What a fun, sassy, smart, twisty procedural/whodunit! Darynda Jones has written a wonderful character, Sheriff Sunshine Vicram, who has returned to the small New Mexico town she grew up in with her high school daughter. Every character, and the town is full of characters, are quirky and fully realized. The pace is quick, there is snappy banter and live interests to go around. This is great escapism and I’m ready for another go round with Del Sol and Sunshine! Thanks to #netgalley and St Martins for #abaddayforsunshine to read and review.

Book source ~ NetGalley

Sunshine Vicram is back where she grew up. Coming home again is not all sweet apple pie though. Sunshine has somehow been elected Sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico. While she has no idea how that happened in her absence, she strongly suspect her parents are behind it. In any case, she has to take on the job to serve and protect. However, she’s failing on the protect front when a teenage girl goes missing and Sunshine suspects a kidnapper is on the loose. While organizing a manhunt she has to deal with a multitude of other wacky small town shenanigans. And cursed muffins. Who says you can’t go home again?

If you are a fan of the Charley Davidson series then look no further. This series has everything that is awesome about Charley. Well, except it only has a little of the paranormal stuff. Just a hint. But otherwise it’s all action, humor, and suspense. I love it. Sunshine is a great character, her daughter Aurora is adorable, her parents are great, secondary characters shine, and there are a couple of hunky hunks for some bubbling sexual tension. Yum. Pick this one up then strap yourself in because you’re in for a fast and exciting twisty turny ride.

During the days of coronavirus, Darynda Jones has delivered the perfect antidote. Rocking with humor and snide dialogue the novel makes you smile on every page. Sunshine Vicram becomes a sheriff in the small town of Del Sol where she formally had lived through the efforts of her parents to have her elected. This came as a surprise to her as she had no plans of assuming this position. So, she and her daughter move into a home on the same property as her parents. What follows is snappy dialogue with a kidnapped girl, a fight with a rooster, an explosion of female hormones related to men, and a lost autistic boy. The daughter also has her own story with teenage love and a difficult acceptance at a new school. However,I had difficulty with the lack of differentiation in the voices of each character. They all felt the same to me. Also some of the switches in the voices quickly changed within each chapter that made it difficult to follow. All in all, though, this novel was the perfect medicine right now and provided many laughs.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love all things Darynda Jones. This has all the trademark snark you expect from the author of the Charley Davidson series and then some. There’s a new sheriff in town. Unfortunately for her she never officially ran for office, but somehow managed to become elected. The current mayor and the former sheriff are the only ones that care that there’s something rotten in the state of New Mexico. Throw in some crazy relatives, crazy neighbors, heck crazy everybody, a hot ex-flame, a few mysteries and you have a recipe for a very long series! Can’t wait to see where this goes!

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. The stories suck you in and yes you read it right, the stories plural. Because the way this book is written is very unique.
First, you won't feel like only one couple forms the main characters. You have the teenagers like Cruz and Auri that are so sweet and smart that you can't help but fall in love with them. Then you have Sun and Levi with an intensity that pulls you and leaves you wanting more and cursing everyone that interrupts them.
Each one of them are very well rounded with their own goals and secrets. But the best part is that even when there are many things happening (and trust me, there are) all of it comes together smoothly. You never get bored. This is a book with many mysteries and surprises but it is also a lot of fun with the crazy town people. I can't wait for the next one.

Loved it! I am grateful to NetGalley for introducing this new-to-me author. Thrilled to see it is the first of a series. The police blotter and other humorous bits that start each chapter are terrific stress relievers. The story has some suspenseful moments and several heart-warming ones, too. I will wait impatiently for book #2. In the meantime I see that Darynda Jones has other series and books that I must procure. The only thing I didn't care for in this tale was the use of the "f" word. Sure glad I didn't let that stop me from enjoying the story. Easy to overlook.

