A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones delivered mystery, romance, suspense and small-town antics with plenty of humor and answers to questions. This is the second novel in the Sunshine Vicram series and it has all the elements I’ve come to love from Jones. Grab an iced coffee and find out why Darynda Jones is an autobuy.
by Darynda Jones
Series: Sunshine Vicram #2
Genres: Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
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
We are back in Del Sol, New Mexico with local sheriff and single Mom, Sunshine Vicram. Life is never dull for this sassy sheriff and her mini-me. Told from the perspectives of Sunshine and Auri, her precocious teenage daughter. While Sunshine is trying to solve a murder, Auri is on the hunt to catch a serial killer.
Sunshine’s parents have been setting her up with blind dates. Her latest with pest control technician Carver is cut short when her deputy has a crisis. She is having dreams about Levi Ravinder, but he is a suspect in a murder investigation that half the town has confessed to. Yep, life is never dull in Del Sol. Meanwhile, she needs to determine who the Dangerous Daughters are at the Mayor’s insistence.
I love slipping into one of Jone’s stories. A Good Day for Chardonnay was a treat from mysteries to romance. We’ve got several cases, some old and some new, including Sunshine’s abduction case. Sunshine’s parents can’t seem to monitor Auri whose boyfriend is keeping a painful secret. Sunshine still loves her childhood crush, and the man is sexy, infuriating, and mysterious.
The banter and relationship between Sunshine and Auri is priceless. I loved the humor and love they share. Secondary characters are developed and add to the small-town feel and camaraderie as Sunshine develops relationships with them and strengthens past friendships.
The romance takes a heated turn causing the heat level, but it was one scene and deliciously hot. The mysteries were well interesting, and each case pulled me in from the confessing old woman to the attack at the bar.
I laughed, shed a tear or two, cheered and shouted I knew it before closing the book with a smile. I am loving these characters and cannot wait for the next book. With its humor and romance, this small-town mystery is the perfect book to take to the beach.
In the second #SunshineVicram novel, A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones, the author delivers answers, romance, mystery and humor with small-town antics #MustRead #BeachRead #NewRelease #AutoBuy #Mystery #Humor Share on XAbout Darynda Jones
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.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
MarthaE
I suspected you would like this one too. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Patricia in New Mexico
Being from New Mexico, this one caught my eye! Thank you for sharing!
Jen
Lovely review. I too enjoyed this one immensely. I absolutely love all of the characters, which is what makes the stories so compelling – I want them all to succeed.
Katherine
This looks so fun! I really meant to read the first book when it came out but after reading the reviews and the blurb on this one I really need to pick them both up!
Melanie Simmons
I really need to try this series. I do love Darynda Jones and Lorelei King, who narrates this series. Wonderful review.
Melliane
Oh I was curious about this one but I remember something bothering me in the first one. I should read it!
Carla
So glad you enjoyed this one as much as I did Kimberly. It did have that one scene, but otherwise, an excellent read.
Wendy Williams
This series sounds great. I’ll have to check it out.
Anne C Fosse
I really enjoyed this one also. Although I found the raccoon story line just annoying.
Kimberly
LOL…. not my favorite
Nadene
I would love to read this series one day. It sounds awesome.
Sophia Rose
Got it in the queue and can’t wait. 🙂
Debbie Haupt
I so agree Kim, I review this series for Mystery Scene Magazine so good
Kathryn Trask
Oh, so looking forward to it, I loved the first book about Sunshine and Auri. I need to order this one soon. Your review makes me want to hurry.