#NetGalley Book Review: A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones

This is fun and intriguing; full of Jones' snarky humor and sharp writing.
A Bad Day for Sunshine
by Darynda Jones

File Size: 1957 KB
Print Length: 396 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1250149444
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (April 7, 2020)
ASIN: B07SCRJ2DF
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Private Investigator
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

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, strong cups of coffee—and, now, a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff—thanks to her adorably meddlesome parents who nominated her—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 this is reminding Sunshine why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that the trouble at her daughter’s new school, plus and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and, well, the forecast looks anything but sunny.
But even clouds have their silver linings. This one's got Levi, Sunshine's sexy, almost-old-flame, and a fiery-hot US Marshal. With temperatures rising everywhere she turns, Del Sol's normally cool-minded sheriff is finding herself knee-deep in drama and danger. Can Sunshine face the call of duty—and find the kidnapper who's terrorizing her beloved hometown—without falling head over high heels in love...or worse?

Review:
Sunshine Vicram has returned to her hometown as the new Sheriff after her parents managed to get her elected even in her absence. She has mixed feelings but is glad to bring her teen daughter, Auri, to be near her loving, if meddlesome, parents. At the Sheriff’s office she’s meeting and getting to know the team which includes her childhood and teen bestie, Quincy. He’s always been a hunk, but they never went beyond their inseparable friendship. The one she has trouble facing is Levi, a dark, tempting member of a local family with history and secrets.

Sunshine’s first day starts inauspiciously with a basket of muffins – a predictor of trouble. Before they finish the treats she is almost run over by a car through the front window. The driver is a panicked mother whose teen daughter is missing. This situation triggers memories of Sun’s own abduction when she was 17.

It takes a few interviews, and unsolicited help from Auri, before Sun finds clues that tie the girl to Levi’s family and reveal special details the parents didn’t disclose. Sun finds Levi and his clan, on one hand, antagonistic and on the other more than ready to step up to help with the tracking in their mountains.

Meanwhile, a handsome US Marshall has swooped into town hunting an escaped convict. He is intrigued by Sun and more than willing to work together in their investigations.

Auri continues to help in the investigation even though a certain group in school tries to bully and shame her into seclusion. She finds a surprising ally in a striking young man who takes no guff from anyone.

I was thrilled to enjoy the quick, snarky humor that Jones brought to her Charlie Davidson series. (I was quick to share several passages with my office staff who appreciate ‘snarky’.) I also liked a couple of elements that reappeared here including a hearing-impaired character and just a touch of psychic ability. The current day mystery interweaves with Sun’s own traumatic past. And the secrets involving Levi provide a sexy tension-filled interaction with Sun. There was a handful of bad words that I found unnecessary. Still, the combined strong characters, humor and suspense make this a wonderfully entertaining read and I look forward to continuing the series.

Source: NetGalley 2019. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020NetGalley and 2020Alphabet goals.

Sunday Post April 19, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday April 20, 2020

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date (at Wordpress)?

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

This week seemed a little less tense although I am still working hard at my paperwork.

Hubby made me one of my favorite breakfasts today - creamed dried beef. Yum.

So for dinner we had a lighter pasta salad with feta cheese.

Our weather was again nice this week - not too hot yet. We did have a couple of storms. Nothing unusual.
May everyone continue to stay calm and healthy in these uncertain times.

I enjoyed my week of listening and reading although it continues to seem slow. I finished one ebook and one longer audiobook. I posted two reviews and my usual meme.

I visited only 14 blogs last week. I've had some training items keeping my evenings busy.
Shout Out this week to Of Wonderland. There are four young ladies from different European countries who share their love of reading.

Don't forget- Audible is offering free children's titles during these days at home.
Audiobooks.com is also offering free listens for children. 

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post April 12, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday April 13, 2020.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Spring in Geneva by Sylvia Kelso; Genre: Fantasy, Gothic, Short Story, Steampunk; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.75.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 17, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 4/23/2020.

• Author2020- Audible Book Review: Configured by Jenetta L. Penner; Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Teen; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #393 Comment Giveaway April 18, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 5/2/2020.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement April 19, 2020.

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)

A Bad Day for Sunshine
by Darynda Jones
This is fun and intriguing.
Source: NetGalley 2019.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Pass of Fire
Destroyermen Series, Book 14
By: Taylor Anderson
Narrated by: William Dufris
Length: 19 hrs and 50 mins
Release date: 08-13-19
I enjoyed this continuation of the series even though it is full of war action.
Source: July 2019 Audible Credit.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (NG2020)

The New Husband
by D.J. Palmer
Releases April 14, 2020.
I am only about 30% in and finding this interesting.
I saw this book last year at Silver's Review and it looked like an interesting thriller.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (A2020)

