Full review to be published online in April 2020.

A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE is the first book in Darynda Jones new "Sunshine Vicram" series. This is a quirky and humorous read, with a lead character not too far off from Charlie Davidson, the protagonist from her previous series. Sunshine Vicram, the newly elected sheriff of Del Sol, NM, returns to her hometown with her daughter Auri. Having been elected without her knowledge, she plunges right in to the very curious town of Del Sol, a sleepy little hollow where chasing after wayward roosters is about as close to crime as this town gets. Until Sun arrives, and the town is swept up in a child abduction. And that’s just for starters.

The book is not heavy on plot, depending more in character antics than storyline. There’s too much going on, although it’s all somehow connected, to make this a tight story. But what saves this book from oblivion are the characters involved, some of whom are definitely characters. These are all delightful people, folks you’d want on your side and folks you’d like to spend time with. Great for fans of the author and of slapstick humour.

Darynda Jones has created another must read series! I was so sad when Charley Davidson series ended. I knew I would miss that cast of characters. But guess what? Sunshine is here and just as sassy and lovable as Charley. Along with another great set of characters that I need more of. Amazingly fresh & fun. I can’t wait for more!!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this latest book by Darynda as it was a whole new series and often authors struggle to make their characters stand out and they fall in to a similar pattern to their other books. I’m glad to say that is the not the case with this book. All the characters were unique and their personalities leapt off the page at you. And Darynda sure knows how to write a gorgeous guy. I absolutely loved this book from start to finish and all the characters now have a place in my heart.
At first I was a little unsure of the book as it kept switching between two of the characters and I wasn’t sure I would like that but it worked so well and now I can’t wait for the next instalment.
I absolutely recommend this book, to those who like Darynda’s previous works and also to those who have never heard of her. This book is amazing and has several mysteries to solve along with hot guys, some teen angst and amazing family relationships.
Highly recommend

A Bad Day for Sunshine is an absolutely incredible day for readers! I missed Charley Davidson and the sarcastic, witty, snappy dialogue that came along with the characters, now Sun, Auri, Quincy and the rest are here and the dialogue is so on point, I loved every second!

Now, Sun somehow gets elected sheriff without running, thanks to mom and dad’s efforts, right there that should tell you something about this place, or the fact that muffins being delivered to the police department signal impending doom... Or that for 9 years a little girl knew something would happen on her 15th birthday - psychic or something else.

There is so much going on in this book, it could have come across as absolute chaos, but that’s actually the intention and it works beautifully. I didn’t get lost along the way, instead I got lost in the story and the characters, and isn’t that really the goal?

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3024265280?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1



Ceelee Sunshine's Reviews > A Bad Day for Sunshine

A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram, #1)
by Darynda Jones (Goodreads Author)

Ceelee Sunshine's review
Oct 26, 2019 · edit

really liked it
bookshelves: 2019-books, arcs, cozy-mysteries, paranormal-romance-romantic-suspense, suspense-mysteries

First, Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and author Darynda Jones for giving me the opportunity of reading this fantastic book in exchange for my honest review.

Last Wednesday I received an email from NetGalley with an offer to read Darynda Jones' new book A Bad Day For Sunshine without waiting for publisher's approval. The only catch is we had to read it within 48 hours. I decided to accept the challenge because I am a fan of Ms Jones' books and set into reading it later that day and finished it late Friday night. I am not a particularly fast reader, which is mostly due to my visual impairment, but I kept reading during the World Series and some pretty fierce thunderstorms and heavy rain because the book is just that good! I love the setting in New Mexico. I have been there a number of times so I am familiar with the terrain and the weather. The winter season was perfect for the story and I could feel the cold of the wind and snow and even the warmer days with sunlight. It is not unlike Texas where I live.

I really liked all the characters as none seemed flat or dull. They were very real to me, both the good and the bad, and did not seem to be stereotypes which often happens in suspense novels. The town of Del Sol was even a character in that it set the weird atmosphere that seems to be a part of the town's history and influences what goes on there. . Sunshine is a great character, very dedicated to her job as sheriff, even though she was elected when she wasn't a current resident when she won. Her daughter Auri is also a wonderful character, loving, smart,secretive, and sensitive and not all of it is teenage angst. The various characters in their lives: her parents, the members of the police force and citizens of the town, even the moonshine family, were entertaining, frustrating and real, not typed up too much. Some people were not as they seem and I liked that. It's like real life.

I love a book that really takes me into the story and makes me feel like I am there, sharing the experience of the characters s in the book. The mystery was great with lots of twists and surprises which is good because I really dislike a book that is too predictable. I really wish I could give the book a 41/2 star rating because as much as i loved the book, it was not perfect. Toward the end there was so much going on I felt a little frustrated because when I though we were getting to the end, there was a whole bunch of other plot twists thrown in. I felt some of it could have been saved for later books in the series. Sometimes the past seemed to get a little garbled too and I wasn't sure if they ere talking about Auri or Sybil and was confused about who it was that actually tried to kill Sybil. It makes sense now that I finished the book but there was no real hint that I remember in the story Not a bad thing really, it just took me a little bit of time to absorb what happened. The family scenes were a little over the sop with the love fest that seemed like something out of a Walton's episode. Not a bad thing but it seemed a little out of place in this kind of book. And finally, does Sunny really have to call her daughter "Bug Bite"? Maybe I am missing something but to me a bug bite doesn't sound like a compliment. They can get itchy, red and swollen and can even be painful. OK, maybe some kids are a little like that but to me it just seemed weird.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Bad Day For Sunshine and am pleased I was given the opportunity to read it! I highly recommend the book to all mystery lovers and those fans who might be skeptical about reading a new series by the author. I am thrilled this is a series and can't wait to read the further adventures, weird events and new mysteries to solve with Sunny, Auri and all their wacky friends and associates in Del Sol New Mexico where muffins can foretell doom. Do we really have to wait until next April for the book to come out?

Once again, Darynda Jones has written a suspenseful, fun, and incredibly engaging story that will instantly draw readers in. The core mystery is well written, and left me wondering who the baddie was until just before the reveal. In addition, Sun is a fascinating heroine, and the secondary mystery surrounding her and another character is absolutely infuriating, especially in its open end.

Auri, Sun's daughter, and her gaggle of friends are a whole lot of fun, and I look forward to seeing them in the next book (I can easily assume that they will all be back and once again helping Sun and her crew solve another mystery).

I very much enjoyed reading this book, and I'm super grateful to Netgalley for giving me access to reading it so early. I can't wait until next April when I can put 'A Bad Day for Sunshine' on my shelf next to the Charley Davidson series.

Beautifully written with wonderfully visual descriptions. Loved the humor and the snark. Author has produced the start of another successful series.

I was given this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVE Darynda Jones’ books. I would read her grocery list and probably give it five stars. This new series is no exception. Sunshine Vicram comes back to Del Sol as the new sheriff- a position she didn’t particularly want and definitely didn’t run for, but one that she is determined to do well. With her is her 14 year old daughter, Auri.

On her first day on the job, a girl, who happens to be a new friend of Auri’s, is kidnapped. Sybil had had a premonition of her death since she was six, but Sunshine is determined to save her.

This book was excellent. There was great character development, and some mystery surrounding Sunshine’s childhood and her reasons for leaving Del Sol in the first place kept me guessing. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series!

Another Darynda Winna! Sunshine Vicram was like Charley Davidson's long lost crazy sister....and I loved her. This book hits all the marks & left me wanting more. An excellent read!

Fabulous start for a new series by a brilliant author. If you've read any of the Charley Davidson series you will be familiar with the kind of humor that draws the reader in. The story/plot have many different facets going on with it. There is the current mystery they are trying to solve, but meanwhile one or two addition crimes take place, plus that one 'big picture' mystery that will most likely carry over throughout the series. The characters are very lovable. They are all smart and witty, even the brooding ones. Sunshine (the Protagonist) has survived a horrible incident when she was younger, and she is determined to stand strong no matter what comes her way. She's raising her daughter to be a strong independent girl as well. (Sometimes easier said than done.) The pair have a unique relationship and are closer than many mothers and daughters. Along with the crimes that take place, there is also some personal mysteries surrounding the duo, and couple of the other small town residents. There's a little romance throughout, but no sexual content included. There is a small amount of violence played out, but nothing to bad or gory. While the crimes and all are of a serious nature, the book as a whole has a lightness about it (primarily due to the humor.) It's a well written and well plotted book. Easy to read. Alternates between POVs. I feel this could be safely enjoyed by both teens and adults.

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

Wow oh wow. I could not put this book down. From the very first word till the very last word, I was taken away by this book. It moves along at a very comfortable reading speed and transitions between scenes easily. The characters you will fall in love with and no matter what may be in their way attempting to block them from what they want to achieve, you want to see them overcome. The story is sooo good that once you start reading you will be hooked. There is no doubt about it. This book needs to be on your list to read, you will not be sorry and in fact you will be recommending it to your friends.

