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Meet Me in River’s Edge by Nan Reinhardt – a Review

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Meet Me in River’s Edge by Nan Reinhardt – a Review

 

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Description:
He ticks every one of her “never again” boxes…

Jo Weaver loves her job as a boat mechanic for her family’s marina in River’s Edge, Indiana. But when she’s pulled away from her high school reunion with her sisters to fix a stranded yacht, she can’t restrain her irritation. Jo doesn’t like wealthy men who think they can have whatever they want, and she has no intention of falling for rich and charming again.

Born into the international Briggs Hotels empire, Alex Briggs has never felt comfortable with his life of privilege. Abandoning his family’s business to pursue medical research, he’s far more at home in his lab. When the yacht he restored himself breaks down on the way to an important conference, Alex begrudgingly goes in search of a boat mechanic and falls, literally, into Jo Weaver’s arms. The fireworks he feels are impossible to ignore.

Jo does her best to keep Alex in the business zone, but he keeps slipping into something more. Can she trust her fragile heart, especially when Alex and his life-altering research are so far from River’s Edge?

 

 

Review:

Meet Me in River’s Edge by Nan Reinhardt is the 2nd book in her The Weaver Sisters series. Meet Me in River’s Edge, revolves around the second Weaver sister, Jo (they are triplets). River’s Edge is a small town that has a wonderful community. It was great to see the Weaver sisters again, as they are such a wonderful close-knit family.   Jo Weaver, our heroine, loves working at her family’s marina as a boat mechanic.  

All three sisters are attending their high school reunion, when a young man accidently bumps into Jo, which turns out that the man’s yacht is stranded, and he was told to look for the Weaver sisters.  Jo agrees to leave the reunion (changing her dressy outfit to her overalls) to help him, though she looks at him like a wealthy “river rat”, men who cruise on fancy boats; she had a bad past experience on one of those men. 

Alex Briggs, our hero, comes from a wealthy family, and owns the fancy yacht. Alex has always stayed away from the family business, not comfortable with his privileged life; pursuing medical research (he is a diabetic) and his lab with a friend to develop equipment for diabetics. Alex finds himself totally attracted to Jo, though she early on is antagonistic with him, but in a short time, she will begin to see Alex in another light. Despite her keeping her heart safe, especially from someone who hurt her in  the past, Jo is finding herself falling for Alex, as he already has fallen for her.

The repair of the boat will take longer to fix, as Jo will need to get her father to work on it.  Alex and his mentor Rich, make arrangements for the guests to move forward to the next stop, and they both stay in River’s Edge. Jo and Alex each begin to tell some of their past events that hurt them; Alex lost his twin sister, which still haunts him, despite not being his fault; Jo became pregnant when she was young, with the man having treated her badly, and she eventually had a miscarriage. 

They both become very close, and when he needs to continue his trip to New Orleans, giving a speech on his new developments; she knows he will return.  But while on the phone with Jo, in New Orleans, he passes out due to an insulin pump malfunction, and is taken to the hospital.  Jo flies to be with him, but Alex decides to send her away, as he feels she deserves better than always worrying about his condition.

Meet Me in River’s Edge was a wonderful, fun, sweet romance and heartwarming story. Nan Reinhardt gives us a wonderful couple, as well great secondary characters that were so likable, with a terrific atmosphere in this small town.

Meet Me in River’s Edge was so very well written by Nan Reinhardt, which is no surprise, as I loved her last book, as well as her previous series.  If you enjoy a sweet romance, wonderful couple, great secondary characters, and pure fun, I suggest you read this book. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

 

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The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston – a Review

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The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston – a Review

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Description:
Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it.

So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: stay busy, work hard, find someone decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone—she isn’t sure her heart can take it.

And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.

Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.

Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed.

After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.

 

 

Review:

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston is a unique standalone novel. We meet Clementine, our heroine, who is still grieving her aunt’s death, as she was extremely close to her aunt, who travelled a lot, and took Clementine on many trips.  She spent a lot of times at her aunt’s apartment, which Clementine learned that the stories her aunt told her were magical, but as she grew up, Clementine stopped believing the stories.  Now with her aunt’s passing, Clementine inherited the apartment, and after she moved into the apartment, she wakes up with a handsome stranger in her kitchen. Clementine remembers the stories that her aunt told her about the apartment moving in time on occasion, either seven years ahead or backwards.

Iwan, our hero, was the stranger, who was told that he could stay at her apartment, and Clementine realizes that the time frame is now 7 years ago.  Iwan was a great cook, and hoped to one day be a chef. In a short time, they both enjoyed each-others company, as Iwan was sweet, caring, understanding and great to be around; and Clementine knew she was falling in love with him. When Clementine went to work, she was in her own time, being a successful publicist, who was on track to replace the publisher for Strauss & Adder Publishers; she is good at her job, and has some good friends who work there.   She looks forward to going home and to see Iwan, as he cooks her fajitas, lemon cake, dances with her, gives her a kiss, and then one day when she rushes home, he is no longer there.

With her working hard at her job in the present time (only in the apartment magic did she see Iwan seven years previous); to her surprise, she discovers that her publishing house in trying to bid for the famous new chef’s book, which happens to be Iwan (now seven years later in the present time). To say too much more would spoil the book, and I suggest you read this from start to finish, in order to understand the story line.

The Seven Year Slip was an interesting and different story, with a bit of paranormal, as well as complex.  The Seven Year Slip was very well written by Ashley Poston. It was very heartwarming, witty second chance romance.  I suggest you read this book.

 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn – a Review

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A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn – a Review

 

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Description:
Veronica’s natural-historian beau, Stoker, has been away in Bavaria for months and their relationship is at an impasse. But when Veronica shows up before him with his brother, Tiberius, Lord Templeton-Vane, he is lured back home by an intriguing job offer: preparing an iguanodon for a very special dinner party.
 
Tiberius has received a cryptic message—along with the obituaries of two recently deceased members of his old group of friends, the Seven Sinners—that he too should get his affairs in order. Realizing he is in grave danger but not knowing why, he plans a reunion party for the remaining Sinners at his family estate to lure the killer out while Veronica and Stoker investigate.
 
As the guests arrive and settle in, the evening’s events turn deadly. More clues come to light, leading Veronica, Stoker, and Tiberius to uncover a shared past among the Sinners that has led to the fatal present. But the truth might be far more sinister than what they were prepared for.

 

 

 

Review:

A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn is the 8th book in her Veronica Speedwell Mystery series.  I have not read this series, though it does read well as a standalone; but would have probably been better to have read some of the more previous books.

Veronica Speedwell, our heroine, is a very good amateur sleuth, in historian times.  In the last book, she and her lover, Stoker broke up, and she has been helping his brother, Tiberius on an assignment.  Now, Tiberius wants her help, and also Stoker’s; seems someone is sending threatening cryptic messages regarding a death from twenty years ago.   On that day, twenty years ago, Tiberious hosted friends at his family estate, they called themselves the Seven Sinners; and one member of their party died due to an accident. In present time, Tiberius decides to bring back members of their group to his estate for a reunion party; especially after reading the obituaries of two members of the Seven Sinners.  Tiberius knows someone is out to kill him, and together with Veronica, Stoker, and a younger brother, they welcome the group, with their wives.

What follows is a slow burn story, with Veronica and Stoker still at odds, but together they are determined to discover who in this group is behind the threats, at the same time keeping a protective eye on Tiberius.  Three of the Sinners arrive; Count Pietro Salviati & his wife, Beatrice; James Maciver & his wife Augusta, and Doctor Timothy Gresham & his sister, Elspeth.  The story picks up half way through, when it gets very exciting.  There are a few twists and surprises, with one death that throws things for a loop.  Veronica begins to find clues, and just when she suspects one person, everything changes, as she comes face to face with the real killer; and Veronica’s life is in danger.  Will she survive?

A Sinister Revenge was a very good mystery, though it was a bit slow early on.  I really liked Veronica and how brave she was, as well as her independence.   As noted, the last half of the book was very exciting, with some twists and surprises along the way. A Sinister Revenge was very well written by Deanna Raybourn.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year by Rochelle Bilow – a Review

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Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year by Rochelle Bilow – a Review

 

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Description:
When a thirty-something American food writer moves to a Scottish village for one year to fulfill her dream of writing a cookbook she finds more than inspiration–she meets a handsome Scotsman she can’t resist in this charming debut romance.

