New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones is back with the first novel in the brand-new snarky, sassy, wickedly fun Sunshine Vicram series—A Bad Day for Sunshine!“Laugh-out-loud funny, intensely suspenseful, page-turning fun.”—New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan”A Bad Day For Sunshine is a great day for the rest of us.”—New York Times bestselling author Lee Child Sheriff … rest of us.”—New York Times bestselling author Lee Child
Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o’ joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of national attention for a kidnapper on the loose.
Del Sol, New Mexico is known for three things: its fry-an-egg-on-the-cement summers, strong cups of coffee—and, now, a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff—thanks to her adorably meddlesome parents who nominated her—and she expects her biggest crime wave to involve an elderly flasher named Doug. But a teenage girl is missing, a kidnapper is on the loose, and all of this is reminding Sunshine why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that the trouble at her daughter’s new school, plus and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and, well, the forecast looks anything but sunny.
But even clouds have their silver linings. This one’s got Levi, Sunshine’s sexy, almost-old-flame, and a fiery-hot US Marshal. With temperatures rising everywhere she turns, Del Sol’s normally cool-minded sheriff is finding herself knee-deep in drama and danger. Can Sunshine face the call of duty—and find the kidnapper who’s terrorizing her beloved hometown—without falling head over high heels in love…or worse?
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A Bad Day For Sunshine is a great day for the rest of us — captivating characters, great writing, pace, humor and suspense.
All the snarky humor and engaging writing you’ve come to expect from master storyteller Darynda Jones. I would read her if she scribbled on a napkin. Luckily, her new story has more than just lipstick and a number. Prepare to get sucked in. Her writing is like a vortex; you can’t get out until you’re done and sobbing for more.
A Bad Day for Sunshine is deliciously witty, fast paced and filled with laugh-out-loud dialogue. Darynda Jones knocks it out of the park with this delightful new series!
Fun and chaos in equal measure!
When Sunshine Vicram’s well-meaning parents get her elected as sheriff of small town Del Sol, she doesn’t expect her first day to include a child abduction, a runaway rooster, a car barreling into the sheriff’s station and almost running her down, and a run-in with her first crush, Levi Ravinder.
And the fun has just begun!
This is a fast-paced read with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments interspersed with touching scenes between Sunshine and her daughter, Auri.
Levi is swoon-worthy- the bad boy done good. Handsome as sin, moody as hell, and a soft touch when it comes to those he cares about.
This is my first Darynda Jones book and I loved it! I can’t wait for the next one in the series to come out now, lol.
I give A Bad Day for Sunshine 5+ lovely kisses- Unputdownable!
“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”
Awesome book. Love these characters. Darynda Jones is my new favorite author. I’m reading the next one, Good Day for a Chardonnay now.
A great start to a new series! I can’t wait to see what’s next from Jones in this world.
The first book in the wonderful Darynda Jones’ new series is finally out. I loved this world with Darynda’s usual comic flair and characters who jump off the page.
A Bad Day for Sunshine is everything you want from Darynda Jones… and more! Laugh-out-loud funny, intensely suspenseful, page-turning fun with a sassy new heroine you will love. Prepare to be hooked by this witty, sexy, and thrilling new series from one of my favorite authors!
Great start to a new series. Funny, pacy, and atmospheric, with an original set-up of a mother-daughter duo at the center of the action, and a gripping mystery that unfolds.
A mystery with a range of quirky and fun characters. Also, a slight romantic subplot that made me happy. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
If you love Darynda Jones’ Charley Davidson Grim Reaper series, you will love this new series about Sunshine Vicram, the new sheriff of Del Sol, NM. I’m not sure if A Bad Day For Sunshine is a romantic suspense or a romantic mystery, but it’s hilarious and suspenseful and emotional and addicting. The only bad thing is the second in the series doesn’t arrive until April 2021. Darynda has a great sense of humor, and I recommend her Grim Reaper series to everyone who loves paranormal novels with a heavy dose of fun. Now I have her Sunshine series to recommend as well. 😉
Darynda delivers again! A Bad Day for Sunshine tugs at your heartstrings and tickles your funny bone. From gut-wrenching heartbreak to full-abdominal belly laughs, Sunshine is a literary workout for your core. Another unique read from a stellar storyteller!
