A Good Day for Chardonnay

A laugh out loud mystery with romance. Great dialogue and well thought out characters . This is part of a series. I can't wait to see what happens next.

I am really enjoying another great series from Darynda and am already looking forward to book #3. Well done Darynda.

FIVE STARS!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!!

Sunshine Vicram might just be one of my favorite literary female leads of all time. She's sassy, smart, and full of drama! With quick dialogue that is very Gilmore Girls-esque, you can't help but love her! The relationship between Sunshine and her fiery red headed daughter Auri is a joy to read about. Auri is sassy just like her mom and she's got a fierce heart. I feel like I know them personally.

This is the second book the in Sunshine Vicram series. I was so excited to see it on the NetGalley website-I hadn't realized there would be more! Now that I'm finished with book 2 that ended on A MAJOR CLIFFHANGER..... there better be more to the story, Ms. Jones!!

A Good Day for Chardonnay truly had every little thing I need to deem this a good book.
Mystery? YES.
Sexual tension? YES.
Heart melting moments? YES.
Heart breaking moments? YES.
Unexpected steamy scene? YES!!

I laughed. I cried. I worried. I blushed.

I need book 3 immediately!

A funny mystery story that weaves together conspiracies, a brooding hunk, a teenage daughter, a missing boy, a wild raccoon terrorizing her chief deputy, and so much more, A Good Day for Chardonnay is sure to brighten your day. Sunshine Vicram is the sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico, a small town where almost anything can happen, and usually will. In this installment, Sunny is on the trail of Levi Ravinder (the brooding hunk) as he tries to track down who attacked his friend in a bar fight and she tries to get him to the ER. This book had me laughing out loud all while spinning a thoroughly engaging and well-plotted story. Try not to laugh too loud when you read it!

Thanks to St Martin's Press for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.

Sunshine Vicram is the local sheriff for Del Sol New Mexico. A job she was elected for without the benefit of running for office. She is raising her teenage daughter Auri while supposedly fighting crime. Though the crimes tend to be raccoons on the loose and paper cut fiascos. Until now…

I love Sunshine and her daughter.

Their connection as mother and daughter is amazing and at the same time….fun! Oh, and did I mention Sunshine’s love interest Levi Ravinder?🔥🔥

There is romance and mystery.

But it’s the humor that shines through this book. Careful if you are reading this book in public as you won’t be able to contain your laughter! Sunshine’s blind dates at the beginning of the book left me giggling remembering some of my own blind date disasters!😂

My only con was there seemed to be so much going on with different plot lines that I found myself lost at times.

Though book one of Darynda Jones’ series A Bad Day For Sunshine remains my favorite… this latest was a strong runner-up. Fingers crossed there will be a book three. Ummm…. Darynda? You are currently working on book three right!?

A buddy read with Susanne

Posted to : https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC to read and review.

It's the morning after... I finished reading A Good Day for Chardonnay around 1:30 last night and for some reason, I am close to tears while writing this. Why? Gosh, you guys, I feel like it's been a long year and for the first time in a long time, I felt kinda normal again reading the words from Darynda Jones. It felt comforting and familiar. I didn't want it to end. Sun is such a kind and loving character and when you throw in the humor and spark she supplies, well... she's my kinda gal. Her back and forth with Levi is a thing of beauty. I swear this needs to be picked up by Netflix and made into a series.

Once again I am left needing more.
5 Sunshiny Stars
~Tanja

Review also posted on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

Sunshine & Auri Vicram are Back and that means it’s Time to Celebrate!

It’s also Time for Shenanigans, Sass, and Sweet Nothings!

In “A Good Day for Chardonnay” by Darynda Jones, Sheriff Sunshine Vicram has plenty to deal with, investigating crimes with her best friend and Chief Deputy Quincy. Lately, the best and worst part for Sunshine is that both her past and her biggest case lead her back to one person: Levi Ravinder, the one man she can’t seem to forget.

Auri wants to be just like her mom, and can’t help but get herself and a few of her friends into trouble when investigating what seems like a fairly straightforward case.

For me, the best part about “A Good Day for Chardonnay” were the characters and their relationships. I was rolling with laughter at the antics that ensued between these guys and loved the witty banter that was exchanged between Sunshine and her daughter Auri and Sunshine and Quincy. One scene between Sunshine and Quincy got me and got me good! While I liked the romance between Sunshine and Levi, I was wholly unprepared for how quickly it transpired and found it to be a bit too steamy for my liking.

