A HARD DAY FOR A HANGOVER (Sunshine Vicrum #3) by Darynda Jones
I have been a fan or Darynda Jones since I picked up the 1st one I read. She never disappoints. This is the 3rd installment of the Sunshine Vicrum series. The mysteries are piling up and when women start disappearing, Auri is determined to help her mom investigate, without telling her mom. This story has witty, snarky banter, plenty of humor, Levi Ravinder and his wild family, lots of things are happening. I really loved the ending.I give this 5 stars.

A Hard Day for a Hangover
Darynda Jones
December 6, 2022

For the third book in Darynda Jones Sunshine Vicram series we are back in the small town of Del Sol, New Mexico. Sun is now the sheriff of the county. Aurora is fifteen attending the high school for her freshman year. The duo live in a modest cabin behind her folks in Del Sol. Auri has turned into a wonderful daughter but she decides she should be helpful in solving some of the cases her mother must resolve in her job. We see most of the same characters in the department staff as well as the family of Levi Ravinder, Sunshine’s long time soul mate.
In this chapter we find the Del Sol Sheriff’s department out on a local man’s call regarding the finding of a girl buried in gravel down the mountain off the roadside.The troops worked their way sliding down mountain to help her, as the girl was still alive but had been stabbed and received trauma from the fall. After much work Sun and company were able to get her to the base of the mountain so a helicopter could take her to the Santa Fe Hospital. This was the beginning of the path of destruction of a serial killer who preferred his women young and innocent.
A Hard Day for a Hangover will be published on December 6, 2022 by St. Martin’s Press of New York. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review Jones latest Sunshine Vicram book via NetGalley. It’s easy to become involved with the family and friends in the series. It is humorous yet an excitable suspense novel. This latest and the last of the series, (unless we get lucky and Darynda pens another in the series), was excellent. True, I am a fan of the New Mexico stories being a resident however, it provides a good picture of the small towns we find here. Do read this one, it is a treasure.

I wish that I could give A Hard Day for a Hangover more than five stars. I wish it wasn't the end. I wish that I could read aa new book about Levi, Sunshine, and Auri whenever I need a good laugh or to catch up with an old friend. Not only this latest book, but this series is so good. In fact, "so good" seems like a trite understatement, but it really is. The dialogue is witty and fun, and the characters are so well constructed that they seem like people you actually know, although they seem like they might be slightly dangerous to actually hang out with, particularly the always well intentioned but disaster prone Auri.

I know it's the conclusion to this fantastic trilogy, but I just keep thinking..."Please don't take my Sunshine away..."

My Thoughts

When Auri Vicram is around trouble is not far behind.

15 going on ancient our teenage sleuth is in fine form as she helps her Mom, AKA Sheriff Sunshine Vicram, to track down clues and at the same time get through her last week of High School as a Freshman.

Adding more stress to our lovely sheriff than even dealing with her newest case, one that at first seems almost simple and as usual for Sun proves to be anything but.

Clues mount up, both Sun and her team working as fast as possible to find the correct answers once they ask the right questions.

Of course those questions take both the Sheriff and readers down a rabbit hole that proved quite deeper, and darker, than anyone expected it to be.

Meanwhile add Levi Ravinder to the mix and a few new twists that have Sunshine unravelling them makes this an even better way to tie up things for me.

Would that we could spend more time with the characters but it has been nice while it lasted for me.
[EArc from Netgalley]

4.5 wonderful stars! Loved everything about this book! I adore this series. This is book 3. While I think would be more enjoyable to start with book 1,, it is possible to jump right into book 3. The author provides enough background from books 1 &2 to allow a new reader to jump in without boring the readers who read book 1 and 2. A Hard Day for a Hangover starts not long after book 2. The Ravinder storyline continues in this story and wraps up nicely. I still struggle to believe a few pieces of that plot line.

Sunshine and her crew are must deal with the mystery of a beaten and abandoned young girl. This story has action, mystery, romance and fantastic relationships. Darynda Jones excels at writing snappy dialogue that propels the story. This went down fast and smooth and I would love to read more in the series. Auri and Sunshine are strong, smart, intelligent women. it was a joy to read a series with women who are capable and can take care of themselves. No damsels in distress here! Told in dual perspectives: Auri and Sunshine’s. Auri takes after her mom and engages in some amateur sleuthing that lands her in some hot water. Love all the side characters. Just enough information about them without bogging down the story. Loved the continued antics of Randy the raccoon.. The secret society of elderly members of the town makes an appearance again.

Solidly entertaining mystery with enough red herrings to keep readers guessing. This was very entertaining with laugh out loud moments. I hope she decides to continue the series or create a spin-of series with Auri and Cruz.
Loved this book! Highly recommend !

I should note that I HAVE read the first two books in this series, and loved both of them. I have been waiting for this book to come out ever since I finished book 2.

