Book Review: A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

 

From the publisher:

Some people greet the day with open arms. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram would rather give it a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there’s just too much going on right now. There’s a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There’s her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who’s out to singlehandedly become Del Sol’s youngest and fiercest investigator. And then there’s drama with Levi Ravinder—the guy she’s loved and lusted after for years. The guy who might just be her one and only. The guy who comes from a family of disingenuous vipers looking to oust him—and Sunshine—for good.

Like we said, the new day can take a hike.

A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones was released December 6th, 2022 by St. Martin's Press.

My thoughts: It's a good mystery novel with plenty of snark and humor. It has both serious mysteries and lighter ones. And in addition to Sunshine and her Sheriff's department investigating, her daughter Auri can't keep herself from lending a hand even though she is only in high school.

If you've read the first two books in this series, then this one is a must read. Some plot arcs that have taken place over all three novels are resolved.

If you haven't read the first two books, in theory you could read this one and enjoy it as a stand alone. There are plots and subplots that are only in this novel. But, you would get so much more if you started with book one. 

I liked the characters and the setting of small town Del Sol, New Mexico. It's a fast paced book. Pace increases the further you get into the story. And there's a little heat between Sunshine and Levi.

Overall, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It has humor, interesting plots and subplots, good characters, and an interesting setting. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy some humor with their mysteries and don't mind a hot scene or two between characters.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

Happy Book Birthday to Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

 

Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones is released today from St. Martin's Press.

Some people greet the day with open arms. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram would rather give it a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there’s just too much going on right now. There’s a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There’s her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who’s out to singlehandedly become Del Sol’s youngest and fiercest investigator. And then there’s drama with Levi Ravinder—the guy she’s loved and lusted after for years. The guy who might just be her one and only. The guy who comes from a family of disingenuous vipers looking to oust him—and Sunshine—for good.

Like we said, the new day can take a hike.

Compulsively readable, laugh-out-loud funny, and brimming with big-hearted characters, A Hard Day for a Hangover will have readers cheering to the very last page.

This is the third and final book in the Sunshine Vicram trilogy. I've just started this book and I'm already enjoying it. Darynda Jones has a way of blending humor, mystery, and a touch of romance that is wonderful.

Have you been looking forward to this book? 

Book Review: A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones

 

From the publisher:

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff--and even fuller-time coffee guzzler--Sunshine Vicram, didn't get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that's about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny's got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he's not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She's seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit, Sunny's life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.

My thoughts:

There's a lot going on in this book. But you can still follow the storylines fairly easily. The biggest storylines are the mystery that Sunny is pursuing and her daughter's investigation into a possible serial killer. I think the raccoon is there mainly for comic relief. Lots of subplots including a romance for Sunny and some romance for her daughter as well.

This book is definitely better if you've read A Bad Day for Sunshine first. Otherwise you won't know why Sunny gets so upset by a basket of muffins. Or who the Dangerous daughters are supposed to be until much later in the story. Generally most things get explained well enough. But reading book one gives you more depth into what's going on and to the characters.

The ending is a little bit of a cliffhanger. I don't mind terribly, I am planning to read the next book anyway. The feeling I get is like waiting for the other shoe to drop.  

I gave this book 4 stars. Don't miss it if you've read book one. It's well-written. The mysteries are interesting. The book will grab your attention. And it's generally fast paced. I really enjoyed the book. If you are a fan of Darynda Jones, you will probably enjoy this series. It has mystery, romance, and humor.

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

Review: A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones

 

Sunshine Vicram is the newly appointed sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico. It's her first day on the job and already things are really hopping. A woman crashes her car into the police station on her way to report her daughter missing. An escaped criminal is loose in the area. And a rooster named Puff Daddy has gone missing. Investigating will bring back memories of years past, both good and bad.

It's also her daughter Auri 's first day of school. Auri knows the missing girl and wants to help with the investigation. 

Sunshine has a winning personality: friendly, efficient, and full of snark. She is very down to earth and relatable. Sunshine works with her best friend, Quincy. But she is drawn to other men like Levi Ravinder, a reformed bad boy.

Auri is smart, sweet, and shares her mother's gift for snark. She also shares her mother's investigative abilities. Part of the book is told from Sunshine's point of view and part from Auri's. It's interesting that Auri's point of view sounds very much like the adolescent she is.

I pretty much enjoyed the character interactions. The book was also well plotted. The story moves along at a good pace. Things are revealed as they come up. And even though the book covers a short period of time, the characters show some growth. 

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. There's a balance between the bad and the good. The humor is important to this. It's a good read. If you enjoyed the Charley Davidson books, you will enjoy this one even though there is only a touch of the paranormal. And if you enjoy a good mystery with humor, you will most likely enjoy this one too.

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones was published April 7th, 2020 by St. Martin's Press.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect the content of my review. 

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #341: A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones

 

Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From Goodreads: From the New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones comes the second novel in her laugh-out-loud Sunshine Vicram mystery series, A Good Day for Chardonnay.

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff--and even fuller-time coffee guzzler--Sunshine Vicram, didn't get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that's about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny's got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he's not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She's seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit, Sunny's life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.

Yep, definitely a good day for chardonnay.

A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones is due out May 25th, 2021 from St Martin's Press.

Why am I waiting on this book? I liked the first one in the series. It moved quickly. The characters were likable. And it was funny. I want to know more about Sunshine Vicram and her family and friends. And I want to know more about what happened to her all those years ago. Levi definitely seems to know more than he's saying. It's a long wait. I just might reread the first book in the series in the meantime, something I seldom do.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Thick clouds soaked up the vibrant colors of daybreak and splashed them across the heavens like a manic artist who'd just scored a new bottle of Adderall. Orange Crush and cotton candy collided and dovetailed, making the sky look like a watercolor that had been left out in the rain. 
 (1% through on my kindle)

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones was published April 7, 2020 by St. Martin's Press. This is book one in the new Sunshine Vicram series.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #308: A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones is back with the brand-new snarky, sassy, wickedly fun Sunshine Vicram series!

Del Sol, New Mexico is known for three things: its fry-an-egg-on-the-cement summers, its strong cups of coffee—and a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff--an election her adorably meddlesome parents entered her in--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 it's reminding Sunny why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that trouble at her daughter’s new school and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and Sunshine has her hands full.

Enter sexy almost-old-flame Levi Ravinder and a hunky US Marshall, both elevens on a scale of one to blazing inferno, and the normally savvy sheriff is quickly in over her head. Now it’s up to Sunshine to juggle a few good hunky men, a not-so-nice kidnapping miscreant, and Doug the ever-pesky flasher. And they said coming home would be drama-free. 

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones is expected to be published April 7th, 2020 by St. Martin's Press.

Why am I waiting on this one? I loved Darynda Jones's Charley Davidson series. This book sounds like it has quirky characters and interesting happenings. It seems like it will be right up my alley.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!