Let me preface this by saying that I loved Ms Jones’ series about Charley. Loved it.
I wanted to give Sunshine Vicram the same love as a character - and there are similar elements to the characters - Sunshine is witty, quick thinking, resourceful and smart as a whip.
However.... I found the narration to be scattered and inconsistent and I found the pacing threw me off my groove several times (to the point where I let it be a DNF for a long time).
I’d love to see this be refined and a bit less scatterbrained because I truly feel that Sunshine could be a powerhouse of a character.

Title: A Bad Day for Sunshine
Author: Darynda Jones
Series: Sunshine Vicram, #1
Pages: 400
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Date: April 7, 2020

Summary:

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 Marshall, 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.

Review:

I love the Charlie Davidson books and I never thought the author would be able to write anything that I would enjoy as much.

I was wrong. I know. Shocker, right?

These books are so funny. They are set in a normal, not paranormal, world, but I use the term normal loosely. Del Sol, is a weird town. Even, no especially, the sheriff knows that it is weird. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram was raised in Del Sol, but left home when she was a teenager. Now in her thirties, she has returned to raise her daughter in the town she loved as a child. Let the drama ensue.

I love Sunshine’s snark. It really reminds me of Charlie. And I love how she has entire conversations in her head. I love how no one in the town seems completely normal, but they are all pretty much accepted anyway. I think I would like to live in Del Sol, but only if I could be friends with Sunshine. She is definitely a woman you want on your side.

My only problem right now is I received this book several months before publication. I have already read it twice and cannot wait for the sequel. There is not a cliffhanger (hate, hate, hate cliffhangers), but there is definitely more of the story to be told.

Just like the Charlie Davidson books, the Sunshine Vicram series is on autobuy.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A combination of Nancy Drew, The Gilmore Girls, and a cozy romance mystery (but with four-letter words).

Sunshine Vicrum is the new sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico. Though she grew up in the small village she has been gone for years and forgotten what a peculiar place Del Sol could be.

Peculiar doesn't even begin to describe it.

There is some fun stuff here: A prize winning rooster named Puff Daddy has gone missing. The mysterious, possibly nonexistent, police officer that no one will discuss. The Book Babes, a drinking club with book problems. Cursed muffin baskets... and then there's the not so fun stuff.

An escaped fugitive in the area. A missing teenage girl, possibly abducted. Dark secrets from the past... and Del Sol's preeminent crime family, the Ravinder clan.

Despite all that and Sunshine's precocious daughter Auri, who has a tendency towards snooping, there is remarkably little going on in this book. There are several subplots that don't amount to much more than setting up possible storylines for future books.

I'm going to cut right to the chase here, most of the mysterious stuff isn't terribly difficult to figure out, a lot of the witty conversation falls flat or comes across as too snarky, and the author never seemed sure whether this was a cozy mystery, a serious thriller, a coming of age story, or just a plain ol' romance novel. At times it was almost hilarious in an unintended way.

As the story unfolds poor Sheriff Vicrum keeps getting all "tingly" in "her girly bits". And, honestly, who can blame her when there is such an abundance of "studly" "startlingly handsome" "infuriatingly exquisite" examples of "male perfection" who have "warm eyes" with "impossibly long lashes", "brandy colored" "shimmering irises" and a "glistening gaze" that holds on her "a microsecond longer than necessary" that " linger a moment too long" these "godlike"creatures who are " chisled" "like a bronze statue"?

It's a wonder the poor woman can function at all!

Needless to say, this book was not for me. That's okay, I am fairly certain I'm not the target audience. I did manage to finish it and I can understand that some readers will enjoy it, even love it - no judgements from me. If you are still interested after those quotes then, please, enjoy.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review

I really, really enjoyed this book. It was funny and some of the twists I honestly did not see coming. The plot of the book was a roller coaster, and I can't wait to see how deep into the occult Jones dives with this series, if at all; there was only a little taste of it, but I'm hoping for more in the future.

It should be noted that if you're looking for a book that will give you a glimpse into how a sheriff's office really works, keep looking. You will have to suspend disbelief on the outset.

