4.5 stars! This is a brilliant book! It’s a perfect blend of mystery, humor and charm, all wrapped up in beautiful writing. The storyline and characters were amazing, I seriously couldn’t get enough. I nearly screamed of happiness when I saw this was a series, I’m already so excited for book #2! I highly recommend checking this one out!
.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Darynda Jones does it again. I received a copy of this book through Net Galley and I was stoked. I devoured all of the Charlie books and was heartbroken when they finished so I knew I had to read this. Sunshine is Jones's character blend of smart and sassy and the book holds up to all of the rest. At times both hilarious and touching this is definitely a must read for any Jones fan.

One thing that I admire about Darynda Jones's books is how much humor she can infuse into the storyline. Whether it be the characters personality, the situations the characters find themselves in, or even a random pet she throws into the mix for comical relief. I can always depend on her to put a smile on my face. This book was a shining example of this ability. From the prized rooster Puff Daddy to the kooky, and gut busting things that go through Sunshine's brain or flows from her mouth.

Another thing that blows my mind when reading her books is her insane ability to weave a mystery. Or multiple mysteries. There are so many things going on, and the entire time my brain is working overtime in an attempt to try and discover who did it, or uncover the mysteries of the characters past. When everything seems to be going haywire and you don't think it will ever come together she manages to pull it all into this conclusion you didn't see coming.

This book was a fast paced roller coaster ride that I couldn't get enough of. My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is when she switched between character perspectives there was no distinction between them. One flowed into the other which caught me off guard several times, so when I figured out it had switch I'd have to go back a re-read the section again with the understanding of who I was hearing from.

A Bad Day For Sunshine was a fantastic start to a series that thus far has left me with more questions than answers, and a burning desire to see what will happen between Sunshine and Levi when this strange, decades long, slow burn between them fully ignites.

Courageous

In the classic Darynda Jones style A Bad Day For Sunshine is fun and witty, but above all, the characters are courageous. This story has a strong build around empathy and family love.

I love how Darynda Jones writes her books with more than one issue taking up part of the plot. It keeps the story moving forward and interesting. The dialogue voice is right on point and I am wiggling in my seat in hot anticipation for the next book.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.

Whether it be contemporary or paranormal, Darynda Jones knows how to engage her readers, entertain them and have them laughing before they even know what’s going on with the story. A Bad Day for Sunshine is a fantastic beginning to what I am sure will be another winning series for Ms. Jones.
When anything and everything can possibly go wrong on your first day of your new job…….
Sunshine Vicram is my new favorite female lead character. She’s sassy and smart with a job she didn’t even apply for. I love that her mind wanders and she still harbors a crush on the one she shouldn’t. The love for her family shines through all that she does. Her strength and confidence are something truly remarkable. Sunshine’s dedication to her job is a whole different level of loyalty. Sun’s daughter, Auri shares the narrative of this story as well and you can’t help but to fall in love with them both. I love the relationship that the mother and daughter share. You don’t realize what a big part of the book it is until you realize it is.
A Bad Day for Sunshine is a laugh out loud, jaw dropping, gasping, suspenseful yet endearing read. Ms. Jones gives her reader nothing short of pure entertainment with this newest title. If you enjoyed the Charlie Davison series, you will love Sunshine too.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

I can honestly say I don't think I have ever read a book quite like this one. You have an old mystery, a new mystery, a teen sleuth (shades of Veronica Mars), a single mom trying to make it all work, tons of colorful characters, and so much snarky humor it overflows the book. Oh, I almost forgot, romance, of a sort.

The new Sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico, Sunshine Vicram, actually didn't run for the office, that was all her parents doing. It seems that in Del Sol things like that can actually happen. Anyway, on her first day on the job she has a biggie as her first case, the kidnapping of a 14 year old girl. Then there is the escaped fugitive and the hot Marshal on his trail and the disappearance of the nephew of the love of her life, Levi Ravinder. Her daughter, also a 14 year old and a friend of the missing girl and Levi's nephew, isn't having a good first day either. All this and the various other crazy happenings that only a crazy town like Del Sol experiences. But, Sun has a great team as backup and she is here to do more than be the Sheriff, she is here to put a few ghosts from her past to rest, one way or another.

Rating: 4 humorous (strictly human) stars

What a great start to a new mystery series by Darynda Jones. Unlike her Charley Davidson series, this one doesn’t have a single paranormal creature. Never fear though, the humans and an elusive rooster, who inhabit Del Sol, New Mexico have plenty of their own humorous quirks. Its Sunshine Vicram’s first day on the job as sheriff. Sunshine left Del Sol years ago, and never intended to return. Then she was entered into the election for town sheriff, and won. She returns with her fourteen-year-old daughter Aurora, nicknamed Auri. They both struggle to find their place in town.