A Bad Day For Sunshine by Darynda Jones is a fantastic read. I found her book full of laugh out load humor, suspense until the end, and romance to die for. I can’t wait until her next book in this series since she left us hanging with a few things, on purpose I’m sure. If you haven’t read any of her books, you have to try one of her books.

I love this author. This is going to be another great series. I think my favorite character is the daughter. I also loved all of the suspense. I can’t wait for the next one,

I was given a copy of this book by #Netgalley for an honest review. From the first few chapters of the book I was a little lost but I continued to read and I found the dialogue was stifling and stopped reading it. I would not recommend this book to a friend.

I almost set this book aside on my “did not finish “ pile, but something told me that just might not be a great idea. And it wasn’t, because this tale has as many twists and turns as a snake uncoiling from a basket to the mysterious yet captivating tune of a flute.

Sun Vicram, the newly elected sheriff of Del Sol, NM, returns to her hometown with her daughter Auri. Notwithstanding the fact that she was elected without her knowledge, she plunges right in to the very curious town of Del Sol, a sleepy little hollow where chasing after wayward roosters is about as close to crime as this town gets. Until Sun arrives, and the town is swept up in a child abduction. And that’s just for starters.

Heavy on plot, this book is not. There’s too much going on, although it’s all somehow connected, to make this a tight story. But what saves this book from oblivion in my mind is the characters, some of whom are definitely characters. These are all delightful people, folks you’d want on your side and folks you’d like to spend time with.

I give this book four stars the average of : three for plot and writing and five for characters.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

.....it is never a bad day for a Darynda Jones book. Never ever no way no how uh uh.
Kooky, quirky, bad ass and stylish are just a few of the colors that paint the dialogue in any book DJ writes.
The layers of kindness and cool are woven tightly to the take-no-bullshit underwear that the heroes never seem to change out of.....
The pace is fast trot to all out sprint; the action is tight; the sexiness is caliente.
A Bad Day for Sunshine is a smart read. Why? Because the words coming out of our gangs mouths leak weirdness and wisdom and humaneness. True,this can be said about any of DJ's books, and true, she is freakin'
good at it. When someone makes me see something in a new way by entertaining the bejesus out of me,
consistently, then that someone has made my author-god list.
Focusing on this book alone, Sunshine is an intelligent woman that has met life's bad side with love and optimism and a police issued gun. She has issues. She has a kid, parents, friends, and a lively libido. Sounds pretty mundane until you start tossing that salad with words like peculiar, hot, secret, woo-woo, funny, brave, and murder.
I invite you to discover the author-god Darynda Jones and her new series about a Chieftess of Police and her posse in a town full of the possibly sane.

Just finished A Bad Day for Sunshine and hope Darynda Jones has book two in this series ready to go! Loved it.

A humorous take on some unfunny issues. Sunshine has not had an easy life. But it the first day of her being the new sheriff. A job she did not campaign for. How bad can it be, it's a small county? Well it just goes to pot quickly. In fact, it takes a whole new meaning to a bad first day. We get pulled into all sorts of drama yet Sunshine steps up. So much to like in the book. But Sunshine's compassion and endless love of those close to her really shines as an example to all those around her. I thought the book was a good one. I admit to stopping my day to read the book. I definitely got pulled in from the first page.

I received this book as an ARC from #Netgalley and the author Darynda Jones for an honest review.

This was a funny what I would class as a cozy mystery. Sunshine and Auri Vicram, mother and daughter, move back to Del Sol, NM when Sun wins the election for Sheriff. Auri meets a girl named Sybil, that is abducted, and thus begins the mystery. This follows the unsolved abduction of Sun. Darynda Jones reminds me of Janet Evanovich, good story with hilarious characters and great reading. Can’t wait for the series to continue. #Netgalley. #Abaddayforsunshine.#daryndajones

Let me start by saying I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book in no way determined my feelings on it.

Wow!!!! I was skeptical to start a new series after the grief of Charley ending, but I love Darynda Jones writing abilities so was forced to read it. I am so glad I did!! I am now hooked, and a bit upset I got to read it early. I now have to wait who knows how long for the next one!! But I will wait, and stalk author until it comes out.

While I don't want to give anything away due to fact I can't offer a review without spoilers. I will say that if you are a lover of Charley, you will 100 percent love this series as well.