All in all, however, I enjoyed this addition to the series, loved how it ended, and can’t wait for the next addition to the story.

A buddy read with Kaceey that we both enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Darynda Jones for the arc.

Review published on Goodreads, Netgalley, Twitter, and Instagram.

A GOOD DAY FOR CHARDONNAY is the 2nd book in the Sunshine Vicram series. I don’t want to spoil anything so what I will say is if you haven’t started this series...get on it! The series starts out with A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE where we follow newly elected Sheriff (you guessed it, her name is Sunshine) and her daughter Auri. Everything reminds me of Gilmore Girls, but with a crime to solve. It’s truly zany and so much fun. Oh, and I must not forget to mention the potential romance between Sunshine and Levi is 🔥⁣
⁣
This series is truly fun (there better be a 3rd book) and I highly recommend if the premise sounds like it may be your jam. I liked the big case in A GOOD DAY FOR CHARDONNAY better than the first book, but became less interested in Auri’s storyline. But I am so on board for Sunshine and Levi!

I loved it! This author is so funny! There are a few mysteries going on in this book and one of them is being followed by Sunshine's teenage daughter. They have a close, witty relationship that reminds me of the TV show The Gilmore Girls. All the characters are a lot of fun and so many exciting things happen in the end. Very touching too. Great book!

10 ++++ Stars!!! I'm in love with this series and OMG...that ending! I'm a little afraid that this is just a duet. I don't think it is, but if it is, I might cry. That very last sentence had me screaming "No please don't end it there!"

I think a lot of people will compare this to the Charlie Davidson series without the PNR twist. I would agree to some of the same characteristics, but it is still it's own series. Either way, I won't complain. I'm a huge fan of both series and I want more, more, more.

The heroine and all the sidekicks are hilarious and keep me very entertained. The hero is smoldering! He's intense and just his description alone has me saying "yes please!" Yep, I'm a fan.

A Good Day for Chardonnay is the 2nd book in the Sunshine Vicram mystery series. The first in the series, A Bad Day for Sunshine introduces Sunshine Vicram, the newly elected sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico and her truly adorable daughter Aurora Dawn "Aurie". The first book was so much fun, and I was truly laughing out loud for most of it.

This book takes place about four months after the events of A Bad Day for Sunshine, and it holds up well after the VERY impressive first book. Darynda Jones is so talented in creating these expansive universes with top-notch characters. I loved the second book, just as delightful as the first.

Fresh, brilliant, bright, and funny! Darynda takes readers on a ride through Del Sol you won’t want to miss. She’s a champion writer of romance, comedy, mystery, and suspense. The funny things are laugh-out-loud-and-hope-the-people-around-you-don’t-think-you’re-crazy funny. Even the serious things are funny. The even more serious things are, well, raw and unfiltered. True.

Sun and Auri are two of my favorite girls in all of literature. There’s simply no escaping this world once you’ve stepped into it. Sunshine has found out just enough enough of the mysteries in Del Sol, but not all of them, to keep me coming back for more. And don’t get me started on Levi Ravinder or we’ll be here all night. Swoon!

A Good Day for Chardonnay, book #2 in the Sunshine Vicram series, by Darynda Jones is even more engrossing than A Bad Day for Sunshine. The New Mexico setting is perfect for Sheriff Sunshine Vicram, her cute and tough daughter Aurora Dawn--Aurie, and the guys in their orbit. The plot pacing is fast and furious--more thriller than cozy. The investigation into the kidnapping from book one is picking up speed as new clues are revealed, there is a cold case serial killer hunt, Sunshine's parents are still trying their best to 'hook her up', and her feelings for sexy Levi are growing by leaps and bounds. Oh, and Cruz? He melts my heart. Darynda Jones pulls the reader into the story with wonderful characters, snarky humor, and a thrilling fast paced mystery---leaving the reader both satisfied AND wanting more. Excellent read!
Thank you #AGoodDayForChardonnay #NetGalley #Kensington for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I review books I enjoy so that others can enjoy them too.

And she does it again! Darynda Jones has a true talent for creating a cast of interesting characters whose past and present are intertwined in so many ways - you can't stop reading and end up wanting to know be one of the crew. You will be turning pages, laughing out loud, a bit teary, tense and even sometimes angry - what a roller coaster of fun! This is the second book in this series and even better than the first if that's possible - keep them coming!

