Totally Folked

4.25stars-emotional, intricate and frustrating !!

4.25 stars-- TOTALLY FOLKED is the first instalment in Penny Reid’s contemporary, adult GOOD FOLK: MODERN FOLKTALES erotic, romance series – a spin off from the author’s WINSTON BROTHERS and KNITTING IN THE CITY series. This is thirty-one year old, deputy sheriff Jackson James, and twenty-eight year old, Hollywood actress Raquel Ezra’s story line. You do not have to have read the original series to understand or follow the current time line.

NOTE: There is a FREE prequel (prologue) novella JUST FOLKING AROUND, that may or may not be included in the new release.

Told from dual first person perspectives ( Jackson and Raquel) TOTALLY FOLKED advances the timeline approximately five years wherein Hollywood superstar Raquel Ezra needs some time alone and lands in Green Valley, Tennessee, to visit her friend Sienna Diaz Winston, where she will come face to face with the man that she can never forget. Five years earlier, an almost one night stand between Raquel and Jackson at Sienna and Jethro’s wedding ended when Raquel ghosted our story line hero. Fast forward to present day, and Raquel, hoping to catch up with our story line hero discovers that he may not feel the same about their time together. What ensues is the back and forth, rebuilding romance and relationship between Raquel and Jackson, and the potential fall-out as their time together comes to a close.

TOTALLY FOLKED is a detailed story line ala ‘Gift of the Magi’ that follows the struggling relationship between our story line couple. Jackson James is a deputy sheriff who claims to only want friendship, and is determined to keep our heroine in the friendship zone but their sexual attraction is palpable and unmistakable to everyone including our story line couple but Jackson refuses to cross the line much to Raquel’s disappointment and heart break. Raquel doesn’t have ‘family’ and considers Sienna and the Winstons part of her crew. Meeting and falling for Jackson James gives our heroine hope for the future but Hollywood is fickle, and the fall-out and secrets are about to land in Green Valley, Tennessee.

The slow building relationship between Jackson and Raquel is one of immediate attraction but an almost one-night stand sees more than five years without contact or communication. Raquel’s return to Green Valley is to consider all of her options going forward, including the man with whom she will fall in love but secrets and lies are about to be exposed, and both Raquel and Jackson have some ‘splaining’ to do. As Jackson continues to keep his distance, with a hands off policy, a case of miscommunication finds our couple at odds going forward as both struggles with issues of low self esteem, and fear of objectification. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and steamy, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including several of the Winston brothers and their significant others. We are introduced to Jackson’s parents Sheriff Jeffrey and Janet James, and his ex Charlotte Mitchell; Raquel’s Hollywood IT-boy Harrison Kent, and her security team Dave and Miguel. There may be something developing between Dave and Charlotte.

TOTALLY FOLKED is an emotional, intricate and sometimes frustrating story line-will he or won’t he? does he or doesn’t he? friendship or love? stay or go !! ? The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is a slow burn seduction of want and need; the characters are energetic and animated although Jackson continued to struggle (withdraw) throughout most of the story. A fantastic introduction to Penny Reid’s new spin off series set in the Winston Brothers’ world.