I usually don't write short reviews. Honestly I didn't want to write this one because I didn't want the series to end. Three is all we get and it's not enough. Also, it has to be read in order.
Sunshine Vicram is the sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico and her world is a challenge from her parents, her teenage daughter, the cops she works with and various other quirky characters. After all, it was thanks to her parents nominating her that she finds herself back home and fighting crime. Now her daughter sets out to do her own investigating and there may be a connection to a case her Mom is working on. I won't go into more detail because I don't want to spoil any of it. The mystery is well crafted and the humor is sure to have you laughing and feeling less stressed. Hence my dismay at knowing this is all there is.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A Hard Day For a Hangover is the final book in the Sunshine Vicram Series by Darynda Jones and I absolutely loved it! Can I just say I never want her books to end?!!

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram and the gang have a lot going on in this finale and multiple cases to solve, including missing women.

And then there’s the incredibly sexy Levi Ravinder (*fans self*), the man Sunshine has been in love with her whole life. There’s a lot these two need to work through, but it’s so worth it!

Secrets revealed and shocking revelations, sexy times and “aww”moments, A Hard Day for a Hangover was a wonderful ending to this series, but I still wish it wasn’t ending! *cries*

I love these characters and this series, but I can’t wait to read what Darynda has in store for us next!

A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones
3rd book in the Sunshine Vicram series and conclusion. Mystery w romance.
Sheriff Sunshine Vicram has a full case load and a personal life that falls right in the middle of her day. A young, beaten, and unidentified female is found on the mountainside while an escaped convict has Sun and her team under investigation.

I listened to this first on audiobook then did a second reading by ebook.
The chapter headings are hilarious. The story itself compelling and gripping. A cast I want to watch a weekly television show about and that’s from a person that doesn’t do series or even much tv. The conclusion is fantastic but I’m going to miss these people.
A thrill ride.

Excerpt
“Auri was worried about the woman who birthed her. She’d been depressed since Levi escaped. Like, more depressed than usual. So depressed she’d turned to her archnemesis last night: tequila. Never a good sign, so it was up to Auri to hunt Levi down”.
Excerpt from A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones.

🎧 I listened first to an audiobook version narrated by Lorelei King who did the full series. I like the audio version for this series for the sarcasm and highlighting the humor. When I read text, it’s more of a movie where I get all the feelings and emotions. Plus it tends to stick more and I remember it. When I listened to an audiobook it’s more about the pacing and the voices of the characters. Here in particular, Sunshine’s sarcasm and daughter Audi’s vulnerability is clear.
I highly recommend this series in audiobook. I do listen at a slightly higher speed of 1.3. Anything higher and you’d have to pay very close attention to the chapter and POV changes.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and St Martin’s and Macmillan Audio. I also purchased all formats of this book to share and keep and later re-read.

Darynda Jones never disappoints! This is her third book that stars Sheriff Sunshine Vikram, in the small town of Del Sol, New Mexico. Witty dialog, a complex cast of characters, a vigilante group of senior citizens, and a twisty mystery are all hallmarks of this series, and the stories just keep getting better. I’m looking forward to her next stellar novel.

Another quirky, snarky installment in the Sunshine Vicram series.
Laugh out loud moments as usual were entertaining. Are there some really unbelievable and absurd moments? Sure they are. But, that is what Darynda Jones gives you when reading this series.
Go into this series with a open mind and just enjoy the way-out humor :)
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am so sad this series is over and I just want to know what is next. Between the mysteries, secrets, sass, charm, and romance this was such a page turner and just like the last I finished it in one night. Cannot stop recommending this one, who wouldn't love these characters?

This seems to be the final book in the sunshine Vikram series. Once again sunshine is trying to solve a murder while at the same time deal with her teen daughter Ori. She is also dealing with her feelings for Levi as well as the past that she did not remember about with him . It’s a fast pace book with very intriguing characters and a conclusion that is satisfying. SpaceAlso it makes it more intriguing that we are dealing with the shenanigans of Levi‘s family who is trying to take Levi Levi out of his position of power. Also sunshine is trying to deal with a teen daughter which is always an interesting situation. All in all the end of the book was satisfying and the arcs that the character seem to be at at the end of the book made sense to me.

Sheriff Vicram and her daughter, Auri, are like the dynamic duo. A woman is found on the side of a mountain, the why and how she got there is the main mystery. Picking up on her mom’s skills Auri decides to help solve the latest crime, or at least the name of the Jane Doe. Most books leave some time between books however this one takes places days, at most a week, after the previous one. We learn about some personal mysteries and other secrets come to light. Despite all the gruesomeness of bodies and other mysteries, there is plenty of laughter as the sarcasm between Sun and Auri lighten the stress of any situation. There’s also the very important lesson Sun decides to teach the hellions of elementary school, I think it’s my favorite chapter. And Quincy, the man has the biggest heart with a side of alpha that never works on anybody. I’m looking forward to more from this odd group of misfits in Del Sol county. For now, I’m thankful for an advanced copy and left this review voluntarily.