Darynda has hit it out of the park once again! Readers truly couldn’t ask for more as a follow up to A Good Day For Sunshine. This book has a little bit of everything: mystery, comedy, romance, cliffhangers, tears, joy, and everything else in between!.
All of our favorite characters are back from book 1, some highlighted more than others.
Many important questions are answered in this book while leaving plenty of room for more cliffhangers and adventures in the next installment of the series.
I simply couldn’t put this book down. I lost several nights of sleep because of it but it was well worth it. I can’t wait for book 3!

This book is just a total hoot! I have not read the first in the series (must do that now!) but I was able to get the gist of characters and place soon enough. Honestly, you could read it just for the tongue in cheek headers at the beginning of each chapter. So clever! Anyway, just read the book. It will make you laugh and then make you feel good after you've laughed. The author has a nice way with words that is unpretentious and downright funny.

LOVED IT

I would like to thank Darynda Jones, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t think I speak of anything in enough detail to be considered a spoiler, I made an effort not to, but if you want to make sure to avoid them, maybe don’t read this.

I loved this book more than the first! I have a strong craving to reread it already, to reread both of them. There were a million plots, per Jones’s MO, but they were all interwoven seamlessly, also per Jones’s MO. A few threads didn’t get completely tied up because they’ll extend into book 3, but they were resolved enough to leave the reader satisfied, which is much appreciated.

I refuse to think too hard about this book and pick it apart, I don’t have the heart this time. But off the top of my head, there was one thing that could probably have been cut without consequence: the Randy gag. As far as I can tell, it served no purpose but to be funny. And now that I think on it, was it even resolved? Were we told what happened to Randy? If we were, I don’t remember. *runs search* No, he isn’t mentioned past chapter 24. But anyway.

The pace was fast but steady, every scene had room to breathe. It might throw some readers off that the climax for one plot is as early as 60%, but personally I was ecstatic to know that there was still so much left of the book! I didn’t want it to end. Jones said she had to cut like, ten thousand words during revisions, which makes me gasp like Damian when Cady breaks the crown at the end of Mean Girls.

The characters were all amazing, every single one. I couldn’t get enough of them. I admired Sunshine’s goodness and dedication and maturity (that’s a feat, making the character appear mature despite her constant quips); I related to Auri’s well-intentioned mistakes and to just generally being a teenager; I sympathized with Quinn and Sun’s parents; I was afraid for Hailey and Jimmy; I was conflicted about Wynn; I adored Rojas and liked Zee and Salazar.

And oh god, Cruz. Cruz simply shattered my heart.

I was most impressed with Levi, though. I liked him a lot more this time around; he was still prickly and obstinate, but much less of an asshole, at least to my mind. He didn’t once complain as he ran himself ragged trying to help and protect everyone he cared about. I think he reveled in being involved, being needed, being useful, especially in regards to Sunshine. I hope his eye’s okay . . . I kept expecting Sunshine to force him to go to the hospital and he’d come out with a sexy eye patch. But alas, no eye patch.

I do wish Jones had included a few more lines at the very end; I’d really like to hear Levi’s answer to Sun’s question, because it would help me understand where his head’s been at for the last fifteen years. When did he? I want so badly to understand; I’m still tempted to be angry with him for not doing anything, but I’m much more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt than I was after book 1. He earned that benefit in 2.

*groans* The third book cannot come fast enough. I want it almost as much as I want Beep and Osh, that’s how much I’ve come to love this series. Forget Annette’s book, can we have A Hard Day for a Hangover this fall? Pleeeease?

Overall, this has to be one of Jones’s best books of late. I loved it times infinity.

I was so excited to get this book, I love Darynda Jones books so much! Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy of A Good Day for Chardonnay in exchange for an honest review. I also got the first book of the series as an ARC and loved it and have been impatiently waiting for this book as soon as I heard about it. Now I am doing the same with the next one, is there going to be a third book? Please tell me yes, I would fall into a deep depression if this was it in the series. In A Good Day for Chardonnay we start about four months after the events of A Bad Day for Sunshine. Auri and Sybil have become best buddies, Auri has also gotten much closer to Cruz. Sunshine has to solve a murder, a kidnapping and save herself too. Levi was a much more present character in this book, much to my delight and Sunshine's. Yes, I have a mad crush on Levi, is that weird? We learn more about Sunshine's kidnapping all those years ago and a lot of blanks are filled in of her missing time. I just want to talk about everything in the book, but no spoilers, so I'll just write that I loved this book even more than "a glass of Chardonnay". Thank you Darynda Jones for writing such amazing books full of humor, love, intrigue and compassion. You make me laugh, cry and want to hug your books to my chest like they are oh so precious. I also feel less abnormal reading your work, knowing that other people have the same sense of humor. I LOVED this book!

Kudos to author Darynda Jones for a fun and well written book! Of course the title drew me in but I did not expect quite this type of book to unfold with each page turn.

What a delightful read! Sheriff Sunshine Vicram leads readers through so many twists and turns, frolics, mayhem and mystery and at each page turn had this mystery lover engaged and wondering what the heck was coming next. Each character was filled with just that - character - and I loved each and every resident and visitor to this New Mexico town.

From secret societies to decades old love affairs, murders and mystery, this book took me on a great escape from reality for the time I was reading it. Crafted by a great wordsmith this is one that will stay with me for awhile. I am anxious to read more by this author for sure!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free digital copy for my honest review. Definitely one that will top my favorites list.

A Good Day for Chardonnay is a great read! I always like books by Darynda Jones and this one didn’t let me down. I enjoy the authors books because the story is always fast paced and has bits of humour in every chapter.

I love Sunshine and the way she interacts with her colleagues. I love her relationship with her daughter and the way they check in with each other by text. And I love the slow burn relationship she has with Levi.

This book was a great escape with mystery, secrets and revelations. I can’t wait to read more in this great series.

I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

When an author I love starts a new series, I'm often a bit worried that it won't live up to the previous one. After loving Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson series, I was excited when A Bad Day for Sunshine was released. I was thrilled to be approved for an ARC of a Good Day for Chardonnay and debated rereading A Bad Day for Sunshine to refresh my memory... but I was too impatient and jumped right in. No need to worry - A Good Day for Chardonnay sucked me right back in to the story and the characters. Very few books have been quoting lines to my kids, but this one did (several phrases and Auri's bike/bridge experience). I love the banter between characters and Sunshine's comments to her daughter, Auri, fit right in with my relationship with my kids. A Bad Day had me questioning some of the elements (like how Sunshine got her job) but the relationships and storylines that came out of it had me forgiving all my doubts.

A Good Day for Chardonnay continues the story of Sunshine Vicram, sheriff of a small New Mexico town. There are still the unanswered questions about Sunshine's abduction 15 years ago and who was involved, but that's got to make way for a bar fight, a teenage daughter who takes after her mother in so many trouble-finding ways, and unresolved missing persons cases. Never a dull moment when you consider the good and bad elements of the local Ravinder family - lost love Levi, in prison Wynn, scheming Clay, enigmatic Hailey. We get the fantastic cast of characters from the first book with Darynda's usual flair for banter and relationships. The longer arc storylines feature along with newer issues combining into a fast-paced read. I enjoyed A Good Day for Chardonnay more than the first in the series, perhaps because I already knew the characters. There was ALOT to unpack in this book with many of the characters having their own stories. In many ways, even having just finished the book, it's hard to say which storyline stood out the most. There are also a variety of tones set -- a mischievous raccoon, old missing persons cases, young love and friendship, adult love and friendship, blind dates, bar fights, stabbings, abductions, and crime... and when I got to the end, I loved how it all came together (although I was sad about one of the endings). Literally, when I read the last sentence, my first thought was MORE. Now I have to figure out how to patiently wait for the next in the series. (Who am I kidding, I won't be patient.)

My thanks to Darynda Jones for another fantastic series, St Martin's Press for approving my request, and NetGalley for providing the ARC.

THIS BOOK. I don't know what to do with myself. I just finished this one and this has been the fastest I read through a book in months. If I could give it a million stars it wouldn't be enough. Granted it was my most anticipated and it didn't disappoint. People, if you have never read a Darynda Jones book, your loss. There is an easy fix though. A GOOD DAY FOR CHARDONNAY is the second installment in this author's Sunshine Vicram series. So you can still read the first book before this one releases.

Now to the good stuff. What you need is tissues. Many, many tissues. For the parts you when you're laughing so hard that tears are running down your face and for the parts when you have tears in your eyes because you're overwhelmed with emotions. Yes, that happens too.

Apart from the awesome, fabulous, amazing, wonderful, unbelievable, quirky cast there is an equally awesome, suspenseful storyline that was such a page turner that it was hard for me to tear myself away. I ADORED Sunshine and Levi in this book, just as much as Sun's clever, clever daughter Auri.
“You have no idea what your mother put us through. You couldn’t disappoint us any worse than she did that time she threw a party while we were out of town and invited an entire biker gang called the El Choppos, who used my bras to shoot water balloons at the neighbor’s house.”

