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Special thanks to St.Martin Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
I am not a big fan of Comedy novels but i loved this one. It's the first time to me to read a novel by Darynda Jones but the story is so good.

This novel is about Sheriff Sunshine Vicram and her daughter Auri or Aurora, they live in a small town of Mexico called * Del Sol *, the characters are different but amazing, lovely and joyful, i love Latin America so much that i want to visit her one day with my husband.
This is the first book of the series but it's a very great start and i hope the rest of it will amazed us like this one.

This book is so fun, i really enjoyed it and i recommended it to a lot of my friends.

I loved Auri character so much and how brave she is.

The cover is so lovely and the idea of it admired me.

I have a lot of questions in my head but i hope that book 2 will answer it when it release.

With a fun cast of characters and a fast moving story, this book was fantastic!

I loved the characters! They were funny and relatable and real. I loved the relationship Sunshine has with her daughter and parents. Her friendship with Quincy is so endearing.

The serious situations were dealt with quite well and the hilarity didn’t lessen the importance or diminish their severity.

Not real good with descriptions but fun really fits! I had fun reading this book and can’t wait to see what happens next with this group!

I was so sure I would not like this book, since it wasn't Charley Davidson and her dysfunctional family. I was wrong, can't wait for the next Sunshine Vicram book. I will still miss Charley, but so glad Darynda Jones was able to write another winner.

I never expected anything from “A Bad Day for Sunshine” other than a good story from an award-winning author. I certainly didn’t expect what I got.

The first thing that bothered me was the similarity between the mother (Sunshine) and Daughter (Aurora, or Auri). Both characters merged into one, with few differences in personalities. As none of the other characters are given much depth, it made for bland reading. The relentless banter that filled the pages didn’t help, as it was rarely funny and usually skirted the edge of high school humor. Sunshine gives the impression of a woman whose driving goal has been her career, but for all the effort to keep men away her thoughts and actions reminded me more of a dog in heat. In one section, she bluntly stated that one man had everything she needed, and the last thing on her list was “penis.” I suppose it was a stab at humor, but the effort to me was not impressive.

There is a lot of back story thrown in at any given time, almost as if there were ten books about Sunshine and Auri before this one appeared. Being the first book, the past history instead became a convenience for the author. I’m not saying that an author can’t do this, but presentation is everything. These bits and pieces of the past would have been far more interesting if the readers could have discovered them, rather than the author explaining in a quick information dump that this character did this strange action because of these things that happened long ago. It didn’t take more than a few instances before the technique became old. Worst of all, the final suspense sequence of events contained law enforcement elements that wouldn’t happen in the real world and it became impossible to suspend disbelief.

In short, I was disappointed in the story. There are a lot of great elements that could have provided a unique backdrop, and there are plenty of characters that initially prodded my interest. Unfortunately, what I hoped for didn’t develop. It felt like the author was always on the verge of telling an entertaining and provocative mystery story, but just never got around to it. Two-and-a-half stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.

It's a Darynda Jones book, need I say more? For those of you who loved the "Graves" books as much as I did, this is very different. There's a little bit of strangeness to Del Sol, NM but not Reyes/Charley strange. Sunshine is the new sheriff of Del Sol after having left town over a decade ago. Problem is - she didn't run for sheriff. She even won a debate with the ex-sheriff, except she wasn't there. Now she's back with her daughter, Aurora. I saw shades of Cookie and Amber in this at first, the way they spoke, probably because I was looking for it. It didn't take long for these new characters to form their very different personalities. I loved them and all the secondary characters, especially Levi and Cruz. A girl is kidnapped on her first day of work and during the search, Sun comes across clues to do with her own abduction many years before.

It's clear this is a series and I only have one request. Please tell me I don't have to wait another year for the next book.

Darynda Jones has done it again! I read the Charley Davidson series religiously, and I am so happy to say that Sunshine Vicram is every bit the badass that Charley is. These characters are all so lovable and the banter and humor that I have always loved from Jones’ characters is still there and as fresh and funny as ever. The plot was well-executed, with multiple twists. The romance and friendships and even the antagonists were very well-written. I’m already so attached to the town of Del Sol and I cannot wait for the next one! Thank you NetGalley, Darynda Jones, and publisher for the ARC.

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones is currently scheduled for release on April 7 2010. This is the start of a new series- but it follows the Charlie Davidson series, but newcomers to Jones' work will be able to enjoy this new start.

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o’ joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of national attention for a kidnapper on the loose. Del Sol, New Mexico is known for three things: its fry-an-egg-on-the-cement summers, its strong cups of coffee—and a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff—an election her adorably meddlesome parents entered her in—and she expects her biggest crime wave to involve an elderly flasher named Doug. But a teenage girl is missing, a kidnapper is on the loose, and all of it's reminding Sunny why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that trouble at her daughter’s new school and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and Sunshine has her hands full. Enter sexy almost-old-flame Levi Ravinder and a hunky US Marshal, both elevens on a scale of one to blazing inferno, and the normally savvy sheriff is quickly in over her head. Now it’s up to Sunshine to juggle a few good hunky men, a not-so-nice kidnapping miscreant, and Doug the ever-pesky flasher. And they said coming home would be drama-free.

A Bad Day for Sunshine is a great start to a new series, even if I kept distracting myself by trying to make connections with the previous series. Sunshine and her daughter Aurora are two snarky peas in a pod. They are both smart, good detectives, and care more than they might want to about the world around them. I liked the way the town, and its cast of characters, were introduced. I liked the way characters I thought I knew- or should know- were given the same amount of attention as those I thought were completely new. I thought the mystery of the missing girl and the escaped fugitive were very well built, and solved. I like that the characters do not take themselves too seriously and seem to understand that so much comes in shades of gray rather than simply black or white. The point of view does switch regularly between Auri and Sunshine, which was incredibly important and worked perfectly in some places. However, there were many places in which the switch was made with no division and it took me a while to figure out what was happening. I had to go back and reread a few paragraphs to figure out where the switch was made. I did enjoy the build up of the characters, the mystery, and that there were unanswered questions that left me wanting more without leaving me feeling unsatisfied with the conclusion. I look forward to continuing this series, and seeing how the connection with the prior series continue to grow.

A Bad Day for Sunshine is a good start to a series, with connections and characters Jones fans will enjoy.

4. 5 stars!
"A Bad Day for Sunshine" hooked me from the first pages.
There is so much going on here...
First half of the book happened only in one day!

This is a story about Sunshine, who comes back to the city where she grew up, to become a new sheriff. She has a teenage daughter Auri, who has hard first day in her new school. But she's tough, like her mother. They both are very likeable characters and have a great relationship mother - daughter.
There is so many twists and turns. We have kidnapping, we have secrets from the Sunny's past. The whole city and it's residents seems to be quite strange. But in a good way.

Add Levi, hot reformed bad boy from Sunshine past, her childhood friend Quincy, mysterious boy Cruz and you have a bunch of intriguing secondary characters.

This book is a great mix of some action, suspense and good humour... because, you know I forgot to mention, it's pretty funny 😀!
And yes, I'm waiting for book 2, where I hope we will get some answers what exactly happened to Sunny when she was 17 years old. "

I’m so happy to have a new series by Darynda Jones. A Bad Day for Sunshine was a fun book full of loveable characters, mystery, and a whole lot of sass. Wish I didn’t have to wait for the next one 😭

Sunshine Vicram’s hometown, Del Sol, New Mexico, elects the Santa Fe police detective to the office of Sheriff of Del Sol. The catch: Sunshine didn’t know she was running for office since she lives in Santa Fe.

On her first day as Sheriff, Sunshine is hit by a Mercedes that crashes through the plate glass window of the sheriff’s office driven by a near-hysterical Mari St. Aubin who reports her daughter Sybil is missing. And so begins this wonderfully complex mystery with red herrings, well-developed and fascinating characters, unexpected situations, and a pace that forces the reader to focus.

As the debut of a new series, A Bad Day for Sunshine sets a very high standard for highly anticipated sequels.

This was my first book by Darynda Jones. I've seen so many people love her books so when I saw this as an eARC and read the synopsis, I requested it immediately and was very excited when I was approved. I finally decided to pick it up the other day and see what everyone loved about Jones' books.
Unfortunately, I just never clicked with this one. I don't know if it's because I thought it would be different than what it was or because the book was all over the place, but I never quite felt like we were on the same page.
There is a lot going on in this book but at the same time, it took a very long time to get a feel for what the book was going to be about and to really get into the story. The beginning is a lot about Sunshine's past, without actually revealing all that much, and an into the weird town and sheriff's office she's now a part of. Which was fine and light but also long.
Then the mystery part started and I couldn't tell if we were getting serious or staying light and fun. And then it was pretty clear we were definitely getting darker but then she flirted literally every single guy who walked into her office. Most of them either a deputy or marshall or cop of some kind who was also working the case. (A case, I will say, that seemed to be extremely time-sensitive but was constantly being pushed aside for something more important, like knock-knock jokes with her kid via text. IDK.) There were a lot of characters and a lot of guys she was flirting with. And then another missing teen case in the middle of the first that somehow takes over the first? And there's no romance in this one. No matter how much weird, awkward, workplace flirting is going on.
It was clear who the love interest would be and I have to say, I really hated him. And I kept waiting and waiting and waiting to find out why he was such an asshole to Sun, for her entire life, and why she liked him but it never came. I'm pretty sure I have their past figured out but it is never explained and clearly going to be revealed in a later book. So that annoyed me.
The last third of the book was much quicker and a lot more action-heavy than the rest of the book and went really quickly. I even enjoyed most of it and the hunt.
Overall, I think the problem was with me and my expectations. I was thinking it would be a mystery-thriller type book with some snark and romance thrown in. But there was no romance, the dialogue didn't work for me, the flasher and kidnapped rooster didn't play as a big of a part as you'd think from the description but were still in it too much, and her parents really could have been in it more. I don't understand how everyone just accepts that she's the new sheriff even though she never entered the race?
Anyway, if you're in the market for a light mystery that also somehow goes dark into teenage kidnapping, this is the book for you. And based on the rest of the reviews out there, it's exactly the kind of book everyone else but me enjoys.

Sunshine is a venerated cop that returns to her hometown as the elected sheriff. That she didn't know she ran for the position. Her first day is a wopper. her past, a kidnapping, a near death, and a hot questionable ex crush from her amnesiac traumatic past. Superb mystery! Missing the Charley Davidson series, so this is a great next read from this author.

4 WWLSD? (What would Lisbeth Salander do?) Stars

Spoiler free!

Welcome to Del Sol 'Psych Ward' New Mexico a town full of sunshine, fresh air and more secrets than the secret service.

Sunshine Blaze Vicram a Del Sol native is the new Sheriff although she didn't enter the elections but she did somehow win. She has an ulterior motive to coming back to find out what happened to her at age seventeen. She is back with her daughter Aurora Dawn Vicram and it is going to be a tough week for these two totally kickarse ladies.

This book is right up my alley and over the years my taste as most certainly changed. I want in-depth characters which I get here. I want a plot that is complex, compelling and keeps you reading. Which I also get here. I want twists and turns and a dynamic read with emotional, and heart-felt threads and layers upon layers. Which I feel that I get.

DJ has done a fantastic job in this mystery/suspense/crime book and I really want to read more. I highlighted the shite out of this book.

Read it and love it peeps!

Last sentence. He didn't do it!