A Hard Day For A Hangover is the third and sadly final installment of the Sherriff Sunshine Vicram series. But it certainly does not disappoint! It still captures Sunshine and the gangs incredibly witty, smart dialogue, with the mystery and intrigue of the other books. The incredibly quirky characters from the past stories are also included with some even having shocking revelations. But the laugh out loud dialogue makes these books hard to put down.

In this installment, Sunshine and her high school aged daughter Auri, who seems to be developing her mother’s talent for solving mysteries, in which Sunshine seriously explains to her daughter who wants to be an FBI agent that one of the requirements of being an agent is that she be a virgin, or they won’t take her, are caught up in some of their own family drama. Just who is Auri’s father, and when and how should Sunshine tell her. How will Auri take the news? In the meantime, she and Levi Ravinder and his nasty family, must navigate what comes next.

The story opens with a girl being found unconscious at the bottom of an embankment. No one seems to know who she is or where she came from. Auri takes it upon herself to investigate without her mother’s knowledge. In the meantime, with a Ravinder family prison break, and one of the towns people getting stabbed with a knitting needle, Sunshine seems to be running in circles.

The police station is still under raccoon attack as they have been unable to capture the unofficial deputy of the department even though he continues to wreak havoc on the place. And with all this going on Sunshine and Levi have finally decided to stop playing games and get serious with each other.

With another girl going missing, work is just not that much fun anymore. Auri gets too close to the truth and danger begins to unravel all around Sunshine. The ending will change the town as well as the lives of Sunshine and her family forever.

The Sunshine Vicram series has been one of the funniest mystery series I have ever read with terrific plot twists, odd characters and although I am devastated the series has ended, the final installment for those Sunshine fans will be the page turner they wished for and the ending they always wanted.

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #DaryndaJones #AHardDayForAHangover for the advanced copy.

I totally forgot that this was a trilogy and realized this was the final book when I read the synopsis. I am pretty sad because I have come to love all the characters and wouldn't have minded more books with them in them. Darynda Jones writes such great characters and the Sunshine Vicram series was mostly lighthearted and fun, but it also had its emotional and suspenseful moments. Everything was wrapped up perfectly in this book but it did feel a bit rushed toward the end. Some secrets should've been revealed earlier in the series. Sheriff Sunshine has again a lot on her plate. She has to solve many cases but thankfully she has amazing coworkers who are very capable.

I absolutely LOVE Sun's daughter Auri, and again immensely enjoyed the parts told from her POV. She is such a bright young lady, and was very helpful like always. I would love a spinoff series focusing on Auri. She and her Sun just have the best mother/daughter relationship. Sun's love interest Levi is a hot, broody, and mysterious guy. Things got pretty heated in this book and I loved seeing Sun and Levi working through their things. This book made me laugh and smile a lot, but it also had me emotional and on the edge of my seat a well. Overall, this is a great conclusion to the trilogy but I'm definitely going to miss everyone. Fans of Darynda Jones or/and this series will love this book.

Sherif Sunshine Vicram has a complicated life. Her daughter just got out of the hospital and now a young woman is found injured in the countryside. ARC from NetGalley.

I am BEYOND sad that there will be no more books in this very very very short series [hmph. I guess that is actually incorrect. It is a TRILOGY. Hmph]. It is rare that I love a book so complete as I have the three books in this set, but here we are. There was something almost perfect [for me] about how well Sunshine, Auri, Sun's parents and assortment of friends all work together along with Quincy and the amazing team of police staff that Sun has working under her [My GOSH isn't Quincy just so freaking hilarious? I love him] - it makes the already great read [because great characters absolutely need great writing and a great story and this has that in spades] even more fantastic.

This book finds us just days later from the previous book and those who are healing are barely there when chaos once again erupts all over the place and of course Sunshine and her crew [including her fearless daughter Auri] are right in the thick of it and when it really gets going, you are barely able to draw a breath until it is all over [<spoiler>I had to stop reading/listening at one point and go stalk around the house and RANT to my poor mother. I swear if Auri or her grandfather had died, this would have been a MUCH different review</spoiler>].

