Review: Totally Folked by Penny Reid

Totally Folked by Penny Reid
Series: Good Folk: Modern Folktales #1
Published by Cipher-Naught on July 20, 2021
Pages: 416
Format: ARC
Genres: Contemporary, Women's Fiction, Romance


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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 getting laid starts to feel more like being waylaid. 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. 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.

Totally Folked is the first book in the Good Folk: Modern Folktales series, and it took me completely by surprise in the best possible way. The first book in a series usually sets the tone, and Totally Folked is far more entertaining than I expected.

This is a fully character-driven story. That’s not to say the plot is uninteresting; it’s just that all the characters are so amazing that I was more interested in their personal development and interactions than any major drama or plot twists — of which there is none, thankfully. 

Raquel Ezra is a lonely A-list Hollywood superstar facing a quarter-life crisis when she shows up in small town Green Valley. Her progression of self-discovery fascinated me. She’s a little quirky, which is right up my alley, and her kooky pep talks made me smile. And Deputy Sheriff Jackson James. Gah! I love a reformed bad boy. Not that Jackson was necessarily bad; he was just a player back in the day. Now, he’s a veritable Boy Scout—always helpful, thoughtful, and way too polite for a woman with — ahem — certain needs. He does have a naughty side. It just takes a bit of coaxing, so expect a long simmering romance.

After reading Just Folking Around, which is the prequel to Totally Folked and is also included in this book as an extended prologue, I was worried that a lack of communication between Raquel and Jackson would be a major thorn in my side. Instead, Raquel works hard to overcome her fears and say what is on her mind. While Jackson is sometimes clueless, he is always 100% genuine, honest, and selfless.

If you are a fan of the Winston Brothers series, you’ll be happy to see a few familiar faces. How could I have forgotten how much I adored Hollywood comedienne Sienna? She’s so warm and witty. We’re introduced to Jackson’s friend Charlotte who is also a joy.

This fun story was a huge mood lifter. It has me excited for what’s to come with the rest of the series.

Recommended for fans of:
Hollywood PR
Reformed bad boys
Second chance romance
Small towns

** I received an early copy to voluntarily read and review. **

 

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