One thing that is imperative for the readers to keep in mind; this is not a Jack Reacher, Lucas Davenport, or Alex Cross type of series, so don't look for that. It isn't a new mystery in each book. While she may present new cases with each volume, the basic arc is continuous.

It's easy to get frustrated when a series arc like this is dragged out, particularly when everyone knows what's going on, even if no one has come out and said it. I know I was getting very frustrated.

But then, quite suddenly, I realized what was happening; I simply loved her writing. The way she was bringing so much into the underlying story arc while weaving different action scenes and some very adorable awww moments through it all seemed designed to keep us engaged while sadistically holding back that one sentence that will have us all saying, "Finally!"

And it worked. Her style is so spellbinding, so delightfully full of wit and snark, and even more than a few tears that I can read her work without ever getting bored.

Now that is talent. So, do I want her to move it along already? Let's just say the moment I start to feel that way, she switches gears, and I completely forget that I was getting impatient.

If you loved A Bad Day for Sunshine, you're gonna love this one. I'm on pins and needles waiting for the next.

Oh, and there's a brand new OMG, wiping my forehead and crossing my legs tight hunk of hotness on my list of men I'd leave my husband for! Levi Ravinder, come on down! He is now in a three-way tie with Reyes and Roarke (In Death series) for first place on that very exclusive list, which means one writer, two guys in first place. Now there's true talent!

Excellently done, Darynda Jones! What an amazing first shot at a whole new genre!


Now that is talent. So, do I want her to move it along already? Let's just say the moment I start to feel that way she switches gears and I completely forget that I was getting impatient.

If you loved A Bad Day for Sunshine, you're gonna love this one. I'm on pins and needles waiting for the next, A Hard Day for a Hangover.

Oh, and there's a brand new OMG, wiping my forehead and crossing my legs tight hunk of hotness on my list of men I'd leave my husband for! Levi Ravinder, come on down! He is now in a three-way tie with Reyes and Roarke (In Death series) for first place on that very exclusive list. Which means one writer, two in first place. Now there's true talent!

Excellently done, Darynda Jones! What an amazing first shot at a whole new genre!

OMGoodness!! I loved this book so hard. Sunshine (Sun) is the best. She cracks me up. I love the witty banter between her and, well...everyone. The mysteries are interesting and exciting and dangerous. And I'm crazy about Levi, Sun's old flame, and her daughter, Auri. I can't wait for the next book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Darynda Jones does everything right in the new book in the Sunshine Vicram series, A Good Day For Chardonnay. Sunshine Vicram was kidnapped 15 years ago and rescued five days later with a memory full of holes and a baby on the way. Now she is the sheriff in Del Sol, New Mexico, where things are usually quiet, including her love life. A stabbing at the Roadhouse Bar and Grill leaves one man clinging to life and Sunshine’s lifelong crush, Levi Ravender, struck by the car that fled after he intervened to save his friend. Now Sunshine has a whole bunch of interesting going on in her life.

Sunshine has to find the criminals from the bar, figure out why everyone keeps confessing to the 15-year-old murder of the man who abducted her, and figure out why a young boy whose unsolved disappearance she worked on as a member of the Sante Fe police department suddenly shows up on a convenience store surveillance video. All this while dealing with her precocious teenage daughter, Auri, who is convinced the nice old lady who confesses to every crime might actually be a serial killer.

Jones keeps all these balls in the air in a hilarious and entertaining story that never slows down. Sunshine and Auri are lovable characters on their own, but the cast is rounded out with a quirky mix of deputies, well-meaning parents, a handful of villains and some quirky townsfolk. Add in some steamy sex scenes and you have a wildly entertaining mashup!

Lorelei King narrates the audiobook and is the perfect match for the humor and pace of the book. She captures the characters in every mood, adding levity, seriousness, and passion as it is called for. She brings out the sly humor at every turn and really makes the book a delight to listen to.

If you are not already a fan of this series, you will become one. This series is must-read. What a fun book!

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.

Highly entertaining, emotionally thrilling, fun and action packed adventure filled with intriguing and engaging charters, witty and memorable dialog, heart racing twists, unexpected turns and exciting moments I wont soon forget. Excellent reading!

I will round this up from a 3.5. There was too much going on. Sunshine is having flashbacks regarding her abduction when she was a teenager. There is a sighting of a young boy who was abducted when he was five that involves a ponzi scheme and an assassin. The mayor wants her to find out if the Dangerous Daughters really do exist and her own daughter, Auri, thinks Mrs. Fairborn, an elderly woman who confesses to all the crimes committed in Del Sol, is possibly a serial killer. Auri and her boyfriend are injured and there is a mystery surrounding his Dad. Add in Sunshine's ongoing attraction to Levi and I felt like things were missing from each of the stories. I didn't care for the ending. It was too open ended for my liking and really obvious that there will be a third book. Some of the dialog seems silly and I did laugh out loud a couple of times but it was the right book at the right time. I like all of the characters and wish I had a family tree for those Ravinders. Will I read the next book? Absolutely only to see if there is a resolution to some of the things brought up in this one.