I was pretty sure I knew who the attacker/killer was [it was interesting to have a side story in the middle of the whole Ravender story, and BOY HOWDY was this a story of all stories], though I was disappointed to be correct. What a sad, sad thing [and don't even get me started on all that happens during the reveal. Good grief. Ugh] and I don't know about you, but I felt that I never really got a full explanation as to why, but I guess when you deal with a sadistic psychopath, there doesn't need to be a reason, but simply because they can.
The rest of the story was equally intriguing [though I would have loved to have known more about Quincy and his quest to woo the woman of his dreams] and I really like how Sunshine and Levi handled things that could have gone much worse with lesser people at the helm.
Hmph. I want more. I will learn to be content with what I did get, but I will never stop wishing for just "one more book". ;-)

I was once again happy to receive the audiobook ARC of this book and I have to say, I cannot imagine anyone else narrating this books. Lorelei King does an amazing job and really makes a great story even better with her absolutely fantastic narration. I really need to look for other books that she has narrated; really well done.

I was asked to read and review this book by St. Martin's Press and I thank them, NetGalley, Darynda Jones, Lorelei King - Narrator and Macmillian Audio for the ARC and audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3rd book in the trilogy. It COULD be read as a stand alone but then you'd miss some of the best books available today. Darynda Jones is one of my favorite authors for so many reasons it would be hard to name them all. She fills her books with action, adventure, humor, spicy romance, and so many unique characters that you starts to wonder about her imagination. She is the author of the Charlie Davidson series too.

Sunshine Vicram is the sheriff Del Sol, New Mexico. She has a very different view of the world and the often puzzling people in it. She takes her job seriously and protects all of the citizens of Del Sol, even those that cause the trouble they must be protected from.....it's a long story that involves a knitting needle. Sunshine loves her family and her many friends and one man in particular, Ravender. Treat yourself and read all 3 of these books. You will seriosly be hooked on Darynda Jones' library of entertaining stories.

Another fun Sunshine Vicram novel from Darynda Jones! This series is a little bit outside my normal wheelhouse - it definitely creeps closer to mystery than romance, but I always have a great time reading Darynda Jones' work. I loved the fun little shout-out to her Charley Davidson series :)

I don't recall Auri having alternating chapters in the previous books, but it's been a while since I read the first two - I did enjoy Auri's perspective, especially during the whole dramatic showdown in the end!

For the final installment in the Sunshine Vicram trilogy Darynda has pulled out all the stops to make this an unforgettable finale! There is a lot of her signature humor (Doug the flasher returns!) but in this final book it is outweighed by mystery and suspense, with a side of romance. This is a series that must be read in order to fully grasp the various plotlines because there is a LOT going on!

Sun remains the heart of the book, but I do have to admit I would have liked to see a lot more of Levi than we do. As the central couple I really wanted to see more of them together, but the focus in this book is the mystery behind a grievously wounded girl and others that are missing and possibly murdered. As the chief of the Del Sol Police Department, Sun must scramble to put all the pieces together before it is too late.

Sun’s daughter Auri once again decides to get involved in investigating the girls with her friend Sybil’s help. Now we as the readers know this is not the best idea after the events in book 2, but Auri is determined to be like her mom! The stakes are even higher this time however, as her investigation puts both her and her grandfather in danger.

I will miss the denizens of Del Sol, so I’m really hoping there will be a spinoff at some point based on other characters and relationships. Auri/Cruz, Quincy/Hailey and Rojas/Zee especially but heck even Quincy/Randi would make for a killer read!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the chance to read this early, all opinions are my own.

Darynda Jones - always such a delight to read (especially to listen to) her books! I've read a few of her books before, specifically the Charlie Davidson grave series, so to pick up the Sunshine Vicram series was a real treat -this series was so unexpected! I'd seen many posts on Bookstagram for the first 2 books and knew book 3 (Hangover) was coming up. When I had the opportunity to get the ARC from Netgalley, I jumped on it, knowing it was going to encourage me to read all 3, which it definitely did. Being able to also get the ALC and to read and listen at the same time - it was perfect, since I had books 1&2 also in audio.

Sunshine Vicram was a character like no other, and this was a series like no other I've read before! A Hard Day for a Hangover is not a standalone. If you have not read the first two books, you will be very lost. It does not really explain what happens in the first books and is a continuation with the information in this romantic mystery series. I scoured reviews to see if I could dive into this book or if I did need to read the others first - I couldn't find the answer so I'm putting it out there. NO. You must read them all, in order, or you will be very lost and asking a lot of questions! Character arcs and the storyline goes throughout all three books.

I spent 3 days in a row reading (listening to) all 3 books, and I'm very glad to be able to do all 3 back-to-back. The story arc is constant through them all and the first 2 leave with a bit of a cliffhanger question at the end of each one, so to be able to go straight into the next was critical to answer the question and know what happens next, and how it all plays out. The overall mystery of what happened to Sunshine as a teenager is discussed through all of them, but each book has a new mystery plot. Sunshine has her overall romance throughout the series as well. She pines for Levi and has since she was a teen, though there's a side plot with another (lol!). Friendships abound, with the bookclub, a secret friendship, Auri and her school friends, the grandparents (oh, I love her parents!!), the old lady who loves to confess to every crime that happens in town, the secret society of Daughters - so many fantastic things and they all arc through all three books.