Ruby Spencer is spending one year living in a small cottage in a tiny town in the Scottish Highlands for three reasons: to write a bestselling cookbook, to drink a barrelful of whisky, and to figure out what comes next. It’s hard to know what to expect after an impulse decision based on a map of Scotland in her Manhattan apartment–but she knows it’s high time she had an adventure.

The moment she sets foot in Thistlecross, the verdant scenery, cozy cottages, and struggling local pub steal her heart. Between designing pop-up suppers and conversing with the colorful locals, Ruby starts to see a future that stretches beyond her year of adventure. It doesn’t hurt that Brochan, the ruggedly handsome local handyman, keeps coming around to repair things at her cottage. Though Ruby swore off men, she can’t help fantasizing what a roll in the barley might be like with the bearded Scot.

As Ruby grows closer to Brochan and the tightly held traditions of the charming village, she discovers secret plans to turn her beloved pub into an American chain restaurant. Faced with an impossible choice, Ruby must decide between love, loyalty, and the Highlands way of life.

 

 

Review:

Ruby Spencer’s Whiskey Year by Rochelle Bilow is a stand-alone romance novel.  We meet our heroine, Ruby Spencer, at the start, when she travels to a charming village, Thislecross, Scotland.  Ruby, who is in her 30’s, decides to change her life, leaving New York, and move to Scotland for year, hoping to write and sell her cookbook. She finds herself in a cozy cottage, becoming friends with local woman who runs the pub/restaurant, as well as working with her to create wonderful dishes (to add to her cookbook).

In a short time, Ruby finds herself with a wonderful group that becomes part of her new found family, including meeting the handsome hunk, Brochan, who is also the town handyman. As they got to know each other, this turned into a slow burn romance.  The wonderful secondary characters within the town, was fun, and whiskey was the main attraction in the pub, with many tasty creations.   Ruby and Grace (pub owner) worked so well together, and designing a weekly table dinner with some colorful locals.  I did love how close Ruby and Grace became.

The romance between Ruby and Brochan sizzles with amazing chemistry, as she gives up her decision to swear off men when she arrived, to open her feelings to Brochan. Ruby gets to know many of the village people, and eventually befriends the town mayor, Anne.  Ruby will also learn about secret plans to close the pub, and bring in an American restaurant chain, which would be destructive to both Grace and Brochan. Will Ruby leave her close friendship with Grace, as well as her losing Brochan?  Can she find a way to help save them all or leave Scotland?

Ruby Spencer’s Whiskey Year was a cute, fun, lighthearted read, with fantastic characters, great local village people, and a wonderful couple we rooted hard for.  Ruby was a wonderful heroine, totally fun throughout, as well as falling in love, living her true magical life, and adding a wonderful family.  I suggest you read this book, as it was very well written by Rochelle Bilow.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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The Wolf is Mine by Paige Tyler – a Review

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The Wolf is Mine by Paige Tyler – a Review

 

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Description:
Werewolf Connor Malone and his SWAT team are in San Antonio looking for their teammate. But Connor can’t stop worrying about his cat who went missing the morning he left Dallas. His furry friend has been by his side since he found her a year ago, and the fact that she’s disappeared is weighing on him. Things get much worse when he and his team realize they’re up against a powerful creature they might not be able to defeat…

Back in Dallas, Connor’s feline friend turns out to be the powerful woman who introduces herself as Kat Davenport…a witch who needs the SWAT team’s help to defeat the wicked warlock who cursed her. And when she and Connor are thrown together again, there will be no denying the connection they already share, and the white-hot chemistry that sizzles between them.

 

 

Review:

The Wolf is Mine by Paige Tyler is the 13th book in her fantastic SWAT series.  Connor Malone is part of the SWAT team, and with two of their members missing, he and a few members of the SWAT team investigate; only for them to enter a magical sign that also traps them.   

In the previous books, we knew about Kat, the cat, who spend lots of time with Connor, and he was worried when Kat was missing.  But it turns out that the cat has changed to a human, and really is a witch; who was under a binding spell, when the warlock killed everyone in her coven. Kat was given two weeks to become human, then the curse made her a cat again.   Kat Davenport returns to the pack compound to seek help, and those at the compound are shocked to see the human Kat.  She learns that Connor is among those also now missing, but she recognizes the magical sign that has them trapped.  Kat convinces the remaining team to allow her to go with them, and find a way to break the spell, and rescue them.

The SWAT team with help from Kat (now a witch) manages to rescue their packmates.  Connor is shocked to find out that the beautiful woman, who embraces him during the rescue, is the cat who stayed with him.  Kat, had loved Connor, in her cat form, as well as now as a human; at first Connor was having a hard time trying to deal with this new development. 

A few teenagers have gone missing, just vanishing out of their houses and nobody seems to know where they’ve gone. The team realizes that their newest enemy is a powerful warlock, who was the one who put the spell on Kat.   She needs to utilize her powers to help the team defeat this nemesis, who could destroy them all.  When Kat realizes the enemy is the warlock that put the spell on her, she needs to decide if she should stay and help fight or run away so that she can save Connor and the SWAT team.

What follows is a suspenseful, exciting, action filled story, with lots of Intrigue and mystery that kept me unable to put the book down.  I loved Kat and Connor together, as they made a great couple; especially when he realizes that she is the ‘One’ (his soulmate). I also loved all the members of the pack, who were great secondary characters, that had a wonderful bond.  The Wolf is Mine was a fantastic addition to this wonderful series, as well as very well written by Paige Tyler. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan – a Review

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Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan – a Review

 

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Description:
After winning her mother’s freedom from the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin thrives in the enchanting tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a perilous confrontation.

Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation–to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love… even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

 

Description:

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan is the 2nd book in her Celestial Kingdom Duology. Heart of the Sun Warrior starts a year later from where it left off in the first book.  Xingyin has recovered from her injuries, and is happy to have returned home with her mother (now free) on the Moon.  The love triangle between Xingyin-Liwei- Wenzhi continues to escalate, especially when Liwei visits her on the Moon often, and Wenzhi is determined to prove that he loves her, and learned from his previous wrongdoings.  To Xingyin’s shock, she learns that her father is still alive, though in the mortal realm; but he returns to the Moon to see C’hang and Xingyin.  Her peaceful time is shortened, as a new threat to the realm has been discovered, threatening all of immortal and mortal realms. 

Xingyin is forced to leave her home again, when her mother was sent to prison, and Xingyin must find a way to save her.  The Celestial Emperor has been overcome by evil, and the throne is now been usurped by the terrible Wugang, who is now in charge.  Xingyin and her companions, which include, Liwei, Wenzhi, her father, and others to convince other realms to join the fight and save the world. 

What follows is an exciting, tense, emotional, action filled attempt to stop an evil being and his army of death. There is so much going on in the last third of the book, as I held my breath as to who will survive, against the devastation of terror that threatens the realms.  To say too much more would be spoilers and you really need to read this without me spoiling it for you. I did enjoy Xingyin’s feelings toward both Liwei and Wenzhi, but the love triangle was somewhat bittersweet.  

Heart of the Sun Warrior was a fantastic duology with an amazing conclusion. The Celestial Kingdom was a excellent high fantasy that was set in Asian mythology, with a wonderful heroine, and great secondary characters, villains, excellent world building and action-packed adventures. Sue Lynn Tan wrote a magnificent, intriguing, captivating story, which was so very well written.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks – a Review

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Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks – a Review

 

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Description:
Colby Mills once felt destined for a musical career, until tragedy grounded his aspirations. Now the head of a small family farm in North Carolina, he spontaneously takes a gig playing at a bar in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida, seeking a rare break from his duties at home.

But when he meets Morgan Lee, his world is turned upside-down, making him wonder if the responsibilities he has shouldered need dictate his life forever. The daughter of affluent Chicago doctors, Morgan has graduated from a prestigious college music program with the ambition to move to Nashville and become a star. Romantically and musically, she and Colby complete each other in a way that neither has ever known.

