Sunshine Vicram continues to adjust to life as Sherriff of the small community of Del Sol, NM. She's the mother of a great but headstrong teenage daughter, lives next to her supportive but sometimes meddling parents, and is in love with a man who may or may not be in her best interest. In addition to the cases that present on the job, she is also working to solve the mystery of her own abduction when she was a teen.

This book was a good as the first in this series, A Bad Day for Sunshine. It's lighthearted, fun, and fast-paced. It reminds me of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, but less outlandish. Sunshine's world is filled with wonderful, well-developed characters, and the plot moves at a satisfying pace. The audiobook, narrated by Lorelei King, is very well done. King adds depth to the characters and does a fantastic job capturing unique voices for them all. There are a couple of pretty steamy scenes, which seemed a bit out of left field for me-they just seemed a bit more in depth than what I would expect for this type of novel. I highly recommend this book (and series) for anyone looking for a nice, hilarious cozy mystery, and I'm really excited to see what comes next for Sunshine!

Thank you Netgalley, Darynda Jones, and St, Martin's Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and I can assure you that you absolutely have to read book one first. In fact, in advance of reading this installment, I went back and reread A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE. I hardly ever do that, but I remembered it as an excellent read and that it was complex, so I just wanted to indulge myself for a change! And I have to admit it was a good thing I did, as I had misremembered a couple of key points – interestingly, possibly for my own sanity, I had made some decisions about what happened, so I could feel okay about things. Thankfully, this book addressed those floating issues, and I was not far from the mark!

I utterly adore the character of Sunshine, she has just the right level of strength, vulnerability, wit, and values. Her daughter, Auri, is pretty amazing too – and definitely gets some free rein in this book. The ever present and vigilant Levi is a sight for sore eyes, and so loyal, so caring, and, I think to the reader, so obviously involved... it is just understanding the how and the why.

I am still somewhat devastated that her memory loss over her kidnapping and rescue has resulted in so many years of confusion. I am not sure how I would feel about those around me knowing, if I were her. I keep rationalising it, but it is a lot. Thank goodness the clues help her process much of it as it comes back to her in flashes, and that her family and friends are near.

I rather raced through the book, desperate to get the key parts of the story revealed, and warn you that it is a danger, so make sure that you are well prepared to do little else than read once you have started. There are lots of crazy sidelines, but the main story is strong enough to carry the distractions. I am going to have to get friends to read this, so I can discuss how we would feel in these circumstances. It has been playing on my mind and will for a long while to come – I get the logic, I get the sense of it, but I still think it is horribly sad.

A much anticipated read, and it did not let me down. I will be looking out for more – ever hopeful!


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
This book had everything I love in the story. Mystery, action, danger, an amazing love story, great friendships, lots of fun and crazy characters, and it is all set in a small town. This story gave me all the feels. Sometimes I laughed at crazy antics, other times I was on the end of my seat as various characters were in grave danger, sometimes I swooned because Levi is just everything, and an incredibly moving scene towards the end of the book had me crying so hard I woke up my husband who was sleeping beside me.

Sunshine is a pretty amazing woman and you’d need to be amazing to be the sheriff of this crazy town. There is so much going on in Sunshine’s work and personal lives, I don’t know how she managed to keep all the balls in the air, but she does.

I loved every single minute of this story whether I was laughing, cringing, or crying. A GOOD DAY FOR CHARDONNAY is a brilliant story, but it can’t be read as a standalone. This is an ongoing series so if this grabs your attention, make sure you start off by reading the first book in the series, A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE. I don’t know how many books the author plans to write in this series but I hope there are still many more to come because this is one of the best I’ve ever read and I want more.


Shelby – ☆☆☆☆☆
A GOOD DAY FOR CHARDONNAY is the second book in the Sunshine Vicram series. These books need to be read in order, and I highly encourage it as this builds on the first.

I have loved every book I've read by Darynda Jones, and this is no exception.

Sunshine is a small-town sheriff, she is a [single] mother (of an awesome child), she is an amazing daughter, and she is head over heels in love with her high school crush. She has no downtime or ‘me’ time. Knowing this, I need to mention that she has the best sense of humor and seems to just roll with the punches.

I love every single character in this series, and they all have distinct personalities. There is never a dull moment mainly because the town is a bit zany, but also because there are so many situations that need Sunshine's attention.

Aurora really shines in this book and is coming into her own. Wanting to follow in her mom's footsteps, she (along with her boyfriend and best friend) have their own case to solve.

I can't really classify this story under just one type: it’s partly mystery and suspense, it's humorous but sometimes serious, there is drama and romance, but bottom line I couldn't put it down.

