I love this series!! This third installment in the Sunshine Vicram series had all of the elements I’ve come to love about this series: the characters, the setting, the humor, and the steamy romance.

The setting is a small town in Northern New Mexico with a ton of personality. The town of Del Sol gives me Milagro Beanfield War with a side of Justified! Del Sol is full of quirky characters that give this town a soul.

The main character is Sunshine Vicram, the funny and smart Sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico. Although Sunshine is the main character, she is joined by a lot of quirky, lovable characters. Not the least of which is Quincy, her friend since childhood and undersheriff of Del Sol. Quincy is a big strong Captain America-type with real emotions and a healthy fear of racoons. (I wouldn’t mind Quincy getting his own book in this series.) The way sunshine and Quincy banter and play off each other is wonderful and hilarious.

In A Hard Day for a Hangover, the romance storyline between Sunshine and Levi makes a lot of progress and I’m here for it all!

The mystery is pretty straightforward and I guessed the murderer the minute they were introduced. That didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this book at all. The other excellently executed elements make for an entertaining read.

Lastly, there are so many interesting supporting characters that the series could go on forever and keep my interest. I give this hilarious and steamy mystery book 5 bright, shiny stars! This is a top read for me in 2022.

"A Hard Day for a Hangover" by Darynda Jones is Book #3 in the "Sunshine Vicram" Series!

This story picks up just days after Book #2 "A Good Day for Chardonnay" left off and it's the wildest ride yet for Sheriff Sunshine Vicram and her Del Sol Crew! Sunshine wishes her days would slow down just a little but today isn't that day!

Today, Sunshine and her team have their hands full with one incident after another:
- Doug, the town flasher, stabbed with a knitting needle...
- Randy, the pesky raccoon, on the loose again...
- An assault victim rescued at Cooper Canyon...
- A friend reports a home break-in...
- A teenage daughter, goes rogue investigating on her own...
- A prisoner escapes custody from a hospital...

To top it off, Sunshine sees a basket of Ruby's muffins' sitting on a desk in the sheriff's office. Could the presence of those 'cursed muffins' be causing another sudden spike in crime? It's quite possible!

The momentum is whip fast, faster than Sunshine would like while in the throes of a raging Tequila hangover. It's wild, it's fun, it's super mysterious and handsome Levi Ravinder is still hanging around. Sunshine is smiling and doesn't care what Levi's up to as long as it happens within her viewing range. He's such a distraction! She's loved that man since they were both kids, so it's all in a day's work, right?

This is definitely the best book and my favorite of this series but it's also the last one, which stinks! My only niggle is the ramp-up of more bloodiness than its predecessors, but the story is solid, the small-town humor first rate with an appropriate amount of snarkiness, and the quirky mix of characters is almost perfect!

This is the first book in this series I've read a digital copy rather than listened to the audiobook. It's strange how I hold the memory of what these characters sound like, so reading the words was like listening to the audiobook in my head. Does it make sense that I can hear their voices without actually listening to the audiobook and what does that say about me, I wonder? Regardless of what y'all think, it was a fun experience!

Simply said, I just adore Sun & her Del Sol Sheriff's Crew, her friends and her family. I'm awfully sad to see them all go but I'm thinking this author has something up her sleeves for another series and I'll be waiting patiently. I highly recommend this book and the entire series where each book was a solid experience! 4.5 stars!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a widget of this ARC through NetGalley. It has been my pleasure to give my honest and voluntary review.

There isn’t another current heroine that I love as much as Sunshine! With each book, I feel like I’m spending time with an old friend and I dread the end as it comes closer with each turn of the page.

Sunny continues to amaze me with her deductive reasoning, her people skills, and most of all, her offbeat wit and sense of humor. I love the way she deals with both victims and perpetrators. Especially the band of hooligans she arrests this time around. My face hurt from grinning so much.

We get a lot of quality time with Levi in this book and even more of him with Sunny. I would love to have some of his perspective so I could connect to him on a deeper level. However, there are a lot of reveals in this book and that went a long way to helping me get to know him better.

