Yes, I’m a huge fan of Darynda Jones and the Charley Davidson series and this is basically a non supernatural version. Thank you, Net Galley, for a copy of this book for an honest review. While the first book it was harder to take Sunshine serious in the sheriffs role the second book she came off as more in control of her department and it made more sense her being a leader. I thoroughly enjoy the banter between all the characters and the progression of relationships between them. I adore Quincy’s character, sort of reminds me of aspects of my husband. I’m excited to see what the next book(s) will have in store. I’m always up for a fun, easy read and Darynda has yet to disappoint me.

Ebook/ARC/Mystery: This is book two in the Sunshine series, which is not paranormal, but contemporary. I want to thank NetGalley for letting me have an advanced reader's copy in lieu of an honest review.
As a disclaimer, I have read the whole Charlie Davidson series and I see too many similarities in this series. So much so that when Sunshine or Auri are in peril, I'm waiting for the perpetrator to get their spinalcord sliced. It's more like taking Charlie's world after the baby, making everyone mortal and tossing them in a small town with too much crime.
There's a whole goofy town to go along with Sunshine's life including parents, coworkers, neighbors, and badguy. Of course the only serious person is Levi, (again, too much Charlie's world).
The difference in this book is that are too many plots going on for a mystery. I thought it was too long and should have ended 80% the way in. After everyone was saved, I figured 50 more pages to wrap up. Nope, 150 more pages of plot. It was tiring at that point.

Thank you NetGalley , Darynda Jones and St. Martin's Press for the ARC pf A Good Day for Chardonnay. This is my personal review.
This is the second book in the Sunshine Vicram Series. I have not read the first book in this series.
I have to go back read the first in the series to get a really good feel for all the characters in this series.
The writing in this book is excellent. The interaction and dialogue was fabulous. The author knew how to grab and hold me even without my realizing she had me from the first word.
This book had so much in it romance and mystery just to name two.

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram is back along with her sleuth teenage daughter Auri and the rest of the quirky crew from the first book A Bad Day For Sunshine. I went into A Good Day For Chardonnay with fingers crossed for more of the sarcastic, witty banter and laugh out loud scenes and was richly rewarded with all that and more. This book gifts readers with much needed depth in story line that I found lacking in book 1 - depth found through the exploration and development of the case of Sunshine's abduction. All clues point to badboy Levi Ravinder, but Sunshine knows in her heart he didn't do it although she has a feeling he was there. Major revelations there, and the author takes this opportunity to strengthen and develop their relationship and move it forward at warp speed. Readers also get more depth through the inclusion of an old serial killer case that daughter Auri, whose determined to follow in her mother's footsteps, decides to investigate along with her best friend and boyfriend Cruz. What a fiasco that turns out to be! Again, great character and plot development! These plots all twist and intertwine in surprising ways, producing hilarious scenes filled with snark and yet also real emotional connections between characters. I can't say enough about this cast of characters - each command their own space in the story and every single unique personality has its time to shine. Jones has outdone herself!

A Good Day For Chardonnay is hilarious, heartwarming and entertaining to read. Development in character relationships and overall plot lines are huge as missing pieces of the puzzle fall into place and questions are answered. I loved the sexy banter between Sunshine and Levi as well as the heartfelt moments, the awesome family moments between Sunshine and Auri and Auri and her grandparents, the witty banter between Sunshine and her best friend Deputy Quincy and the quirkiness of the whole crazy town . . . including the raccoon who refuses to stay put, creating chaos everywhere. Jones lends her unique voice to this fast paced, action packed, captivating story and spins a tale worthy of a tall glass of Chardonnay. Humorous, stimulating and an absolute delight to read, I highly recommend A Good Day For Chardonnay to everyone! Cheers to a five star read!

Darynda Jones is always a fun read for me. Her characters feel real. The stories aren't noir. There are real moments, sad moments, tough to read and the kind that stay with you, and characters you've grown to love and don't want to let go of will sometimes die, but there's also joy and love and a feeling that things will work out.

This book isn't an exception. I like that i could read and enjoy it even though I haven't read the first one. Yes they are all connected, and this book ends at a point where i very much need to read the next one to see how it continues, but i don't really have questions about the main mystery of this book.

Her world-building is also fantastic. I can see these characters in all their craziness. I want to see more of them to see how their stories continue.

This was good. A very solid book with a few different plots you have to keep track of. You should definitely read the first book first, and i wouldn't read the next one without reading this one. But you will finish this one with a smile on your face.

ETA: I was provided an ARC of this book through netgalley but that didn't impact my enjoyment of it.

This is the second book of a new series. I really enjoyed the first book, and was happy to see this book! Sunshine Vicram is the Sheriff of Del Sol, NM. This is such a good, fun series and I recommend it!

As always, the brilliant Darynda Jones has kept me entertained for hours!
A Good Day for Chardonnay was equally as grand as A Bad Day for Sunshine. We, again, follow Sunshine and her daughter along as they solve crimes in their little NM town. We get to meet all of the interesting characters, join in their antics, and feel their emotions. I’m only sad that I have to wait for the next installment!

I love Darynda Jones! Her fast-paced stories are always a great ride, gauranteed to whisk me away from reality. I love her larger-than-life characters.

I was worried this wouldn't live up to A Bad Day for Sunshine, but I need not have. A Good Day for Chardonnay was equally as funny, sarcastic, quirky, and banter-filled as its predecessor, and I think the mystery (make that mysteries) was better developed and explained. Plus, there was lots more Levi Ravinder.

As in A Bad Day, the storylines follow Del Sol sheriff Sunshine Vikram and her 15-year-old daughter Auri as they try to solve crimes in their weird little town 30 miles or so from Santa Fe, and there are a lot of crimes — a possible serial killer, an unsolved abduction from Sunshine's first case as a detective, Sunshine's own abduction when she was 17, etc...and a lot of them seem to lead back to the Ravinder clan. Sunshine is determined to get to the bottom of it all, even if that means getting close to the "dark lord" aka Levi, who is as mysterious and gorgeous as ever.

Darynda Jones does a great job of reminding readers of what happened in book 1 and who the recurring characters are, but I recommend reading this series in order. I was also very pleasantly surprised by how many questions from book 1 were answered in book 2. One storyline in particular could have dragged on forever but made real progress. Thanks for not stringing me along mericlessly, Ms. Jones! Eagerly awaiting book 3 (for the next year).

Darynda Jones just keeps getting better. Sunshine and crew are back for more hijinks - there are parts of this that read like Scooby Doo - as she continues to investigate the death of her abductor, a pesky racoon and a strange attack on one of Levi's friends. If Sunshine isn't getting into trouble, I guarantee her daughter Auri and friends are as they begin a secret investigation into a cold case involving boarding houses and serial killers. Filled with humour, snappy dialogue and wonderful characters, A Good Day for Chardonnay is sure to delight readers - but start with the first book please lest you miss some of the unfolding mystery.

I can't express how much I enjoy Ms. Jones' books - they are funny, well-paced with fantastic characters. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.

This series keeps getting better... I really enjoyed this second installment. I like how these books feel complete n themselves without relying on cliffhangers to get us coming back for more. Totally fun humor and mystery and love interest and I know I’m going to pick up the next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy.

Sunshine Vicram is Sheriff for a small town department in New Mexico. This is the second book that features Sunshine. Here her teenage daughter is hunting a serial killer and Sunshine is still trying to find info on her long ago abduction.
This book is just what I needed to read. It is so engrossing that you forget about your own life and immerse yourself into all the mysteries and challenges facing Sunshine. Her sarcasm and wit keep you entertained throughout the book. Seeing Sunshine’s re,action ships with other characters is delightful and the yearning she has for Levi is entertaining as well.
I was very satisfied with how the book plays out but with that ending I really need the next book as soon as possible. If you want a book with witty dialogue and fascinating characters this Is the boom for you.

Another hilarious installment of Sunshine! This series is wonderful. I love when a book can make me laugh and cry. Darynda Jones is an amazing and talented storyteller. I can't wait to continue this journey with Sunshine and her family!

Loved reading the sensational and spectacular second story in the Sunshine Vicram series. When Sunshine hears Levi is seriously hurt, she rushes to his side, finds out he was defending his friend who has been rushed to the hospital, and Levi is refusing to go to the hospital. Meanwhile, Sunshine's daughter with her friends are trying to uncover a serial killer case. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, full of action, suspense, mystery, and romance.
I reviewed a copy of the book through NetGalley.

This is book two in the Sunshine Vicram series, and you will probably want to read book one *A Bad Day for Sunshine' first to get the backstory. There is the main mystery (or two) that is solved within this book, but there is another, more personal mystery/storyline that runs throughout the books. The characters are brilliantly written and well developed. There is a lot of humor (mostly from the characters personalities.) There is lots of suspense, and secrets are revealed. There are some emotional scenes. Plenty of heart ache along the way, but the humor keeps it light hearted enough to keep it more upbeat, despite the serious nature of things. If you are familiar with the Charley Davidson series by this author, you will feel a familiarity with Sunshine. She has a similar personality (minus the supernatural aspect.) It keeps your attention throughout and was hard to put down. Wonderfully written. It alternates POVs. There is some mild sexual content and violence. There is also mention of sexual assault that may be a trigger for some readers (though it is only mentioned and not played out in the pages.)

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

I’ve only read one or two books by Darynda Jones and what I’ve read I have thoroughly enjoyed so when I saw A Good Day for Chardonnay offered up for review, I thought sure why not. I didn’t know it was part of a series and now I am totally kicking myself for not getting the book one in the Sunshine Vicram Series and reading it first. Not because I feel I missed something but because Chardonnay was so stinking good. I need more of Sun and her world. on.

So, what makes this series so special you may ask? It has everything from mystery to wine to dead bodies. But what this book has that makes it shine is Sunshine. I freaking LOVE Sun! Sheriff in a small town you would think would be easy peasy job, and it probably would be for anyone but Sun. Between a bar fight that goes bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer, a raccoon on the loose, and her own personal still unresolved mystery, Sun’s life is anything but quiet.

The character ensemble is some of the best I have read in a long time. They are fun, quirky and are an endless source of humor for me. The banter between Sun and Quincy had me in stitches and their special moment with boxes wine…HILARIOUS! Auris antics provide equal amounts of sweetness and giggles. Someone needs to pin a bell on the teen before she gets into anymore trouble. As much as I was cheering for Auri and Cruz, the real couple I was on the edge of my seat for, was Sun and Levi. Are they or aren’t they because Levi is yummy! They certainly have an interesting connection to say the least. And that ending, that final moment, the final sentence of that book. Insert endless screaming here.

Mysteries abound, chaos ensues, and too many laugh out loud moments to count is all offered in A Good Day for Chardonnay. Grab yourself as glass of wine, a towel for all the times you will spew said wine out and enjoy this book. Listen to me when I say this is a series you do not want to miss out.

Stars: 5

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own

A Good Day for Chardonnay is a continuation of A Bad Day for Sunshine, published about a year ago. The story begins slowly, and the first few chapters are a little too light and silly. Events do begin to happen, though - there's a stabbing, and Sheriff Sunshine's forever "crush", Levi, is involved. There's also another story to follow at the same time. Sunshine's daughter, Auri (Sunshine was abused during a kidnapping, and 9 months later, Auri is born) decides to solve an old case, and in the process gets into some trouble herself. The story is long, and filled with silly humor, some of which is annoying. I was glad when Jones finally wraps up the story and I felt like the ending was appropriate and satisfying.

I could bump the number of stars to 4 if the book was edited down a little, and the humor was a little more sophisticated, I suppose.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read A Good Day for Chardonnay.

Big girls don’t cry. They pop a couple Xanax, wash them down with vodka, and set a car on fire. If you are this girl, we can help. —SIGN AT DALE SAUL, ATTORNEY AT LAW

There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than diving in to a Darynda Jones book. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, I’d highly recommend doing so before reading book two because there will be major spoilers if you don’t, so fair warning before picking up A Good Day for Chardonnay.

“Deputy Cooper?”
“Yeah, boss?” he replied, panting close by.
“Are you conscious?”
“Yes.”
“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.”
Damn it.

Before I even got to the second chapter, I was already cracking up over the antics of Deputy Quincy and his love/hate relationship with a raccoon who is a lot smarter than him. Unfortunately, the raccoon isn’t the most dangerous Del Sol criminal that our Sheriff Vicram will have to contend with. Mystery, murder, and mayhem are afoot and Sunshine and Auri are on the case. Yup, mini Vicram has another case to solve too, and enlists her yummy boyfriend Cruz and friend Sybil to help her out. If this leads to Cruz sneaking over and vice versa, so be it. But this also means that Auri needs to get “the talk”.

“I’ve realized I’ve been putting off this conversation long enough.”
Auri paled. “You really haven’t.”
“I feel now is the right time.”
“It really isn’t.”
“We need to discuss the devil’s doorbell.”
Auri paused and tilted her head to the side. “The devil’s what?”
“You know. The button of bliss. The pushpin of pleasure.”
“Oh. My. God.”
“Satan’s socket.”
“I’m going to need so much therapy.”

When I say that I could not stop crying with laughter over this whole scene, I do not lie. I love the relationship between mom and daughter and every interaction with these two just fills my heart with warmth. They have such a special bond that has become even stronger since the revelations in book one. I also love that this book shows how much Auri is like her mom, which has her grandparents in a fit.

Sunshine is not one to be outdone, as she and BFF Quincy chase down leads over a mysterious stabbing that seems to lead to an old case that still haunts Sunshine. And all of this will bring her back to the biggest of all mysteries, her own past. Of course, let’s not forget the number one reason we are all reading, Levi and his abs….or is that just me? Levi is in the thick of all things, and Sunshine’s multiple “attempts” to “arrest” him just because, isn’t going to stop him from investigating what happened to get his friend stabbed. This, of course, leads to Sunshine and him butting heads. I love these parts. Who wouldn’t want him handcuffed, preferably to a bed? *wink*

“Look, what do you want in a relationship?”
She lifted a shoulder. “The usual. Someone I can share my life with who’ll leave me alone most of the time.”

All of this leads to a massive reveal and an ending that lead me to a very loud cry of “noooooo” as I realized I had finished and didn’t want it to end. This series has quickly become one that I need desperately to read and I am anxiously awaiting the next book already.

Five “give me more Levi shirtless scenes” stars.

Ah ha, I knew it. I had a major suspicion on something, and it was confirmed in this book. I'm curious to see where it will lead from here. Love this series, but really anything Darynda Jones writes is fabulous.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A Good Day for Chardonnay feels very similar to the last books I read by Darynda Jones. It’s not bad, but I kept thinking I read it already. There was the plucky heroine with the nice rack and a heart of gold, the young person the heroine loves immensely, the sassy best friend, the milquetoast parents, and the abusive but hot love interest. The mystery was fine. The suspense was suspenseful. There was nothing wrong with it, except maybe the abusive guy, but I just couldn’t get excited about it.