I’ve been waiting for Greengage Shelf by Emma Sterner-Radley to be published for almost a year now. I fell in love with all of the sweet and quirky characters as well as the Island of Greengage with the first book, Greengage Plots. When I heard that Ms. Sterner-Radley had decided to write a sequel to that book, I was overjoyed.
I am happy to report that the second novel in this series is a great match to the first and is equally adorable. We get to return to the beautiful island of Greengage and visit with all of the same lovable and crazy characters we were introduced to in the first tale, as well as meeting up with a few new and equally eccentric islanders. The main characters, Kit Sorel and Laura Howard are still on the island. Kit is the librarian at the local library and Laura is the head of Greengage Farm. Both are now officially out as girlfriends to this small English island of about six thousand people. Kit is still playing amateur detective for the folks on the island, and Laura is still working very hard, both on the farm and as the head of the leading family of Greengage Island. There are mysteries to be solved, relationships to be mended, and a mystery involving a stuffed badger and fox, though I will let you find out the whys and what-fors.
This novel is just as wonderful as the first book in the series. The characters are just as quirky, even the ones we meet for the first time, and the humor is still the dry British humor I found so delightful in the first story. This is a feel good tale that will brighten your day and make you laugh out loud as you read. Greengage Shelf is a great book to read on a dreary day, or a day when you are feeling low, or on a good day as well, because it can only make the day better.
This is not a good standalone novel. You really should read the two books in the correct order to enjoy both tales properly. They are well worth your reading time.
A special note: There is a short story about this lovely world called “Greengage Holiday Cheer” that covers a period of time between Greengage Plots and Greengage Shelf, so this novel could be considered the third in the series. The short story was originally published as part of a Christmas anthology but has since been published separately as part of this series. It is well worth reading too, so check it out as well.
I received an ARC from the author for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections 