Darynda Jones is an absolute queen! Every book I read from her is the perfect balance of funny and smart. Sunshine is hilarious and her friendship with Quincy is one of my favorites. Auri is so sassy and smart and I love reading from her perspective as well. This book had great pacing and never got boring. We found out so many answers in this book and I was super satisfied with the ones we got. I am actually a fan of Wayne Ravinder now. Sunshine’s relationship with Levi makes me all gooey inside. I love them together. I was gasping at the last page and yelling about what a goddess Darynda is. Also cursing her. I cannot wait to see where Sunshine’s adventures take her next.

I requested A Bad day For Sunshine from NetGalley before it was released, going by the blurb. I wasn't sure about it, but was totally blown away by it. I noticed A Good Day For Chardonnay and I thought .... I have to see if it's as good. I actually think it's better. If you like your mystery loaded with intrigue and humor, this is a gotta have. This book is a blend of eccentric characters, humor, bits of romance and mysteries to be puzzled out. What appears to be the answer isn't, but paying close attention does help. Sunshine, her family, friends and officers make this book a joy to read. Ms. Jones has a talent for words and situations that make the book very hard to put down. So now I'm finished, the book is over. I can't wait for the next installment to come out. I adore the characters. I requested and received a NetGalley ARC gratis and plan to get a copy for my library. My opinion is freely given

A Good Day for Chardonnay is a delightful read. The main character Sunshine Vicram, is the new sheriff in her hometown. Sunshine is sharp, salty, and circumspect as she tries to meet the demands of her new job and raising her 14 year old daughter. All the characters are well developed, likeable, and relatable and had me laughing out loud. A witty book with a page-turning plot. I can't wait to read more in this series.

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 🔥⁣
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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!

Of course I had to read the book as soon as I received the ARC. And I'm glad I did because it was as funny and captivating as the first read. Although I loved the second half more than the first, which also happened in the first book.

We did get answers to some of my most burning questions, but there are also so many more that still need to be answered, also the ending!!!!!!! The wait until the next book will be HARD!!!

I adored the YA romance between Auri and Cruz. I have a big crush on this couple and can't wait to read more about them. Cruz is book boyfriend material, I'm not kidding!!!

And then there is finally more of Sunshine and Levi. They are probably the paring I was the most excited about, and I wasn't disappointed. I'm still very much rooting for them and need more of them stat!!

Thanks to the many quirky characters, and the many lol moments made this book an entertaining read. Although the author's style can be a bit much at times. I realised that during the first half, when the situations and dialogues became a bit over the top, unrealistic, and maybe a bit forced too. Nevertheless I'm as excited to read more in this series as I was last year. The third book can't come soon enough for me.

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.

It's about four months after the events of A Bad Day for Sunshine and Sunny finally seems to be able to have a real life outside of her sheriff-ing duties. She's even going on dates. Granted, they are blind dates that are set up by her parents with men who really aren't her type, but it's a start. Right?

Things get a little crazy when her best friend calls her in a panic over a wild raccoon at his cabin.

They get a little more crazy that same night when there's a stabbing at the bar of the man that Sunny has been crushing on since she was around four years old (and he was about 6).

Things get even crazier when a cold case from Sunny's past ends up back on her radar.

And, on top of all that, the mayor is holding things over Sunny's head if she doesn't solve the mystery of the legendary group who is thought to run the town.

If only there was some time to just sit back and get a drink!

Final thoughts: I love all Darynda Jones books and this one is no exception. She's got a special writing voice that just makes me jealous. I wish I could come up with these comebacks in a few months, let alone the seconds the characters have to say them. I got a little confused by the Dangerous Daughters subplot as it was mentioned in the beginning and resolved near the end, with nothing in the middle. I feel like either I missed something or something was just missed. Additionally, one HUGE peeve was the use of c*&t in the book. It's just once (at least in this ARC) but it seriously pulled me, more accurately, YANKED me right out of the book. That is such a harsh word and its use was in a place that was the exact opposite of the connotation I usually feel for that word. I hope it gets changed before the final book is released.

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!