Into the End
By: Bonnie R. Paulson
Narrated by: David Gilmore
Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 12-07-12
I am looking forward to starting this tonight.
Source: I received four Audiobook Author Codes on 4/10/2020. Thank you, Bonnie Paulson!
Publisher's Summary
America's end is near.
No one knows why, but the great country is under attack.
After being weakened by countless natural disasters, America opens its airspace for aid. But instead, what is left of the devastated West Coast finds itself nearly obliterated from above. The key may belong to tests designed by a Pacific Northwest psychologist, Rachel Parker.
Rachel loses the love of her life in a house fire as they escape with their children to the nearby Rocky Mountains following the first round of air raids. In refuge, she faces her husband's best friend, Joshua, but doesn't want to face his ill-harbored feelings or her own inability to face fear.
Her sister, Brenda, escapes the fallen city, and, mistaken for Rachel, is captured. Terrified and alone, Brenda is protected by the enigmatic Daniel even while he helps keep her captive. Through torture and mind games, Brenda discovers information about her sister's work that could spin the free world into a tumultuous frenzy where the unknown is safer than reality.
©2012 Bonnie R. Paulson (P)2012 Bonnie R. Paulson

3. eBook/Kindle (NG2020)

The K Team
by David Rosenfelt
I enjoy the Andy Carpenter series and am pleased to try this spin-off.
Released March 24, 2020.
Source: NetGalley 2019.
From bestselling mystery author David Rosenfelt comes a new series – a spinoff of the much beloved Andy Carpenter mysteries – about a dynamic new investigative team featuring a determined former cop and his loyal German Shepherd.
Corey Douglas and his K-9 partner, Simon Garfunkel, have recently retired from the police force. Not ready to give up the life yet, they come up with a proposal for fellow former cop, Laurie Carpenter, and her investigating partner, Marcus. Laurie and Marcus – who help out Laurie’s lawyer husband Andy on cases – have been chafing to jump back into investigating on their own, so they are in.
They call themselves the K Team, in honor of Simon. Their first job as private investigators comes to them from Judge Henry Henderson, who's known as a very tough but fair judge, and they've all come up against him in court at one time or another. Though it's hard to believe, Judge Henderson is being blackmailed and extorted, and he doesn't want to involve the police--he needs the K Team to figure out why.

I'm keeping track of my Alphabet here as I finish the books. The cross-outs aren't easy to see, so I made the completed letters blue.
NETGALLEY: A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W X  Y  Z
AUDIO:            A  B  C  D  E  F G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W X  Y  Z

April 19, 2020 - I am again enjoying the devotions and readings with the One Year Bible plan through You Version App. I considered changing but this is the reading group that is closest to my husband's reading so we can sometimes discuss the same passages.
I started a three-day study: The Big Give. 

I completed two books and posted two reviews so I remain on track.
My NetGalley shelf is now 11, plus the four titles from 2012-13 which I still hope to read this year.
I still have one carry over author ebook and two new author ebooks. I expect to pull one of these soon. I have one audiobook from an author and now I have 4 new audiobooks too (one up this week).
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I didn't pick up any review titles this week although I have emails to check out.
I was eying a title at Chrip and a free one popped up. I also selected my second March Audible credit.
I only added one free kindle titles this week. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.) Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

4/13/2020 Chirp for $.99 (hard to resist at that price).
The Dawning of Power
Written by Brian Rathbone
Narrated by Chris Snelgrove




4/13/2020 Audible March Credit
Smoke Bitten
A Mercy Thompson Novel, Book 12
By: Patricia Briggs
Narrated by: Lorelei King
Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
Release date: 03-17-20
This is a favorite series!

Free

Free Kindle which I saw at An Imperfect Christian Mom. Thanks Cheryl.
School For Spirits: A Dead Girl and a Samurai (Spirit School Book 1)
by Aron Lewes





4/18/2020 Free at Chirp.
Cloak Games: Thief Trap
Written by Jonathan Moeller
Narrated by Meghan Kelly

I only added one free Kindle titles to my Kindle library. Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement April 19, 2020

We continue to hold church through Facebook service. I miss our Sunday School time. Pastor started a new series this morning titled “Viral”.

When Jesus rose from the grave He shared the good news with his disciples and directed them to be the witnesses of His message and His love. Luke 24:45-49. Jesus handled the spreading of his message by doing the following:

He opened their minds.
He defined Salvation.
He directed them to be witnesses.
He sent them the Holy Spirit.

John 20:19-21 tells how Jesus “breathed on them…”. The breath of the Holy Spirit.
We are still witnesses today. But we can not do it alone. Jesus gave us the advocate to be our paraclete. He sent the Holy Spirit as our comforter to work alongside us. John 14:15-27.

The original message has continued over the years and we are called to spread the word. We need the advocate to speak on our behalf; to strengthen us, to give us wisdom, boldness, and comfort. If you Love Christ, you keep His commandments and you spread the good news of His salvation.

Point: The same Holy Spirit that Jesus breathed into His followers, lives in us today. We are part of the ongoing spread of Jesus name.

