I adore anything written by Darynda. Her characters are so witty, sarcastic and fun. In this book the main character, Sunshine is dealing with lots of stressful situations both personally and professionally. There was a very dark turn at one point and if you want to find out how it ended - READ THE BOOK. I did have a bit of confusion at one point but hopefully the next book will clear it up as this book seemed to clear up a piece of the puzzle so I am hoping that trend continues. There were a few plot points left open, which leads me to think that there will be another book in the series so here's hoping.

This series just gets better and better!

Sheriff Sunshine (I LOVE that name!) Vicram has her hands full with a pesky raccoon, a smart and devious daughter, a possible octogenarian serial killer, and a man-sized crush on the mysterious Levi Ravinder, who may or may not, be part of her own abduction years ago.

Thanks to a quirky cast of memorable characters, the pages fly by- it’s nearly impossible to set this book down, so don’t say I didn’t warn you!

When a stranger with Ninja-like moves is accosted and stabbed at Levi’s bar, Levi runs to the rescue and gets hit by a truck for his efforts. Sunshine is called to the scene and immediately realizes there’s more to the story than either man wants to share.

Frustrated, she tries to arrest Levi for his own safety, but he disappears practically before the cuffs go on. With her best friend and chief deputy, Quincy, warning her to not jump to conclusions, and a child who went missing seven years earlier suddenly showing up in the middle of things, the plot gets thicker.

Meanwhile, Auri, Sunshine’s impulsive teenage daughter, recruits her boyfriend Cruz (I adore him!) and her best friend (who coincidentally has visions of her own death) to investigate a cold case in the town– and bites off more than she can handle.

There are a lot storylines merging in this book, but it’s all done so well that I never felt lost or confused. This is one of those books that you dread to see come to an end.

I can’t wait to see what Darynda comes up with next!

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Ms. Jones has done it again. This book was like a roller coaster ride. You start of slow and the ascent makes your heart palpitate. Then you drop. Oh what a ride this book is. Thankfully they'll be a part three and I hope we don't have to wait another year to get it.

All of your favorites are back in addition to some new faces. The parallels between Sunshine/Levi and Auri/Cruz are hard to miss. Join us on this fantastic ride!

I am a big fan of Darynda Jones and have read every book she has published. Each book is just as good as the one before it. Her chapter headings are creative and funny. The characters are interesting and diverse with personalities that leap off the page.
Whenever someone asks me for a recommendation, the first author I recommend it Darynda Jones. I am a youth services librarian so her books are not appropriate for that demographic but the kids visit the library with an adult.
I really would love to see her write a Juvenile Fiction book for ages 8 - 11.
What else can I say except that if you haven't heard of Darynda Jones, haven't read one of her books, then what are you waiting for. Stop reading this and go find one at your local library or bookstore.

Super-fun read! It's easy to see why the series has such a huge following. Sassy characters and a good mystery . . . with a last page that should put "to be continued" in all-caps!

A Good Day for Chardonnay – Darinda Jones

Much to my surprise and delight, St. Martin’s Press granted me a sneak peek at the next novel in the Sunshine Vicram series! (At least I hope and pray it’s planned to be a series!)

Sunshine Vicram is the Sheriff for the small, sleepy town of Del Sol, New Mexico, where a typical day involves a complaint about ‘Doug the Flasher’ and perhaps a wayward rooster, but today is very different. As Sunshine suffers through a blind date arranged by her parents and plots their demise, she receives a call from her Deputy regarding an unwanted visitor. Calling in all the troops, she flees her date in search of a marauding raccoon.

Meanwhile, over at the Roadhouse Bar and Grill, there’s been a stabbing, leaving one man critically injured, and Levi Ravinder, Sunshine’s longtime crush, also injured after being struck by a fleeing pick up truck. The Ravinder family is well known in the area for their criminal exploits and were also believed to be involved in Sunshine’s kidnapping many years ago – an ordeal she has very little memory of. While Levi seems to be law abiding and has turned the Ravinders’ moonshine business into a legitimate, profitable business, Sunshine still fears the unknown – and the possibility that Levi may have been involved in her captivity, which left her pregnant.

As Sunshine and her crew begin their investigation, Sun’s teenaged daughter Aurora is conducting her own investigation. Over the last several decades, people who have stayed at the local boarding house in Del Sol have mysteriously gone missing – those disappearances were never solved. Auri suspects that the elderly Mrs. Fairborn, who confesses to every crime in town in elaborate detail, just might be the killer.

As events heat up and a child goes missing, Del Sol is anything but sleepy, as Sun, her team, and a deputized Levi race to find the answers to the goings-on around town – in doing so, Sunshine finally finds some answers of her own...

Oh my goodness, I loved this book even more than they last one! With plenty of suspense and mayhem, yet laugh-out-loud funny, this book will keep you flipping pages right to the end, and then desperately wanting more! Bring out a bottle of Chardonnay as you enjoy this 5 star read!!

Some of the mysteries that were unresolved in A Bad Day for Sunshine were resolved in A Good Day for Chardonnay. However, there seems to be several more mysteries still to come, which I, for one, am <b>very</b> happy about. Because that means there might be more books coming in this series which has fast become a favorite of mine!

There is so much humor in this story, I laughed out loud more than once! There is also a lot of suspense, and that kept me clicking forward to read more and try to figure things out. And the longing... the longing still has my heart beating faster.

Jones has managed to write another winner, and I can't recommend this highly enough. Pick it up on release day!!

You’ll Be Chuckling , Crying, and Cringing All The Way To The End

Sunshine Vicram, sheriff of a small town in New Mexico, has been looking forward to a little time off from the blistering pace, but it is not to be. A blind date from hell, a rogue raccoon, an altercation at the local bar, a daughter who thinks she can solve an old cold case, and "helpful" assistance from her parents all combine to make this book a witty and funny mystery that will have you chuckling through some of the situations and holding your breath at others. Oh, and did I mention Sunshine's heartthrob, Levi Ravinder? The cast of characters is brought forward from the first book and added to brilliantly to draw you into the workings of the town and its eccentric inhabitants.

I could hardly wait to start reading A Good Day for Chardonnay when it became available. The first book in the series, A Bad Day for Sunshine, was one of the best written and most entertaining book I have ever read. I loved that book, and since it sets the stage for the quirky collection of characters in this book I would suggest you read it first, before you delve into this book. Even though this is a stand-alone novel you will miss some of the innuendo herein. I will caution, though, this book contains one segment that was too risqué for a family novel.

Oh! My! Word! Darynda Jones does it to me every time! A Good Day for Chardonnay is excellent, awesome, and FUN!
From hilarious to heart-wrenching, the second novel in the Sunshine Vicram series reaches deep inside me to pull out the laughter that has been in hiding much of the last year and touches my heart with love for these awesome characters.
It is not essential to read A Bad Day for Sunshine first, but it does help build a stronger feel for the characters so if it is easy, do it but don't let the need to read the first book keep you from reading A Good Day for Chardonnay soon. You will catch up with not difficulty. Ms. Jones includes arcing storyline but they are not big cliffhangers and the ones from the first book tied up in this one.
I was THRILLED to get that magic approval to read the ARC of A Good Day for Chardonnay via NetGalley; it made my week! I started telling my friends about how much I enjoyed the book from the first chapters. Some things are so good they just have to be shared immediately, no spoilers of course! My Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and especially the amazing Darynda Jones for giving me the opportunity to read A Good Day for Chardonnay early!
#NetGalley #Darynda Jones #AGoodDayforChardonnay #StMartinsPress

I enjoyed this sequel to "A Good Day for Sunshine." It was not at all serious (except for the crimes that occur under Sheriff Sunshine's watch) and full of puns and humorous comebacks. I might classify this as a "beach read," something that you might pick up when you are in the mood for something light that holds your interest.

In this story, we finally learn who is responsible for the disappearance of several people who passed through Del Sol over the years. We find out the identity of Quincy's (Sunshine's co-worker) secret crush. And that's just for starters.

This book will not win the Nobel Prize for fiction. But it might bring you a lot of enjoyment and leave you a bit sorry to leave Sunshine's world when you finish.

Loved it! Fun and funny, so many charming character to cheer for and so many moving parts. With a few murders, a little romance and so many confessions, there's something here for everyone. Don't blink or you'll miss something important.

I'm so glad there is a second book in this series. This book ticks all the boxes for me: strong female lead, romance, humor, action, and mystery. I hope there are more books to come in this series - I really enjoyed reading this one!

This was even more fun to read than Sunshine’s first tale! Sunshine is Sheriff of the Town in New Mexico where she’d been raised. She was the single Mother of Auri, a fifteen year old who had been conceived when Sun was abducted as a teenager and held captive for a week. She has retrograde amnesia about this period in her life and has no idea as to who Audi’s father is. This story deals with the past (yes she does begin to remember and an old murder may be finally solved coupled with many missing people from years earlier), the present (Levi Ravinder has become successful and his uncle Cole is plotting to take over the family business) and quite possibly the future. It is filled with action, ne’er do wells, missing money and villains of one sort or another coupled with some laugh out loud humor. What more could any reader want? Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC for an honest review.

I was blessed with the ability to read this novel via an Advance Ready Copy gifted to me by the publisher, and I am so thankful because Darynda Jones never fails to entertain and keep a reader wanting more! Whether it's supernatural, or just good old fiction Darynda Jones know how to write a good mystery that also happens to be an epic romance with a side order of some seriously good comedy.

Since the first book I've loved Sunshine, Auri, Levi, and the rest of the crew. And, in this novel they get to shine even more. I love that the novels beautifully blend a new mystery to solve, and old mysteries to solve, while also giving us new info into Sunshine's own mystery and missing month.

I dont want to say too much else, because I am worried about giving away some spoilers. So, all I will say is...read this series, and get on the novel when it officially comes out.

The only bad aspect of receiving an ARC of the novel is that now I feel like I have to wait even longer for the next novel in the series to be released.

A Good Day for Chardonnay was definitely an appropriate title for this second installment of the Sunshine Vicram series. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book the moment I finished A Bad Day for Sunshine. What I love most about this series is the way humor, romance, action, and mystery is combined into a perfect package. The characters were awesome and very likable, I especially loved Sunshine's relationship with her co-workers. I also admired Sunshine's relationship with her daughter Auri. It was obvious Auri really looked up to her mom and didn't want to disappoint her.

A Good Day for Chardonnay was a light and fun mystery novel with romance sprinkled into it. I have a huge crush on Sun's love interest Levi and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop in this book. Furthermore, the bond between Levi and Auri was unique and very sweet. There were multiple mysteries/cases that Sunshine and Auri were investigating individually, which were fun and very interesting. There was also a couple of emotional moments that didn't overwhelm the story. Overall this was a very fun and great addition to the series, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.

This book is so "busy" with many many things going on that it's really hard to do a proper synopsis.

Basically, we have a female sheriff who will do almost anything to protect her town, and her daughter who has a knack for not only finding trouble, but creating it. She's also a pretty good escape artist who gets her grandparents in trouble for not keeping up with her.

Pro's:
Developed characters, great interaction between the characters, written in a way that draws you in and also makes you want to ring some of their necks, while patting others on the back. There's also a good bit of humor spread throughout the story.

Con's:
There is a bit of gratuitous profanity, and a couple of scenes with more than heavy petting, but nothing actually happens.

Overall, this was a story that I really enjoyed.

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

I FREAKING love Darynda Jones. I would read her grocery list. I would pay to read her grocery list. Sunshine and Ravinder are competing with Charley Davidson and Reyes for my favorite couple.

Sunshine is sheriff of Del Sol, and just when it looks like the most exciting crime wave she will have will be committed by a tenacious raccoon, there are multiple stabbings, assassins, and a very stalkerish blind date to deal with.

This book has humor and heat, and the characters make you love them. I can’t wait for the next one, which is why I’m rereading the first one in the series!

Amaze balls!!
Absolutely. To get the basics out of the way and do what I’m here for, 5 stars. Absolutely and if we can give bonus points to get more stars I would give them all to Darynda Jones; specifically for this book.

I love that you can read Darynda in every book she writes but they are not the same. As I said for A Bad Day for Sunshine, I LOVE Sun and Auri! My top book characters. Their mom-daughter banter and unconditional love will bring me back to reread and re-reread these book.

**Some spoilers as you go on, please be warned....**
The first book in the series closed up its plot holes nicely while still leaving more open to continue with the series. So many were closed in this book I wonder what else is going to open in the next book.

Something I’ve been waiting for since the first book happens... Sun and Levi totally and finally get to have sex and it looks like the start of something that should’ve always been.

Cruz. Oh Cruz De Los Santos. I have cried over and over in this book.
From Dangerous Daughters and stabbings to doorbells and raccoons this book was amazing (for me at least. Did you see the Amazeballs at the beginning?) and I cannot wait to see where we go from here.

Another hit from Darynda! This book follows Sunshine and her daughter Auri as they continue life in Del Sol NM.

Sunshine POV is a true delight to read. She is funny and compassionate and doesn’t miss a beat...when it comes to her case. Her personal life is a bit more chaotic.

Auri’s POV in the book honestly didn’t make much sense to me. Her adventure seemed random and she only felt bad about sneaking around, getting hurt, and getting her friends in terrible situations when she got caught. I found her cry her way out of punishments tiresome.

Overall I enjoyed the book and I can’t wait for the series to continue! Thank you NetGalley and St. Matin’s press for an early release copy for a review.

A Good Day For Chardonnay, book 2 of the Sunshine Vicram series by Darynda Jones, continues to follow the escapades of the residents of Del Sol, NM, it’s sheriff and her family and friends. This book has a good plot, a few subplots to keep things lively, drama, mystery, humor, and snarky one-liners. This book is also well written. When an author illicits laughs as well as tears, you know she has a gift.

Jones keeps the reader connected throughout the book. Characters are well defined, action carefully plotted, and visual descriptions are excellent. But Levi’s character abruptly changes from angry and intense in book 1 to mellow in book 2. The scenes were great, but something felt off. Nonetheless, this book is a fun ride. You can’t ask for more than that, except for book 3! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.