Darynda Jones has done it again. With trademark humor, eccentric yet relatable characters, and masterful storytelling, she takes us on a journey we don’t want to end. A Bad Day for Sunshine is a great day for readers!
Swoon-worthy heroes, quirky characters, and a page turning mystery. Move over Stephanie Plum, Sunshine Vicram has arrived. Prepare yourself. This book is a keeper!
Totally Great Book
I won a copy of this book from a contest and I was not required to give a favorable review. I have had a chance to read only one of Darynda books prior to this and I have been wanting more of her other series. I loved that I got to get into this series right at the beginning. I am so looking forward to see how Sunshine does with the Mayor of Del Sol who has it out for her but a pass grunge, and the family that her biggest crush on in high school and gone legit with his Moonshine business, the uncle isn’t so nice, and her best bud Cooper. But I think the love of her parents, and her beautiful daughter Auri will keep her going to do good for the Del Sol community. Thank you for a wonderful read, oh and make sure you keep a couple of tissues next to you just in case.
Sunshine Vicram has come back to Del Sol, New Mexico to take her place as sheriff, a job that her parents made sure she got whether she wanted it or not. She agreed to take the job because the crime rate is low and not to much happens in Del Sol. When a young girl is kidnapped and unwanted attention is brought to the town Sunny begins to wonder if returning was such a great idea. Things aren’t going well at her daughter’s new school which is making life even harder. She thinks life couldn’t get worse until not one but two extremely handsome men enter her life, one is an old flame and the other is a US Marshal, both there it seems to make her life more interesting. How is she suppose to find a kidnapper, deal with a couple of handsome men, and all the other issues that seem to be popping up not only in her job but in her personal life too. Follow along as Sunny weaves her way through her new job, two men, and a crime that was unexpected but one that needs to be solved immediately. Will she be able to work through everything or will the job and the guys be to much for her in the end. A great read, I was excited for something new from this author because I’ve so enjoyed her previous work.
What a fun beginning to a new series by Ms. Jones. The same wonderful humorous dialog that we have come to know from her Charley Davidson series makes the story race by. Returning to her home town as the new sheriff, a job she did not apply for, Sunshine Vicram is ready for the slow pace of Del Sol, New Mexico. Her fourteen-year old daughter, Aurora, is looking forward to wearing “real” clothes to school, unlike the uniforms at her private school. If their first day is any indication of their new lives, they are both in for a wild ride. Sunshine is searching for a missing teen while Aurora has already learned that being the daughter of a sheriff in a small town has its own issues. A thoroughly enjoyable story and I am eagerly waiting for the next book. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
I always get very excited when I hear that Darynda Jones is writing/releasing a new book. So after the conclusion of the Charley Davidson series, I really looked forward to seeing what she would come up with next. Darynda is one of my favorites authors, so I would’ve one-clicked this book without even reading the blurb (and I only do that with a few authors). A Bad Day for Sunshine is the first book in the Sunshine Vicram series. The main character is Sunshine and she just got elected as sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico, the town where she grew up in, without her knowledge. So she and her fourteen year old daughter, Auri, move back to Del Sol.
This town is pretty weird and has some interesting characters living there. It took me some time to learn all the new characters and get used to everything. Also a lot was going on, so it felt a bit chaotic at times. Multiple things were happening at the same time, so I really had to focus to remember what was going on. I am used to this from Darynda, but this being the first book in the series I just had to get used to everything. I do have to say that there was no dull moment. The story didn’t give me the opportunity to get bored. I was intrigued, and curious to see what would happen next. It was mysterious, suspenseful, funny, and heartbreaking at times. Darynda Jones always finds the perfect combination of elements to keep me hooked to the story.
I already feel strong connection to the characters, and I really loved that the book was told from a dual mother/daughter POV. Both Sunshine and Auri are amazing, and I absolutely love their unique relationship. Also I am intrigued and already in love with Sunshine’s almost-old-flame Levi Ravinder. He is broody, stand-offish, but he has a great heart. I can’t wait to learn more about him, and see a relationship develop between him and Sunshine. There are a couple of secrets I can’t wait to see unfold in the upcoming books. A Bad Day for Sunshine is in my opinion a great first book to a new series. And I think fans of her Charley Davidson series would enjoy this book as well.
This book was so freaking good! I never thought this author could outdo her Charlie Davidson series, but if it continues as this book did, she totally will! I loved every single thing about this story and I’m devastated that I have to wait so long for the next one.
Sunshine Vicram just won an election she never entered. However, it gives her a chance to return to her small hometown where her parents live, along with the opportunity to dig further into a very personal case that hasn’t been solved for fifteen years.
I absolutely loved Sun! She’s all kinds of fun and quirky and her sense of humor had me grinning as well as laughing out loud. While she’s tough, she’s not hardened and that’s exactly the type of heroine I can get behind. Her relationship with her daughter, Auri, is amazing. They are two peas in a pod – one pod being bigger than the other, obviously. They actually reminded me of my own relationship with my daughter, minus the bad-assery.
”Fine. Just remember, if you do have to cut a b–ch…”
“I know, I know.” Auri slid the strap of her backpack over her shoulder. “Don’t leave any DNA evidence at the crime scene.”
“Oh. Right. I was going to say don’t leave any witnesses alive, but that works, too.”
There is a slew of other wonderful characters as well that help build this deliciously quirky town. I fell instantly in love with them all. I want to live in Del Sol! I want friends who know how to make the perfect cup of coffee and keep makeup secrets from me. I want to see a rooster on the loose, twins that defy science, a book club that may or may not be more than they seem, and a bootlegger gone straight.
This has several mysteries and issues all running at the same time. They were beautifully laid out and intertwined into the story keeping the pace and action constantly moving. While the romance is a distant back seat, there is no lack of hot guys or even a potential hero. I’m sure I know what happened in the past (those things we haven’t learned yet) and how some of this is going to turn out. But even if someone flat out told me, I’d still want to read it because this book (which I know is a reflection of this series) is pure magic.
Do I dare say that I enjoyed this one MORE than Charlie Davidson? Well, I did spend thirteen books with CD so I’ll wait until I’ve spent just as much time with Sunshine, a feat in itself as I abhor series. Yeah, I loved this one that much. Bring it on Ms. Jones. I’m up for years worth of Sunshine Vicram, Auri, and dare I hope, Levi.
To be honest I was a bit nervous about this book after her great Charley Davidson series and if it would hold up to it. And I’m happy to report, yes, it does. It is different than Charley Davidson, but still very good in his own rights.
Admittedly, it took me about 5-10% to really get into it but then I really enjoyed it.
We get both POVs, Sunshine and her daughter Auri’s , which I really enjoyed. I loved it, and that way, sort of get two stories in one, but also the main plot combines the two.
The story is pretty fast –paced but still easy to follow and keeps you on your toes until the last page.
I loved Sunshine and Auri and their relationship, matter fact I liked all of the characters. Both are super funny and smart and can hold their own, but also love to have a shoulder to lean on when needed.
I liked Levi but so far he was not my favorite and sometime came over more of an ass than anything, but maybe that will change the better we get to know him.
I did however like Cruz very much and can’t wait to see more of the two of them together, I think that will be so much fun. I think them with Jimmy will be a hoot.
Zee and Quincey were also super fun, but we do get more of Quincey, and I loved that and him.
I really enjoyed this book and the suspense, I wouldn’t caller it a thriller but most definitely suspense filled. We do get some nice twists and turns, some I saw coming but most not. Of course we get lots and lots of snark and humor which I loved filled and topped with some hunky sexy men and moments. But we also get some tender and heartbreaking moments in the mix.
While I loved most of the book there were some things I could have lived without. It felt off and unnecessary, looking back now. The premonition for example.
I think I spotted a Charley Easter egg which I loved, but I can’t be too sure lol.
Overall, I think it was a great first book in a new series and I’m looking forward to reading more now that we have most of the introductions of main story line and characters out of the way .
I rate it 4