I much preferred the first novel in this series. It was fun reading about Sun & Auri, but the plot felt too convoluted at times. I'll still continue on with the series if Jones writes them!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy.

A Good Day for Chardonnay is the second book in the Sunshine Vicram series by Darynda Jones and is currently scheduled for release on July 27 2021. I do recommend reading in order, so that readers can better understand some of the characters and relationships.

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff—and even fuller-time coffee guzzler—Sunshine Vicram, didn’t get that memo. All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that’s about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?) Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny’s got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he’s not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She’s seen it. Once. Accidentally. Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn’t know when to quit, Sunny’s life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.

A Good Day for Chardonnay is charming, funny, and suspenseful. I will admit that it took me a bit to remember what happened in the previous book, and who exactly everyone was, particularly in light of the previous series. However, once I let go of all that and just started to enjoy the read I was much happier and really became thoroughly invested in the characters and story again. There were some plot twists that I completely expected, some that I think I already knew going in, and a few that honestly took me by surprise. I liked that all of the major players got to grow and develop further, and that big bad things do happen- they are not the sole source of character growth and moving the plot along. Silly, fun, and heart warming moments are just as important and given just as much play as the harder moments- which I find is the key to survival anyway. I found myself grinning and then holding my breath as I read- so the roller coaster ride is very effective and will keep readers turning pages. However, I do not think this is the place for new readers to start. definately read the first book in this series, A Bad Day for Sunshine, and if you want a even better understanding of the world before getting hooked read the Charley Davidson series, which is what made me a fan.

A Good Day for Chardonnay is a fun and still heart stopping continuation of the series. Fans of the author will not be disappointed.

Sunshine is back with her witty and wisecracking ways. The banter between Sunshine and her daughter, Auri, is first rate (think Gilmore girls). With new cases and some secrets revealed, this book is action packed and enjoyable from start to finish. This book picks up right where A Bad Day For Sunshine left off, so it would be best to read that one first. Ending on a cliffhanger it looks like we will be seeing more of Sunshine. I’m hoping for much more!! There’s nothing like a little Sunshine to brighten any day!

I really like this series; even though it is a bit racier than I typically like and there is quite a bit of language, the story and the mystery and the banter really overshadows all of that. There is just so much humor amongst all the murder and chaos and that really makes these books shine. The relationship between Auri and her mom Sunshine is both hilarious and endearing and I love all their interactions with each other. Sunshine's story is thought-provoking [I am not sure I would have been able to handle all she has been through as well as she has] and I love the relationship she has with her bestie Quincy and with her parent's [though it might be noted that she will never let them set her up on a date again!]. SO looking forward to another one in this series - very well done.

I was thankfully given an audiobook [from NetGalley] for this book [I was so glad as I listened to the first book and just loved the narrator] and it was all I expected it to be. The narrator is excellent, she does voices well [I never roll my eyes at any of them] and she moves the story along at a very good pace. Lorelei King has become one of my new favorite narrators!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Darynda Jones, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillian Audio for providing this ARC and Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Sunshine Vicram is back! I was so excited to get the ebook and then the audio from the publisher. I ABSOLUTELY recommend reading A Bad Day for Sunshine first. Although the mystery is stand alone, I believe the storyline of the main characters is necessary to be read in succession. I LOVED both books and most definitely one of my favorites. I've been a fan of Darynda Jones since I first picked up Charley Davidson books ten years ago!

I'm so happy some of the "questions" from book one got wrapped but and im stuck again on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book. Quincy might be my favorite character. Yesssss to more Levi and Sunshine. I love Cruz but Auri had a tendency to drive me nuts. The unraveling of the Dangerous Daughters has me excited for more to come.

A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones
2nd book in the Sunshine Vicram series. Mystery series with a bit of romance and a lot of snark. Best read in series order. Alternating chapters from Sunshine and Auri, mother and daughter.

Sunshine investigates more of her past while life in the small town in New Mexico is unraveled by Auri, Cruz, and a full cast of characters.

I LOVE the humor and snark in this book. More, I love the relationship between mother and daughter which is open and sweet.

Excerpt:
“Can you give me one good reason why I shouldn’t beat you to death with a feather duster?”
“I made you bacon the other day.”
Dam[ ] it.”
Excerpt from A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones

Chapter Heading:
Driver reported he served to avoid tree. It was later discovered it was his air freshener. Del Sol Police Blotter.

🎧 I read both an ebook copy and then listened to an audiobook copy. The narrator is Lorelei King and she does most of the books by this author.
I love this narrator! She does an exquisite job on the timing, the humor and dry wit of all the characters. The voice variance between Sunshine and Auri is so distinctive, it’s hard to remember it’s the same narrator. It’s like listening to a live conversation between the two. I love reading the book but this narrator takes the experience to the next level.

I received both the ebook and audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher.
Thanks to #StMartinsPress, #MacMillanAudio.
I also purchased all formats available to share, gift and reread.

Darynda Jones has done it again! This second book in the series is even better than the first. Readers will fall in love with Sunshine, Auri, Levi, and Cruz. The whole cast of characters is fantastic and quirky. I am so invested in them.
We get answers to questions that came about in book one. The truth about Sunshine's kidnapping and rescue comes out. While that would be enough, Auri has decided to investigate a string of cold cases and it's one heck of a ride. Sunshine has a stabbing, a missing kid, and cases from the past to resolve.
The humor is high and I snorted my drink and burned my nose so many times I lost count. There's also a ton of heart in this one. I ugly cried several times. Holy hotness Levi! I love him as much as Reyes. There is a lot of resolution in this one while things are set up beautifully for the next book. I can't help but want the next one right now. Now I need a nap because I had to stay up all night to finish this one. I was completely gripped and just couldn't stand to put it down.

Darynda Jones knocks it out of the park again with Book 2 of the Sunshine Vicram series. There are so many good parts to this book. The mother-daughter relationship between Sunshine and Auri keeps you smiling. The crush on Levi Ravinder gives you that little bit of frustration that you experience with your girlfriends when they won't make a move on their crush. The investigation into Sunshine's kidnapping takes an interesting turn and Auri follows in her mom's footsteps investigating a cold case. This is definitely a series to keep reading!

You know that feeling when you finish the second book of a new series and are just utterly disappointed? Well, have no fear! A Good Day for Chardonnay DOES NOT DISAPPOINT! There is so much going on from a hunt for a serial killer to a missing child cold case to the personal lives of our beloved Sunny, Levi, Auri and Qunicy that I practically read it in one sitting. It's a roller coaster of emotions. One moment I am laughing out loud to the hilarious banter and then next I am tearing up. I absolutely love how Darynda did not drag certain plot lines from A Bad Day For Sunshine longer than necessary. I also loved the cliffhanger! Book three is going to be fire.

My only issue with the book is the spirit animal joke. Yes, it involved a real animal but it still comes off a bit tasteless. Keep the bandit in crime but find a way around that one joke, please.

A Good Day For Chardonnay is exactly what I needed. It has mystery and comedy and romance and steam.
These characters have found a place and buried themselves into my heart. And I cannot wait for more!

A little too much Chardonnay left me feeling hungover!

Don’t read this book if you haven't read book one: A Bad Day for Sunshine

There is quite a lot going on in A Good Day for Chardonnay: Sunshine Vicram is investigating a case linked to her past, her teenage daughter, Auri, is investigating a cold case involving a serial killer, and currently, the man she is in love with, Levi Ravinder, is involved in a serious altercation leading to an even bigger investigation. On top of this, town secrets are revealed, a tragic death occurs, and a huge revelation is made, leading to a cliffhanger. Whew! It’s a lot to take in and a lot to follow.

The narrative switches back and forth between Sunshine and Auri. I love the relationship between these two. Their banter always makes me smile. Similar to book #1, the dialogue is fast-paced and extra-sharp. However, at times it was all a little too much, especially with the multiple plot lines and extra quirky characters woven in. Warning: There is also a NSFW sex scene that was off the rails. Some of the language had me covering my eyes.

Having loved book#1, I was so excited to read book #2. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this the way I was expecting. The plot has too many storylines. The characters I found witty and charming in book #1 were a little obnoxious and a little too ridiculous for my taste. However, I still love these characters and look forward to reading book #3.

The good thing about this book is that lots of burning questions are finally answered. I have no idea where things go from here, especially with this wackadoodle cast of characters, but I look forward to finding out.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in the Sunshine Vicram series opens with Sunshine on a blind date set up by her parents. I've had some bad dates but Sunshine seems to be a magnet for them. Her thoughts are laugh out loud funny. in fact, pretty much all of her thoughts are laugh out loud except when she is thinking of Levi. Sigh...what an addition to book boyfriends!

Sunshine's daughter, Auri are quite a team. Some of their conversations make me snort. They have an amazing relationship. Auri seems to have a penchant for getting into trouble. She often drags her besties along with her for those adventures.

Once again, Sunshine is pursuing Levi. This time regarding a stabbing outside his bar which leads to a huge mystery involving a multitude of players and plots.

We learn quite a bit more about the Dangerous Daughters who are rumored to run the town. Sunshine is excellent at research and will stop at nothing to reach her goal.

The cast of characters is amazing and I would love to have a best friend like Quincy. His antics with the raccoon had me laughing to the point that I think I frightened my cats.

There is a resolution to a couple of things that were left hanging in book one. The ending was abrupt and has me wishing the next book was ready to read right now.

I highly recommend this series and suggest you read it ASAP.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Grab a glass of chardonnay and enjoy!

This is a worthy follow up to A Bad Day for Sunshine as the author once again taps into the energy and the fun of the main character, Sunshine Vicram.

In this delightful installment, there are many things afoot in this small town where Sunshine reigns as the sheriff. All of the characters we have come to love are back including the hunk Levi. He still sizzles Sunshine’s brain and other parts and their involvement proceeds to its inevitable conclusion.

Sunshine's daughter, Auri, is trying to be like her mom, out there trying to solve crimes and thinking one of the elderly town residents is a serial killer. It's crazy town with a huge share of people who seem at times to be operating on shaky ground. However, in the midst of fun and frolic, there murder, mayhem, and 💕💕.

What was fun in the first book continues, are the barbs and banter that flows especially between Sunshine, her parents, and her cohorts. All in jest but with some serious death challenging events, the author manages to keep the reader satisfied with its content while settling some unanswered questions from the first book.

It’s a tad long, but absolute fun as we breathe a sign of relief as Sunshine gets exactly what we hope she would.

Hoping there will be another book in this series!

Thank you to Darynda Jones, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this book to be released on July 27, 2021.

I loved this book. So much was revealed and the way it was done was fantastic. I also love all of the little "signs" from around town that are at the beginning of each chapter. Love the humor in them. Hoping to not have to wait long for the next book in this great series.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones is the second book in her Sunshine Vicram series.
It would be best if you read the books in order. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram is back and what she thought was going to be a day off turns into a roller coaster of mystery and danger, and of course, it all somehow revolves around Levi Ravender, the guy she can’t forget. She’s dealing with a bar fight that may turn into a murder investigation, a teenage daughter who's on the hunt for a possible serial killer, the missing child case that still haunts her has fresh leads, memories of her own abduction as a teen are beginning to surface, and Levi is in danger. I adored this book and stayed up way past my bedtime reading because there was no way I could go to sleep without finding out what happens next. Steam Level: Medium Publishing Date: July 27, 2021
#AGoodDayForChardonnay #StMartinsPress #DaryndaJones #ContemporaryRomance #MysteriesAndThrillers #MysterySeries #bookstagram #bookstarammer #NetGalley

I really liked the first book in this series, A Bad Day for Sunshine, so I was thrilled to see the second book. Sunshine Vicram is back and I can honestly say it was good to spend time with her again. She is the sheriff in the town where she grew up, a place she ran from years ago. ( Read the first book to find out how this happened, though you won't be lost if you don't.) Fate and her parents' intervention brought Sunshine and her daughter Auri home, and this boring little town isn't exactly as quiet as she remembers.
This time, she is navigating bad blind dates, an extremely clever raccoon, old unsolved missing person cases, and her undying love for Levi Ravinder. Whenever something bad happens, you can count on Sunshine's dialogue to make you laugh-out-loud, and don't even get me started on the other secondary characters. They are as unique as Sunshine, and hands down there is one fictional town that I would love to visit. The sarcastic banter just kept me laughing and flipping pages, and I am sorry to say, the end came too soon. An engaging mystery, and even though I am not much of a romance reader, I've got my fingers crossed hoping that things work out for several of these couples. This series is just too enjoyable to pass up, and as lots of my Instagram book buddies always say, there is no bad day for chardonnay.

Summertime means:
Sunshine
A cool drink
Suntan lotion and a
Darynda Jones book


Darynda Jones always delivers the laughs and adventures. She's the kind of writer I can always fall into time and time again. Her characters are in tune with family love and empathy and it's very heart warming.

What I love about Darynda's style of writing is that there's always more than one story going on. There's always something to fill the pages with. A talent of hers I always admired.

Oh, and Darynda? Since you mentioned it does this mean you might write a short novel filled with Mrs. Fairborn's confessions? *fingers crossed*

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.

I loved A Bad Day for Sunshine last year, and when I got my greedy little hands on book 2, there may have been some moderate jumping around and squealing. A Good Day For Chardonnay continues the fun of the first book, with hapless but headstrong Sunshine Vicram, her daughter Auri, and all the other assorted characters who are making this series golden.

There are a lot of laughs in this book, same as the first, but there's more heart in this follow up. I may have shed a tear or two, especially when some beautiful poetry was read at a really touching moment. I think the friendships and family ties are where this series really shines. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. There were quite a few threads involved in the central mystery, but not so many that it was tough to follow. I would say that if you are interested, you should definitely read book one before this, because there are some things introduced there that are brought to light in A Good Day For Chardonnay. As a disclaimer, there are some rather explicit intimate scenes and strong language, neither of which bother me in the least, but I know are sticky for other readers. If you like to laugh, and solve puzzles, and swoon, this series may be right for you. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the chance to review this advance copy.

I can never get enough of Darynda Jones' humor and wit, as displayed in her Charley Davidson series, and also here as well. I really got lost in the storytelling and can't say enough good things about this new series.

I enjoyed the writing style and varied characters in this thriller. Some may a shocked at the very explicit sex scene
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Darynda Jones' blend of exciting plots and snarky humor has always been a big hit with me - I know that isn't the case with everyone, but I also know I'm not al all alone with this. I was really excited to get this book on netgalley because I've been really excited to read it!

A Good Day for Chardonnay is the second book in the Sunshine Vicram series. I would definitely recommend reading book 1 first, as a lot of characters and plotlines continue. Sunshine is the sheriff in a quirky New Mexico town. In this book she deals with a blind date from hell, an escape artist raccoon, and several much more series problems. There were some big payoffs from book one + this one (some of them I'd guessed or at least hoped for), and I enjoyed every part of this book. One of my favorite subplots involved Sunshine's daughter Aurie pursuing a cold case. I think Aurie and her boyfriend Cruz are two of my favorite characters, but they are all kind of my favorites :)