While they are falling headlong in love, Beverly is on a heart-pounding journey of another kind. Fleeing an abusive husband with her six-year-old son, she is trying to piece together a life for them in a small town far off the beaten track. With money running out and danger seemingly around every corner, she makes a desperate decision that will rewrite everything she knows to be true.

In the course of a single unforgettable week, two young people will navigate the exhilarating heights and heartbreak of first love. Hundreds of miles away, Beverly will put her love for her young son to the test. And fate will draw all three people together in a web of life-altering connections . . . forcing each to wonder whether the dream of a better life can ever survive the weight of the past.

 

 

Review:

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks is another one of his excellent standalone novels. Dreamland has two POV’s that focus on Colby, and a different one focusing on Beverly.   We meet Colby, our hero, who runs a farm in North Carolina, with his sister, Paige and Aunt; he loves writing songs, but gave it up to assume his responsibility to be the head of the family and restore the farm.  While things seem to be working good, Colby, accepts a three-week gig at bar in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida with his sister and aunt, encouraging him to take a break.

While performing his music, he meets Morgan Lee, who also loves music, and plans to move to Nashville.  Colby finds himself falling hard for Morgan, who knows what she wants, coming from a wealthy family, musical education and a wonderful voice. Morgan and Colby begin to spend more time together, romantically and musically.  It was nice to see them write songs, with each helping each other with the words.  Colby thinks Morgan can become a big star, with her voice, and as they fall in love, she tries to convince him to join her in Nashville.   But an unexpected crisis will change everything.  Will Colby and Morgan find a way to be together?

The other POV, deals with Beverly, who is on the run with her six-year-old son, fleeing her abusive husband.  She begins a new life in a small town; living in a house, and finances are low.  Beverly knows she needs to get a job, and while Tommy is in school, she looks around for a cash paying job, since she left without her id.  Beverly knows her husband has contacts, and works for Homeland; she continues to be alert. Then she discovers unusual things in the house, as well as a truck that keeps stopping by the house; she panics and makes plans to run again.

Reading through the first half of the book, I was sort of confused, as to how these POV’s fit in the story.  But when we get closer to the last quarter, there is a major twist that throws us for a loop. 

Dreamland is a wonderful story of responsibility, family, tragedy, music and love.  I loved Colby and Morgan together, as they made a wonderful couple, and their songwriting was terrific.  Beverly’s story was scary and tense, with a surprising twist. Dreamland was so very well written by Nicholas Sparks, which kept me unable to put the book down.  I suggest you read Dreamland.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones-Dual Review

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A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram 2) by Darynda Jones-Dual Review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 27, 2021

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.

••••••••

SANDY’S REVIEW:

A GOOD DAY FOR CHARDONNAY is the second instalment in Darynda Jones’ contemporary, adult SUNSHINE VICRAM mystery, suspense, and of-times humorous series focusing on thirty-three year old, Sheriff Sunshine Blaze Vicram and her fifteen year old daughter Aurora ‘Auri’. A GOOD DAY FOR CHARDONNAY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

Told from dual third person perspective (Sunshine and Auri) A GOOD DAY FOR CHARDONNAY follows several paths including Del Sol, New Mexico sheriff Sunshine Vicram in the wake of a vicious stabbing, and hit and run at a local bar that left too many questions for our story line heroine. With the stabbing victim in the hospital, and his injured friend and Sunshine’s love interest Levi Ravinder on the hunt for the people responsible, Sunshine and her team of police investigators begin a search for the truth.

Meanwhile, believing her eighty year old neighbor Mrs. Fairborn is a serial killer, Sunshine’s daughter Auri, along with her friends Cruz and Sybil, begin an investigation of their own, only to place themselves in the direct line of fire. As Sunshine continues to search for Levi Ravinder, and the truth about what happened and why, secrets and lies are revealed pulling Sunshine into the past when her life spiralled out of control. A prisoner serving a life sentence for murder wants to come home but his story begins to contradict everything Sunshine thought to be true.

The world building continues to focus on the abduction, fifteen years earlier, of our story line heroine Sunshine Vicram, and the aftermath that would change her life forever. Without any solid evidence as to the who, how and why, Sunshine’s memories of that fateful time slowly begin to reveal a heart breaking connection, and the possibility that what she believes isn’t even close to the truth.

The colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters include Levi Ravinder, his sister Hailey, and their uncle Wynn; Sunshine’s parents Cyrus and Elaine Freyr: Sunshine’s best friend and fellow law enforcement officer Chief Deputy Quincy Cooper; fellow law enforcement Poetry Rojas, Deputies Zee and Salazar; Auri’s besties Cruz De los Santos, and Sybil St. Aubin; as well as Keith Seabright, a mercenary for hire. The requisite evil has many faces.

A GOOD DAY FOR CHARDONNAY and the SUNSHINE VICRAM series reads similarly to the author’s Charley Davidson series- a best friend, a love interest who remains secretive and aloof, a great team of supporting friends and characters, a couple of teens who begin a series of investigations, and the snark, sarcasm, humor, giggles and laughs that add a little bit of ‘Sunshine’ into your life 😉

A GOOD FOR CHARDONNAY is a detailed and complex story of family, betrayal, secrets, greed, murder and love with spirited characters, a tragic back story, and a heart warming and twisted love affair that has been buried by secrets and lies.

__________

BARB’S REVIEW:
A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones is the 2nd book in her fun Sunshine Vicram series. I loved the first book in this series, and I loved this one even more. Refresher: Sunshine (Sunny) Vicram, our heroine, returned to her home town of Del Sol, New Mexico, as the newly elected sheriff, which she suspects her parents meddled into getting her elected.  Sunny left town years before, at the age of 17; after she suffered a trauma, having been kidnapped and then pregnant, and now comes home having had a seasoned and successful career as a detective, with her 14-year-old daughter, Auri.

Sunny, who seems to never have a day off, as her police team continually calls her for anything, even trying to catch a racoon, and all she wants is to relax with a glass of chardonnay.  Sunny is a tough, independent, smart, funny heroine, which you couldn’t help but love.  The relationship between Sunshine and Auri was wonderful, and I loved how close they were and their cute bantering back and forth throughout the book with each other.

Her best friend, Quincy (chief deputy), is crazy obsessed with this racoon, and calls her to his place, with the rest of the team.  They are a crazy, close and very good team, which gives us plenty of laughs.  While out, the team is called to a bar, as a fight broke out with people getting hurt.  One being Levi Ravinder (Sunny’s secret obsession), and his friend, who has been seriously injured.   The attackers have escaped, and Levi, despite his injuries is determined to find them.  At this point, the storyline splits between the attack at the bar, and discovering clues to an old case of Sunny’s when she was a detective; as well truths are revealed regarding her kidnapping years before.  This becomes an exciting, suspenseful, action filled, edge of your seat adventure, which kept me glued to my seat throughout. What makes this even better is the craziness and fun banter between Sunny, Quincy, Auri, the grandparents, and even Levi; so much fun, releasing the tension.

Auri, who I loved, decides she wants to be like her mom, and gets her boyfriend, Cruz and friend Sybil to help prove that a local 80-year-old lady is a serial killer.  Of course, they constantly get into trouble, but I loved Cruz, who gave me the feel of a young Levi. 

I absolutely loved Levi (he comes from a dangerous family, with one having been the one who kidnapped Sunny all those years ago); they both had feelings for each other; and as we edged slowly toward the end, both will act on their feelings. Levi was so great with Auri, acting almost like a father.  I liked Hailey, another member of the Ravinders, as she and Sunny became secret friends. 

A Good Day for Chardonnay was not only an intense exciting mystery, with lots of heartwarming humor that was a lot of fun, as Sunny, Levi, Auri, Quincy, Zee, Cruz, and others were so great together, making us laugh quite a bit.    I look forward to the next book in this series, as spending more time with Sheriff Sunshine Vicram is a must for me.  I suggest you jump on the bandwagon now, and start with A Bad Day for Sunshine, then A Good Day for Chardonnay, so very well written by a fantastic author, Darynda Jones.

 

Click HERE for review of book one A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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