Cover Image: A Good Day for Chardonnay

A Good Day for Chardonnay

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Darynda Jones never disappoints!
I’ve been a fan forever and, based on this book, will be for a very long time!
Sunny is the Sheriff and Levi is the bad boy. I loved it!
I was laughing out loud … yes, I got strange looks from people too. But who cares? I was into a fabulous read. LOL
I can’t wait for the next one!!
‘Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely love Sunshine Vicram, Darynda Jones' latest sassy female protagonist! This is the second book in the series and true to form, Sheriff Vicram is back with her constant humor and good heart. While you don't need to read the novels in order, I would suggest it just for the readers' ease. I honestly can't wait for the next installment to see what happens to Sunshine.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this novel.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved the first book in this series (A Bad Day for Sunshine) and I wish I would have reread it before starting this one. I feel like I missed a few references along the way in this second book but I still really enjoyed it! It had the same great characters and was still as captivating as ever. I alternated between reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook and both were excellent. The writing was great and the narration was amazing. Highly recommend checking out this one (and the first book if you haven’t read A Bad Day for Sunshine yet).

Thank you to the tagged publishers and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this ebook and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

It's fun going back to this crazy town of Del Sol and Its Sherriff, Sunshine Vicram.

However, in order to enjoy this ride, you must read A Bad Day for Sunshine or you'll be very confused.

So where does Chardonnay go?

Many places all at once.

*Sunshine is called in when strangers to the town attacked and stabbed a local man and hurt Levi in the process.

*She also gets a call from prison in regards to her own past abduction.

*Her daughter Ari is investigating a cold case.

*Cruz is hiding something.

*Levi has many secrets that Sunshine wants to know.

What I love about Darynda's style is that her characters are full of snark, quick comebacks, sassiness, and brooding men. Yes, sometimes it can be too much and you think the characters are on speed or something like it but when you mostly read dark thrillers, it's refreshing.

A Good Day for Chardonnay has all those ingredients and the best part is that we do get some answers to some of the questions A Bad Day for Sunshine left us with. However, it does end in a cliffhanger.

Will I read the third book?

Absolutely, I need more of Sunshine, Levy, Ari, and Cruz.


Cliffhanger: Yes

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

It's always a good time with any of Darynda's characters, but these have become some of my favorites!

Was this review helpful?

Some people believe that nothing exciting ever happens in a small town. But those people clearly never visited the town of Del Sol, New Mexico. Because in A Good Day for Chardonnay, the second Sunshine Vicram novel by author Darynda Jones, it seems like there’s never a break in the action...

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery

Was this review helpful?

ARC received in exchange for honest review. Darynda, you beautiful bitch, you did it again! I loved her latest installment. There were a few things you seen coming, but I still loved it. I cannot wait until the 3rd book which is due in June. So long to wait.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this one! I definitely recommend reading book one first, otherwise this was a great read. I will be reading more from Darynda Jones for sure.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely adored A Bad Day for Sunshine, so is it really a surprise that I adored A Good Day for Chardonnay as well? And with a title like that, who wouldn't! Darynda Jones is seriously a master at wit and banter, as well as being able to create great, twisty mysteries. I loved the blend of all of these things in this book and it was such a joy to read about Sunshine and her daughter Auri again. There is also some more spice in this installment, and the whole time I was wishing Sun would give in to her crush on Levi and just do him already. Besides Sun being on a new case, there are also some big reveals about her past and the time she was kidnapped. The ending gave me literal chills and it made me so angry that I don't have book 3 in my hands right this minute. Jones really surprised me with so many things in A Good Day for Chardonnay, and the pacing is so perfect and the characters so entertaining that you will never be bored.