And Cruz, Auri's boyfriend, is someone you want for your own daughter, believe me. He is THE BEST. This kid hit me in the feels right where it hurts best. The whole. Forking. Time. Enigmatic and charismatic Levi shows that he is more than the grumpy hot guy and when he shines it's spectacular.
“You’ve bewitched me.”
He kissed the corner of her mouth.
“You bewitched me the first time I saw you and no one else has ever measured up.”

There is also this wonderful friendship between Sunshine and her BFF and Chief Deputy Quincy. These two walk through fire for one another and their conversations were some of the most humorous. And how I loved the our heroine, Sheriff Sunshine Vicram, whose integrity is absolute, who always questions herself. If you don't love her, we can't be friends anymore. #SorryNotSorry
“Do you think, and I know this is asking a lot, but do you think you could possibly keep your granddaughter from getting into any more trouble for the rest of the night?”
Her father shook his head.
“I can’t make any promises, Sheriff. Look who her mother is.”

There is a slew of characters but I never felt that I got lost. The author does an amazing job to make you remember every single personality in this small town in New Mexico.

If you're like me and had thousands of questions after A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE you'll get answers but prepare to have even more questions when you're done. That's just how this series works and I don't care. Give me twenty books in this series and all with cliffies and I'll die a happy woman.

Darynda Jones is an exceptional storyteller who has one of the best writing voices I've read in recent years. Her sense of humor, that hilarious sarcasm and the many "oh snap" moments, are what make this story so fast paced and captivating and outstanding, I giggled, laugh-snorted, and downright laughed hysterically throughout most of the book. She also cranks up the heat between Sunshine and Levi. Phew!


Fans of her Charley Davidson series will delight in the easter eggs - have fun finding them! What I said about the cliffies is true but I really hope that we don't have to wait as long for the next book because, boy, this series is my new addiction and I need my fix in a timely manner. For now I predict that this will be my top favorite of 2021.
She loved everything about this man. Not just his physical appearance. It was him. Levi. The noble being she’d been in love with since she was a kid.

A small-town sheriff should have an easy job, but Sheriff Sunshine Vicram seems to be a magnet for trouble, and it looks like her daughter Auri is taking after her mother. Her chief deputy sheriff has a running dispute with Randy, a racoon, her parents keep setting her up on blind dates, her secret crush on Levi Ravinder keeps her off balance, and now her teenage daughter is trying to solve a very old serial killer case. And that is just the start of Sunshine’s problems.

I love Darynda Jones’ sense of humor (lots of sarcasm) and style of writing. Sunshine’s running internal dialogue, her relationship with her daughter (the teasing is hilarious, especially the talk about the Devil’s button), and her wonderful circle of friends makes this book stand out.

What I liked: there was more Levi Ravinder in A Good Day for Chardonnay! Auri’s budding romance with Cruz (it seems to parallel Sunshine and Levi’s early relationship); and the introduction of Levi’s uncle Wynn.

What I liked the least: having to wait for the next book in this series. Seriously, I love this story and the ending only made me eager to read more. Also, one detour with Sunshine and Quincy seemed unnecessary.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing digital advanced reader copy; This is my exchange my honest opinion.

Darynda Jones hits another homerun with this fun and witty second book of the Sunshine Vicram series. This clever story of a small town sheriff is a balance of mystery with laugh-out-loud humor while never losing the tension of the story. This is a angst-filled mystery is everything you want from a Darynda Jones book. It was a true delight.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of A GOOD DAY FOR CHARDONNAY (Book 2 of the Sunshine Vicram Series) by Darynda Jones in exchange for an honest review. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram revels in the ridiculousness of her life. She’s busy wrangling raccoon banditos when a friend of Levi Ravender’s is attacked by multiple assailants and stabbed repeatedly. Meanwhile, everyone in the Ravinder family, including a long-imprisoned uncle of Levi’s, has confessed to the long-ago killing of Sunshine’s kidnapper. At the same time, the current stabbing case may be related to another cold kidnapping case. Sunshine works to find answers to both stabbing cases as well as both kidnappings while her daughter investigates a third cold case involving a local serial killer. Sunshine will find the most surprising answers to these questions. Will everyone survive the revelation?

I liked both this book and the first in the series, A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE. I recommend this book to fans of mysteries featuring murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, serial killers, secrets, and silliness.

It is absolutely A Good Day for Chardonnay, and book #2 is undeniably a 5-star read. Author Darynda Jones has hit it out of the park yet again with the further exploits of Sheriff Sunshine Vicram and the gloriously sexy Levi Ravinder in the mysterious city of Del Sol, New Mexico. If you are looking for a great mystery that includes all the feels, look no further. Darynda writes remarkably colorful characters and makes you fall in love with them, quirks and all. The story delivers a roller coaster of emotions. It has considerable humor mixed well with a bit of steamy sexual tension. What a ride! All this excitement is expertly written with a side of nail-biting suspense. And then she does it all over again. Yes, I stayed up past my bedtime to finish this page-turner; the icing on the cake was finding out it would be a trilogy.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC copy of this available to me.

This was a great follow-up to the first in the series, with a couple of major outstanding questions answered toward the end of this book. There are also some major plotlines that will be continuing into the next book of this series. Sunshine's daughter is annoyingly teenage-like in her denial of possible consequences to her actions, causing some major damage.

Here's hoping the author keeps bringing us more of those Sunshine books!

Amazing!!! 500 stars!! Thank you so much Netgalley for ARC!
To starts off I have to say that ending leaves you BEGGING for more!!!
I sort of guessed in book 1 of this series what I thought would happen, and I have to say I’m sooo glad! Trying to avoid spoilers, sorry for the vague explanation.
I love Sun’s banter and street smarts. But, I have to mention I LOVE everything Darynda Jones writes! Her books just make me so happy.
I can’t wait for my preorder of the audible audiobook to come in! I want to experience this book again with Lorelei narratoring it.

OMG! I totally hated this book...NOT!!! I loved it, but I did hate the fact that we have to wait more than a year (I hope only that long) to find out the cliff-hanger!

There was so much going on in this book that sometimes I wondered just how everything would get resolved. But never fear, most of the storylines did get resolved, although I can see where some of this resolution will be used in future books.

I'm not even going to hint or try to recap the story for fear that I will give away something important. But rest assured that there will be deaths (bad guys---mostly), blood, heroism, and an 'apple that hasn't fallen far from the tree'!

ARC supplied by the publisher, the author, and NetGalley.

I must say that Auri is VERY MUCH her mother's daughter. She's smart and wily and she's a trouble magnet. Which means Sunshine is kept on her toes when it comes to keeping her kid from diving headfirst into danger. (Seriously, they're two peas in a pod and it's kind of hilarious to watch their convoluted thought process when they don't end up on the receiving end of blunt force head trauma.)

But that's another story for another day. Right now we have a bar fight that ends in a little bloodshed, a homicidal Levi looking to exact revenge on the people who hurt his friend, a missing kid, a PAINFULLY awkward "date night" between two people who are not romantically inclined (so painful. so very, very painful.), and Sunshine following up on the scant clues she has regarding her own abduction years ago. Oh, and then there's Auri on the hunt for a serial killer. Did I not say she was very much her mother's daughter? HA!

As Sunshine slowly remembers more bits and pieces about her abduction, we get a few answers that left me VERY relieved. Total bonus: We got some solid Sunshine and Levi interactions and I really really really like those two when they smolder at one another. Also, they make a pretty darn good team when they give in and start working together.

Things are still weird and quirky in Del Sol and there are a whole lot of bodies that keep popping up. Sunshine might never have expected to end up the sheriff of her hometown (especially since she technically never ran for the position), but she's doing a darn good job getting things done. Sure, things get a little messy, but sometimes you have to break a few eggs or something.

Am I looking forward to the next book? After that ending, YOU BETCHA!

This is such a fun series! I love the quirky characters and town. Some of the mysteries from "A Bad Day for Sunshine" are getting solved in this one, while a few more questions get thrown in. There is a bit of romance (also sex), some crime stopping action, and a bit of heartbreak.

I look forward to the next!

This was a fun, light read.

As usual, the author is quick with both the humor and the feels.

While there were times when the action kind of slowed down for me, I was all in when the author started spilling some town secrets and…um…fulfilling some promises.

This is definitely a really good addition to the series – the reader learns so much!

A beach read to be certain, but a lovely mental palate cleanser from the dark real world out there.

*ARC provided via Net Galley.

I loved this book. It's got twists and turns. I loved the characters, so glad to see the two main characters get together. I wish the book was longer. It's fast paced and a thrill a minute. #AGoodDayforChardonnay #NetGalley

OMG! One of my favorite coolest, sarcastic, witty, coffee addict heroines is back and she’s definitely rising and sun-shining in this novel!

Of course the name of the book is truly calling me: every day is great day for Chardonnay as you keep reading small town police officer’s ultra laugh out, smart, entertaining adventures.

This time her cutie pie daughter is chasing serial killer and of course ongoing investigation about Sunshine’s kidnapping gets an interesting turn by finding accurate evidences : all signs show the notorious bad boy Levi! But Sunshine already knows deep in her guts he never involves into anything may hurt her!

This book is more action packed, more mysterious, more caustic, more powerful and definitely more enjoyable.

As soon as I finished, I checked my ereader and screamed a lot : I thought I skipped some pages: there might have been more! There must have been more! It couldn’t finish so soon! I needed moreeeee!

Especially that awwww amazingly cuteeee ending later, I had every right to expect to read more! That cliffhanger was literally sunshine of my midnight ( I finished the book around 3 a.m in the early morning and after the book pumped too much adrenaline into my veins, I couldn’t expect to sleep!!!)

What do we have on the menu?
Brawl fights- yesss!
More sexy banters- yesss!
Abduction- of course!
Big revelations- hell yeah!
More misunderstandings and fights between love birds Levi and Sunshine- absolutely!

I enjoyed the promising start of the first book but this second installment of the series was so much better than the first book which earned gallons of chilled Chardonnay, more sunshine and accurate paternity test five blazing stars!

I hope we don’t have to wait for the second book! Entire fingers are crossed!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This is the BEST SERIES!! This is the second book in the series and I recommend reading A Bad Day for Sunshine first.

I am obsessed with Sunshine Vicram and the cast of characters that are in this book. I was waiting very impatiently for this book to come out because I needed to know what happened!! This book does not disappoint! Her daughter is hunting what she believes to be a serial killer, her crush was involved in a knife fight and hit by a car that might be tied to a kidnapping and did I mention that her adorable partner in crime is chasing a raccoon?

This is a fantastic series and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I can’t wait for the next book! Thank you netgalley for this ARC!

Never read Darynda Jones? Think Janet Evanovich but with more laughs!! I love anything she writes and I was excited to continue Sunshine's story. What a novel!!! SOOO thankful to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this title.

I didn't read the first Sunshine Vicram novel so I was wondering what I got myself into during the first chapter. Was this going to be one of those cheesy novels where they tried to make everything cutesy and off-the-wall ridiculous? I'm happy to report that while this has a lot of small town quirks and interesting characters, it was well-written and hilarious. There is a lot going on but it's easy to follow what's happening. I think there were a few references to the first novel but not to the point where I felt like I was missing out on something (though I do want to go back now and read the first one). Enjoyable and highly recommended!

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received this ARC for an honest review. I love Darynda Jones’ sense of humor, and I love how her mind works! It shows so brilliantly with the Sunshine series. This series...there is no other words but AWESOME to describe it. I love the characters. The whit, the sass, and strength of Sun Vicram pulls you into the story, and you could see her as a real person. I loved how Darynda makes a multi-layered plot flow so smooth. She keeps your interest from the very beginning with many twists and turns,
I don’t like to post spoilers because I don’t want to takeaway the joy of discovering the story. I’m almost speechless with how much I love this series. GAH!!! I just want more! I want to pimp this book to everyone from the street corner and say...”READ THIS!!!!”

This is a fantastic series so far. This one ends in a seriously hawt cliffhanger too which threw me a bit but this one has all the feels.

What did I like? Sunshine is absolutely fabulous! Her main character is able to juggle so much that I’m just astounded. From stabbings, to the mayor’s drama, to figuring out her best friend Quincy... then there is her daughter Auri. Highly entertaining and I read it so slow because I wanted it to last.

Would I recommend or buy? I definitely am getting this series for my shelf. I picked up the first at the library and it’s necessary to read the series in order. I loved it. I’d recommend to people loving small town sheriffs and slow burn romances. The heat between Levi and Sunshine is so hawt! I also love the covers and titles! Five huge stars.

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!

*Thank you to Macmillian,Darynda Jones and Netgalley for providing me an E-ARC of "A Good Day For Chardonnay" in exchange for an honest review*

I'm so excited to talk about this book! I've loved Darynda's blend of humor, mystery and steaminess since I read First Grave on The Right and A Good Day for Chardonnay has the perfect mix of all 3. I loved going back to Sunshine and the gang. I especially love Sunshine and Auri's banter.

