Those of you who follow my reviews are probably saying to yourselves “for a bitch who talks about how she doesn’t like sequels/series she sure is doubling down hard lately.” In my defense, I am nothing if not contrary – but also I am admittedly addicted to the Stephanie Plum series and have picked up Sunshine Vicram and Finlay Donovan looking to potentially make some new pals like I did with them and their band of misfit toys.

It might be time for me to break up with dear Sunny, however. This series is a whole lotta schtick and not a lot of substance. At the base of it there’s the mystery of a young Jane Doe who was found dumped off the side of a ravine and remains unconscious throughout the book while Sunshine deals with the local flasher, petty thieves and the love lives of herself and everyone else around her. It’s chock full of a lot of “hyuck hyuck” type of humor, way too many pages are invested in Sunny’s “precocious” (a/k/a annoying) daughter and an ending that never ends due to action scene after action scene all crammed in for the big finale. And this time around it even left me with an unforgiveable earworm in the form of the band Lifehouse.

So there’s my take, but this currently sits at a 4.59 rating at the time of me typing my review. I’m obviously the outlier and you will probably love this if you like light mysteries.

2.5 Stars but rounding up for the title/cover perfection and because I’ll most likely forget that I didn’t love this one and be first in line when #4 gets announced.

<i>ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!</i>

What a ride.

I was worried to many events were happening and knowing this was the last book that it wouldn't all get resolved.

Happy it all did, but it did leave us hanging so I hope there is more to come.

This book was really cute! I had high expectations for it, and let me tell you… it did not disappoint me!

I adore this series. The characters are bright and hilarious, the mysteries are twisty, and the humor is on point. The mother daughter dynamic makes this an interesting read as you are drawn into multiple perspectives and information sources for the crime that’s being solved. The one liners at the beginning of chapters are so creative, I love that they tie into known locations in the book. Overall another stellar addition to this sweet series.

A Hard Day for a Hangover is the third and final book in the Sunshine Vicram Series by Darynda Jones and takes place just a few days after book two. If you haven't read the previous books, this is not a stand alone so beware of spoilers. You've been warned.

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram has had her fair share of ups and downs lately. After the big reveal to Levi in the previous book, you'd think things would have started feeling a bit more like smooth sailing. I mean, so she tried to arrest him a couple of times and dropped an epic bombshell on him. That doesn't mean he needed to escape and disappear on her. Right? RIGHT? But Del Sol, New Mexico has a new mystery to solve and our lovely Sheriff is on the case. She'll have time to worry about Levi later.

"If Scooby-Doo taught us nothing else, it’s that real monsters are always human."

Sunshine's new case is of a young Jane Doe, found on a cliff, barely alive. But Sunshine isn't the only one on the case. Her daughter Auri has also decided to look into it and Sherlock Auri is a force not to be messed with...unless she tries to skip school to do so. With the help of her friends and the every swoon worthy Cruz by her side, she's just as determined to help the missing women, even if it means putting herself in a killer's path.

"Do you suffer from shyness? Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive? Ask your doctor or pharmacist about tequila.
—Sign at The Roadhouse"

Fans of the series will be happy with the conclusion as many of the questions about the Ravinder family and Sunshine's own disappearance years ago are finally answered and the ending leaves hope that we will see Auri with her own series (I plead to Darynda hopefully) as she has become an amazing sleuth in her own right. Each chapter is sprinkled with Darynda's signature meme or quip, and the dialogue between characters is funny as always, even when the scene is serious. The series also gives another little nod to our favorite grim reaper. As a whole, the series is engaging, undeniably funny and completely unforgettable. Another five star read from Ms. Jones.

“Grandma has a stash of pirate romances?”
“And cowboys and vampires and there’s this one series about a female grim reaper who’s in love with the son of—”

Absolutely loved this book. I so hope this isn’t the end of the series because I want these characters to stick around!

My favorite thing about this book is the humor of the characters that actually makes me laugh while I’m reading. I thought the multiple story lines were incredibly engaging and I could not put it down because I had to know what happened next!

3.5 STARS

Sherriff Sunshine Vicram’s day starts out as rough as she feels after getting up close and personal with some tequila the night before. She has a call out for an injured young woman in a very precarious situation, her daughter, Auri, is determined to solve all the local mysteries while taking skipping class not an issue although her sleuthing efforts often turn out deadly. Sun’s nascent relationship with Levi Ravinder ,whom she has loved for years, seems to need quite a bit of clarification. Also adding to the fun, an injured flasher, a cold case that relates recent events to some missing women, and her parents’ odd ball vigilante league who are determined to get in Sun’s business and “help” her out.

In the last book, certain elements were revealed such as the fact that Levi is Auri’s father after Sunshine’s memories started to come back of what happened the night she was abducted. She had remembered some events of the prior week before the kidnapping which has a major impact on her and Auri’s life. Auri gets up to her usual well intentioned but often disastrous investigations complicating Sun’s life while putting herself and others at risk. The quirky town of Del Sol, New Mexico, filled with strange, nosy, and less than model citizens keep Sun running from one crisis to next with her trusty BFF and deputy, Quincy. The former sheriff seems to have it in for Sun so that adds to her list of enemies.

Some of Levi’s relatives have him in the cross-hairs and another one seeks to continue to protect him from prison. Sun and Levi have a lot to discuss if they can ever get more than five minutes together before the next catastrophe hits. The enigmatic Levi has known certain facts about Sun for a long time that had they been revealed, could have lessened some of her and Auri’s trauma to a great degree.

Third and final in the series, this book also wraps up some mysteries while Sun and Levi’s relationship progresses although not much is seen of him until quite a bit later in the story. Ms. Jones has a way with humor juxtaposed with some serious and deadly action. Fans of the series should be pleased with how it all turns out and although this is the end, I would not be surprised to see a grown-up Auri getting her own book.

This is the third book in the Sunshine Vicram series which follows Sunshine who is the sheriff of in a small county in New Mexico. This series is a lot of fun, it has everything I love in my books, great characters, a fun family, a romance and plenty of action. Each book has a stand alone mystery that Sunshine is trying to solve but at the same time we have an over arcing storyline that has been going on since book 1. One of my favorite things about this series is the writing! Darynda Jones writes the best characters with great dialogue and the perfect amount sarcasm! If you love small town mysteries then I would highly recommend this series, while it's not quite a cozy it is pretty close. These books do have some heavier topics with the types of violence that is in them so if you need trigger warnings then I would look into those. Thank you St. Martin's Press for my gifted copy for review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So sad to see this series end. Jones writes such endearing characters that you can't help but fall in love with. The laughs,sarcasm and wit are above and beyond! My only complaint was that I was hoping for an epilogue. I also would love to see an Auri spin-off!

Oh how I love Sunshine. I say this to everyone I recommend a book to, Darynda Jones will always be my ride or die author. There was almost a vulnerability in Levi this time that was fun to see. I love when the 'big bad alpha' hero in the book shows that side of themselves. I love him and Sun. I love that you get the book/series from the perspective of both Sun and Ari. Not going to lie, would love a little Cruz and Levi pov in there too, but I'll take what I can get. I may have said this in another review, but, as a single mom myself to girls I dream of a relationship with them that those two have. The bond that they have is amazing. And the sarcasm, oh the sarcasm, has me laughing out loud to where people around me think I'm insane. That's the best kind.

" A Hard Day for a Hangover" by Darynda Jones
I'm a big fan of Ms. Jones' work. I like the humor she infuses into her stories as well as the action. I loved the characters in this series. Definitely recommend!!!

A Hard Day for a Hangover
Sunshine Vicram, Book 3

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series plus I just love this author.

Media Type: eBook
Source: Review copy provided by Netgalley
Dates Read: 9/9/22 - 9/25/22
Stars: 4 Stars

The Characters:

Sunshine Vicram:
Levi Raviender:
Quincy Cooper, Aurora “Aura” Vicram, Cruz de la “Something”, other Del Sol Deputies, World’s Smallest Boyband, Randi the Raccoon

The Story:

I cannot even count the ways I love these characters and this town. The fact that these three books have taken place over a short time astounds me. No one should have such a drama-filled month. A lot, a lot happens in the book, A serial killer, several attempted murders, a shooting, a fire, a robbery, baby raccoons. Also I want to see more of Sun, Auri and Levi as a family It was a wild ride and I enjoyed it.