I also have to mention that the audiobook is completely amazing and narrated by Lorelei King. She was the narrator for the first book too and knocks it out of the park every single time. I can totally picture her voice as Sunshine and she always delivers every line in the book perfectly. A Good Day for Chardonnay is great on audio but just as great if you read it, and whatever you do you need this series in your life. While it deals with tough subjects, there is enough humor that it is a nice respite from the dark and depressing reads out there. I think Jones is highly skilled at creating just the right balance, and it's hard to find anything I didn't love about this book. Spoiler, I loved it all. There are also great starts to each chapter, and they made me laugh every single time. If you want to laugh and have a ton of fun while reading a book this series is for you. I also recommend reading it in order, so you don't miss anything!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

A Good Day for Chardonnay is the second book in the Sunshine Vicram series. Sunshine is the sheriff in a small New Mexico town. Sunshine has her hands full in this one. For one, her daughter, Auri, is hunting a serial killer. Also, there is new evidence in the mystery of Sunshine’s kidnapping when she was younger.

This is the second book in the series, and I definitely recommend starting with the first book, A Bad Day for Sunshine. Both books are clever and exciting reads.

A Good Day for Chardonnay has a great cast of quirky characters, a desert town setting, a little romance, and a gripping mystery. A fantastic novel for fans of mystery thrillers with strong female protagonists and sarcastic humor.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Sunshine Vicram is the sheriff of the small town of Del Sol, New Mexico, the small town she grew up in and returned to when she took office. She is raising her strong, independent teenage daughter, Auri and her parents still live in Del Sol. Sunshine longs for a quiet day but she finds herself investigating an attack on an ex- military man, Keith, who is attacked by three men and the love of her life, Levi Ravinder, is injured coming to Keith's aid. Sunshine's daughter Auri sets out to solve a cold case of murder and disappearances involving guests of the local guest house and ropes in her boyfriend Cruz. It is the humour that stands out in this book and I found myself laughing out loud at Sun's blind date, the Bookclub Ladies and Sun and her BFF trying to find out if they were missing anything. There is also some somber moments with Cruz and his father that pull at your heart strings as well as more details about Sunshine's abduction while a teen herself. There is a lot going on in this story with plenty of characters and plotlines. I found it intriguing and entertaining and am looking forward to the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

If you have never read any Darynda Jones books.....Im not sure we can be friends! Her books are pure entrtainment. This is the second book in the Sunshine Vicram series. It can be read as a stand alone....but you really deserve the best....so read the first one too.
Sunshine Vicram is the sheriff of a small town in New Mexico. She lives in a house behind her parents house with her teenage daughter. The cast of characters in this series were already friends when she moved back to the town she left many years ago. The interactions of the personalities she deals with everyday will keep you smiling, even laughing as you are so very glad you dont have to deal with them. Since she's the sheriff, there will be crimes and criminals that will keep the story moving at break neck pace. The only bad thing I can say about this book, is now I have to wait for the next one.

Was this review helpful?

I am still getting used to reading Dayynda Jones outside of her amazing series. She is such an amazing author that no matter what genre she writes she knows how to captivate you with her stories.

Was this review helpful?

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram is having a strange week. A stabbing at a bar, a raccoon in the police station, and the town senior is confessing to crimes, plus her daughter is sneaking around looking for clues. ARC from NetGalley .

Was this review helpful?

Reviewed from audiobook.
Ms. Jones writes fun stories. My rating 4.25 of 5.0.
Sunshine is still trying to settle into her new job as sheriff, but events are giving her no time to relax and settle. As usual, she is juggling death, child-rearing, and a lingering childhood crush. And don’t forget the unresolved abduction and resulting murder from her own teenaged experience.

Sunshine’s teen crush, Levi, steps in to help a friend who is attacked at a local bar. Levi may have killed one of the assailants who take off after repeatedly stabbing his friend. Before the bad guys get away, they almost kill Levi. Sun has to arrest Levi to get him to the hospital rather than taking off after the villains, but they may not be enough to stop him.

While scrutinizing the crime scene and taped footage Sun finds a shocking surprise that will add to her list of cases. And in the background is a raucous raccoon terrorizing Sun’s deputy and best friend, Quincy. Add to all of this, Sun is beginning to get more flashbacks from her abduction which has been blocked by amnesia for years.

Meanwhile Sun’s daughter, Auri is convinced that their neighbor, a woman in her 80’s is a serial killer from years past. She recruits her friends, bestie, Sybil, and Auri’s teen crush, Cruz, to help her investigate by breaking into the woman’s house. Step by step this leads Auri to more trouble and danger behind her mother’s back.

This second book in the series has lots of threads, some of which have interesting ties. There is fun banter and interaction among the characters that I have grown to appreciate from the author. I felt frustrated knowing that Auri was heading into trouble, but it is a full thread that adds to the story. I enjoyed the community coming together to pull Sun into their secrets. I also appreciated the clear chemistry and romance between Sun and Levi although the culminating sex scene is a bit more vivid than I need.

I enjoy the full package which includes mystery, danger, humor, and romance. There is some introduction, but I recommend reading the first book to get a better feel for the characters and history, then continue to enjoy the mystery and fun in this book.

Audio Notes: Lorelei King is just a wonderful narrator. As soon as she begins to read I get pulled into the characters. She provides clear voices and fitting emotion that enhances the story for me. If I get a choice, I will listen to this series rather than just read it.

Source: 2021 NetGalley Audio Book.

Was this review helpful?

The first thing I want to say is if you like to laugh, then this series is definitely for you. Jones's writing is witty and funny while still creating a world of mystery and mayhem. Every chapter has a saying that will leave you rolling, or at the very least, you’ll get sideways glances from those around you when you burst out laughing.

Sunshine is the sheriff of a small town in New Mexico, that she still questions the legitimacy of her election since she didn’t know she was running until she won. Her best friend Quincy is her Chief Deputy, and the rapport the two have is spectacular. Auri is Sunshine’s spitfire teenage daughter who takes after her mom in the department of stubbornness, running headlong into danger and pretty much everything. Where Sun and Levi are concerned, you can almost see the fireworks jumping off the pages when they are together.

The thing that I like most about Jones’s series is that she has multiple storylines going at the same time, but they do not get lost in the pages and keeps the story hopping. I really hope there’s another book in this fabulous series that made my day reading.

Was this review helpful?

I love the Sunshine Vicram series. It is reminisce of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Sunshine is the Sheriff in a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico. The town is full of quirky characters that Darynda Jones creates expertly. I would suggest to read these novels in order to get the full vibes of all these characters. Humor runs deep throughout this series. And the action is paced with speed. There are multiple mysteries going on - all with Sunshine (I love her name, Sunshine Vicram) bouncing from one crisis to the next.
A fun, enjoyable read! I will definitely be following this series!

Was this review helpful?

Darynda Jones always makes me laugh. She’s got a great sense of humor. I became addicted to her Charley Davidson Series and this Sunshine Vicram Series is just as awesome. Lots of mystery, romance, intrigue, and comedy. She makes sure the characters are all different and interesting. A Good Day for Chardonnay keeps me wanting more.

Was this review helpful?

ARC ebook received from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Was sadly delayed in reading and reviewing this fun and delightful work.

A first (and last) date turns into a raccoon chase and Sunshine finds herself in the midst of a crime scene where Levi, her first love, stabbed a man who he's sure he's killed and who got away after defending a man attacked in his bar. Sunshine's daughter Auri keeps sneaking out, sometimes with her friends Sybil and Cruz, sometimes not, into a mystery of missing persons that go back to the Dangerous Founding Daughters - and Mrs. Fairborn's secrets.

The mystery of Sun's kidnapping may be unravelling with her memories giving her more glimpses of what happened. Sun must also solve another disappearance, a missing boy who's father was involved with a lot of money that also went missing - a boy she had failed once to find.

One top of it all is the very real danger Levi remains in as long as he is free and his uncle and the former corrupt sheriff are kicking up trouble.

Was this review helpful?

I love anything Darynda Jones writes. I was so happy to get back to Sunshine and her crazy world. Life is never dull in New Mexico as she tries to keep the streets of her town safe. That seems to be a harder job with bar fights, her daughter tracking a serial killer, and Levi, her heartthrob around every corner. The story is another fun-filled excursion in the life of Sunshine. There is never a dull moment. Jones writes with wit, sarcasm, and a whole lot of fun. 4 stars. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC. I loved it.

Was this review helpful?