I have to say the Darynda Jones' latest works have all been amazing. I absolutely fell in love with her Charley Davidson series and now, after reading book 2 in her Sunshine Vicram series, I can honestly say that she has me hooked on this one as well.

There is always such humor, or maybe I should say snarkiness (is that a word?) or banter in her books that make me smile every time I read one. Last night, I was reading this in bed - late at night because I kept telling myself...ONE more chapter, just one more....okay, maybe just another one....

So, I'm laying in bed trying to read as quietly as possible, as my husband is asleep beside me.... and what happens? She makes me laugh. Not just a quick chuckle, but an almost full out giggle that I just couldn't stop. It was like 4:30 in the morning and I literally had to put my hand over my mouth because I just couldn't stop the sound. If that isn't talent, I don't know what the heck is. The snappy dialog between Sunshine and Auri is priceless. At times, both priceless, hilarious and so down right sweet I just want to melt. But, that Auri. I sure am glad my kids are adults now because I remember those teenage years, and Auri is one smart cookie. Sunshine is going to have her hands full with that one. And I can not wait to watch it happen!

Without going into spoilers, a heck of a lot happens in this book. There are certainly more dead bodies in Sunshine's town than is the norm and Auri somehow keeps finding herself in the middle of things. There is the continuation of the over-arching plot from book 1 (if you've read the first book you know what that is) and then there are a couple of other things and mysteries that just seem to pop up and demand attention. All in all, this book kept me hooked from beginning to end (remember, I was still reading at 4:30 am...)

There is also something WONDERFUL that happens near the end of this book. No spoilers, remember? But, boy did I want to do a happy dance but alas, I had already almost woken my hubby with the laughing, I couldn't in good conscience chance anything else (but I sure did want to )

And in true DJ style, this author just slays me with the last line in the book.

ARGH.......!!!!! Double GRRR.......!!!!!!

But, I have faith in Ms. Jones and her ability to create a great world with amazing characters, fantastic relationships and one heck of an interesting plot (or actually I should say PLOTS). So I guess I'm now going to patiently wait for book 3. What other choice do I have?

I received this ARC from NetGalley in return for my honest opinions, and that is what you get. I can't remember when this book officially comes out, but I would not hesitate to tell anyone who is interested to start this series if you haven't already. It is not a stand alone, so you have to start with book 1, but you will not be sorry. See, my honest opinion :)

In this second Sunshine Vicram mystery, her teenage daughter is hunting a serial killer, there is a raccoon who is terrorizing her deputy, and she is still trying to solve the mystery of her own abduction years prior. All Sunshine wants is an easy-going day that starts with coffee and doughnuts and ends on the couch with a glass of Chardonnay. Is that too much for a girl to ask?
I love these books. They are laugh-out-loud funny. Sunshine is both kick-butt, and lots of fun. She has a sarcastic sense of humor, and a distinct way of looking at things, that will keep you laughing. This is perfect for anyone who loves a good mystery and loves to laugh.

I received an ARC from netgalley
I’m exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been waiting non so patiently to get my hands on this book. I really wish I had a friend who was also reading it but she sucks and hasn’t started her ARC yet. Anywho I’ll be twiddling my thumbs waiting for the messages to start.

Ok so we all know that book one left us wondering lots of things and soooo left us waiting for this book. And oh did it spill the tea. Not only did this book spill all the tea. And I do mean alll the tea..... this book just keeps you on the edge of your seat as it tangles you up in its spider web giving you bits and pieces while the other characters keep giving you mini heart attacks. Sooo there is not a single dull moment in this book.

Now last of all. What in the absolute fuckery is it with the last lines in daryndas freaking books. Are you kidding me right now. I wanted to throw my phone at the wall. (But I kind of live on my phone so....) I want to hate you. But I can’t cause darynda is kinda awesome and I need more of her books so I won’t send any hit and her way. (You’ll find this funny after you read the book) maybe......

Ugh I need book 3......

A great mystery or thriller with a side of Chardonnay. I absolutely love the main character in this book it was enthralled to find out what happens next. I highly recommend this enjoyable read.

Totally devoured this! I have read everything Jones has written and absolutely loved it, ESPECIALLY Charley and the gang...BUT...I think Sunshine, Levi, Auri, and Cruz have actually taken over the number #1 spot! I absolutely love this this series. It is laugh out loud funny! The characters are so wonderful and engaging. The story pulls you in and just doesn't let you go. My only regret is that now I need to wait for the 3rd installment!