A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram #1) by Darynda Jones-dual review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date April 7, 2020

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, 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.

•••••••

Sandy’s Review

A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE is the first instalment in Darynda Jones contemporary, adult SUNSHINE VICRAM mystery, suspense, somewhat humorous series focusing on Sheriff Sunshine Blaze Vicram and her daughter Aurora ‘Auri’.

Told from dual third person perspectives ( Sunshine and Auri) A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE follows Sunshine Blaze Vicram Freyr on her return to her home town of Del Sol, New Mexico following her questionable election win as the new sheriff. With her fourteen year old daughter Auri in tow, Sunshine’s return to Del Sol is met with derision, especially for Auri as she enters high school for the first time. A kidnapped teenager, a missing lieutenant, a decomposed body, an escaped fugitive, a flasher, a rooster named Puff Daddy, and demons from the past find Sunshine struggling within hours on her first day of the job, a job that will bring her up close and personal with Del Sol’s meanest, strangest and bad.

Sunshine Vicram has suffered like no one else, and with her return come the memories that are slowly revealing a forgotten connection to the town that almost destroyed her life. Our heroine, a passionate mother and daughter, finds herself facing down her demons when her daughter reveals a secret Sunshine had long thought buried.

A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE is reminiscent of Darynda Jones’ CHARLEY DAVIDSON series including an Easter egg or two referencing the aforementioned series. The premise is complex, detailed, gritty and real; the numerous characters are colorful, nosy, quirky and bad- the mean girls and bullies at the local high school are heart breaking and sad. We are introduced to Sunshine’s parents Cyrus and Elaine Freyr, her best friend and fellow law enforcement officer Chief Deputy Quincy Cooper; students Cruz De los Santos and his father Chris, Sybil St. Aubin and her parents Mari and Forest; the local ‘book babes’ who get together for drinking and gossip but every once in awhile, a basket of muffins foretells of darker things to come. The in-depth world building is full of possibilities. There is the hint of a romance for our leading heroine but life and past history may get in the way.

As per Darynda Jones’ style of writing, the humor is spot on. The back and forth between Sunshine and Auri is priceless, sassy and fun. Each chapter begins with a humorous window sign found at the local restaurants and shops. A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE is the perfect vehicle to add a little ‘sunshine’ and humor into your life.

Barb’s Review:
A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones is the 1^st book in her new Sunshine Vicram series.  I was excited to see what Darynda had in store for us in this new series, and I am happy to say I loved A Bad Day for Sunshine.

Sunshine (Sunny) Vicram, our heroine, returns to her home town of Del Sol, New Mexico, as the newly elected sheriff, which she suspects her parents meddled into getting her elected.  Sunny left town years before, at the age of 17; after she suffered a trauma, having been kidnapped and then pregnant, and now comes home as a seasoned successful career as a detective, with her 14 year old daughter, Auri.  Sunny is a tough, independent, smart, funny heroine, which you couldn’t help but love.  The relationship between Sunshine and Auri was wonderful, and I loved how close they were and their cute bantering back and forth throughout the book with each other, as we got to see the POV’s between them both.  

The story begins with Sunshine’s first day on the job as Sheriff, with her expecting the basic misdemeanors of a small town; but immediately there is a kidnapping case of a 14 year old schoolgirl, who had also befriended her daughter.  Sunny’s best friend, Deputy Quincy Cooper, is thrilled to have his friend back, and together they work with Zee, another new member (sniper) of the police team to find the missing girl.  They made a great team, and I enjoyed their camaraderie.  I must say, I absolutely loved Levi, whom Sunny always had a crush on, but he comes from a violent dangerous family, that does include Hailey (who have become secret friends, but must keep their friendship private). Levi was not only a hunk, but he was also a great tracker, and ends up helping Sunny and her team.  You can tell he cares about her, as well as Auri, but tries to be distant, in order for them to be safe. 

Auri also wants to help her mom find Sybil (the missing girl) and uses the internet, as well as school papers to find information; she shows her smarts, as she is her mother’s daughter as a budding detective.  School at first is difficult, with some mean girls at school treating her badly, especially since her mom is the sheriff.   Auri finds help and friendship from a boy, Cruz, who is considered the most popular boy in school, and their friendship helps her handle the brutal treatment from the girls.   

What follows is an exciting adventure to find the missing girl, which will bring in some surprises along the way.  There is also a mystery about Sunny’s kidnapping, as she remembers very little of what happened, and is still determined to find out who the culprit was. I also loved how Levi was like a father figure Auri, having helped her when she was a child. 

A Bad Day for Sunshine was not only an intense mystery, but was a lot of fun, as Sunny, Auri, Quincy, Zee, Cruz, and others were so great together, making us laugh quite a bit.   Darynda Jones once again gives us another fantastic heroine, with a wonderful daughter and great secondary characters.  I expect in future books we will see more romance, hopefully between Sunny and Levi.  I look forward to the next book in this series, as spending more time with Sheriff Sunshine Vicram is a must for me.  I suggest you jump on the bandwagon now, and start with A Bad Day for Sunshine by a fantastic author, Darynda Jones.

 Copies supplied by Netgalley