Along with all the laugh out loud moments, this is also laced with danger and drama including scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. When you add in the whole cast of characters, each with their own passions or quirky natures, it makes for a well rounded mystery that will definitely be a reread in the future.

A fun read, I enjoy the snark of the characters, and following Sunshine as she navigates being a Sheriff while in love with a (kindof?) criminal.

Just sad it's the last book in the series!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram is still trying to break up a local moonshine gang while in love with its boss. It’s unfortunate that her fixation is causing her to overpour tequila for herself leading to A Hard Day for a Hangover.

A Hard Day for a Hangover is not a standalone novel. If you haven’t read the series, this book’s plot will just be a confusing mishmash. The author tries to get new readers up to speed by summarizing the previous book in the series, A Good Day for Chardonnay, in the first quarter of the book. Since I read the last book, and was frustrated by the cliffhanger ending, I just wanted to get to the new parts. So, basically, this book is frustrating for both readers familiar and unfamiliar with the series. Overall, a disappointment, though at least the loose plot threads were fully resolved in this book. 3 stars.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

A Fantastic continuation of Darynda Jones's story of Sunshine and her daughter Auri as their life in a small town continues. I really enjoy the snarkiness and realness of Sunshine Vicram stories. It truly is an escape from real life to run away with Sheriff Sunshine in New Mexico. This book continues the story and struggles of Sun, living in her small hometown and trying to reel in the residents while keeping the law honest. We revisit her relationship with the love of her life Levi and the "issues" they must face (no spoilers sorry!).
This is a fun and fast read to make anyone smile and beg for more.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of A Hard Day for a Hangover, the third book in the Sunshine Vicram series by Darynda Jones, from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. I would have read it eventually anyway because I think Jones writes fun books with characters I enjoy.

I do recommend reading this series in order. It took me less than a week to read all three books. I had been saving up the first two while I finished other series. When I received this one, it was time to jump in. I'm not going to spoil anything by saying each book builds on the one before it. Jones also dishes up a diverse cast of characters who we are slowly learning more about and are all highlighted as assets for what they bring to the story. It is refreshing.

I tend to read Darynda Jones for the humor, but if you like a dash of something spicy in your stories, Jones will serve you up a huge, hot helping of dark and brooding. I don't know if I would actually want to date these guys, as noble as they may be, but please smolder at me. At the same time, I literally laugh out loud every time Sunshine has the birds and bees chat with her daughter, Auri. I had never heard the expressions "sin cave" or "devil's doorbell." Thank you for educating me as well.

Bonus points for Randy. I was already enjoying the characters, but Randy put me over the top with joy.

A Hard Day for a Hangover is the exhilarating third book in the Sunshine Vicram series by Darynda Jones. There is plenty of action along with the quirky humor that will make the reader laugh out loud. Whether you read it or listen to Lorelei King's excellent narration, this book will be a delight.

This was a really good, snarky, suspenseful read that must be read in order. I'm sad this trilogy is over, but was wrapped nicely. Sun's daughter is still involved and questions are answered about her paternity. I wished more romance was flushed out though, but this was not a boring read at all, still entertaining.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Book 3 in the Sunshine Vicram series is another winner! I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t get any fortune telling muffins in this installment, but that’s a little gripe. The best parts are sort of spoilery so I’ll just say things get really bad, and really good. We’ve got police procedural, mystery, family drama, romance, and humor, plus plenty of smoldering Levi Ravinder.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

This maybe the third book in this series but it’s just as good as the first two. Sunshine, sheriff of Del Sol and her fifteen year old daughter Auri seem to find all kinds of trouble. We have a girl that was beaten and tossed over a cliff, we have an escaped prisoner and a loose raccoon……this book made me laugh, cry, yell and cheer. I loved it so much much.

Because I am not a fan of paranormal books, I had never read anything by Darynda Jones until I started the Sunshine Vicram series. I love this series. Some of the reasons I do are it has a strong heroine in a tough male dominated job, she has a strong family foundation, she has great friends who support her, and I absolutely love her daughter and their relationship. I can't wait until one of my Goodreads Groups choses them to read so I can reread them and discuss and believe me - that is big, because I don't reread much of anything.

When Sunshine got up after a Tequlia bender due to a bad encounter with the love of her life, Levi Ravinder, and boy, is she regretting that indulgence because this is the day from Hell for her. First off, she is confronted with Del Sol's resident flasher in the ER after being attacked. Then she is faced with the discovery and recovery of a young woman from the side of a steep canyon. Next up a convict she had transferred to New Mexico escapes. On top of this her daughter, Auri, just hasn't learned her lesson about sticking her nose into active investigations and is getting into trouble, again. Auri has mad instincts when it comes to investigation, only, like last time, this one could be deadly. Overall, it is really A Hard Day for a Hangover.

My thanks to the Publisher and the Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

I love this author and this narrator, they are two of my favorites. I have read every single book Darynda Jones has written and listened to dozens that Lorelei King has narrated. They being said, I’m heartbroken that this is the last in this series!! Everyone of her books is written with the same serious subject but funny tone, her characters are always well described and the mysteries are always intriguing.

A Hard Day for a Hangover, by author Darynda Jones, is the third, and final installment in the authors Sunshine Vicram's trilogy. Let me start out by saying that I encourage folks to please read A Good Day for Chardonnay first before jumping this book. There was an event that happened in the final chapter that has lasting implications for things that are going to take place in this story. Del Sol, New Mexico's Sheriff Sunshine Vicram day begins with a massive hangover from way too much tequila which ties into what I just said.

From there, things get worse. A hunter spots a seriously injured and sexually assaulted young girl at Copper Canyon. The girl is barely alive when she is rescued and taken to hospital. As Sun awaits news at the hospital, a prisoner suffering from a heart attack is brought in, only for chaos to ensue when he manages to escape. He is no stranger to Sun, it is Wynn Ravinder, she had been responsible for facilitating his move to the local prison. Of course, a certain US Marshal arrives just in time to tell Sun that she is going to be investigated for her role in his escape.

To make things worse, her Deputy Quince Cooper now wants to put Levi Ravinder in the back of his squad car after Levi did something funny, and Levi is trying to avoid Clay Ravinder who is out to kill him and take over his business. Thankfully, along with Cooper, Sunny has Tricia Salazar, Sniper Zee, Poetry Rojas with his super power of recognizing those have spent time in prison and her newest recruit, Keith Seabright, who has now in the process of settling in the area. Too bad the Dangerous women and Sinister sons have to get involved.

Then comes the real meat of this story. Meanwhile, Sunshine’s 15-year old daughter Auri, who apparently wants to go to the FBI, becomes aware of a missing girl who possibly may have been en route to the area. Could Jane Doe be the missing woman? And if so, who put her there? Auri and her best friend Sybil, who has already seen way too much, decide that yes, they are going to ignore Sunny's warnings and charge ahead. Auri reminds me of Cookie's daugher Amber from the Charley Davidson series. Auri also has to deal with her friend Cruz de los Santos who was hurt badly saving her life. Cruz and Auri are wonderful together.

And, of course, we can't ignore Sunny's frustration when it comes to Levi Ravinder and what really happened to her 16 years ago that caused her to leave Del Sol and ended up in Santa Fe where she would eventually become a Detective before a certain group of people helped her to become Sheriff of Del Sol. ::slight spoiler:: Levi has known about what happened to Sunny for years, and even knows about Auri, but now it is time for not only he, but the rest of us to learn as well even though we got a bit of an awakening at the end of the previous installment.

It's always sad when a series comes to an ending. But I have no regrets when it comes to reading this series, or finishing this book so that I could find out whether or not all the loose ends would be wrapped up. Jones once again does an excellent job of balancing the light-hearted humor with darker, more suspenseful scenes which sees a real life scene that probably wasn't necessary but likely put in to send a message to gun owners. The result is a page-turner that is both laugh-out-loud funny and compulsively readable.

Loved it. So sad to see this fabulous series end. The humor is fantastic. Lots of action. Kept me turning the pages, but I didn't want the book to end so tried to slow down a tad. Impossible.

This series is ridiculous but very fun and fast-paced. The first one is still my favorite, but this story was still enjoyable.

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

A Hard Day For A Hangover is everything amazing and fun and loaded with surprises from start to finish! Sunshine, her fun daughter, Levi, and every character in between, make this an unforgettable series and a beloved one at that! Its fun, quirky, suspenseful and has plenty of sexy times to keep things hot too.

I didn't want this book to end because saying goodby to Del Sol was bittersweet. I was instantly captivated with this final installment of the Sunshine Vicram series. I enjoyed the way Sunshine can solve multiple cases and find happiness in between those cases as well as help the people in her small town at the same time. She is loving, sweet, hilarious and never gives up. And Levi is the kind of hero that can make the female reader swoon and drool at the same time! I couldn't get enough of this book and can't wait to read the whole series again! This was a breath of fresh air that I desperately needed and enjoyed thoroughly! This book deserves the full FIVE STAR treatment!

I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Hard Day for a Hangover, Sunshine Vicram #3, by Darynda Jones from Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press in order to read and give an honest review.

…This series has it all mystery, intrigue, family, drama, dark humour an incredibly quirky cast of characters, and a hot romance. It contained all “the feels” you look for in a good series, I laughed (a lot), cried, yelled, and even resorted to biting my fingernails lol….

The third and final book (sadly) in the Sunshine Vicram Series by Darynda Jones takes place just a few days after book two, A Good Day for Chardonnay. In my opinion, this book is not a stand-alone although the author does give a bit of backstory but not enough to really grasp the character’s history…and what a history it is.

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram’s life has been turned upside down since arriving at Del Sol New Mexico as has her teenage daughter Aurora aka Auri. In book two there were big revelations about Sunshine and Levi’s history but book three is where the questions about Sunshine’s past, the town’s secret society as well as the Ravinder family are all answered. Auri’s love interest Cruz is recovering from the events of Book Two and Deputy Quincy is trying to adjust to being a guardian.

Book three begins with Sunshine dealing with the aftermath of book two and trying to function with a huge hangover, desperately trying to catch her breath but that does not seem to be in the cards especially with a full day of cases and the sheriff’s office being commandeered by Randy the Racoon.

Sunshine has multiple cases to deal with, one being when Doug the harmless town flasher, is stabbed in the neck with a knitting needle, and he swears up and down a gang jumped him. The second call is a new case revolving around a young brutally assaulted Jane Doe is found discarded on the side of a cliff, clinging to life. When a pattern emerges, Sunshine realizes she might have a serial killer in Del Sol. When Auri, who has inherited her mother’s inquisitive and fiery disposition, remembers overhearing a conversation at school she believes she knows who the unresponsive victim might be. As usual Auri is determined to help her mom solve the case and does a bit of snooping herself ending up in the cross hairs of the killer.

Suffering from a hangover myself…a book hangover, I have to say I loved this series, and I am so sad that this is the end. I am hoping for Ms. Jones to take pity on her fans and shoot us a few more even in the form of a spin-off.

This series has it all mystery, intrigue, family, drama, dark humour, an incredibly quirky cast of characters, and a hot romance. It contained all “the feels” you look for in a good series, I laughed (a lot), cried, yelled, and even resorted to biting my fingernails lol. I read in almost every genre, but this series was just an incredibly fun read, it does however have dark humour, graphic sex and contains some triggers such as assault and in this book a mass shooting involving children. The only complaints I have are one, I wish there would have been an epilogue, just a bit more of Sunshine, Levi, Auri, and Cruz and two, I want MORE!!!!