This is another book that immediately grabbed me. Like with the first paragraph. Sunshine Vicram is the new sheriff of a town “even the locals call The Psych Ward”. A town that “held more secrets than a politician’s wife.” Oh, and that sheriff position? She won, even though she never entered the race.
Meanwhile, Sun’s daughter, Aurora, is not having an easy time adjusting to her new school. The popular kids have it in for her.
This is a fairly lighthearted book. There’s great banter, wild escapades, and hunky men (of all ages). There’s a missing teenager and an escaped prisoner. And the police blotter excerpts and signs at the beginning of each chapter are just spot on perfect.
This book is the perfect escape from these trying times. It even manages to be a decent mystery. Consider it a quirky cozy mystery. It highlights the importance of good friends and loving family with lots of love to go around.
It ends with a hell of a cliff hanger, so there better be a book two!
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

This was delightful!
You get all the satire you would expect from Jones with a great new group of characters.
Of course I compared it to the Charley Davidson series (how could I not?).
Yes some of the characters (and even some of the plot) have similar aspects.
Does it make this any less enjoyable?
Nope! I am totally looking forward to reading more in this series.
Much love to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC.

A Bad Day for Sunshine is the first book in a new series by Darynda Jones. Set in mythical Del Sol, New Mexico, this story begins as Sunshine Vicram takes office as the town’s new sheriff. Sunny has a strong law enforcement background from her work in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, but is a bit taken aback by having won an election that she didn’t know her parents had entered her in. But then Cyrus and Elaine Freyr would move mountains, and build a guest house, to get Sunny and granddaughter Auri back home in Del Sol.

On the first day of the new job a haunting case comes Sunny’s way when a young girl has been abducted. This case hits far too close to home for Sunny. From the letter Sunny receives from the girl and her parents’ accounts, this girl had a premonition and dreams of this happening that no one took seriously. Did she see her future or did she plan it?

With a cast of fascinating characters and more twists than a mountain road, this is a fabulous new series that calls up Sunshine’s past and future in this small town tale. And while it solved the immediate case, there is so much more that the next book will need to reveal. I very much enjoyed this book, I look forward to the next book in the series, and do recommend this story

This review was originally posted on <a href="http://booksofmyheart.net/2020/03/31/a-bad-day-for-sunshine-by-darynda-jones/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I wasn't sure what to expect from this new <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/268702-sunshine-vicram" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Sunshine Vicram</strong> </em></a>series from Darynda Jones.  Sunshine is the new sheriff in the town where she grew up and her parents live. She has been away for about 14 years.  She is an experienced law enforcement officer and I like that.  Her caring and commitment to her work is excellent.  Her first day on the job is crazy with things happening.

<strong>A Bad Day for Sunshine</strong> has many traits we have come to expect from this author. The main character, Sunshine loves coffee and sexy men. She's a hot blond woman.  The story is told from a case viewpoint.  It is set in New Mexico. There is a snarky sense of humor from the quirky characters to the delicious chapter titles.
<blockquote>Deputy Salazar responded to a report of a woman stopping at mailboxes and going through residents' mail.  Upon further investigation, it was the mail carrier.     ~ Del Sol police blotter</blockquote>
There are some really amazing characters. I like Sunshine's parents, Levi, the coffee shop dudes, and Jimmy. Cruz was fantastic and I'll be happy to see more of him.  We also get more of Sunshine's background in some (sort of) flashback scenes or memories.

I didn't like the way Sunshine had such a sexual view of almost all men; it was a little over-the-top.  Sunshine's daughter is the other main point of view for some of the chapters. I was uncomfortable with how much she involved herself in the cases as she is only fourteen, and that her mother let her do some of it.

I really enjoyed the mystery and the cases. The action was exciting.   There's easily more I want to know and an ongoing story arc I will want to follow.   After this great start, I'll definitely want to read more in this mystery series.

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I could relate to the hot climate, strong coffee, and the overall setting as I live in Arizona. I found this to be a fun, entertaining read that had me laughing out loud. I am happy to have stumbled across it on Netgalley. I found the description inviting.

The new sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico, Sunshine Vicram, has her hands full her first day on the job: a distraught woman drives her car into the police station, a prisoner has escaped from jail and is hiding out in Del Sol, and a 14-year-old, Sybil, goes missing and leaves an eerie note behind detailing her demise. To make things even more stressful, the Mayor is keeping an eye on Sunshine.

Sunshine Vicram has returned home with her beloved teenage daughter, Auri (Aurora Dawn Vicram . Sunshine is a single mom to a 14-year-old.

The narrative is split between Sunshine and Auri. It was entertaining and insightful to see how a 14-year old copes with a move. I enjoyed the relationships being developed between the characters. I expect to see more in the development of a specific love interest, will it be Team Levi or Team US Marshall?