I really want more Levi, and can't wait for the next book!


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
Two books in and I have girl crush levels of love for Sunshine Vicram. Smart, funny, and growing in confidence, Sunny manages to be both fierce and relatable.

Caught between eccentric parents and her wildly imaginative teenage daughter, Sheriff Sunny attempts to impose a little law and order on both her family and her strange little town. The results are often laugh out loud funny. Sunny’s creative policing is oddly successful. There’s a fantastic balance between silly and serious in this book. In this second book, Sunny’s investigations are exciting and well-paced. Running alongside the series storyline about Sunny’s historic abduction is a second investigation into a violent attack in town.

While I enjoy Sunny’s investigations, it’s the development of relationships in this book that I love. Sunny and Auri, Sunny and her parents, Sunny and Levi… The relationships in this book are complicated, messy, loving, and life-affirming. I expect that every woman over 35 will find something to enjoy in Sunny’s perfectly observed and immensely relatable life. I’m already looking forward to the next book.

Small town police chief Sunshine Vicram has her hands full with a teenage daughter, mischievous parents, a town full of quirky residents, a capable, yet ornery law-enforcing staff and a dark, stormy, hunky man who just can’t seem to leave her alone.

First there is a bar fight involving hunky man Levi that results in injuries and worse. Then Sunshine’s daughter, Auri and Auri’s friends try to solve a decades old serial murder case. There is a missing boy. If that’s not enough, Sunshine gets a possible lead from a convict – can he be trusted?

In typical Darynda Jones style, the story weaves in and out of storylines, creating a perfect mesh of a plot. Irreverence abounds along with coffee. Lots of coffee. And there will be a major reveal of something in Sunshine’s past.

A particularly heartbreaking moment is followed by a heartwarming scene that brought tears to my eyes.

A Good Day for Chardonnay is one of the author’s best. The mix of complex, interconnected story lines, family relationships, tumultuous romance, and so many laugh-out-loud moments is an impossible combination to resist.

Thanks to the publisher who provided a copy through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a wonderful continuation of the Sunshine Vicram series. Ms. Jones manages to write these books with a perfect blend of mystery, drama and witty sarcasm. One minute you are reading a serious portion of the book where the main character, Sunshine is dealing with a heinous crime scene and in the next paragraph, she is either thinking or saying something dripping with sarcasm. I'm sure this writing style might not be for everyone, but I am definitely a fan of it.

A Good Day for Chardonnay is the second in this series.. It gives us more of the favorite characters we got to know in book one and adds some additional characters and new storylines. The reader is given some much needed answers to questions and mysteries that were left unanswered at the end of book one. In addition, more questions and possible issues pop up in this book. Towards the end of the book, right as answers were being given and a big question is leveled, we are left on a bit of a cliffhanger. Enough of a cliffy that I can hardly wait for book three to see how it resolves itself.

I must say that I really enjoy Sunshine, Levi, Quincy, Auri and Cruz. The relationships that they all have pulled me in and made me feel so invested that I had to keep reading (or listening). I look forward to seeing how Ms. Jones will work a few of the newer characters into the upcoming storylines. There is a good deal of potential for several more books and I have my fingers crossed that this series will have a long, successful run.

In addition, I not only read the e-gallery ARC of this book, I also listened to the audio version. The narration was excellent. It was easy to follow and kept me engaged throughout the entire book. It was easy to tell the characters apart and it lent itself well to the sarcasm blended into the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

Quirky, fractured, funny, and with a split focus. This plot runs in several different directions and after having a glass or two of the titled Chardonnay, I am having a really tough time following it. Not at all sure where this plot is going, but, pour me another Chardonnay and I'm along for the ride. Seriously, or not, I really like this series and this book takes us further along in the mystery that has plagued Sunshine since she was 17.

Sunny's job as the Sheriff in Del Sol, New Mexico was supposed to be an easy one. This sleepy, tourist town had a low crime rate, if you don't count the unsolved cases. Now, she has a bar fight gone bad that involves the man she is obsessed with, Levi Ravinder. She discovered her 15 year old daughter with a boy in her bedroom, Aurora is playing Nancy Drew and looking for a serial killer based on information she discovered while cleaning the attic at her grandparents place, a convicted felon has information about Sunshine's teenage abduction and that is just the first 1/3 of the book. Life for Sun never has a dull moment, or even a moment where she can get a decent night's sleep.

With everything going on, Sunny and her BFF, Chief Deputy Quincy Cooper, decide to see if Friends with Benefits might be a better fit than Best Friends Forever. Yep, it is a Good Day For Chardonnay.

A Good Day For Chardonnay
Darynda Jones
July 27, 2021

We are in Del Sol, New Mexico with Sunshine Vicram. She grew up here with her folks. At 17 she was kidnapped, held for ransom. Her parents did their best to cash in every cent they had. Someone Sun cannot remember rescued her and drove her to the hospital and dropped her off. That time was 15 years ago. She pulled her life back together, had a child from the lowlife who was never discovered and despite physical and mental abuse from her ordeal finished school, attended college, worked as a detective in Sante Fe for a few years until the position of sheriff opened up in Del Sol. Since then she has worked hard but the cold cases on file were weighing on her mind, especially her own history. The kidnapper was never caught. Aurora, her beautiful daughter, never knew who her father was; for that matter she did not care. Her grandfather was the man in her life. Deputy Sheriff Quincy Cooper had known her since birth as he and Sunshine were best friends. Cases in the department came and went but that particular one had not been solved.
A Good Day for Chardonnay is a continuation of Jones' first Vicram book, A Bad Day for Sunshine. It is fun to read, yet the problems in Sunshine’s life are tough to swallow. We feel them as she does. Jones' characters are amusing and eccentric. One never knows who will arrive in the next scene. I enjoy the flow of her writing and the wit she gives the reader. At the beginning of each chapter we find a quote from a Del Sol business. These never fail to make me laugh.
Darynda Jones latest novel, A Good Day for Chardonnay will be published on July 27, 2021 by St. Martin’s Press of New York. I appreciate St. Martin’s allowing me to read and review this book via NetGalley. It was a pleasure to read. Jones followers have been waiting for this Vicram Series follow up. Looking for a good suspense read? Select A Good Day for Chardonnay. By all means, enjoy!

Holy crap chardonnay, I love Sunshine Vicram even more than Charley Davidson. There, I said it. Even with the noisy circus of her nutty family, quirky friends, mysterious bad guys, and oddball town, Sunshine herself was so easy to believe in and root for. Sure, author Darynda Jones' beloved Charley Davidson is a flashy PI who can contact the dead, but the equally snarky Sunshine can juggle solving multiple crimes and mysteries, bad blind dating, single motherhood, and the world's longest crush without a single assist from the dead.

The main difference is that I just didn't care as much for Charley's sidekicks and associates, but I freakin' love Sunshine's support system. Her relationship with her teenager Auri was fresh and adorable, her friendship with longtime bf and deputy Quinn was both workplace and friendship goals, and even her standoff with certain bad guys showed her true strength. And the other characters are every bit as fascinating as Sunshine's mysterious past abduction: Auri, Sybil and Cruz's awkwardly eager sleuthing heist attempts, Quinn's secret unrequited crush, and of course, the man himself, Levi Ravinder.

Sunshine and crew are juggling what feels like a million mysteries at once: a missing child, absent father, possible serial killer neighbor, stalker blind date, multiple confessions to a year old murder. Great news: we get answers to most of them (but not all!!) and best of all, there are some answers about Sunshine's abduction and Levi's past. I can only say this about what is finally uncovered: Darynda Jones can write one hell of a final sentence. I absolutely can not wait for the next Sunshine Vicram.

4.5 Stars

Darynda Jones's Charley Davidson series is one of my all-time favorites, so I was absolutely thrilled when she began the Sunshine Vicram series last year with A Bad Day For Sunshine, which introduced us to the wonderful, humorous, snarky, kind, crazy, and hot (I'm talking about Levi Ravinder here, swoon) characters that make up the cast of characters in the series. I absolutely loved A Bad Day For Sunshine, so I couldn't wait to read A Good Day for Chardonnay, and it was just as good! If you read it, and you must, make sure you read book one first though!

This second book in the series picks up not long after book one ends, and Jones does it seamlessly. This time, Sunshine, Sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico is tangled up in lots of investigations with kidnappings, her amazing and smart daughter Auri chasing down serial killers and going missing, revelations about her own kidnapping when she was a teenager, and steamy/sexy scenes with Levi! There's also all the humor, fun, and snark from book one, as well as the continued great relationships between Sunshine and her daughter Auri (Gilmore Girl vibes, definitely), her parents, friends, and coworkers, mystery, action, adventure, and laugh out loud fun!

The ending was a cliffhanger, so I hope, with fingers and toes crossed, that there's a book three and that it's soon! I am on pins and needles waiting to see what happens next in this amazing series!

Thank you, NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the ARC copy for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Review published on Goodreads, Twitter, and NetGalley on 7/25/21.

I’ll be honest and say that I went into this one a little wary as I had some issues with the prior/initial book in the series. But I’m glad I gave it a chance as I liked it a lot more. I think being more familiar and comfortable with Jones’ writing style and being able to dive right in rather than wrestle with the initial setup/backstory helped a great deal.

Lots of action, interesting/unusual/multiple storylines, the author’s trademark snarky humor and some answers to big questions from the first book made for an enjoyable read. My only big (and really frustrating!) annoyance was Sunshine’s 15-year-old daughter Auri, who NEVER listened and was totally spoiled by everyone in her orbit…go figure! 😆

There was a bit of a resolution cliffhanger, so I’ll look forward to the next in series.

Much thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for providing me the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Darynda Jones has done it again! This story follows A Bad Day for Sunshine with the loveable cast of characters and a new mystery...or two. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram has a full load with a bar fight gone wrong, her daughter Auri investigating a serial killer, solving her own abduction from years prior all while struggling to interpret the chemistry she has with the enigmatic Levi Ravinder. No wonder this woman could use a glass of chardonnay. I certainly could not put this book down, which inspired a rather dramatic need to read it as fast as possible and simultaneously set it down to savor the story...I finished in a few hours. There are many interesting plot twists and character developments that I did not predict (a few of which brought me to tears). This novel is a great choice for anyone who likes detective mysteries, family drama and of course a bit of romance. It is funny and heartwarming and leaves you wanting more.

Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun book! There is humor, mystery, Hot guys, and even some romance. Sunshine and her daughter are a hoot. They brought a smile to my face. The whole BFF attempt to hook up was also hilarious. Then there is hot hot hot Levi. There are several cases going on at the sheriff's office so plenty of mysteries to be solved. I really liked the book.

Sunshine Vicram is the Sheriff of a small-town New Mexico police force.  She is also a single mother to a fifteen year old daughter Auri, who has inherited her mother’s fascination with solving crimes.  With several investigations going on at the same time,  Sunshine has been kept busy with work,and keeping track of her daughter.  Luckily she has her parents nearby to help.  While this leaves little time for romance, Sunshine continues to wait for Levi Ravinder to make his move.  At the end of another busy day, all Sunshine really wants is a big glass of Chardonnay.

I enjoyed reading A Good Day for Chardonnay.  The book is told from the dual perspective of Sunshine and Auri.  The characters continue to be quirky, interesting and likeable.  There were a number of concurrent mysteries in this story including an event from Sunshine’s past.  I enjoyed following these investigations and remained intrigued to see how each would be resolved.

Although I was entertained by this book,  I must say I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first.  The book is as full of quick wit as was the first in the series, but it became very tiring going in to the second part of this book.  While I loved the Gilmore Girls like relationship between mother and daughter in the first book, I was disappointed to find that this bond had evolved into one more reminiscent of sisters in this book.  I felt at times that Sunshine wasn’t prioritizing Auri,  and counted on her parents way too often.  While this didn’t take away from the actual plot, it affected my enjoyment of the book.

Loved this book - can't wait for the next one!!

Daryanda Jones has been a favorite since the Charley Davidson series first started - but I love Sunshine even more.

If you want suspense, mystery, murder, love and lots of humor - look no further - this book has it all!!!

I love absolutely every quirky, fun, and bizarre character in Del Sol. This is the type of place I wish I had grown up in. Seeing as that opportunity is long past, and it being fictional making it an impossibility to begin with, I’m enjoying the heck out of meeting the current residents of the town, namely those that are in Sheriff Vicram’s orbit.

Sun continues to win me over in every way. Her wacky sense of humor is a perfect fit for me. It’s fun and light hearted without being stupid or immature and never at the cost of another person’s feelings. She is by far one of the greatest heroines of all time. Wish I had her as a role model for parenting back in the day when I needed someone to lead me. Lol.

The romance takes a backseat, but anytime Levi is in the scene, things absolutely sizzle with excitement and expectation. I find myself drooling each time they have any quality time together as it’s pretty obvious they’ve got some serious heat going on between them. Add in the beautiful relationship between Auri and Cruz and the fact that this is relatively light on romance suddenly doesn’t feel like it’s lacking anything.

While this has a woozy of a cliffhanger, it actually wraps up a few mysteries. Each one is just as thrilling and satisfying as any of the others. However, we are still left with so many questions regarding details of Sun’s abduction when she was younger. I’m anxious to learn it all even as I’m fascinated by each new thing that’s revealed.

Smart, witty, fun, and a bit emotional. Somewhere between rom-com, suspense, and police procedural, Darynda Jones has found her niche and it is anything but ordinary. Sunshine Vicram and the other cast of characters are wildly entertaining with an offbeat sense of humor and intriguing backgrounds. The sarcastic, sometimes quirky satire may not sit well for some readers but the tension breaks it offered played well with the characterization and storyline. Absolutely loved it! This is book two in the series and would read best as such.


Thank you to #stmartinspress and #NetGalley for the ARC, which was read and reviewed voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#AGoodDayForChardonnay #sunshinevicramseries #daryndajones #neverordernachosonthefirstdate #tbralert #readingstacks #bookstagram #bookblog #readreviewrepeat

By turns funny and heartbreaking - this mother-daughter mystery series featuring Sunshine Vicram and daughter Aurora is like a cross between Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars with a touch of Stephanie Plum. Sunshine is the sheriff in a small New Mexico town with a traumatic past that just won't leave her alone. Full of a memorable cast of secondary characters, this is a must read series for anyone who loves mystery with heart and characters you can't help but cheer for. I can't wait to read the next instalment. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

“A Good Day for Chardonnay” by Darynda Jones

Sunshine Vicram is back again and all she’s asking for is one, just one, seemingly normal day on the job as Sheriff of her small-town police force. But today is not that day. Her teenage daughter, Auri, is out chasing a possible serial killer from a very cold case, despite her mother’s insistence that she let it be, and she keeps getting herself into trouble. Their relationship will give you “Gilmore Girl”-esque vibes, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll never tire of their witty banter.
Sunny is also still searching for answers to the questions she’s never shaken from her abduction as a teenager; the main one being, who did it?
Then there’s the raccoon that keeps escaping…and an endless list of quirky townspeople to keep her on her toes, not to mention a good handful of swoony men, mainly Sunny’s love interest, Levi Revinder, who she just can’t stop thinking about. Nope, Sunny is definitely not going to get that normal day today.
I laughed my way through the first few pages of this book before pausing to go back and read the first in the Sushine Vicram series, “A Bad Day for Sunshine,” because I knew I needed to know all there was about these delightful characters before diving into book two. After devouring both books, I know that there’s no way I could love these characters any more than I do now.
This series is sure to be a hit and I’ll be first in line to read any others from Darynda that come my way.

Reviewed by Abbey Peralta for Suspense Magazine

Feeling stressed? Read this book. Need hearty laughter? Read this book. There are, so far, just two books in this wonderfully funny series. May there be many, many more. Just be careful if you choose to read A Good Day for Chardonnay in public. People will stare and some may even ask what are you reading? All the signs of a five star read.
Sunshine Vicram is the Sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico and it should come with a small town pace. Not a chance. From a raccoon tormenting her deputy, a cold case from her past, her teenage daughter who is very much like her Mom, her parents and a hot, hunky Bad Boy she is tracking....there is a lot to entertain the reader. Great mystery plus great characters add up to a great read.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was one of the most intriguing and hilarious mysteries that I have read. The dialog between the characters is at times downright snarky, but endearingly witty which reveals the bond between her family, friends and officers. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram is dealing with several cases including the attack on a friend of Levi Ravinder (her lover?), an attack by a raccoon, possible new evidence in the case of her abduction that took place when she was seventeen, and a missing boy from her time as a detective in Santa Fe…who may no longer be missing. Sunshine attempts to balance her job as sheriff while raising her teenage daughter, Aurora. There is a lot to absorb in this second mystery by Ms. Jones, but so worth the time spent so as not to miss one word. I enjoyed the suspense that kept me involved while laughing at the interaction between the characters. If you haven’t read the first book you can feel comfortable that you will not feel lost as the author provides enough back story. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Everyone raise a toast! Sarcastic Sheriff Sunshine is back!! And stepping up her game is Auri, who thinks she might have what it takes to be a detective, even though she is only fifteen. I love their Gilmore Girls type relationship! The dialogue between the two of them, and really anyone Sun interacts with, really dazzles and makes for a fun chic-lit kind of escape read. Balancing that out are the more serious parts of the storyline like Sun trying to uncover her own traumatic past, deal with day to day crime in the quirky little town of Del Sol, and deal with her own lust for the local bad boy. But if none of that sounds good to you, maybe just read it for the incredibly humorous quotes at the beginning of each chapter? They are worth it all on their own. For the most part, this book reads like a cozy but Ms. Jones makes sure to throw in some heat to make this a well rounded easily loveable book! Grab a glass of wine and a comfy lounge chair and enjoy!