One unforgettable night leads to an unlikely shared connection, and unlikely connections never go unnoticed by the good folks in Green Valley, Tennessee. . .
Totally Folked an all-new small town romantic comedy filled with humor and heart from New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid is available now!
OUR REVIEW:
I'm sure at some point in previous books I strongly disliked Jackson James but as the Winston brothers' stories continued, I definitely got the feeling that there was more to this Deputy Sheriff than what I knew, so when I saw that Totally Folked was going to be featuring him, I knew, just knew!, that Penny Reid was going to have me fall in love with him. Spoiler Alert: I did.
Totally Folked follows the love story of two complicated people: Jackson James, Deputy Sheriff extraordinaire, and Raquel Ezra, superstar actress and their sometimes frustrating and ultimately rewarding quest for something real. Ever heard of that saying "still waters run deep"? Well, I think that fits Jackson quite well--he's always so outwardly calm, self-possessed, and never out of control. It seems as though he has an almost perfect response to everything and confidence for days but dude has some things he's working through, once you get a peek into that beautiful brain of his. It's through these inner dialogues that we see how deeply some things cut. He hangs on to these as constant reminders to do better, be better, do more, be more and sometimes I was just exhausted for him. I can't imagine trying to be that good all the time. But he was. He was so good. Thoughtful. Reflective. I don't know how anyone couldn't just adore this character. Sure he was flawed--but not in ways that were evil or intentionally hurtful--but it was those flaws that made him human and made you want to seem him succeed, even when he was stubborn and you just wanted him to do or ask for the things he wanted.
Raquel, superstar actress supreme, was equally delightful. She was ...well, what's the opposite saying from "still waters run deep", is there one? From page one, she grabbed my attention with her hilarious running commentary, her outward appearance of confidence and inward uncertainty, and her ability to take risks and follow her heart. I so very much enjoyed her character; she was so easy to love. Similarly to Jackson, the world had a perception of who she was: respected actress, sex symbol, and on top of the world, yet involved with a twat waffle and sure, many of those things were true but those were just these surface level things; she's so much more as her visit to Green Valley revealed to us all. The novella prequel shows glimpses of how much more she is (if you haven't read it, read it!) and the novel digs in deeper to show us more about her insecurities and her strength. I loved how the longer she was in Green Valley, the more she clearly she could see herself and her choices. I loved how she firmly took control of things, even when her inner monologue expressed fear or doubt, and she refused to be pushed around. Speaking of inner monologue, OMG hers was hilarious; I feel like I laughed on almost every page. I really loved her journey for her. She was already a strong person to begin with but to see her evolution in recognizing what she could do and ask for and expect was glorious.
So naturally, when you put these two amazing characters together, it all works out beautifully, the end. Right? HAHAHAHA. Nope. Lots of fun but lots of stubbornness and frustration for the characters (and us), which made reading to the end so enjoyable. I had a really hard time putting this book down for even a few minutes because I needed to see what ridiculous thing would be said or what frustrating turn they'd take next. I needed to see what would happen the next time their sparks collided. I needed to know how they'd resolve things they'd built up in their heads, often making problems for themselves. Needless to say, I was pleased with the outcome, though admittedly sad to reach the end. I want more of these two and I can only hope that the next book in this series gives me more glimpses of these two.
Speaking of glimpses of favorite characters, I was delighted to see more of Cletus, Sienna and Jet(hro), and to get to know Charlotte. Their scheming and mischievousness added more hilarity and giggles. Honestly, every time Cletus shows up, I get ridiculously excited. I love him so much. Anyway, I'm looking forward to Charlotte's book which is coming up next and I am thrilled; the first look guarantees I will be all in for her adventure. In the meantime, I look forward to all of the great things Penny Reid has coming for us and even though it's hard to wait, I know that the wait will be worth it.
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.
Fall in love today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mlffDE
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Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/36KBgo6
Barnes and Noble Paperback: Coming Soon
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Meet Penny Reid
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.
Connect with Penny
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennyReidWriter/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lakzsD
Twitter: @ReidRomance
Mailing List: http://pennyreid.ninja/newsletter/
Website: www.pennyreid.ninja
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