The Random Thoughts:

I’ve heard this is the last book in the series and if that is true I am really sad to say goodbye.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
LOVED it. So funny, even the chapter headings made me laugh out loud. This is book three with Sunshine Vicram and company, and author Darynda Jones nailed it again. I read recently this was written as a trilogy, which I hope is untrue, but if not, it's a satisfying end to the series. Do yourself a favor and start with book one. The audio narrator is awesome, if that's your preference. There's something for everyone: romance, mystery, suspense, fantastic characters, small town setting, so much humor, all mixed in so nicely that the story moves along at a great pace. Easily a one-sitting read. Easily 5 stars for each one in the series.

The third in the Sunshine Vicram series, this installment ties up some of the longstanding plotlines and introduces a possible serial killer. Funny fast-paced dialogue, good character development, lots of different plots to keep track of but the author does a good job keeping all of them straight. Best to start with the first book in the series, as the characters' relationships are a major feature of the story, and I think it helps to know everyone's backstory coming into this novel. Very much hoping there will be a fourth book in the series. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

Another Darynda series, sadly, comes to an end… As expected, though, it came to a perfect end. The book picked up right where the previous left off and didn’t skip a beat. There were no loose ends when the book ended, so we certainly weren’t left to wonder what happened with any of our beloved characters. As sad as I am to see this end, I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Oh, my goodness. I tried really hard to read this book slowly and savor it, especially when I found out it was going to be the LAST ONE in the series. I've been stalking NetGalley ever since the new cover was released. I absolutely love Sunshine and the whole gang, and I'm not sure how I would have made it to December.

I digress-

A Hard Day for a Hangover picks up right where A Good Day for Chardonnay leaves off, a few days later, with Sun nursing a hangover. This book was the perfect end to the series, with everything being wrapped up in a nice little bow. I especially love Cruz's ending, it was perfect. This book was a little more intense than the first one, and much more Auri-centric. I love that little mini Nancy Drew. As much as I hate for this series to end so quickly, I appreciate that the author didn't drag it out unnecessarily. I cried a lot reading this one, but we may be able to chalk that up to pregnancy hormones.

Now I'm going to sit here and patiently wait for a Quincy/Hailey or a Rojas/Zee or a Nancy/Wynn series. Pattttttiently waiting.

If people like Stephanie Plumb novels, they are going to love Sunshine Vicram! This series is so much fun to read, each book is even more fun than the last. I love hand selling this fast paced, funny series that keeps you guessing.. I could absolutely be friends with these characters! Darynda Jones has created a community that I will revisit again and again. Thank you and I can't wait for book 4.

I loved this book! But that is not surprising as I love everything that Darynda writes. Her characters are amazing, the dialogue is superb and funny, the action is serious but also funny (and that takes skill) and I can't say enough good things about it, And did I mention that it is funny? The only drawback that I have is that I knew who the bad guy was right away but then I did not see what was coming with the flasher and the person responsible for stabbing him with a knitting needle so that evens it out perfectly! I highly recommend this book and will re-read this series over and over again just as I do with her other titles.

This book was everything I wanted it to be. It had me turned pages without even realizing. It was so good!

Well, all good things come to an end, and that certainly is the case with this third book in the Sunshine Vicram trilogy by Darynda Jones. Books #1 and #2, A Bad Day for Sunshine and A Good Day for Chardonnay, were truly enjoyable reads, and this third book, A Hard Day for a Hangover is just as good, if not better than the first two installments.

With several women having gone missing in the small town where Sunshine Vicram is sheriff, she is definitely being kept on her toes. Auri, her teen daughter, always seems to manage to get into as much trouble as Sunshine. Then Sunshine is trying hard to hang on to heartthrob and lifelong crush, Levi, but he currently has his agenda going on.

With both Sunshine and Auri investigating here latest case, albeit completely differently, some facts are starting to be revealed that level up the danger in the small town Sunshine was certain would be rather quiet. Quiet is laughable to be sure, and that is just the tone for these three books in this delightful series. While the cases are serious, there is a light tone to each of the stories, and with Sunshine's sarcastic attitude and Auri's rather obstinate behavior, this is a book sure to make the reader smile.

Meanwhile, Levi and his family are having trouble on a grand scale, and this will no doubt impact the growing relationship between him and Sunshine. Daryinda Jones has written a truly enjoyable series, and does a fine job wrapping it up with this third book. In fact, several character arcs are handled perfectly, bringing this series to a satisfying end.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.