They alternately each narrate their story of settling in as sheriff, and settling in to a new town and a new school. Neither of them has a smooth ride. Sunshine is faced with a missing teenaged girl on her first day on the job. Auri has to battle mean girls and bullying at the high school and her penchant for amateur sleuthing. Sunshine’s old crush Levi Ravinder complicates the mix of the cast of characters.

This is a fun and wild ride. It contains the trademark Darynda Jones humor. It is a lighthearted romp with a surprisingly good mystery. I look forward to more visits to Del Sol, NM in the near future. This is the first book in what I hope develops into a very entertaining series. I’d recommend this to readers who like their mysteries on the guffaw-filled side rather than filled with nail-biting suspense.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, St Martin’s Press; and the author, Darynda Jones, for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Before I nitpick, let me tell you that I really enjoyed this book! It was the mental escape I needed! That all being said, dang Sunshine needs to dial back on the sarcasm! I felt like I was reading an episode of the Gilmore Girls. Which, while I loved the show, I wouldn't have been able to read. It was a bit too much. Thankfully, after a few chapters, the sarcasm dialed back and the mystery dialed up. Once that got rolling, the only teeth grinder was the repetitive 'he saved my life but I kept it a secret' trope. I guess it was part of building a backstory for the characters but it seemed a bit overused. Hopefully now that those secrets are out in the open we can move on to a series with some terrific characters in a really weird little town. Psychic muffin maker? A secret group running the town? Please give me more!

A Bad Day For Sunshine is probably one of my most anticipated reads for 2020. I adore Jones's writing and was so excited to see a new series from her. One with a feisty snarky heroine that I just knew I was bound to fall in love with.

Told in alternating point of views from Sunshine and her daughter Auri, this was just so unexpected and yet so much fun. With all the witty one liners and charm that come from Jones' heroines, this did not disappoint.

I am so excited for this new series and can't wait for more. This promises to be a series you don't want to miss and I predict, will quickly become a favorite.

I've been the biggest fans of Darynda Jones for years (and the Charley Davidson series) so it took me a while to adjust to a non-Charley world. That said, I could still enjoy the author's trademark humor and story-telling. Can't wait to see where this series goes - to the destruction of the universe a la Charley? ;-)

A Bad Day for Sunshine is chock-full of humor, quirky characters, unsolved mysteries, outlandish behavior, and the beautiful backdrop of New Mexico. Sunshine Vikram brings her teenaged daughter and unresolved past back to Del Sol as its newly elected sheriff. There, the pair, along with their friends, relatives and enemies (not always easy to distinguish) work to resolve several intertwined mysteries. The final cliffhanger has left me hungry for series entry #2!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is an absolute delight!! It’s basically a mystery novel, but it is HILARIOUS!! Even after finishing it, I’m still laughing out loud over here!! If you’re familiar with Jones’s Charley Davidson series and enjoyed those books, you’ll love this one. It has the same humor and style—but without the Grim Reaper bit.

The Plot:
Sunshine Vicram returns to her hometown as the newly elected sheriff. But here’s the rub: she never actually entered the race. Her parents pulled a few tricks and a little bit of election fraud to get her the job. They even somehow rigged a win for her in the debate—that she also never actually competed in!!!!

On her very first day, her challenges include a stolen rooster, a basket of muffins that always show up at the police department when shenanigans will ensue in the town, and an ultimatum to find the names of a mysterious group of women who secretly run the town.

If that’s not enough, a teen girl goes missing, also on her first day. And did I mention that Sunshine is also back in town to find the person who abducted her when she was a teen???

If you’re looking for something super fun and entertaining to help pass those hours, pick this one up. It’s charming and funny, and the mystery aspect is quite compelling. The relationships are heartwarming, especially the one between Sunshine and her daughter, and the dialogue is priceless. I can’t recommend it enough.

Enjoy.

***4 Stars***

I seriously wish this Del Sol, New Mexico was real, because I’d so be down for a road trip to visit it and meet all the unique people who inhabit the place. But, as that is not an option I will settle for practicing patience for the next book in the series to drop, because I’m hooked and need more ASAP!

