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recreated's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I really like Darynda Jones and her style books/writing. This book has multiple mysteries, lovable & diverse characters, and several LOL moments. It is somewhat suspenseful but not especially tense. I don't want the series to end.
Content Warnings
Minor: Kidnapping and Rape
erincataldi's review against another edition
3.0
Sunshine Vikram has moved back to her childhood hometown with her daughter in tow. She just recently won an election for sheriff even though she never threw her name in the race. Sun has her parents to thank for that and for the new "guesthouse" they built for her and her daughter. Her parents are devious and the peer pressure is real. Sun loves working in law enforcement but there is a lot of bad history in Del Sol so she is nervous to come back. Thankfully her best friend works in the police department so she's surrounded by friendly faces. Unfortunately, on her first day on the job all hell breaks loose. A teenage girl goes missing, a woman crashes her car, a prized rooster goes missing, and Ari's first day in her new high school is awful. What more can go wrong? A little over the top, funny at times, and lots of tangled threads. I'm not sure if I will continue the series but it was ok.
d_west's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 fun easygoing mystery
Love the quirky characters and funny chapters titles
Love the quirky characters and funny chapters titles
jennkurrie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
battykat08's review against another edition
3.0
I received a free ARC of this book, which hasn't influenced my review.
This is my first Darynda Jones experience, and I was a bit underwhelmed, sadly. I wanted to like it more than I did. I prefer stories that I can get lost in, the kind that stay in your head for days afterward, and for me, this didn't come close. It wasn't a badly written book, but there were several elements that made it difficult for me to immerse myself in the story and occasionally induced actual, physical eye rolls. Despite that, I was still willing to suspend my disbelief and warmed up to the characters and story. My gripes with the book weren't total deal breakers and I do plan to check out her Charley Davidson series—I feel her writing is likely better suited to paranormal and fantastical subjects than real-life drama.
Pros: A fast-paced, entertaining read; quirky humor; endearingly likable characters; the "villain" wasn't one dimensional, despite appearing that way at first; it kept me engaged and curious, cons notwithstanding
Cons: Several "that's just not how that works in real life" situations, one of which was a major plot premise; a couple of stock phrases that made me grit my teeth on their second and all subsequent mentions; a few simplistic or sitcom-ish plot elements—the kind where something is blindingly obvious to the reader but somehow a character armed with the same knowledge just doesn't get it; sometimes it felt more like a romance novel than anything else, which is *definitely* a turnoff for me (I can only handle so many adjective-laden descriptions of a dude's abs, c'mon now)
Things that were both pros & cons: Serious, normally disturbing subject matter was treated with a fairly light-hearted hand; wacky and witty dialogue that was laugh-out-loud funny at times, but sometimes felt artificial and when laid on too thick, definitely detracted from the story
Overall, I'd recommend to a friend, with caveats.
This is my first Darynda Jones experience, and I was a bit underwhelmed, sadly. I wanted to like it more than I did. I prefer stories that I can get lost in, the kind that stay in your head for days afterward, and for me, this didn't come close. It wasn't a badly written book, but there were several elements that made it difficult for me to immerse myself in the story and occasionally induced actual, physical eye rolls. Despite that, I was still willing to suspend my disbelief and warmed up to the characters and story. My gripes with the book weren't total deal breakers and I do plan to check out her Charley Davidson series—I feel her writing is likely better suited to paranormal and fantastical subjects than real-life drama.
Pros: A fast-paced, entertaining read; quirky humor; endearingly likable characters; the "villain" wasn't one dimensional, despite appearing that way at first; it kept me engaged and curious, cons notwithstanding
Cons: Several "that's just not how that works in real life" situations, one of which was a major plot premise; a couple of stock phrases that made me grit my teeth on their second and all subsequent mentions; a few simplistic or sitcom-ish plot elements—the kind where something is blindingly obvious to the reader but somehow a character armed with the same knowledge just doesn't get it; sometimes it felt more like a romance novel than anything else, which is *definitely* a turnoff for me (I can only handle so many adjective-laden descriptions of a dude's abs, c'mon now)
Things that were both pros & cons: Serious, normally disturbing subject matter was treated with a fairly light-hearted hand; wacky and witty dialogue that was laugh-out-loud funny at times, but sometimes felt artificial and when laid on too thick, definitely detracted from the story
Overall, I'd recommend to a friend, with caveats.