I had picked this song for after Easter and I think it fits today’s message too.

Verses for Today:
Luke 24:45-49 (NIV)
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Lord, thank You for providing the Holy Spirit. Help me to be a good witness spreading the message of Your Worth and Your Love.

Sharing Beyond Books #393 Comment Giveaway April 18, 2020

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB.
Thanks to everyone who commented last week. I hope you are staying safe through this trying time.

All 15 of us agreed we had no real preference for release dates of books. The only exceptions are a) Christmas books preferred nearer the holidays instead of in the Spring and b) some of us want our favorite authors/series out ASAP. :-)

The Winner from SBB #392 comments is #7 Alina who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post. -- [11/16/19 I plan to add some review books this week and maybe some new Christmas and Love titles as soon as I locate the box I put them in.  10/5/19 I have pulled some new books and will be adding them to the list in the next week or so.

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles -- someday.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #393

(One Question.)

Natalija asks: What are some of your favorite book titles??

I have kept a spreadsheet on SBB since 2011 and thought this question had been asked. There were two similar but not the same: #326 in 2017 asked for favorite title(s) that year and #380 favorite recent/new to me author. So, let me think which favorite titles I want to pick if I am not limited to any particular year. Once I started looking at my yearly reading I got excited about sharing a pick for each year but decided that was too much. The exercise helped me to recall some authors I would like to read again.

Here are a handful of favorite titles:
Of course, The Bible, which I have been re-reading for the past 10 years or so.
When I think of favorite books I think of three which I still have on my bookshelf - all read before I began reviewing:
1) Lightning by Dean Koontz (read between 200-2005)
2) The Hobbit or There And Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien (my battered and yellow paperbook copy is from 1966; read in college back in the '70s)
3) The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (my paperback copy from 1975; read in maybe 2005?)

Just a couple from review lists:
2013 Audible Book Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
2017 Book Review: From Afar by Roger Thomas

Image found at The Mad Reader.

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month, I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a 1/2 book choice or $2.50 towards GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify them.
April Comments were provided by Miki and Natalija who will each get a $2.50 Credit.

Your turn to share. Natalija asks: What are some of your favorite book titles??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday, May 2, 2020, at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: Configured by Jenetta L. Penner

This is an engaging dystopian sci-fi.

Configured
The Configured Trilogy, Book 1
By: Jenetta L. Penner
Narrated by: Lillie Ricciardi

Series: The Configured Trilogy, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 11-03-17
Language: English
Publisher: Jenetta Penner
Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Teen
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
There will come a day when love will mark you as a traitor. In a society where emotions are nothing and function is everything, Avlyn Lark is just trying to blend in. She's lucky to be alive, unlike her twin brother Ben who died when they were four. And she's lucky to have been taken from her biological parents and assigned to a Level Two family. But mastering her emotions? That's a problem, especially when a rebel bomb blows up a building right in front of her. Then on Configuration Day, Avlyn's official transition to adulthood, she starts seeing strange visions. And instead of being placed with a low-level tech company where she could hide away, she's hired by Genesis Technologies, the government firm that monitors every citizen. Now, instead of blending in, Avlyn fears she'll be exposed for what she really is. If Gen Tech finds out how deeply she feels, it will ruin her life. And if they find out about her secret meetings with a mysterious but handsome member of the rebel forces, her life will be more than ruined. It will be over.
©2016. 2017 Jenetta Penner (P)2017 Jenetta Penner

Review:
Avlyn lives in a world where emotions are forbidden. The government, Direction, selects who will advance from a mundane Level One worker to become a more prestigious, important, and privileged Level Two. Avlyn lost her twin brother Ben to a virus when they were young. Then she was moved from her biological parents to be raised in a Level Two family.

When Avlyn attends her Configuration Day appointment, she begins to experience strange visions. Although Avlyn tried to maintain a low profile, she is assigned as a tech worker in the powerful government firm that monitors every citizen. She can’t speak to anyone about her concerns and her confused emotions. Avlyn struggles with her position and instructions to make a sensible, program-directed life match.

Avlyn witnessed a bomb attack and is disturbed by the reporting that is delivered to the public. Soon she finds herself approached by an underground rebel group that is preparing a revolution to expose the lies of the current leader and restore freedoms to the people. Part of Avlyn doesn’t want to be involved, but another part longs to express the emotions she has hidden. And then there is the surprising secret skill she discovers that will change her path.

Ms. Penner does a good job of developing the conflicted emotions of the protagonist. I also liked the two young male interests who complicate her life. Both young men have a role in her struggles until the end of the book that stops at a point that clearly leaves a lot open for the next book in the series. I look forward to the next books in the series. I recommend this to fans of young adult, dystopian stories.

Audio Notes: Lillie Ricciardi delivers the narration with clear voices and a fitting emotional level. The narration enhanced the story for me.

3/28/2020 Audible One March Credit. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal.