After hitting a rough patch in Hollywood, A-list actress Raquel "Rae" Ezra spontaneously decides to travel to Green Valley for a surprise visit with friend and former co-star Sienna Diaz. It's Rae's first time in Green Valley since Sienna's wedding to Jethro Winston five and a half years earlier, when she spent a memorable night with local sheriff's deputy Jackson James. They haven't been in contact since, but if Rae happened to run into Jackson while she's in town, she wouldn't exactly be disappointed. Meanwhile, Jackson has spent the last five and a half years trying to clean up his reputation as a playboy. He's ready to settle down and find something real, in the hopes that the community will embrace him when he runs for sheriff after his father's retirement.
Rae and Jackson didn't seem to have much in common at first, but there were actually a lot of similarities beneath the surface. They were each trying to prove that they were more than their reputations, as well as hoping to build relationships that would be real and lasting. I loved the slow burn that began to build between them when they saw each other again for the first time in more than five years. As soon as Jackson and Rae started talking to each other, it was like there was no one else in the room, and their flirty, witty banter was a ton of fun.
The book's secondary characters were also a ton of fun, especially Jackson's funny, sweet, and quirky friend Charlotte. She had a tough time after her husband walked out on her and their four kids, but she somehow managed to keep a positive attitude through it all. Even though she wasn't the right match for Jackson, Charlotte absolutely deserves an HEA of her own, so I'm thrilled that she will be featured in the next story.
Overall, I loved "Totally Folked" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
About "Totally Folked"
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 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.
Read an Excerpt from "Totally Folked"
“Rae. It’s late.”
“I know, but—”
“Rae,” he ground out, using my hold on his hand to bring us back to a stop. I faced him, my stomach erupting in uncertainty butterflies as I encountered the stern line of his jaw and the glittering, frustrated spark behind his eyes. “We need everyone to believe we’re just friends, right? And if we go inside the house, I don’t think I’m a good enough actor to pull that off.”
My mouth formed an O, and I released him, folding my arms over my chest while I wrestled with a strange combination of disappointment and pleasure at his words. I wanted to spend time with him, talk to him, get to know this mystery of a man so I could understand my feelings better.
But . . . I conceded his point.
We couldn’t seem to be around each other without kissing. Bringing him inside a dark, empty house in the middle of the night was something better left to my fantasies.
For now.
Oh really, inner voice? Now you’re impudent? Now?
He exhaled a short breath, it also sounded frustrated, but his tone was soft as he said, “Hey.”
I placed a tight smile on my face, it was the best I could manage. “Hey.”
Jackson seemed to be considering me, debating what to do next. He didn’t take too long. “Do you want to go for a drive?”
“Yes,” I said immediately. “Yes, I do. Let me grab a jacket.”
“Okay. I’ll wait here.” He shifted his weight to his back foot and hooked his thumbs in his jeans pockets.
I wanted to take a picture of him like this, all handsome reluctance and sexy self-control. This man, he just did something to me. I couldn’t explain it.
But maybe if we took this drive and spent some time together talking—just talking—I’d start to figure it out.
***
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