The final book, this one, is extremely action-packed, with the Ravinder family plot being revealed, a huge town plot coming to a head, and even more hospital visits!! So much drama, so much action, and even some heartache and a whole lot of romance!

Audio - all three books are narrated by Lorelei King, a gal who's been a favourite narrator of mine since at least 15 years ago (or whenever it was that I started listening - at least that long ago). One of the first audios I picked up was her voice, and she's been with me on my whole audio journey, and I've loved her that long, but she's been the voice of Stephanie Plum in my head the whole time (though I think after 3 solid days and books of her as Sunshine, it'll be hard to go back!). A top narrator if ever there was one!!

Everyone needs this series in their lives! It's drama, it's mystery, and a lot of romance - perfect for lovers of romantic suspense, but great for romance readers to get a little mystery and action, and great for mystery and suspense readers to get some romance! A recommendation from me for readers of all the genres!

I received an advance listen and advance read copy from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, and this is my honest feedback.

A young girl is found lying below the cliff, barely hanging on to life. It is up to Sheriff Sunshine Vicram to find out what happened to her. The girl appears to have been viciously assaulted and perhaps forced over the cliff? When she learns of an injury to another teenage girl, who didn’t report the incident, Sunshine believes that a local man may be assaulting them. When a third report from a year ago to the previous sheriff surfaces, why is there no file on the missing girl? Wanting to help is Sun’s teenage daughter, Auri, who begins to investigate at the school, not realizing that she may become the next target. Meanwhile, Sun is investigating a flasher who was attacked, some home robberies and an escaped prisoner. She and Levi have finally cleared up the past and now must have that “talk” with Auri. I so enjoy the irreverent and sarcastic dialog among the characters, including teen daughter Auri, but all is said with affection. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Never again with the tequila! Sheriff Sunshine Vicram has a really bad day ahead - a teen girl has been found assaulted and left to die, her daughter Auri is, well, Auri, and her love interest Levi has stolen her deputy's cruiser and he's got his own problems. Turns out the Jane Doe is only the latest of a series of young women who have gone missing or been assaulted and Auri is determined to find out more even as she helps her friend Cruz cope with the loss of his father and his own injuries (incurred n the last book), Oh and Sunshine has to deal with the former Sheriff lurking around, the secret society that runs the town, and her questions about her father. I'd read the last book, which gave me a leg up on the scenario and the many many characters but I still got a tad confused occasionally with regard to Levi's family and the issues associated with him. The actual mystery of the young women is well done (didn't guess that one) but it's got equal time with the various dramas surrounding Sun. Im a big fan of Auri and hope to see more of her in what I also hope will be the nest installment. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

An Amazing read. Unsure if this is the end, I surely hope not. You'll learn more about your favorite characters and there are some new introductions that will have you laughing out loud as well as crying. A wonderful next installment.

I was blessed with an advance copy by the publisher in exchange for a review.

When I first started reading this novel I didn't know this would be the last in the series. I didn't even realize half-way through. I didn't realize until someone had shared their advance reader review onto the author's page and mentioned it in the first sentence.

Then....the cold sweats began.

I was not prepared for this. You see, I have an reader that I barely use. I mostly use it for advance reader copies. The last time I used it was to read Sunshine Vicram's second novel. I take the time to charge that puppy up for Darynda Jones.

Prepared or not, I had the final book in the series in my hand and I read it. And it was wonderful. I felt like the plot and mystery was darker, more impactful. And with it being the last, a lot of answers were finally revealed.

Throughout the series I struggled to enjoy the narrative of Sunshine's daughter Aurora. I don't know if it was just the idea of a young child being placed in so many serious situations, or if it was how sad I felt about her past, but regardless I have found it difficult to get into her parts of the story. However, they all connect, so I didn't have much of a choice. This novel...may have changed my mind about Auri, and even get really into Cruz and how his story continues.

But the other side of the narrative, was that of Sunshines, and man-oh-man, do I love Sunshine Vicram. She is hilarious and I love her as a character, as well as basically all the Del-Sol residence, who have their own interesting characteristics and stories. With all things finally falling into place, and answers finally being answered it meant that Sunshine and Levi's relationship gets...defined. Saying much else, would unfortunately spoil it, so I will leave you with this:

Darynda Jones always seems to create a group of characters that are enjoyable to read about. She makes the smaller side stories sometimes just as interesting as the main story arc. I'm really going to miss these characters, but I'm sure Jones is working on something new that is just as brilliant and enjoyable as the this one.