Overall, I enjoyed A Hard Day for a Hangover very much - it tied up many loose ends from Book 2 and gave me warm and fuzzies that I was hoping for! I give this a 4/5 because it was a very enjoyable read and I sat and read it all at once. My review is a 4 instead of a 5 though... because the second the "bad guy" was introduced in the story, I knew immediately that he was the one behind the missing girls. I've read almost all of Darynda's previous writing and love every book, but this one was a little more predictable than some of her other works. There were not as many twists, turns, and surprises in this one. (Which actually is a surprise in itself.)

I still 100% would recommend this series to others, and I will be excitedly waiting for her next novel to come out. The characters in this series are super fun and I LOVE the secret society in town aspect as well.

One last thing - the BOY BAND was hysterical. Loved that lighthearted story arc.

A Hard Day for a Hangover wasn't what I'd hoped it would be. It's the story of the sheriff, Sunshine and her daughter, Auri. There had been two assaults and one murder, all female. Sun was trying to solve them as was her 15 year old daughter. There was a family of Ravinders, all male, some of whom had broken the law. Sun was in love with Levi Ravinders, who had saved her life from his uncle who had abducted her. Levi's role was crucial in Sun's life.

Sun was the sheriff of the small town of Del Sol, and they had their own vigilante group who tried to take the law into their own hands. Sun's mother and father were a part of said group. So this is a somewhat convoluted story that didn't have the bells and whistles that I like in a book. It was rather bland. By that I mean it was short on suspense, it wasn't a nail biter and it barely held my attention. I mean the story was a good idea but it needed a lot more meat. I gave it two stars.

Sunshine Vicram, newly appointed sheriff of Del Sol County, New Mexico, awakes with a hangover. Her day quickly goes downhill from there: there's a stabbing victim; an unconscious young woman who has been beaten and dumped; a home invasion robbery, and the escape of a state prisoner from the hospital. She also has her lovely and too clever teen daughter Aurora to deal with--the one who pictures herself a budding detective who manages to keep putting herself in danger. And the death threat to Sunshine's love interest, Levi Ravinder. And the town's secret club called Dangerous Daughters and Sinister Sons who think they really run things behind the scenes. Whew! What a headache!

This is a fun and entertaining mystery with some steamy romance in the mix and quite an exciting ending! Definitely for fans of the Stephanie Plum series. I would recommend starting with book one if you are new to the series as each book builds the storyline and characters. Kudos for another cleverly-done cover design.

I received an arc of the book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 ⭐️‘s
Jones has us laughing out loud at the antics of Sunshine Vicram, her family, fellow officers, and the whole Del Sol community. With a brand new case, Sunshine, the sheriff of Del Sol delves into the case along with the mostly unsolicited help of her teenaged daughter Auri. At first with an unconscious victim, there are few clues to go on, but with some deft detective work, the case is soon linked with a few other cold cases. Bringing the perp to justice puts Auri in danger once again. Will Sunny and her deputies get there in time to save her. The ongoing Ravinder case is also coming to a head, will Sunny finally get the answers she needs and get a chance at a happily ever after with her “one and only” Levi Ravinder? This is the third book in the series and its just as good as the other two! The back and forth banter is the best and Jones keeps us in stitches throughout. While it looks like things might just be tied up in this one, I’m really hoping for more of Sunshine Vicram … much more❣️Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I love the characters and the storyline. Darynda Jones develops the characters so that you feel like you know them. She comes up with the most interesting action packed stories and has a great sense of humor. She always has me at the edge of my seat wondering what’s going to happen next, and she makes me laugh. She’s a talented writer. Why is this only a trilogy? I am upset this is the end. Reading Darynda’s books is a wonderful part of my day. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

A Hard Day for a Hangover

Sunshine Vicram, a sheriff in a small town where her parents live and where she was raised, never has a dull moment. Whether it’s with her job or her family, her days are never quiet and there is always something to be done or someone to find. Through family dynamics, drama and old secrets that come to light, relationships on top of mystery lead you down the path of an awesome adventure. The third installment in this series, Darynda Jones once again hits it out of the park with her story line but also with her quips at the beginning of every chapter. She is also an author who doesn’t hesitate to poke a little fun at her own expense (loved it and I let her know). The beauty of listening to Ms. Jones offerings by audiobook allows the reader to hear Ms. Lorelei King in your head when you read the book form (no lie, just the facts!). Because I was offered the novel early through NetGallery, there was no way I wasn’t going to read it but when it is out in audiobook form, I will be first in line. Thank you again for continuing sharing your amazing talents and can’t wait for your next offering! Five stars all the way!!!

I want to thank St. Martin's Press, Darynda Jones and Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book!

Once again Darynda Jones kept me on my toes! There were moments where I cried, I laughed and I face palmed myself and yelled Sunny WTF!

I hate that this is the finale because I love the characters in the book. Aurora shows she has a lot of people in her corner and maybe just,aybe the mean girl and her could possibly be friends..... I loved how Levi and Sunny got things straight but I so want to see them in more books!!

Can't wait for her next book!!