ssimpson92's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5, rounding up because the humor was just silly fun!
rozlev's review against another edition
5.0
What fun... Sunshine Vicram, sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico is a refreshing original. Easy read, good humor, great characters. The first of a new series. Looking forward to the next installment.
crimyami's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVE A Bad Day For Sunshine. Darynda Jones does an awesome job of this mystery thriller, keeping you in suspense and trying to figure out who kidnapped this young girl. It keeps you on your toes wanting more till the very end. Sunshine is a lovely character as she also has a mystery about her that your trying to figure out. She keeps her secrets as well as she can but coming home seems to have them slowly coming back to haunt her whether she wants it or not.
Auri is a character as well, she is a wonderful girl. Her band of friends trying to help Sun figure out where her friend is, and who took her is fun. Her friends are also an interesting band of people as well. Which I think fits Auri with all of the things she's been through and her own quirky sense.
The story is well written and flows very nicely. You're never bored of what is going on or wondering when the book is going to tend. It has enough action and build up to keep you wanting more without being too overbearing. I think anyone looking for a good mystery book is going to enjoy this book and I can't wait for the next book with sunshine!
Auri is a character as well, she is a wonderful girl. Her band of friends trying to help Sun figure out where her friend is, and who took her is fun. Her friends are also an interesting band of people as well. Which I think fits Auri with all of the things she's been through and her own quirky sense.
The story is well written and flows very nicely. You're never bored of what is going on or wondering when the book is going to tend. It has enough action and build up to keep you wanting more without being too overbearing. I think anyone looking for a good mystery book is going to enjoy this book and I can't wait for the next book with sunshine!
deanapotter's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 Stars
Whether it be contemporary or paranormal, Darynda Jones knows how to engage her readers, entertain them and have them laughing before they even know what’s going on with the story. A Bad Day for Sunshine is a fantastic beginning to what I am sure will be another winning series for Ms. Jones.
When anything and everything can possibly go wrong on your first day of your new job…….
Sunshine Vicram is my new favorite female lead character. She’s sassy and smart with a job she didn’t even apply for. I love that her mind wanders and she still harbors a crush on the one she shouldn’t. The love for her family shines through all that she does. Her strength and confidence are something truly remarkable. Sunshine’s dedication to her job is a whole different level of loyalty. Sun’s daughter, Auri shares the narrative of this story as well and you can’t help but to fall in love with them both. I love the relationship that the mother and daughter share. You don’t realize what a big part of the book it is until you realize it is.
A Bad Day for Sunshine is a laugh out loud, jaw dropping, gasping, suspenseful yet endearing read. Ms. Jones gives her reader nothing short of pure entertainment with this newest title. If you enjoyed the Charlie Davison series, you will love Sunshine too.
Whether it be contemporary or paranormal, Darynda Jones knows how to engage her readers, entertain them and have them laughing before they even know what’s going on with the story. A Bad Day for Sunshine is a fantastic beginning to what I am sure will be another winning series for Ms. Jones.
When anything and everything can possibly go wrong on your first day of your new job…….
Sunshine Vicram is my new favorite female lead character. She’s sassy and smart with a job she didn’t even apply for. I love that her mind wanders and she still harbors a crush on the one she shouldn’t. The love for her family shines through all that she does. Her strength and confidence are something truly remarkable. Sunshine’s dedication to her job is a whole different level of loyalty. Sun’s daughter, Auri shares the narrative of this story as well and you can’t help but to fall in love with them both. I love the relationship that the mother and daughter share. You don’t realize what a big part of the book it is until you realize it is.
A Bad Day for Sunshine is a laugh out loud, jaw dropping, gasping, suspenseful yet endearing read. Ms. Jones gives her reader nothing short of pure entertainment with this newest title. If you enjoyed the Charlie Davison series, you will love Sunshine too.