I have questions, and those questions may take a long time to be answered, but they will be worth the wait. I enjoy this story for several reasons. I especially like the dual narrative between Sunshine and Auri, which gives you a look into the teenage side.
Sunshine is not what I expected but also exactly what I expected. As we open, there is very obviously something interesting happening in Del Sol. From the muffin basket that predicts the future to the very obviously magic implied in certain parts. Or, maybe I am only seeing these things because I want to see them? I’m not completely sure.
There are several unrelated story lines going on at the same time but the main two are Sunshine’s past including her child and the abduction of the teen girl who ended up leaving clues to help figure out information before she was abducted. So, more supernatural or paranormal events implied.
I enjoyed the story and believe that there will be amazing things happening in this series!
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I was so excited to read this first book in Darynda Jones' new series. I love her Charley Davidson series and wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I must admit, when I started the book I wasn't pulled in as fast as I expected, however, as I continued reading I fell in love with the story (it didn't take too many chapters to engage me though so be sure to hang tight if you're not engaged immediately). Sunshine and her daughter Auri are very well written characters and I already have thoughts on where I'm hoping their stories will continue (I don't like reviews with spoilers, so I'll just leave it at that). I enjoyed how the story didn't have a MAJOR cliffhanger, however, there are enough things that weren't solved that I can't want to continue reading this series.... I'm ready for the next book NOW actually!! Anyways, this is a good story that has humor, sassy snark, deep friendships, complicated relationships, romance, and mystery. This book is a must read and I am sure everyone will enjoy getting to know the characters in the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico. Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for sharing this amazingly written book in exchange for my honest review!! Thank you, Darynda Jones for writing another book that is beginning a phenomenal series!

This is the best novel I've read in a long time, maybe years. It's hard to say which I liked better, the plot or the characters.

First the plot. Is very well crafted. It is a good combination of mystery and family relationships and police work. The plot framework is Sunshine Vicram returning to the New Mexico town where she had grown up. The town where she had recently been elected sheriff in an election she never entered. The town where she had been kidnapped and raped fifteen years ago, her abductor never found. The town to which she has returned with her fourteen old daughter.

And the characters. Sunshine and her daughter are very well crafted. I loved the relationship the two had, the love, the quips, the devotion, the patience. It was amazing to experience the interaction between the two. And there are plenty of other interesting characters too, all serving well to flesh out the story with entertaining color.

Other areas of the novel I really liked include the dialogue. It was well designed, sometimes snarky, sometime dramatic, sometimes informative, always well crafted. I liked how actions and attitudes were revealed. Here is an example: “...his gaze locked on to her as though he were contemplating inviting her to dinner. Or cooking her for it.” (Loc 1900/5662) I like how the large amount of backstory was seamlessly woven into the plot.

I really liked this book. This is how I think a novel should be written. I was captivated by the plot and characters. There were times I laughed and times I fought tears. While the plot in this novel is complete in itself, we are set up at the end of the book for a sequel. Bring it on soon, please, as I'm waiting for it.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Excellent! Sun is masterpiece! Feisty and smart! I was not expecting the mystery to be solved, especially with it being Sun’s first day as the Sheriff. I loved how I was able to feel the angst of the teenage life from Sun’s daughter. Definitely an instant preorder series for me. I can’t wait for my audible version to be released on April 7. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

A Bad Day For Sunshine is and interesting story revolving around Anyone's first day as the new sheriff. There're. Quirky characters and intriguing ones that will keep you reading until the end.

There has never been a small town mystery quite like A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones. Very much in this world Sunshine Vicram has returned to Del Sol, New Mexico as the newly elected sheriff. How that came to be is a unique story on its own. While Sunshine is expecting work to be on the boring side, it is anything but that from the very first day.

I am not sure why I haven’t read anything by Ms. Jones before. This is a show-stopper mystery with quirky characters, sexy characters, intelligent characters and adorable characters who steal your heart; Auri, Sunshine’s daughter for one. The writing is smart, sassy, funny, poignant and thrilling.

I have seen this author’s name associated with paranormal but had never read any. I will be checking those books out now while waiting for more Sunshine. A top notched book.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A wild and hilarious ride through a crazy town, a crazy family, and crazy missing girl mystery. I had not encountered Darynda Jones before, so I was not completely prepared for the snarky whit and melodramatic plot. Once you get in the groove you can have a lot of fun with it.