’s late.”
“I know, but—”
“Rae,” he ground out, using my hold on his hand to bring us back to a stop. I faced him, my stomach erupting in uncertainty butterflies as I encountered the stern line of his jaw and the glittering, frustrated spark behind his eyes. “We need everyone to believe we’re just friends, right? And if we go inside the house, I don’t think I’m a good enough actor to pull that off.”
My mouth formed an O, and I released him, folding my arms over my chest while I wrestled with a strange combination of disappointment and pleasure at his words. I wanted to spend time with him, talk to him, get to know this mystery of a man so I could understand my feelings better.
But . . . I conceded his point.
We couldn’t seem to be around each other without kissing. Bringing him inside a dark, empty house in the middle of the night was something better left to my fantasies.
For now.
Oh really, inner voice? Now you’re impudent? Now?
He exhaled a short breath, it also sounded frustrated, but his tone was soft as he said, “Hey.”
I placed a tight smile on my face, it was the best I could manage. “Hey.”
Jackson seemed to be considering me, debating what to do next. He didn’t take too long. “Do you want to go for a drive?”
“Yes,” I said immediately. “Yes, I do. Let me grab a jacket.”
“Okay. I’ll wait here.” He shifted his weight to his back foot and hooked his thumbs in his jeans pockets.
I wanted to take a picture of him like this, all handsome reluctance and sexy self-control. This man, he just did something to me. I couldn’t explain it.
But maybe if we took this drive and spent some time together talking—just talking—I’d start to figure it out.
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