The final book in the Sunshine Vicram trilogy. This installment did not disappoint. Friendship, family, community, romance, humor, snark and mystery. The characters are quirky (some of them anyway), well developed, relatable and so likable. The storyline was interesting, intricate and action packed. Questions were answered, some secrets revealed and storyline threads that wove throughout the trilogy are tied up. It’s a bit bittersweet to have an ending to a story that has been so entertaining. I recommend this series!

The third and final installment is this mysteries series (which was amazing so far)...does not disappoint! This book is laugh-out-loud funny, intensely suspenseful, page-turning fun. Feathing Sheriff Sunshine Vicram who would rather give the day a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there's just too much going on right now. There's a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There's her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who's out to singlehandedly become Del Sol's youngest and fiercest investigator.

***Please NOTE: This book is not a standalone and you should definitely read the first two before reading this one - trust me I tried and was much happier I stopped and went back to read the first two first.

One of the things that makes this series so addictive is the author's ability to create believable and suspenseful plotlines. In A Hard Day for a Hangover, Jones does an excellent job of balancing the light-hearted humor with darker, more suspenseful scenes. The result is a page-turner that is both laugh-out-loud funny and compulsively readable.Simply put, A Hard Day for a Hangover is another roaring success from Darynda Jones. This series is a must read for fans of cozy mysteries and Law and Order alike.
tw: sa, suicide, depression, ptsd

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital arc

I truly enjoy this series, and I think this one is my favorite!

We're back with Sheriff Sunshine who thinks her day will be bad because of a tequila hangover.
But she's in for a surprise.

A hunter finds an injured young lady on the side of a mountain. She was assaulted and it looks like thrown from the cliff above. But she luckily is alive.

After some investigating by Sunshine and her team, it seems this is a pattern of incidents and not the first. They start working to find answers to this mystery.

Also is the underlying treat on Levi Ravinder's life. His family has some shady characters and one of them (or more?) seem to want him out of the picture.

Sunshine’s teenage daughter Auri likes to do her own investigating, and as usual, despite her mother trying to get her to stop, this gets her in hot water.

Mix in the hint of romance between Sunshine and Levi and this is a entertaining book all around.

Many thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for both an ALC and ARC copy of this gem in exchange for my honest review!

I didn’t think that the third book in this series could top the second book, but I was so, so wrong!

Darynda Jones has a way of writing that really makes me think that she is writing about something real that has happened, not something fictional. This is perhaps simply because she is an exceptionally gifted writer. This book had me on the edge of my seat, heart racing as I missed sleep to find out what would happen next. Sunshine’s snark is only matched by her detective skills. What a wild ride with so many surprises along the way.

The third brought all the current mysteries to a close, but this reader can only hope that Auri and Quince will get their own spin-offs so that we get their love stories and watch them solve more crimes with Sunshine and Levi in the offing. I can’t bear to think that this is goodbye to these characters!

Read! It! This entire series is just phenomenal and so well-written. Although this is a general sentiment I have about everything Darynda Jones writes, this series is as fresh and interesting as the titles suggest. Sunshine Vicram is a literary luminary you won’t want to miss.

In Sunshine Vicram's 3rd installment, many questions are answered... which Yay! It did tie up most of the loose ends well. While I enjoyed the first two books better, this was a strong conclusion.

I do wish this series was longer. I think many of the mysteries could have spanned more books and I know there's much more in Del Sol to explore! Perhaps there will be more to this series??

Pros:
The mysteries were great, I love how they all come together in the end
I think i would seriously think about leaving if as many bad things happened in my small sunny town
Levi is lovely as usual

Cons:
I think some of the mysteries were a little transparent. I had correctly solved 2 of them within the first couple chapters.
I felt it was a little rushed. Things wrapped rapidly and one right after another
The Sons and Daughters did not get to show their influence as much as I would have hoped.

I received an advance readers copy through Netgalley.

So good! I didn't realize this was the last book in the series, so not fair! I need more of Sunshine and Levi plus Auri and Cruz. There's so much potential for more.

As expected in a Darynda Jones story, there is so much snark and laugh out loud moments. Plus so many mysteries happening at the same time that keeps it super interesting. I loved all of the other characters in the series and definitely need more of Quincy.

Audiobook/Rural Mystery: This is the third book in the Sunshine series. I did read the first two. The book reminds me a lot of the Spellman series where there's a bunch of quirky friends and neighbors. The writing is fine and the mysteries intriguing to a point. I just had a problem with the setting. The daughter is too intellectual mature for her age considering Sunshine is supposed to be the central character. The book is written in third person. The narrator did a good job of getting each person's personality.

Darynda Jones returns to this series with signature humor earth and suspense. Entertaining as always the author draw you in swiftly. The quirky characters and plot twists keep up the interest throughout the piece. Character development and plot line are well done. There is one open door sex scene . Just have to say that I have never had anyone describe a sexual encounter to me I'm real life utilizing the language and terminology used by the author . Just saying. There is a lot of warmth and family in this book and that was definitely well done. It was worth the read just for the humorous sayings that started each chapter. Here's hoping Ms. Jones will be adding more Sunshine to our lives in the future.