Well, it seems like Darynda Jones’ brand of humor just isn’t for me anymore. I was pretty excited to read this since I used to love love love Charley Davidson with all of my heart–I had high hopes that this series would give me something as great as the early Charley novels, especially since it didn’t deal with the supernatural and focused more on a mystery plot than anything else. That was… not what I got.

A Bad Day for Sunshine was just not a good mystery book. The staple humor we can always expect from Jones was here, but the tone did not work with the story she was trying to tell. Either nothing happened for pages on end or the plot tried to deal with too many things at once while not developing any of them like it should. It was all over the place and convoluted and the humor and banter and jokes made light of some pretty serious plot points. It felt really dismissive overall and I did not enjoy the tone.

The dual POV shifts from Sun and Auri were really abrupt in the eARC–they happened within paragraphs belonging to the same chapter and there was nothing to indicate the change; because of this, some passages were really confusing. I’m not sure if this will be fixed before publishing. I did enjoy both perspectives, though, especially when we had Auri’s view of things as a teenager.

Most of the big reveal plot twists either didn’t make sense at all within the context of law enforcement and real life or were incredibly obvious. Because of that, the way Sun reacted to or addressed certain things in the book felt really out of place to me. I couldn’t connect with her because her POV of things seemed so out there that a few of her actions stopped making sense to me as a reader.

Also, the book ended with a weird cliffhanger that I believe was supposed to drag out the suspense but, at the same time, you already knew the answer to it?? So. Not the best plot development. I believe others will enjoy this, but this really really didn’t work for me and I will not be continuing with the series.

A delightful new series featuring a slightly skewed cast of characters living in a slightly tilted town so that all of them have the feeling they are actually standing straight rather than on a slant. There’s Sunshine, the new sheriff in town, who was elected without living in the town, or even knowing she was on the ballot. Her adorable daughter, Auri, who has a deep sense of love for her mom, some interesting investigative skills of her own, and is beginning to awaken to what it really means to be interested in boys.
Sunshine and Auri are surrounded by other, well developed characters you would love to meet, maybe even sit down with for a cup of good strong coffee at the local coffee shops run by a couple of guys whose claims to fame are the coffee and treats they offer and a mysterious eyeliner application Sunshine and Auri are determined to obtain.
Other characters adding interest and depth to the book and, hopefully, to the series are Levi, an old flame of Sunshine’s who has such an effect on her she goes into an almost fugue state; Quincy, the hunky detective who has been a lifelong friend of Sunshine; Sunshine’s parents who managed to secure her election as sheriff, and Zee, a beautiful detective/sharpshooter who has a small, but pivotal role in this book.
The book is not devoid of people who are easy to dislike, too. There’s Lynelle, who is the epitome of a mean girl and intent on making life difficult for new student, Auri; Cruz, the boy who awakens interest in Auri and steps up as her protector; the mayor, who seems to have a major dislike of Sunshine to name two.
In this novel, which starts with Sunshine’s first day on the job, the first inkling that it’s going to be a bad day is the delivery of a basket of muffins from local resident Ruby Moore. It seems she when she senses there are going to be bad things happening, she sends muffins to the station. Her premonition, at least in this book, seems to be fulfilled several times over. Auri encounters Lynelle who has several attempts to make her life miserable, the mayor threatens Sunshine’s job, Levi appears across the street and totally distracts her and, as a result, she doesn’t see the car that runs through the front of the sheriff’s station and stops inches away from her head. Turns out, the car is being driven by a frantic mother who believes her daughter has been kidnapped. What a start to your first day on the job.
As the book progresses, Sunshine wades deep into the investigation of the kidnapping, with messages that make her believe she only has about three days before the girl will be killed. Auri deals with Lynell who airs a student newscast detailing some of Auri’s history, reporting on Auri’s birth and father with information that has been carefully suppressed for her entire life. All this happens against the background of Auri’s awakening interest in the opposite sex and Sunshine’s sexual fantasies about Levi.
There is so much happening in the book, which switches primarily from Sunshine’s point of view to Auri’s point of view, it’s hard to put down. The characters are engaging, the dynamics of the relationships are interesting, the solution, while not a major surprise, is a satisfying conclusion. While it’s easy to keep up with what is happening at any given point in the book, you want to continue reading because it’s so enjoyable.
The author’s style in telling the story is a bit unique and, as such, it took me a few pages to adjust. Once I fell into the rhythm of the book, it was easy to read and moved swiftly. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced digital reader copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

A serious mystery with laugh out lines! How can that be?
With author Darynda Jones, it is possible. The first I have read from this author and she made it enjoyable. Sunshine is the new sheriff in town and some are not happy about it. But she can’t worry about that now - she has enough to handle including two missing teens, a manhunt for an escaped convict and she is also worried about her daughter that is being bullied at her new school.
A new series that is apparently out of character for the author. But it has just enough mystery to have me looking forward to book two. I received an ARC from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press. The comments and review are my honest opinion.

What a great start to a new series! I loved her previous Charley Davidson series so was very excited to read this one as well. Sunshine Vicram is another great heroine and I loved the blend of comedy and mystery. I can't wait to read more!

It was good read Darynda Jones again. She has her trademark style from Charlie and incorporates it into Sunshine. There are the hilarious quotes that start the chapter and the snarky responses that are full on Charlie except are now being used as marquee signs about the town.

This story has a little paranormal in it but it could amp up throughout the series, just like with Charlie. There is a smoldering love interest, a quirky best friend, funny parents and a daughter. All the elements that can be mirrored from the Charlie Davidson series. There isn’t any sex in this story, but it is alluded to in conversation. There is no gore, but there is a murder. It’s a long ago murder that needs to be solved, but it’s one that isn’t hard to guess at the conclusion, HOWEVER, I am sure that it won’t be as cut and dried as I think, which is a thrill.

I felt the story was chaotic and popping up with new characters every other page. That could be because it’s a new series and the foundation has to be laid. I enjoyed the back stories to the people of the town and their idiosyncrasies. Every small town has those citizens that are strange and weird. Each small town has those cases that just make you want to shake your head and ask, “Seriously?” Being the Sheriff, Sunshine would know them all. Darynda Jones knows how to make loveable characters. I like the way the daughter has got more of a focus, but I also think there is something about her that will bring the paranormal to the forefront. The book is wrapped around a town with key players waiting in the wings for their que.

I am somewhat on fence with this book. I don’t want to disrespect this title or the author, but it’s hard for me to not make comparisons to her other work. There are a lot of reviews raving about this story, and I don’t debate that it’s good, but the cast has been cast before. It could be that the mix of characters that Darynda uses is her secret recipe and Sunshine Vicrum series will take on a life of it’s own. Here’s to hoping it’ll become it’s own singular style.

Romance, suspense, snark, a heroine you'll want to root for. This has it all. A missing persons case, a decades old murder, small-town crazy and heart.
I loved that we got not only the Sheriff's POV, but also her teenager daughter's. I cannot wait for book two!
Full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer April 7, 2030.

I have been a HUGE fan of Darynda Jones since book one in her Charley Davidson series. That series had such magic and wit and humor I wasn't sure she could duplicate it with a new series. But holy cow, this book was so good. Quirky characters, humor, mystery, all wrapped up in great writing.

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 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 as her methods for winning the Sheriff's election were less than conventional. There is a lot happening in this one story. It is is a fast paced, fun and entertaining read that had me laughing out loud. Similar to Jones’ Charley Davidson series, this book is filled with eccentric, sharp characters, a quirky lead, and super hot bad boy.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced read in return for my very honest review. I would read Darynda' Jone's version of the yellow pages as long as it has her unique brand of wit..

What a fun beginning to a new series by Ms. Jones. The same wonderful humorous dialog that we have come to know from her Charley Davidson series makes the story race by. Returning to her home town as the new sheriff, a job she did not apply for, Sunshine Vicram is ready for the slow pace of Del Sol, New Mexico. Her fourteen-year old daughter, Aurora, is looking forward to wearing “real” clothes to school, unlike the uniforms at her private school. If their first day is any indication of their new lives, they are both in for a wild ride. Sunshine is searching for a missing teen while Aurora has already learned that being the daughter of a sheriff in a small town has its own issues. A thoroughly enjoyable story and I am eagerly waiting for the next book. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

I received A Bad Day for Sunshine through Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review. It was an enjoyable read, though very different from her previous series. I will definitely read more by this author.

This book is a great lead in to another can't wait to read series. The "Grave" series was very popular at our library. She does a great job of developing her characters and the way they interact - they feel like friends that you hate to leave at the end of the book!

So excited about this book! I’m a huge fan of Darynda Jones’s Charley Davidson series so I was beyond happy to receive a copy of the first book in her new mystery series. A Bad Day for Sunshine did not disappoint. The things that I loved about the Charley books – witty conversations, love for coffee, and quirky people with deep, heartfelt connections to each other – are present in this new series.

Sunshine Vicram returns to her hometown, teenage daughter Auri in tow, as the newly elected sheriff. With no chance to gently ease into her new role, Sunshine has to hit the ground running on her first day as one of Auri’s classmates has been abducted. Is the case related to Sunshine’s own abduction when she was a teenager? How does it relate to Levi, the bad boy crush from Sunshine’s past? For fans of the Charley books, Levi definitely smolders with Reyes vibes.

Fast-paced, well-plotted mystery that is an absolute page-turner. I read this one in a day and cannot wait for the next book!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! It was witty, swoon-worthy, and at times, deeply touching. An evocative trifecta and my reading nirvana. Okay, so there was also a mystery (or two) and some shady dealings that were just as impressively written. The book's main mystery was gritty and thrilling, but the ongoing plot lines have me excited and maybe a little anxious about where they're headed.

This book hasn't even released and I'm already lusting for the next one. Just know that this is book 1 of an ongoing romantic mystery series that concludes one mystery, but doesn't necessarily tie up all the loose ends. Along with 1-2 overarching mystery plot lines, there are unfinished romantic entanglements that continue into the next book(s) as well. Again, I can't wait! I was completely taken in with this story and enjoyed the author's humor, dialogue, and all-around story development. For like-minded readers, I can't recommend it enough.

Her mom may be the Sheriff, but Auri proves she has what it takes to be a sleuth extraordinaire when moving back to Sunshine’s hometown becomes a race against time to find a missing teen.

Witty, entertaining, humorous and sometimes even a little nerve-grating, Darynda Jones’s A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE brings big time crime to a sleepy little town and the new sheriff is going to have her work cut out for her when the quirky residents of the town range from a senior flasher to a psychic baker to a stolen rooster.

A fun read with just a few too many “nicknames” for Auri which may have been fine when she was a toddler, but as a young teen, they were just overdone. That said, this IS a good read, not too heavy, often darn cute and filled with possibilities for a new mystery series with characters you cannot wait to see again.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Press! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Almost 5 stars...but I can't cuz I'm still BOOING over the cliff hanger ending. LOL What can I say about this book - I LOVED it- if you enjoy your books with mystery snark and heart then this is the book for you. While the relationship between Sunshine and her teen daughter Auri shines, the sexual and emotional tension between Sunshine and her old flame Levi was a bit maddening (okay maybe in a good way...but still LOL). And speaking of Levi...he kind of steals the show LOL

I can't even tell you how excited I was to get an arc of this book. I am a huge fan of the Charley Davidson series and I was really excited to see what Jones could do in a different genre. I was not disappointed. She brought the same flair that made the Charley books so fun and special to the world of Sunshine Vicram. This was more of a crime fiction/mystery/suspense novel, but there was still undertones of something other.

Jones sweeps you away into the quirky town of Del Sol, where muffins are omens of impending doom, book club feels closer to a coven, Puff Daddy roams the streets attacking old men, the ghosts of old crimes still linger and intertwine with the present, and dreams are not something to ignore. There's a pulse to this city and it follows its own beat.

The people inside are equally as enchanting. I love the way Jones writes characters. No one is filler, everyone is interesting in their own unique way. You can't help but be enamored and want to get to know each of them more. Each is their own little mystery wrapped in exquisitely inviting designs that draw you in.

Jones is also a master at writing relationships, whether it be romantic, best friends, mother-daughter, they feel so genuine and the banter is my absolute favorite. I definitely felt some Reyes vibes from Levi. That gooey sweet center seen only in glimpses initially and by few, wrapped up in all kinds of dangerous seen by all. Sunshine and Levi have that push and pull slow burn kinda thing going on and I am 1,000% into it. The relationship Sunshine and her daughter Auri have is awesome. I feel like in some ways it reminds me of my relationship with my own teenage daughter. Maybe it's something about when you have a child at a young age and you both grow up together in a way, or maybe a bit of not being so far from understanding how it feels to be that age, or maybe it is something as seemingly simple as just having a strong bond, I'm not sure exactly what it is that makes it that way, but I think Jones pretty accurately represents it here.

There were plenty of twists and turns, some you may see coming and some that will surprise you in the best way. This story is also jam-packed full of feels! It was a rollercoaster of emotions, I laughed out loud, I gasped in shock, I swooned, and I felt sorrow.

One thing was always consistent though and that was I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the ride. Even though there was some darker aspects being shown or talked about, there was a perfect balance of whimsy, fun and humor that kept it feeling relatively light. That ending was a bit of a cliffhanger, but even if it wasn't I would still be anxiously awaiting the next installment. Sunshine and Del Sol have so much more to give and I can't wait to see what happens next!

This fast-paced and well-written drama had me completely immersed in all that was happening, quickly becoming a page-turner because I could not put this book down.

The mystery was nicely executed with a solid multi-plot arc that that kept me intrigued as the story moved forward. The main protagonist is a strong-willed, yet have her vulnerabilities that add to the dimensions of her characterization. With pivotal roles having a stake in this tale, it all came to fruition when the pieces started falling into place. There were a few heartbreaking moments that set the stage for an adventure worth the wait. One of the things I liked best was the police blotter that headlined each chapter.

I’m so in love with this group of eccentrically quirky characters that I can’t wait for the second book in this wonderfully, engaging and entertaining new series.

This author consistently delivers well thought out, funny, suspenseful, and delightful books! For fans of the author's First Grave series, this book will feel like coming home. It set in entirely a different universe, but the writing, pacing, and character development live on in this text. Highly reccomend.

Another hit by Darynda Jones! If you love sassy, snaky heroines, than read A Bad Day for Sunshine. I cannot wait for the more in this new series.

This was a lot of fun. Quirky characters, humor, mystery, all wrapped up in great writing. This is my first read of a Darynda Jones novel and I will likely be reading more because I truly enjoyed it. When it starts out, Sunshine Vicram and her daughter Auri have returned to their hometown. Sunshine has been elected Sheriff - but she didn't even enter the race. Sunshine had left Del Sol, New Mexico after having a horribly traumatic experience there. Now she wants to find the perpetrator. There are many events on Sunshine's first day as Sheriff, but the main one is a child abduction, and the main storyline centers on finding this child.

I loved the humor. The conversations between Sunshine and Auri are wonderful and these characters are all great. Cruz and Levi (swoon) are both great characters too. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a mystery and enjoys a sense of humor.

Thanks to Darynda Jones and St. Martin's Press through NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. It was witty, well written and characters to die for. Seriously, this was a laugh-out loud, nail biting crime thriller that I cannot wait to read again and again. I hope the next one comes soon so I can get more of Sheriff Sunshine Vicram, her fierce daughter and everyone else in this extremely entertaining story.