I was a huge fan of the Charley Davidson series and a little sad to see it come to an end, even after thirteen books. However, when I heard that Jones had a new book coming out, I couldn’t wait to see what she would come up with next.
I will say that there are some general similarities between Charley and Sunshine, but this new book certainly stands on its own two feet. Jones has a distinctive writing style, and you definitely see that shine through in Sunshine.
Sunshine Vicram returns to her hometown as the newly-elected sheriff (an election she won without even knowing she entered). Sunshine is also a single mother, so she and her daughter move into her parents’ guest house and try to adjust to life back in a small town.
Their respective first days, at the high school and the station, are anything but boring, with the action starting right off the bat.
Like Charley, Sunshine is a kickass heroine with preternatural wisdom that comes in handy with solving cases and a snappy, sassy sarcasm that provides levity to the serious nature of the storyline.
There’s an overall mystery that needs to be solved, tons of quirky characters are introduced, and Sunshine has some old demons that aren’t buried as deeply as she thought.
Jones weaves a suspenseful and multilayered tale with the added benefit of an elusive love interest, a precocious teen, and a loving family dynamic.
I was on the edge of my seat for the last 25% of the story and the resolution of the case took me by surprise. Being unable to guess the outcome is how I judge a good mystery, and I wasn’t disappointed one bit.
I’m so happy to have a new world of unique characters from Jones to love and I can’t wait for my next hit of Sunshine!
Thank you for the advanced copy of A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE by Darynda Jones. All opinions are my own.
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NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious RITA, a Golden Heart, and a Daphne du Maurier. As a born storyteller, she grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. She currently has two series with St. Martin's Press, the Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of more than 25 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.
date published : April 7, 2020
pages : 397
audiobook narrator: Lorelei King
audiobook length: 11 hrs, 40 min
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.
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