However, if you are a fan of Jones, this book will not disappoint. The humor, sass, and tone felt a little like the Charley Davidson books, and Jones clearly has a thing for bad boys - I could draw a lot of parallels between Reyes and Levi (and Charley and Sunshine), but the characters did have enough differences that their voices were unique.

That being said, there are a few things that seem very obvious to me, re: Auri's parentage, who kidnapped Sunshine, who saved her, what happened with Levi, etc. I'm hoping that there will be a HUGE twist coming in the future novels that prove I'm not as smart as I think I am, because I'd be slightly disappointed if I figured out Sunshine's greatest mystery at book one.

Overall, a fun, fast read that has a nice balance between mystery, family drama, and budding romances to keep you turning the pages.

Darynda Jones writes books that are fun and full of entertaining characters. Bad Day for Sunshine is the first book in her new series featuring Sunshine Vicram, the newest sheriff that has no idea how she got elected. One of the best things about Darynda Jones' books are the many characters she uses to tell a wicked good story. Every day in Sunshine's life is a new adventure full of questions ranging from why everyone avoids the muffin baskets to what the book club will screw up next. Along the way, the deputies solve crimes...or commit them? If you loved Charley Davidson and Beep, you will definitely love Sunshine. It's very easy to become a Jones' fan for life!

Fun and chaos in equal measure!

When Sunshine Vicram’s well-meaning parents get her elected as sheriff of small town Del Sol, she doesn’t expect her first day to include a child abduction, a runaway rooster, a car barreling into the sheriff’s station and almost running her down, and a run-in with her first crush, Levi Ravinder.

And the fun has just begun!

This is a fast-paced read with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments interspersed with touching scenes between Sunshine and her daughter, Auri.

Levi is swoon-worthy- the bad boy done good. Handsome as sin, moody as hell, and a soft touch when it comes to those he cares about.

This is my first Darynda Jones book and I loved it! I can’t wait for the next one in the series to come out now, lol.

I give A Bad Day for Sunshine 5+ lovely kisses- Unputdownable!

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

Darynda Jones has done it again! This is the beginning of an amazing series that I can't wait to dive into as they appear. The story is set in a small town in New Mexico. Our heroine is the sheriff and this is the town she grew up in. But after a harrowing experience she left as a teenager. Now she is back and determined to solve the ultimate crime. The one against herself, Meanwhile she has bad guys to stop and people to protect. Including her teenage daughter.
Excellent story by one of my favorite writers! Thank you St. Martin's Press @us.macmillan.com and @netgalley.com

Well, she's done it again: Darynda to the rescue! I was so sad about the Charley Davidson series ending - & can someone please make me t-shirts with her best comments - but was happy to learn about this.... as expected & like a great meal, it was engaging, fulfilling & left me wanting more, More, MORE! Your appetite for all things Darynda & smart, snarky mysteries shall definitely be appeased here - pick it up & enjoy, y'all!

Del Sol, New Mexico. Hometown of Sunshine Vicram, the newly elected Sheriff who didn't even know she was in the running. On her first day on the job, she sees a missing rooster report, a flasher, and an escaped inmate and a missing teenager. 

Returning to Del Sol also means facing her past and protecting her own teenaged daughter, Auri. Although new in town, Auri has spent summers with her grandparents there and knows a few people. But the one who befriended her first is Sybil. Only now Sybil is missing, another boy goes missing and a snowstorm is hindering everything.

With help from not one but two sizzling hot guys. One, a man from her past who still makes her insides gooey and one a hot U.S. Marshall. 

There were so many side plots and things going on you couldn't blink or you would miss a clue! This book was both heartbreaking and hilarious. Who can do that??? This new series is one to watch! I absolutely loved this story and look forward to more!

April 7th, 2020 by St. Martin's Press/ NetGalley

This book was amazing!! Sunshine and the rest of the characters kept you hooked along with all the twist and turns in the mystery of the missing girl. I can’t wait for more books in this series and highly recommend that everyone reads this book!!

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. Wow what can I say about this title it was just an awesome read. This book was just something so wonderfully different I’ve never quite read anything like this. You should read to find out you won’t be disappointed. I’m definitely going to read more by this author.