I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with the opportunity to read this book.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2021/07/27/a-good-day-for-chardonnay-by-darynda-jones/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

4.5 hearts

There were some open threads I was wanting to know after <strong>A Bad Day for Sunshine,</strong> which started this new <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/268702-sunshine-vicram" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Sunshine Vicram</strong> </em></a>series from Darynda Jones.  Sunshine is the new sheriff. Her parents live here. We have learned a little of her history, but there is some of her past she doesn't remember.  Her daughter, Auri, still continues to involve herself in trying to solve mystery with a bit of TSTL with a side of putting others in danger.

The mysteries and cases kept things moving at a fast pace.  There is a lot we learn and everything is tied up with various events from the past, not the same event, different events.  There's a series of missing people from the past.  There's the Dangerous Daughters which the mayor wants Sunshine to investigate.  A man gets nearly killed in a stabbing and is only saved by Levi, who then gets hit by a car.  There are plenty of Ravinders who don't seem to be toeing the line legally.

The "guys are hot" was toned down a bit from the first book. I didn't enjoy the racoon story line. I worried about Auri because she didn't think critically and endangered herself and others. She has some good leads on criminals but should not pursue them herself.  She needs to work with law enforcement; Auri certainly has plenty of those to trust.  Sunshine did have good instincts on following leads and information.  Her skills are excellent and she is building a great team.  I look forward to the new officer.

<strong>A Good Day for Chardonnay</strong> gave me the mysteries and solved some things for the past I wanted to know.  The humor was still fun.  Personally, Sunshine comes to terms with things in her personal life. She admits to herself what she wants and how she feels.  Her daughter is growing up and greatly attracted to a young man.  The ending leaves a few things up in the air for another adventure, as well as more personal growth and relationships. I'll be reading.

Sunshine Vicram is one of my favorite fictional characters ever. I want to hang out with her. Or maybe I want to be her. Major girl crush going on here.

And don't even get me started on Levi. Could there be a better fictional boyfriend? Rhetorical question. He's perfection, but not in that annoying too-good-to-be-true way.

I have nothing but glowing praise for this book. Darynda Jones is a master at balancing dark suspense and levity. The pace is quick, the plot kept me on edge, and the characters came alive.

This is the second book in the series, and could be read as a stand-alone. But don't skip the first book. Seriously. It's way too good to miss.

Now I want book 3. Like, right now. Please.

It is four month after the events in A bad day for Sunshine. Both Poetry Reyes and Zee have settled into staff at the police station. Sunshine's crush, Levi, has been scare. She has not interacted with him more than a few times. Her parents, loving and still controlling, have decided she needs a partner. So the book opens with another blind date. Here Jones' comedic touch excels. The dialogue lines ping pong between date (loser) and Sunshine's interior thoughts. Basically she is plotting to 'kill' her parents for setting her up. After all no one is as good as Levi might be.
Happily Quince breaks in with an S.O.S, Randy is back.

New readers will be delighted with the raccoon hunt, yes Randy, the nemesis, is a wild foe. The scene is pure comedy. Not so much with the next section. Levi has been hurt, his good friend beaten and stabbed, and his family as always is more an obstruction than a help. Will Sunshine be able to solve the puzzle before Levi? And what of Randy? The overall mystery that began in book one (who really is in charge of Del Sol) continues. This is a rollicking mystery, which can turn for laughter to suspense on a quick dime. Jones is proving to her fans that she can soar with pure mysteries as well as those from the paranormal genre.

Highly recommended

Full disclosure: I received this ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this opportunity.

This was soooo much better than the first book, which is saying a lot because I devoured the first book in the series in one sitting. Of course the same thing happened with this one. This one was more exciting, more steamy, just more of everything. Sunshine and her daughter, Auri, are a hoot. I just hope my daughter and I have half of the hilarious relationship that those two share. The less danger magnet half please. Sunshine and Levi's relationship has grown even more, and if that trend continues, the next book will probably combust before it reaches my kindle. Highly recommended!

I one click Darynda Jones, so when the publisher came me the opportunity to read this ARC for my honest opinion, I jumped at the chance. This book is part of a series and you need to read book 1 first. Sunshine just wants a day off but everything and everyone is working against her. The mayor, her parents, he daughter and even strangers. You will laugh, you will cry ( while laughing) you will scream ( or at least I did) this book is fast paced, page turner. I love it…..bring on the next!

A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones is the 2nd book in her fun Sunshine Vicram series. I loved the first book in this series, and I loved this one even more. Refresher: Sunshine (Sunny) Vicram, our heroine, returned to her home town of Del Sol, New Mexico, as the newly elected sheriff, which she suspects her parents meddled into getting her elected. Sunny left town years before, at the age of 17; after she suffered a trauma, having been kidnapped and then pregnant, and now comes home having had a seasoned and successful career as a detective, with her 14-year-old daughter, Auri.

Sunny, who seems to never have a day off, as her police team continually calls her for anything, even trying to catch a racoon, and all she wants is to relax with a glass of chardonnay. Sunny is a tough, independent, smart, funny heroine, which you couldn’t help but love. The relationship between Sunshine and Auri was wonderful, and I loved how close they were and their cute bantering back and forth throughout the book with each other.

Her best friend, Quincy (chief deputy), is crazy obsessed with this racoon, and calls her to his place, with the rest of the team. They are a crazy, close and very good team, which gives us plenty of laughs. While out, the team is called to a bar, as a fight broke out with people getting hurt. One being Levi Ravinder (Sunny’s secret obsession), and his friend, who has been seriously injured. The attackers have escaped, and Levi, despite his injuries is determined to find them. At this point, the storyline splits between the attack at the bar, and discovering clues to an old case of Sunny’s when she was a detective; as well truths are revealed regarding her kidnapping years before. This becomes an exciting, suspenseful, action filled, edge of your seat adventure, which kept me glued to my seat throughout. What makes this even better is the craziness and fun banter between Sunny, Quincy, Auri, the grandparents, and even Levi; so much fun, releasing the tension.

Auri, who I loved, decides she wants to be like her mom, and gets her boyfriend, Cruz and friend Sybil to help prove that a local 80-year-old lady is a serial killer. Of course, they constantly get into trouble, but I loved Cruz, who gave me the feel of a young Levi.

I absolutely loved Levi (he comes from a dangerous family, with one having been the one who kidnapped Sunny all those years ago); they both had feelings for each other; and as we edged slowly toward the end, both will act on their feelings. Levi was so great with Auri, acting almost like a father. I liked Hailey, another member of the Ravinders, as she and Sunny became secret friends.

A Good Day for Chardonnay was not only an intense exciting mystery, with lots of heartwarming humor that was a lot of fun, as Sunny, Levi, Auri, Quincy, Zee, Cruz, and others were so great together, making us laugh quite a bit. I look forward to the next book in this series, as spending more time with Sheriff Sunshine Vicram is a must for me. I suggest you jump on the bandwagon now, and start with A Bad Day for Sunshine, then A Good Day for Chardonnay, so very well written by a fantastic author, Darynda Jones.

This second installment about Sheriff Sunshine Vicram has everything - mystery, good guys vs bad guys, heroic teenagers and romance !

This is the second book of the series and are favorite coffee drinking, witty sheriff is back and this time dealing with trying to piece her abduction together and solve another case. Poor thing just wants to have a glass of Chardonnay but that seems unlikely for the moment. Ever clue she finds every piece seems to point to the one person she doesn’t want to believe could do it.

Her daughter is also working on a cold case of her own with a couple of her friends. She seems to be falling in her mom’s footsteps.

The more we learn the more questions we have and that ending!! I want all the answers now but I’ll just have to wait for the next book. As always the author gives us an amazing book! Loved every word!

Darynda Jones delivers another winner in this second installment of her Sunshine Vicram series. Filled with her trademark humor and wit, A GOOD DAY FOR CHARDONNAY was a fantastic thrill ride from start to finish.

In this installment, Sunshine has a lot on her plate. Still settling in to her new job as Sheriff of Del Sol, she finds herself at the center of a bar fight that is much more than it seems. She’s also facing increasing pressure from the mayor to finally uncover the women behind the Dangerous Daughters. Combine this with a daughter who’s becoming a wayward child, and her ongoing investigation into her kidnapping 15 years ago, Sunshine is busier than ever. And also starting to question both her sanity and her return to Del Sol. Which are pretty much the same thing.

Filled with so many revelations and twists, readers are introduced so several more characters in this small town that will have important parts to play in one of the bigger story arcs. That’s one of the things I love about Darynda’s books — she flawlessly juggles several arcs in every book, while also being sure to never lose sight of the main overarching plot. One of the central plots is really heating up and I can’t wait to see how that plays out in the next installment.

