Totally Folked: A Small Town Romantic Comedy

Penny Reid

Jul 2021 · Good Folk Book 1 · Cipher-Naught

About this ebook

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 the first book in the Good Folk series and is a full-length, small town, contemporary romantic comedy novel.

TOTALLY FOLKED is a standalone, contemporary romantic comedy novel and book #1 in the Good Folk: Modern Folktales series.

Ratings and reviews

4 stars — I’m in a weird reading funk, so I won’t count out that that affected this review. But once I finally gathered my lady bits and just sunk into the book, I was captivated and curious. Part of that was getting to return to a place that I already love filled with people I already love. We got lots of glimpses of Winstons in this book, and they all came and went at just the right time and place so as to add to the story but not take over. I still had a harder time connecting with Rae, but MUCH better than the prequel novella. I just feel like it took me most of the book to really figure out what she was about, and once I did I enjoyed her so much more…and thus I would have preferred to know her earlier, you know? She really was the strange bird that Penny Reid had warned about, but once I got how her upbringing had affected her, I got her better. We got glimpses of this here and there, but I guess I didn’t completely grok all of her until the end. She was so desperate for love, and she deserved it…I was glad to see her developing all sorts of wonderful relationships, not just with Jackson. And then there’s Jackson. I was never a Jackson hater. I was disappointed in him, but I guess I assumed there was a lot going on with him. I think it helped that I got to see him in Zora’s book in the SPRU, and thus see a different side of him. He was so much more than I was expecting in some ways. I loved his sensitive caring soul. I ached for how the events of his life had made their lasting imprint on him. I appreciated getting to see a character who was a dick in their youth still come out all right. I think we forget that people can be jerks and still turn out okay — there are two paths, and Jackson chose the right one…or at least he kept turning until he got onto the right path. He was so freaking black and white, and that really seemed to influence so much about him. It was hard to have a character who had all these good intentions, but was being such a dummy about it by not *talking*. I got it. But it was frustrating at times. I was NOT expecting the chemistry between them to be *this* hot. Wow, when Jackson focused all that attention on Rae…*beep* me sideways it was hot. They had a lot farther to go in the other aspects of their relationship, but I adored the basics of what made up their connection — you could genuinely feel how delighted they were by one another, how easy it was, how free. I loved seeing them banter, it made me smile bigly. I think one of the things preventing me from rating higher is that both Rae and Jackson had to be beat over the heads with lessons. I got it…I got that they needed it spelled out. But it felt…I don’t know. I was missing some subtlety. And as much as I loved what we saw of Jackson, I will admit I wanted more time with him. Maybe I’m just greedy. Outside of the delightful Winstons, there were some other great secondary characters. I really enjoyed getting to see more of Jackson’s parents. And I freaking ADORED Charlotte. I was so glad to see in the sneak peek that she gets the next book. So yeah. I was worried about this book, and I shouldn’t have been. It was delightful and fun and emotional and sexy.

Note: Before reading this book, I would suggest readers get the prequel, Just Folking Around, which will help set up the book's storyline with a huge backstory. Totally Folked is my first read for the author. This author has been on my "must-read" author's list for so long now, but I never got the opportunity until now. I have to be honest to say that I am beyond excited, and although the book's blurb piqued my interest, the whole book got to me - in the most fascinating and can-not-put-the-book-down momentum as early as Chapter 1! This book starts five or so years after Jackson and Rae's first meeting at Just Folking Around. It shows how much "nothing" came about that one supposedly eventful night between Rae and Jackson, or so we thought? What happens next is a series of "lessons" that turned the quiet town of Green Valley, Tennessee, into the next TMZ hotspot! The story is told from Rae and Jackson's POV. The writing is balanced: witty, clever on one end while serious, thought-provoking on another. The author did a fantastic job of imparting emotions and giving readers insight into each dilemma faced by both characters to "make things work." The chemistry between Rae and Jackson transcends beyond physical attraction. They complement each other with Jackson's cool and calm introvert while Rae's the "sunshine and rainbows" extrovert. They have a connection that is the foundation of forever. When Rae and Jackson started comparing their past relationships, readers can expect that they are looking for something "more" at that moment in time. Word of warning: Everything about Rae and Jackson is too H-O-T, not only once but several times! I will never look at ice cream the same again! It is rare for me to get caught up in all the emotions, but this book - each banter, pun, retort, etc. was a looked-forward event. I did not sleep a wink until I finished the book! (Yes, I currently sport "eye-bugs" and am proud of it!) I would mention that I found it very frustrating is that Rae's upbringing - how lost she is in her personal life. I didn't find it amusing and was surprised that Rae would listen to a particular family member who was single and married only to her profession. This particular person chose work over relationships, so why did Rae take everything this person said so heavily that it ruled her subconsciousness. I wanted to shake Rae vigorously and tell her that she needs to find another role model. Yes, I agree that this family member wanted to protect her, but telling her to stay away from relationships and lump relationships as "bad" is not the way to do it. Some people may be okay with this philosophy. Still, Rae's experience with Green Valley and her current Hollywood situation - calls for a different type of support versus assistants, bodyguards, employees, and publicists. Totally Folked is a highly recommended and "finish immediately" kind of book. It is a brilliant start to the series! I love the intimacy that both main characters build on from years of "lessons." Rae and Jackson's connection is what historical love stories are made of and, in this case, told from a current and relevant perspective - learning from mishaps and mistakes. I appreciate the author juxtaposing two different people with two very different backgrounds yet come together and complete each other's missing parts. Although there are many characters whose stories have already happened (Winston Brothers series), this book is an excellent introduction to the author's works - smart romances!

This was such a sweet, romantic love story. Jackson and Rae met years before when she flew into town for a wedding, and they spent an incredible evening together, where each had intense feelings for the other, but the next day they went back to life as they knew it. Years later, Rae is in upheaval feeling that her life as an actress is full of too much fake and that she is a mess, and has flown to Green Valley, Tennessee to meet up with her friend Sienna, and try and gain some clarity. She immediately runs into Jackson and their chemistry is still incredibly hot and intense. Their story made for such a fabulous read. Penny Reid writes such full and complex characters and she doesn't disappoint here at all. Rae and Jackson are both struggling with insecurities that impact how they react and respond to each other as well as lead to some miscommunications. Reading about how they move forward and grow as they learn to be open and vulnerable with each other made for some angsty reading. Green Valley is such a fantastic small town full of quirky, but fun characters and it was so much fun to revisit some and get to know some new ones. I have read one of the Winston Brothers books, but have not read any of the others in the series, yet this is most definitely a standalone and I had no trouble at all following along. I received an Advance Reader Copy and have voluntarily left an honest review.

About the author

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Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

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