Thursday, December 22

Book Review: Totally Folked by Penny Reid


Author: Penny Reid
Title: Totally Folked
Series: Good Folk Modern Folktales #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: ebook
Pages: 444
Published: July 20, 2021
Where I Got It: Amazon

Summary: 
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.





Review:
I've read a couple by this author and I saw this one come out. Looks like it is a spin-off from the Winston Brother series. I've read 2 or 3 from that series and I like it so far so why not try this one? 

Here we follow Raquel Ezra and Jackson James. Raquel is a movie star and she has one rule....always leave them wanting more. No one can get enough of this smart, savvy, and sexy bombshell. However, she is starting to burn out from the excessive demands. She is tired of always leaving and not having a relationship last. That includes Jackson James. He was a deputy from a small town where she spent one unforgettable night. She decides to return to that small and quirky town. However, scandal and intrigue will soon follow too. 

This seems to do okay as a standalone. There are a few references to the other series and a few characters show up. I think I did okay with only reading 2 or 3 of the original series. I'm sure there are characters or references I would've cared more about if I had finished the other series first. Oh well ;) 

Jackson was a hunk and nice. Raquel? Mmmmm...there is more to her pretty face but she was a rough character to really connect to. Don't get me wrong...I did like her, but she is a tough nut to crack. 

I did have a hard time really seeing the attraction and chemistry at first. It took a while for me to want to root for them. I personally think they didn't fit well. Closer to the end something in my head and heart did click for them and I could see it, but it took a LONG time for me. 

Minus that issue with the romance element...I enjoyed the story. I liked this as a people story and the intrigue was very intriguing. I had to know what was going to happen next/how everything was going to be fixed. 

All-in-all, I enjoyed the story even though I had some big issues with the romance piece. I do want to head back to the original series and finish that up before I continue with this one. So many books....so little time! I'll give this 3 stars.



4 comments:

Jen Twimom said...

I still need to read this author. I always love her covers.

Northwoman said...

Oh I loved this one. Jackson was much easier to connect with than Raquel. And Cletus was in the story! lol

Anne - Books of My Heart

Blodeuedd said...

I have read some, I can
t remember which ones though

Carole Rae said...

Jen, she is so fun!

Anne, I jumped for joy when I seen Cletus

B, probably from the original series.