She tries a little too hard with this book. Hard to get into the characters, not sure if I’ll continue with series or not.

So I didn't agree with the other readers regarding this book, but it is all of our opinions and we are entitled to them. Yes I found this funny but I did get frustrated with lack of common sense, I get it is fiction and I had to get over that because I love rom-coms and even ridiculousness but I found myself getting frustrated. And then their was the visions yet not informing anyone of those could have avoided a lot. Didn't hate but didnt love like the others.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE by Darynda Jones. I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Five stars and here’s why:

LOVED IT! I didn’t think Ms. Jones could top the Charlie Davidson series, but she’s created a new world and cast of characters that kept me up all night reading. Total book hangover! Ms. Jones writes compelling characters bursting with snark and sass that jump off the pages. I can’t wait for more books in this new series. Highly recommend!

I always get very excited when I hear that Darynda Jones is writing/releasing a new book. So after the conclusion of the Charley Davidson series, I really looked forward to seeing what she would come up with next. Darynda is one of my favorites authors, so I would've one-clicked this book without even reading the blurb (and I only do that with a few authors). A Bad Day for Sunshine is the first book in the Sunshine Vicram series. The main character is Sunshine and she just got elected as sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico, the town where she grew up in, without her knowledge. So she and her fourteen year old daughter, Auri, move back to Del Sol.

This town is pretty weird and has some interesting characters living there. It took me some time to learn all the new characters and get used to everything. Also a lot was going on, so it felt a bit chaotic at times. Multiple things were happening at the same time, so I really had to focus to remember what was going on. I am used to this from Darynda, but this being the first book in the series I just had to get used to everything. I do have to say that there was no dull moment. The story didn't give me the opportunity to get bored. I was intrigued, and curious to see what would happen next. It was mysterious, suspenseful, funny, and heartbreaking at times. Darynda Jones always finds the perfect combination of elements to keep me hooked to the story.

I already feel strong connection to the characters, and I really loved that the book was told from a dual mother/daughter POV. Both Sunshine and Auri are amazing, and I absolutely love their unique relationship. Also I am intrigued and already in love with Sunshine's almost-old-flame Levi Ravinder. He is broody, stand-offish, but he has a great heart. I can't wait to learn more about him, and see a relationship develop between him and Sunshine. There are a couple of secrets I can't wait to see unfold in the upcoming books. A Bad Day for Sunshine is in my opinion a great first book to a new series. And I think fans of her Charley Davidson series would enjoy this book as well.

Darynda Jones is known for her Charley Davidson grim reaper series. In A Bad Day for Sunshine, we get another snarky, smart yet troubled heroine tackling her first day as sheriff in her home town. In classic fashion, things go sideways, there are a ton of quirky loveable characters and old secrets. While I wanted to LOVE this new series, it seems derivative of Charley's world but more tepid.

Readers see the series set up a mile away and it's hard to invest in series reading. Do I keep at it or do I read one spectacular stand alone. I'll on the fence but am a big fan!!

First I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I didn't think Ms. Jones could write anything I would as much as I enjoyed the Charlie Davidson series. But, thankfully, I was wrong!!

I love Sunshine Vicram, the wonderful way Ms Jones writes carries through with these new characters and I can't wait to go back to see them again. In fact I think I will just reread this story, I enjoyed it that much!

Darynda Jones is a clever, fantastically funny writer, and that's mostly what kept me reading this one. I liked her characters and their feisty personalities. I did not like the sex and offensive language (otherwise, it probably would have been given five stars). The story of the missing teen is an interesting one, as she had foretold the abduction for years before it actually happened. I am grateful for the chance to have read it.

Great story line. I like the characters and the relationship developments between the characters. This is a fast paced, action packed read. You don’t know what’s going to happen next. There’s many twists and turns that keep you guessing. It definitely caught, and kept, my attention. It left me hanging at the end and I have so many unanswered questions. I have a long wait for the second book. If you liked Darynda Jones’ Charley Davidson series, you may like this one. It has the same feel, flow, and kookiness.

Wow! First book I have read by this author and my first reaction is Wow! This was an awesome book. Love all the characters and the interaction between them all. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.