This being my first Darynda Jones novel, I have added her to my author list. Looking forward to the sequel.

A Bad Day for Sunshine is my first book to read by Darynda Jones. I enjoyed the mix of suspense and humor. I am looking forward to reading more about Sunshine.

What a great start to a new series by Darynda Jones. Sunshine Vicram is the smart-talking new sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico. Elected without even knowing she was on the ballot, Sunshine shows up to her first day of work and as soon as the muffins arrive, the roller-coaster takes off. No, I am not going to explain that remark.

Sunshine moved into her parents guesthouse with her daughter Auri, with whom she shares a close relationship. Auri is smarter than the average teenager, which is just fine with the adult me who appreciates her maturity. And her wit. For example, when mom asks, “I do look rather badass, don’t I?”, Auri responds with “All that matters is that you think you look badass.”

Sunshine’s best friend is Chief Deputy Quincy Cooper. He is Sunshine’s straight man at the office. Or is it the other way around? At any rate, the BFF’s make a great team.

Sunshine has a past, the details of which are grudgingly revealed throughout the story. The main story line(s) follow Sunshine’s first cases in her new job. A missing girl, a chicken/rooster feud, an escaped prisoner and a deputy that is always conveniently unavailable.

Readers of Ms. Jones’ Charley Davidson series will see many similarities between the two series in both characters and construction. The similarities include (but are not necessarily limited to):

chapter openers of funny ads or signs
smart-mouthed humor (you will laugh out loud)
a BFF
an adorable lovable teenager
a deaf person
a major case
a minor case
a paranormal element
coffee
Mexican food
a promise there is more to the story
somebody that doesn’t like her
and last, but not least, our heroine being attracted to a mysterious man who is not necessarily a nice man

So if you lamented the end of Charley Davidson, take heart. Sunshine Vicram is just a charming, just a funny, just as complex, just as smart, has just as much heart, and I think I might like her even more than I liked Charley.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I don't read mystery books, but I liked this author. Storyline was good. Story kept me on edge of my seat. I laughed too. What else can I ask for when I got most of it from reading this book. It was just that good.

Darynda Jones, welcome back!!!!! If you haven’t read her Charley Davidson series about a private investigator by day, grim reaper by night who bangs Reyes, the son of Satan....you haven’t lived! Jones fills every book with humor, mystery, fantastic relationship building, and just cuckoo shit. But we’re not talking about Charley, we’re talking about Sunshine. And she’s equally badass and hilarious. Sunshine is a the new sheriff in Del Sol, New Mexico thanks to a rigged election and this is her first time back in a town where she was a previous kidnapping victim. She deals with memories and the crazy shit her town puts her through as well as a reappearance of a old love. I’m so here for this new series!!

Another great book and start to a series! Characters are fun and entertaining while the seriousness of trying to solve the mystery of a missing girl keeps you waiting to find out what happens. I can't wait for the next book in this series, to find out more about the mysteries of Sunshine's past.
*arc provided by netgalley for honest review

I was sucked into this book as soon as I started reading it. You will laugh, cry and get a little heated up reading this book. Sun is a badass with a heart of gold especially for her daughter Auri. I loved how this book went back and forth between Sun and Auri. I really didn't want the book to end. Though I knew who the bad person was in this book I still had fun reading about it all and who they ended up catching the person. I wish the next book was already out so I could continue the story right now.


*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

Sunshine Vicram is back i Del Sol, New Mexico as the new sheriff. Her fourteen old daughter is starting out in a new school while mom is starting her first day as sheriff. The book is written with humor. Sun uses humor to get trough her days. Sun has some past things to settle as well as finding a kidnapper and a young man missing up in the mountains. Her job and her life keep her very busy, A book you can read for fun.

Charlie Davidson is one of my favorite series and this one is starting out to be just as great. Sun Vicram is a kick ass heroine. I’m going to love watching her grow as the sheriff. And then you have Levi, you can just feel the hotness and chemistry with Sun burn from the pages. Great secondary characters. Auri, what can I say about her. I look forward to her budding crush on Cruz. Well done, I can not wait for the next book in the series.

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones is book one in her new series.

This book was SO good!!!!!

The town of Del Sol and all the characters were so well described, I was completely immersed in the story.

The murder , kidnapping was fantastic. There were only a few suspects and the mystery was great.

A well crafted mystery. Can't wait for the next book!