A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones / fun, entertaining, and addicting

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones

A long, long time ago, I found the author’s Charley Davidson series, thanks to my library, and read the first few books until I lost interest. Yeah it happens. I wasn’t into paranormal fantasy anymore at that point, and found myself neck deep in indie romance instead – that genre has no bottom, and I just recently resurfaced again. BUT as soon as I saw the author’s name pop up on NetGalley I got more than a bit curious.

And after reading the blurb, I just couldn’t help myself requesting it.

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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

MY THOUGHTS

I’ll come straight out and admit that I had a hard time getting into this book. I actually tried both, first the eARC and then the audiobook, both gave me trouble, but I persevered. Especially when I saw all these amazing reviews coming in. Because it was clear that I was missing something.

The tide turned when I got to the halfway point. Around 50%, the novel picked up. I started connecting with characters, really caring about the outcome, and enjoying the banter between certain best friends, excitedly expecting the hot sexual tension between the heroine and her love interest, and really loving her daughters own teenage love story – swoon, just saying!

Here are the things that really stood out for me:

• The book was quite funny, thanks to the awesome banter between Sunshine and her long time best friend Quincy. They had history, and a rapport that only comes with a life long friendship.

• Sunshine and her daughter were wonderful together. They had such a great mother/daughter relationship. And Auri, her daughter, had this teenage crush on bad boy Cruz, which was ADORABLE. I can’t wait to read more about them.

• Sunshine and Levy – wowzer! The air sizzled whenever they were in the same room. Their “whatever they had” relationship felt like forbidden fruit to me, an attraction that apparently started in high school – oooooh – and hasn’t diminished at all since then!!! I’m officially hooked, and can’t wait to see where they are going from here – because this is exactly my cup of tea!

I was also surprised by the mystery aspect of the book, and the different subplots that kept me guessing and wanting answers. Some where revealed at the end. Others are still open. But the overall execution of plot, and characters was well done.

This is definitely one of the books that finished stronger than it started for me. I’m super glad I didn’t give up on it, because the way I felt at the end – wanting to read the second book ASAP – that’s just an awesome way to end a book.

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I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones