Happy to have a new mystery series by Jones. Great thriller elements blended with good characterization, some humor, angst and a forward moving plot. Some parts feel a bit out of sync but overall I like where the series is going as well as the main protagonist, Sunshine and her daughter, Auri.

I requested this book because the blurb intrigued me. I had no idea how much I would love this tale.
Incredibly complex characters and a quirky sense of humor will take this to the top of sales charts. The story line involves a town of eccentric characters and a bit of paranormal. I could not put it down and finished it in one day. I have told more than a few people too keep an eye out for it's release.
Sunshine Vicram returns to Del Sol, New Mexico as the newly elected sheriff, even if she hadn't run for the office. She agreed to come home to try to solve a mystery from her past, and her daughter Aurora's paternity.
When Aurora's classmate Sybil disappears, she gets flashbacks to her own abduction, but not enough to give her the answers she seeks.
Sunshine deals with quirky cases as she searches for Sybil, taking it seriously when others hadn't. Aurora deals with high school angst and a spiteful cow of classmate. Both ladies are desperate to bring Sybil home...and work hard for that goal.
Friends and love interests for both woman had the spice to an already intriguing tale.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse and offer a very enthusiastic thumbs up.

This is the perfect start to a brand new series by Darynda Jones! I can see why her previous series is so popular with readers. She writes with perfection and has a way of sucking her readers in from the very beginning! I can't wait to see what she brings us next.

That was absolutely amazing. I devoured this book in less than a day, it's riveting!

The characters are hilarious without being too much. I really liked how they were presented and their stories were told

PD: I absolutely need the next one ASAP

Sunshine Vicram has returned to her hometown with her freshman daughter, Auri, in tow. Despite having tried to run as far away as possible (about 30 minutes), she's back and she has somehow become sheriff of Del Sol without even knowing she was running. (How do you win an election you didn't put your name in for?)

On the plus side, she's living in her parents' backyard in an "apartment" they'd had built just for her and her daughter (as if they KNEW she would win that election she didn't enter) and she's got her forever BFF as her deputy.

She also starts her first day with a flasher, a rooster-napper, a car through the window of the sheriff's office building, a kidnapping, and a run-in with the guy she has crushed on since she they were kids.

She'll take on the kidnapping as the easiest of the things to deal with.

At the same time, Auri is at her first day of high school in a new town and she's starting on a bad foot since just a few days prior, her mom's BFF deputy raided the completely secret but known by everyone high school party and confiscated the beer (for himself). Now Auri is suspecting of being a narc and the student body pretty universally hates her. Except for Cruz. He is difficult to read, but doesn't seem to be anti-Auri.

Now both mom and daughter must pool their resources to figure out why someone would take another freshman who looks a lot like Auri and how to stop that freshman's prophetic dreams of dying before her 15th birthday from coming true.

Final thoughts: I LOVE Darynda Jones and all of her snark. There are some very Charley-ish moments here (and a reference, so we're in Charley-land!), but the vibe between mother and daughter brings on a different feel. Plus we get swoons for multiple ages now so RL moms can start sharing this with their older teen daughters. Some of the plot points are obvious and future stories can also be predicted, but Jones weaves a complicated web for all of her characters and this is really a joy to read. The only negative that I had was with the formatting of the Kindle ARC since the two ladies trade off points of view for the story and it sometimes isn't immediately obvious that we've switched with the formatting as it currently appears.

Rating: 4.5/5

A Bad Day for Sunshine definitely lives up to my expectations for a Darynda Jones story. Sunshine Vicram is smart, strong, and sassy, with enough of a shadow on her past to snag you and make you want to know her story. She’s got a heart of gold, but that’s also her one weakness: she cares a lot, especially for her family. And, whether or not she wants to admit it, the entire town of Del Sol, New Mexico, is her family.
The quirky characters, the not-quite-quaint setting, the cursed pastries, and the plot so filled with twists and flips you’d think you were watching gymnastics blend beautifully to make this a terrific read. I’d highly recommend you grab a copy. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until it releases in April, so preorder it now!
**Note: If you’re reading this for the super steamy scenes you tend to find in the Charley Davidson series, you’ll probably be disappointed. A Bad Day for Sunshine definitely focused more on the mystery, the suspense, the sass and the snark…which is exactly why I enjoyed it so much. Not that it doesn’t have some lust-filled tension, just not quite so much as you may be expecting. 😉
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

Sun has lusted after Levi since they were children. Levi is a mystery to her. In the midst of controlling herself she has quite a few situations to handle. There's a new sheriff in town, muffins though delicious always preceed crazy events. What will happen? Will she solve the mysteries? Will she and Levi finally succumb to the lust?

This story will have you wanting more and looking forward to book 2. Auri, Cruz,Jimmy and the tea ladies club add depth to this gem. Comedy, drama, suspense, love and friendship reign supreme.

What a hilarious, entertaining, witty, thrilling ride from the fantastic author of Charley Davidson series (I devoured the six books of the series and I should create more time, sleeping less or multitasking like reading at the movie theater, riding my spinning bike and eating my dinner at the same time! So I can finish more books. Another solution: I should get inserted special chips too my brain to read three books at the same time!)

I laughed so much during my read and I couldn’t leave this book. It was literally glued to my hands (thanks to one of my best friend Ashley’s prank. She avenged me for not listening to her boyfriend drama and got upset my devotion to this book.) I didn’t want to get my hands off! I kept laughing and laughing. I cried my eyes out and I laughed more. Then I realized I was sitting at dentist chair and breathed too much nitrous oxide a.k.a laughing gas!!! (Good news: my teeth look whiter like shark teeth and I didn’t suffer during my appointment, special thanks to this author!)

With this book, Darynda Sarcastic Queen of New Mexico stories introduces us a new series character: Sheriff Sunshine Vicram ( Interestingly Post Malone’s Sunflower song starts playing at my head as soon as I read her name) , another independent, tough, funny, sexy, smart, likable character. When you compare her with Charley, she deals with the mortal world demons and she has a big traumatic experience in her past defines her life choices and she is a good mother. But she is luckier from parental side. She is also flirty, confidant like Charley.

But I think her 14 year old daughter Auri stole my heart and she became my favorite character of the book. She is so smart, inherited her mother’s detective skills, sensitive, cool, friendly, so much likable character. A mother’s dream daughter!

And of course Levi Ravinder, hottest tracker, Sunshine’s oldest and gold-est flame ( “Sexy Back” keeps playing at my head when I read his name of the book. I keep chanting: “Dirty babe! You see the shackles, baby, I’m your slave!), one of the most charismatic characters of the book. ( Thankfully DJ gave us some delicious Reyes Farrow kind of hero/ devilish dream boyfriend!)

So Sunshine returns back to her hometown Del Sol, New Mexico, where she left as a young, pregnant woman and turned back as sheriff. As soon as she starts her first work day, a kidnapping case falls at her lap. There is so much resembling things with Sunshine’s own kidnapping experience she’d endured when she was nearly 17 and coincidentally or not her own daughter connected with the kidnapped girl, insisting to help her mother to solve the mystery.

In the meantime her never gets old flame Levi’s nephew gets lost at the mountains which could be connected to their case and bring two never friends-enemies- possibly gonna be lovers face to face to start their searching party.

I enjoyed the characters, witty, humorous writing, pacing, progression. Only thing I didn’t like and made me cut my one star is the mystery between Levi and Sunshine is soooo obvious and predictable. It shouldn’t be a cliffhanger of the first book. It should be revealed and we have to face with another intriguing, questionable cliffhanger. At some parts I really got angry of Sunshine and hot-ass Levi and I wanted to grab their heads and hit them against the wall for making them talk honestly with each other!! They could have saved us from too much sexual and emotional tension!

Well, it’s still great start for brand new series. I want to read more adventures of these characters and witness their enjoyable journeys, HEAs!

So much special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this incredibly funny, well written book in exchange my honest review and of course so much thanks to Darynda Jones for not making us wait too much and gave us brand new, entertaining series.

A Bad Day for Sunshine is an enjoyable mystery with a likable lead in Sunshine Vikram. The small town New Mexico setting is appealing. Looking forward to book 2 of the series.

Yes, I’m a huge fan of Darynda Jones and the Charley Davidson series and was looking forward to this new series. Thank you, Net Galley, for a copy of this book for an honest review. Sunshine has been newly elected Sheriff in her hometown without her knowledge or participation in a debate. While I enjoyed her witty comments and back and forth banter with Auri, Quincy, Levi and the rest of her team, I did have a hard time taking her seriously as law enforcement or being in charge. I actually didn’t mind the different points of view from Sunshine and her daughter Auri. It was easy to follow along with and didn't make it confusing going back and forth. I continue to be a fan of Jones and will be on the lookout for book 2 in the series to see if Sunshine has figured out what the rest of us already know.

Having never read a book by Darynda Jones, and hearing wonderful things, I accepted the offer by NetGalley to read this story and I am thrilled I did. I have not laughed out loud at a book in quite some time, but his book is often hilarious, uproarious, and rollicking.

Sunshine Vicram is a terrific character, a young woman who mysteriously wins an election in a small town called Del Sol, in New Mexico. She has no idea how she won or even more amazingly how she did not know she was running for this office. The fun starts as Sunshine and her daughter, Auri return to a town she vowed never to return to, and we are treated to an engaging story of Sunshine, Auri, her terrific yet quirky parents, two drop dead gorgeous men, a best friend deputy, and a town that seems to have a bit of magic and whimsy.

All is not Sunshine and rainbows, as our heroine assumes the job, back again in a town she swore never to return to, and on the first day of the job a young girl goes missing. She is a friend of Auri's, an adorable young character who has her mother's eye and nose for mystery solving, and so the two ladies are on it trying to save this young girl. Along the way we are introduced to the very appealing, ultimately sexy man, Levi Ravinder, of the Ravinder clan, a family that has had over time various nefarious dealings and scares half the town. Levi is the love of Sunshine's life until a gorgeous federal marshal makes an appearance and Sunshine is bewitched. Can you love two men? Easy when they both are like these two.

"Welcome to Del Sol, a town full of sunshine, fresh air, and friendly faces, (Barring three or four old grouches.)"

With the mix of quirky lovable characters Ms Jones has created the beginning of a series that was not only fun to read, but also hilarious at times. Introducing each chapter with witticisms from her town, we are thrown into the fray while getting to know this town as it trends toward the unconventional side. Point me in this town's direction for I would love to live there. Poor Sunshine, whose only concern she thought, would be the town flasher, Doug, and a rooster named Puff Daddy. She in for some weird, wacky, and unusual happenings, while along the way we learn more about Sunshine and a terrible event of her past.

I am giving this book high marks on the fun side and of course recommending it most assuredly for just that along with some really adorable characters. If you are looking for a book that will lighten your spirits but has enough mystery to get you engaged, then rush to get this one. I will be back for more of this series as well as picking up a few more books written by this talented author.

Thank you to Darynda Jones, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this extremely entertaining book due out April 7, 2020.

This book had be laughing and biting my nails in suspense all at one time, and I wouldn't have it any other way. When it comes to the author, I read whatever she writes, so I was extremely excited to get my hands on this new series. Boy, it completely surpassed my expectations and left me speechless in the best way. Everything about this book was amazing, the characters, the humor, the plot, and executed in such a style that as a reader you don't know whether to laugh, cry, or pull your hair out in suspense. I cannot wait for more with these characters.

I absolutely loved the Charley Davidson series so I was a little nervous that this one wouldn't hold up but oh my goodness was I wrong. I wish Del Sol was a real place because I would move there immediately, if for no other reason than they have way more than their fair share of hot guys. I can already tell that this is going to be my new favorite series.

I'm so sad today finished but I am so looking forward to this series!
I'm sure this author knows how amazing she is but just how her mind works...... Wow...I'm here for her universe and I'm here for her books...lol.

Happily received an ARC. I loved this book! The book hasn't been released yet and I'm already eager for the sequel.

The plot was great and progressed nicely. I loved how the fantastic Darynda Jones let the plot just unfold naturally, doling out delicious nuggets that keep you reading.

Sunshine is the prodigal daughter returning to take the job of sheriff (an elected office she won without even running). Along with her comes her teenage daughter. The dynamic between these two is a thing of beauty. It was so nice to see a trusting and nurturing mother-daughter relationship.

Sun's love interest is a sexy, brooding, beast of a man. With which she shares a complicated past. Their relationship is a slow burn and I'm loving it.

I'm terribly excited for this series and can't wait for the next book. Its gonna be a long wait.

I hadn't heard of Darynda Jones before but liked the description of A Bad Day for Sunshine so I decided to try the book. I'm quite glad I did. Jones is a very talented writer and Sunshine, her daughter, and her collection of friends and coworkers are great characters. I think the parents could be fleshed out more but they provide excellent background and entry into the older generation of residents and their activities. The bookclub was particularly valuable as a plot device. As a result of reading this very enjoyable book I plan on exploring her Charley Davidson books.

The beauty of Santa Fe, the small town intrigue with a new Sherriff, and decades old murders and loves combine to make this an easy and entertaining read. New Sherriff Sunshine Vicram, elected when her parents put her up, without her knowledge, takes office in Del Sol NM, not far from Santa Fe. With her now teenage daughter from a mysterious unknown possible rape when she was a teenager, she sets out to solve crimes petty and serious. The cast of characters is quite entertaining, and it’s not all as predictable as it first felt. Some interesting procedural stuff, and the requisitite murders all lead to an excellent read, and potential series.

If half stars were an option this book would be 3.5 for me. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I was expecting to. It is defiantly a series I will pick up the next book in, and maybe after the first one the flow will be easier to get into. It's an interesting story that draws you in, but at times I had a bit of trouble following it. The two narrator approach was nice, and the juxtaposition between mother, Sunshine, and daughter, Auri was both entertaining and confusing at the same time. There were moments when I would have to stop and think about which character we were following since the switch between the two was quite abrupt. Overall the mystery leaves you guessing right up until the end, which is good. The characters are well flushed out and their relationships with each other is believable. Ultimately I would recommend this book to others, and personally can't wait to see where the series goes.

I dont think Darynda Jones can write anything that I won't like. It took me a while to get to know and understand these new characters but Darynda just has a way with words and worlds that sucks you in. Sun and Auri's relationship are simply parent goals right there. I mean all of her friendships are #goals. Levi....sigh. Oh the mysterious Levi...he'll keep you on your toes as well, simply on his hot factor alone. I really hope to see more in this world and continue to get to know these characters. A Bad Day for Sunshine is twisty while making you laugh out loud! I had a smile on my face the entire last half of this book! Excellent read!

Darynda Jones fans rejoice! The queen of laugh out loud sarcastic writing is back with a new heroine, and what will, hopefully, be the start of a new series. Returning to her hometown of Del Sol, New Mexico, Sunshine Vicram tackles a new job as sheriff, single-parenting, missing teenagers, and personal secrets, all while living behind her parents! Although mysteries build upon mysteries in the charming desert town, the discerning reader will not be surprised with the most of the solutions. Filled with just enough supernatural elements to keep fans of the author's Charley Davidson series interested, a shout out to the iconic character, and humorous quotes opening each chapter, readers will fall in love with A Bad Day for Sunshine!

I was fortunate to receive a free ARC of this book from Netgalley. The above thoughts, insights, or recommendations are my own meek musings.