Sunshine was a lot of fun to get to know. She is sassy, sweet, observant and determined and truly cares about everyone in her life. As for the rest of the characters that inhabit this world, her daughter Auri was awesome! She is very much a teenager with her sass and insecurities, but there is a goodness to her that draws you in and I’m looking forward to getting to know her crew of friends a lot better. As for the adults, Sunshine’s parents were awesome, Quincy was a lot of fun ~ as were the rest of the crew at the sheriff’s department. Then there is Levi. I have my own take on the man, but he is definitely going to be a lot of fun to get to know.

This isn’t my first time reading a book by this author, I did dive into the Charley Davidson series for a bit, though I haven’t completed the series, so I already knew I would enjoy the author’s style and voice, which I did very much. My only real issue was that there were parts that felt like they dragged a little, nothing that put me off reading the books or skimming to get to the next part, but enough that it was noticeable though not a surprise considering that this is a first in series and a lot of info was tossed our way. As for the kidnapping. I thought it was done well and I didn’t figure out the who or why until it was all revealed, so big thumbs up for that. And as for that ending? Well, I’m all in and cannot wait to see where the next book takes us!

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

4 1/2 ⭐️‘s
What a great start to a new series by Darynda Jones! What happens when Sunshine Vicram’s parents sign her up to run for Sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico without her knowledge and she wins? She takes the job of course and what a job it turns out to be! With a perfect cast of eclectic characters, non stop action and laugh out humor, this book was extremely entertaining! Everyone needs some Sunshine in their life!

That was both fun and surprisingly heartfelt!

Sunshine Vicram has just returned to the New Mexico town of Del Sol where she grew up, after being elected sheriff in a race she wasn't even aware she'd entered. Her parents, Curtis and Elaine Freyr, were convinced she'd be the best person for the job and "managed" her entire campaign, the animosity of the prior sheriff and the town mayor notwithstanding. So Sunshine moves back with her teenage daughter Auri, and quickly finds herself involved in all the weirdness of her home town. Luckily, she has her best friend since childhood, Deputy Quincy Cooper, to help her get into the swing of things.

But not even a supportive local network can brace her for the disappearance of a local teen, one who'd made friends with Auri before vanishing into thin air. Sybil St Aubin had had premonitions of her own abduction and murder on her fifteenth birthday, premonitions no one had taken seriously until now. When the investigations into Sybil's disappearance turn up leads on the traumatic series of events that had originally caused Sunshine herself to flee town over a decade earlier, things start to get pretty sticky for our new sheriff.

There were so many twists and turns as Darynda Jones expertly weaves in a myriad of subplots, setting up for a really interesting series to come. Never fear, tho, the main story is more than amply completed -- a pet peeve of mine is when mystery series don't resolve their main vs overarching series plots per book, a pitfall this novel deftly avoids. I did figure out whodunnit when Ms Jones dropped two ginormous clues, and I have a fairly good idea where she's going with Levi Ravinder's involvement in Sunshine's abduction as a teenager, but I'm very interested in finding out if I'm as right about the latter as I was the former. I also enjoyed the fact that this series debut, written from the alternating viewpoints of Sunshine and Auri -- who share a delightfully sassy familial attitude to life while sounding like their own distinct personalities -- feels like equal parts Brooklyn 99 and Veronica Mars: good snarky fun.

That said, I could have done with less of people "laughing softly" all the time, and the phrase "making X great again" -- no matter how ironically used -- will always sound like a racist dog whistle to me. Also, how did all these gori wind up having Indian names?! Perhaps that's a question that will be answered in future installments, which I'm definitely looking forward to reading!

First novel in the Sunshine Vicran series, a sheriff in Del Sol, New Mexico. There is a kidnapper on the loose but how does she find him? Fun new mystery.

I really enjoyed this story. It has humor, suspense, drama, bullies and mean girls. I really like the interaction between Sun and Auri. I can't wait to see what happens with Levi. When Sunshine wins the election for Sheriff, without ever having entered it, she isn't sure she is happy to be back in her hometown. Her first day started out so promising, but turned into a really bad day for both her and Auri. There is a lot packed into just a couple of days. Will they all survive and will they find the missing girl? Auri has a sharp mind and will try to help her mom any way she can. If her mom will let her.

This is probably a 4 Star but I’m feeling so pumped right now after reading this book that I feel like 4 stars aren’t enough but considering that I wasn’t exactly a fan of all the investigation stuff (which was like <80% of the story) it should be 4 or lower but I loved what little I got from the couple and their mystery so much, what do I do now? — rambling end

4.5 Stars

Great, juuuust great. Another series I can add to my list of ongoing series I’m currently reading; not to mention the ones that are already completed and waiting for me to finish them. Argh! Why am I doing this to myself??

All the (important) characters are awesome, the humor is right up my alley and Sun is definitely my kind of girl. I loved the relationship between Sun and her daughter Auri, I loved the relationship between all the family members, I loved the relationship between Sun and Quincy, I loved the Charley Davidson easter egg. I freaking LOVED the interactions between Sun and Levi.

But here’s the thing about Darynda Jones’ books. The main characters have the most amazing chemistry together but because there’s lots and lots and lots of investigation work, it takes incredibly long until SOMETHING happens between them. They don’t even have that many scenes together, so for a person who’s always “in it for the couple”, this is like my worst nightmare ever. I’m not overly interested in the investigations of the town’s people. There are far too many (investigations) going on at the same time and they take away too much from the actual mystery surrounding the h (and H). BUT, all these seemingly “unnecessary” investigations, are like small stepping stones for the h to get her answers which means that I have NO CHOICE but to read EVERYTHING.

I know this is such a weird problem but seriously if I could, I would spend all my money on the books, skim the investigation parts and only read about the couple but that’s just not possible. The fact that I have to comb through everything is extremely tortuous but at the same time so, so good… I swear, Darynda Jones is a master at coming up with intriguing backstories that involve both h and H, and then making their interactions so confusing that you can’t help but be drawn to them. It’s like she found out that I’m an addict and is constantly holding my vice under my nose and giving me JUST enough to want more. I AM HOOKED AND I’M CRAVING MORE!

This couple, seriously. Their interactions are so confusing but it makes for great chemistry… What happened between them? Is Levi interested or not? Why is Sun saying that they’re not possible even though she has a crush on him since who-knows-when? What is happening? I am SO invested in this couple. I can’t believe Darynda Jones ended it like this. So freaking mean but I should have seen it coming. It took a while in Charley Davidson’s story too… Sigh. I need my theories confirmed!

I could cry, A Bad Day for Sunshine isn’t even out yet and I already want the next book 😂.

Sunshine Vicram never thought she would return to her hometown of Del Sol, New Mexico, after leaving with her infant daughter 14 years earlier. Sunshine was abducted at the age of 17 and barely survived. She had since built a stellar career in law enforcement in Albuquerque and was content with her life. However, after winning the election to be the new sheriff of Del Sol, one that she was not aware of entering and never campaigned for, she decided to return with her daughter, Aurora. No doubt, her loving parents engineered the election somehow. Sunshine wants to find out how they did it, and more importantly, find her abductor and bring him to justice.

Del Sol is usually a tranquil place, and Sunshine only expects to have to arrest the occasional flasher and manage an ongoing feud between two senior citizens over a rooster. She also anticipates having to deal with the Ravinder clan of transplanted Southern Mafia types. The head of the family, Levi Ravinder, has dragged them into respectability (somewhat) with his successful and legal moonshine distillery. Levi is also the only man that Sunshine has ever loved since they were children. Expectations change when a 14-year-old girl is abducted on Sunshine's first day, announced by the girl's distraught mother crashing her Mercedes through the front wall of the police station. This abduction has disturbing echoes of Sunshine's own experience.

A Bad Day for Sunshine is a mix of family drama, crime drama, a touch of paranormal, frequent laugh-out-loud moments, suspense and simmering romance. To say that the village of Del Sol is inhabited by quirky and eccentric characters is a gross understatement. But after all, New Mexico is the home of Roswell. There are more twists and turns in the story than one can count and I was sucked in from the first page. Told from the viewpoints of Sunshine and her scarily smart daughter, Auri, this novel is a true page-turner. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.



RATING-4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

While I wanted to love this book and give it 5 stars, it didn’t quite reach that for me. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a great read, but it did take a little more for me to get into it than all of her previous books. Perhaps it was due to the fact that it’s a first in the series and she had to world build and introduce me to all the new characters. That aside, this was a fun, entertaining, action packed, mystery with a lot of heart thrown in.

The story is told in dual POVs split between Sunshine and Auri. Auri’s story/POV revolves around the challenges of starting a new school, falling in love, as well as helping her mom solve the mystery behind the missing girl. Auri’s character is endearing and made her narrative enjoyable to read. I loved reading about their mother/daughter relationship. They are both quick-witted and intelligent.

Sunshine’s parts of the story revolve around her first day as sheriff, solving an abduction, finding an escaped prisoner, dealing with little issues around town, and dealing with her feelings towards her long time crush (which I so can’t wait to see what happens next with them!).

I also have to say I loved seeing the little head nod to the Charley Davidson series (Dary’s other series). Made me happy!!

All in all, this was a great read and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for Sunshine, Auri, and the town of Del Sol! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this copy. This is my honest review.