A Hard Day for a Hangover
Sunshine Vicram #3
Darynda Jones

It’s hard to be sad for the finale of this series when the last book is just as good if not better than the first and there’s always re-reading the series, but gosh just when readers can’t get enough of Sunshine Vicram and her gutsy, quirky crew of characters it’s The End! But what an ending, readers will finally get closure into many of the previous mysteries in the series as well as being front and center for another totally new whodunit to solve as well. Then let’s talk about the drama, usually drama is a turnoff but in this case it’s an equal measure of eye-rolling, belly-laughing and OMGing that just so happens to be the life and times of Sunshine Vicram. Then there’s Sun’s teenaged/avenger daughter, Auri, who try as she might usually puts her foot in it before she turns it around and saves the day and will have readers nail-biting attention until the end. Then Sun’s parents have to be mentioned as well as the other totally unforgettable cast of costars like Sun’s bestie since childhood Quincy Cooper, and of course the eye candy who is Levi Ravinder. It’s hard to imagine that Darynda can outdo herself after this series, but then she’s done it before so Ms. Jones bring us the next best thing!

Sunshine Vicram’s had some really bad days since she was roped into being sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico but she’s about reached her limit. Not only is she facing some serious sheriff stuff with missing young women. Then her teenaged daughter Auri’s rebel with a cause phase where she’s trying to be SuperGirl but seems to fall out of the sky more often then not. But also there’s the little problem with Levi Ravinder the man she’s loved since she was a teen and who she just learned and confessed to him that he’s Auri’s dad and instead of embracing paternity he’s decided to ghost her. And if that’s not enough she’s got issues with the secret society that actually runs the town. No wonder she tried to drown her sorrows in a bottle, but now it’s daylight and she’s got to sober up and face her life, like it or not. Good thing her team in the Sheriff’s department including her bestie are all professionals; well sometimes.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
A HARD DAY FOR A HANGOVER is the third book in the Sunshine Vicram series and the previous book left us with a bit of a cliffhanger, so I’ve been really looking forward to seeing what was going to happen next between Sunshine and Levi.

A HARD DAY FOR A HANGOVER is hugely entertaining. From the mystery of who stabbed the town flasher with a knitting needle to who broke into a little old lady’s house, the escape of a prisoner and, more seriously, the case of an unidentified teenage girl left for dead on the side of a mountain, there is never a dull moment. The book combines humour, clever mysteries, loveable, quirky characters, and a dose of action and danger. I’m completely in love with Sunshine, Levi, Auri, and the people of Del Sol and I didn’t want the book to end. There is still more to learn about these people and I’m dying to spend more time with Auri and Cruz and see their teenage romance play out. I hope that the author is going to give us more stories from this town because this has been one of the best series I’ve ever read and I want more.


Shelby – ☆☆☆☆☆
Book three in the Sunshine Vicram series, A HARD DAY FOR A HANGOVER, was as good, if not better than the first two!

Sheriff Sunshine and the law enforcement officers responsible for the safety of Del Sol, New Mexico are in the middle of a situation.

Actually, make that a few situations... such as the resident flasher being stabbed and an inmate escaping. Can't forget to mention the discovery of a body in the desert, which leads to a full-fledged investigation. This story doesn't pick up steam as it goes – it's fully charged from the get-go!

Wait, I can't leave out Auri, the teen wiz! The junior investigator who has such an amazing heart and sarcastic approach (my fav). She is such an incredible character, smart and young. This story really is Auri's but I will let you find out for yourself.

I love this town and its quirkiness, I adore Sunshine and her attitude, but I really appreciate Levi Ravinder and all that he brings to the table. This series just sucks you in. I was laughing, crying, laugh-crying, and cheering for the good guys. You never know what's going to happen, but somehow it all makes sense and leaves me wanting more!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series, and I would highly recommend that you read them in order. In fact, I would do more than that – you NEED to read them in order. If you are not up to date, then please go back and enjoy all the fabulousness that is Sunshine, Auri, and Levi from the very beginning.

As sad as I was that this was the conclusion of the trilogy, I could not help but hide away and read it from beginning to end in almost one sitting/lying. It is really great to be back with the madness, to get some answers for Sunshine, some happiness for her family's future, and some mystery solving along the way – in no small part, in the hands of Auri.

I am loathed to reveal any more, but I can say that I fell straight back into their world and enjoyed every minute, laughed, may have shed a tear or two, and was delighted as it all pulled together and went just where every invested reader would wish.

I have pencilled in a couple of days in the Christmas holidays to read all three back to back – because who doesn't like Sunshine in their lives?