Bottom line — a fantastic sequel to A Bad Day for Sunshine. This series is so much fun and a definite must read for mystery lovers who like a lot of humor with a bit of romance the side. 5 stars.

*e-ARC received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

Oh, this was a lot of fun! I enjoyed the first book in the Sunshine Vicram series so I knew that I wanted to read this one just as soon as I could. All of the characters that I grew to like in the first book were back in this installment. This book could easily work as a stand-alone but I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible so that you get the full background for each of the characters. Once I started listening to this book, I was hooked and hated to take my headphones off until I reached the end.

Sunshine just wants to enjoy some time off but that plan is out just as soon as she learns that there has been a stabbing and a hit and run at one of the local establishments. The fact that Levi is in the middle of the chaos just makes things more interesting. Sunshine’s daughter is determined to catch a serial killer, someone with knowledge of her past promises her the answers she desperately wants, and she even decides to try something new in her romantic life. There was never a boring moment with a rather complicated mystery, plenty of action, and more than a few laughs.

I really liked the characters in this book. There were some pretty big revelations in this story and while I can’t say that I was too surprised by some of them, I enjoyed seeing the characters get the answers that they needed. Some of the characters faced some pretty difficult situations and I felt for them as they navigated a world with no easy answers. I really thought that each of the key characters showed a lot of growth in this installment of the series.

Lorelei King is the perfect narrator for this story. I thought that she did a phenomenal job with all of the character voices. She performed all of the scenes with a lot of emotion and I thought that she did fantastic with the more humorous moments in the book. I believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.

I would recommend this book to others. I had a lot of fun with mystery filled with fantastic characters and a few laughs. I cannot wait to read more of Sunshine Vicram’s adventures in the future!

I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

I received a free electronic ARC of this excellent police procedural, set in the small New Mexico town of Del Sol, from Netgalley, Darynda Jones, and St. Martin's Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. This is the second in the series featuring Sheriff Sunshine Vicram but is completely stand-alone. For a good laugh and a great tale, you cannot beat Darynda Jones. Her interactions with her daughter, her parents, and her fella, her actions and reactions at work, are enough to keep you in stitches even on a bad day. She can turn my day around, even on a second read.

Ah, I just love this quirky series so much! The characters are so fun and out there. I felt like a part of a special community when I was reading this book. I would definitely recommend reading the first book in the series before reading this one, but I was rooting for Sun and Levi! I just wish there wasn't such a cliffhanger, but I would definitely recommend checking this one out.

I love this series! I'm recommending it to my friends! What great characters and a great storyline. How long until the next book?

A Good Day for Chardonnay was one of my most anticipated reads for 2021. Darynda Jones does a great job writing quirky female leads. I can't lie. Sunshine and Levi are the reason I was anticipating this book so much. Would they be able to work through some of their history and tension to make progress or move forward? I needed to know. I also had several theories concerning Sunshine's abduction, rescue, and Auri's parentage that I wanted to see if I was right about. (Spoiler alert: I was.)

As usual there are multiple mysteries going on within one book. There's the main mystery, Keith Seabright getting stabbed. Who did it? And how does it relate to Sunshine's first unsolved case of her detective career. There's also the ongoing search for the Dangerous Daughters rumored to run the town. Sunshine still doesn't know the details of her abduction and rescue due to retrograde amnesia. And then also Auri begins researching a series of missing persons cases that she believes points straight to Mrs. Fairborn. Darynda Jones wraps all of these mysteries together in just the right way.

One of this author's talents is bringing her characters to life. Every single character comes off the page no matter how little of a part they have in the story. Sunshine, Levi, Quincy, Auri, Cruz, Sybil, Poetry, Zee, Mrs. Fairborn, Sunshine's parents, Wynn, Jimmy, even Keith Seabright who technically never even had a scene but was only mentioned feels like a complete character.

I really feel like I should have much more to say about A Good Day for Chardonnay, but I don't want to spoil anything. I've had little time to read since Baby Boy was born in January, and I devoured this book. I even sacrificed sleep (okay okay just a potential nap) in order to finish. The next book will also be on my most anticipated list for next year. A Good Day for Chardonnay gets 4.5 Stars. I can't wait for more. Have you read A Good Day for Chardonnay? What did you think? Let me know!

A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones (Sunshine Vicram #2) 5 stars

Hooray, a new Sunny Vicram mystery is here! A new mystery abounds, an old mystery partially solved, steamy romance percolating between Sunny and Levi, who can ask for more. I can, please more laughter, more snarky remarks, more Sunny and Levi and more interactions between Sunny and her daughter Auri in the next book. This book was such a fast and compelling read, I feel like I got whiplash. This is a book that will make you laugh out loud and have people wonder what's going on. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.