Author: Jocelyn Green Genre: Historical Romance Series: On Central Park #2 Pages: 352 Release Date: June 4, 2024 Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Step into the beguiling world of 1926 New York and discover the power of resilience, friendship, and love from award-winning author Jocelyn Green. Elsa Reisner's lifelong dream of working as an ornithologist at the American Museum of Natural History is fading as the job begins to drain her passion. But fate takes an unexpected turn when she is assigned to catalog the bequest of a recently deceased patron whose Gothic country mansion holds secrets and treasures waiting to be discovered. As Elsa delves into her task, she forms an unlikely bond with the estate's delightful gardener and her daughter, as well as an architectural salvage dealer who still bears scars from the Great War. Together, they embark on a thrilling treasure hunt for a missing relic intended to safeguard the servants' futures before the estate is sold. At the same time, Elsa's body seems to betray her with new symptoms from a childhood disease that isn't through with her yet. With the brooding veteran and her handsome colleague joining the search, Elsa must navigate the tangled web of secrets and hidden motives along with the changing state of her health. As her deadline looms ever closer, will she be able to secure a new life for her friends before the estate slips from their grasp? Reviewer: Carolyn Bryant I loved The Metropolitan Affair, the first book in the On Central Park series, and was eagerly awaiting this second book. It surpassed my high expectations! The fast-paced plot pulled me in from the beginning and kept me engaged to the end. Beautifully crafted characters stole my heart and sparked my imagination. I was especially drawn to the main characters, Elsa and Luke, and the secondary characters, Tatiana and Danielle. I love Elsa’s strength and resilience, despite her physical limitations. Luke, with his own physical scars and personal trials, is the perfect match for her with his patience and support. I love the way their love story develops. Seamlessly integrated historical detail and particulars of the science of ornithology serve to inform and entertain the reader and enhance the story. The vividly described settings beckoned me to travel back to 1920s New York to experience the story wherever it took me, whether it be Coney Island, Central Park, or the imposing Elmhurst estate. I greatly appreciate the encouraging faith lessons on the worth of every individual, regardless of their station in life or physical imperfections, since all are created in the image of God. I loved this book and highly recommend it. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Katelyn Sponaugle The Hudson Collection was a fun novel with several very interesting facets. I found the book had a fun Clue vibe thanks to the perfect combination of a Gothic mansion setting, intrigue, and a frantic race to be the first to find a missing valuable belonging to the deceased. It was delightful! The characters were very well-developed and life-like. I found them all either completely endearing or utterly dislikable, as intended. So many of them worked right into my heart! There were so many things to love, and several very interesting topics were explored. I’m very impressed with how well-developed every character and topic could be with so many of them. It was jam-packed in the best way possible! The one thing that would really put the book over the top for me would have been more depth of feeling between Luke and Elsa. I loved them as a couple, and I really loved Luke as a hero, but the serious things they would say seemed almost out of place because I didn’t see how their relationship had become so strong and serious. Often, during their conversations, the book would simply say something like “she relayed all of this” instead of the conversation playing out. It still informs us that the conversation happened, which is necessary, but it didn’t allow me to experience their interaction. Some internal commentary on their feelings would also be helpful. That being said, I truly enjoyed them as a couple. Summarily, I would have enjoyed more romance and relationship growth between Elsa and Luke. The plot and topics were genuinely interesting and well thought out, and the characters were top-notch. It was out of the ordinary and just downright fun. This was my first novel by Jocelyn Green, but I will definitely seek out more. Warm thanks to Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for the opportunity to review a complimentary copy of the book. It was my pleasure. Reviewer: Jeanette Durkin Wow! Once again, Jocelyn Green's writing does not disappoint! This book has it all! There's mystery, intrigue, and a romantic love story! I was fascinated with Elsa's job and her love for birds! The characters are wonderful! I truly cared about them and their lives. I was especially touched by Elsa and Birdie. Elsa did not let her physical limitations ruin her life. She learned a lot about herself and came to terms with how she perceived her family, herself, and her future. Birdie was compassionate and caring. She suffered a huge heartbreak, but it didn't stop her from being generous to others. There are lots of serious issues in the book. Polio and its effect on people, PTSD in soldiers, autism, and the eugenics movement. The spiritual aspects throughout the book offer hope and reassurance that God is with us, leading us on the right path. Side note: Jocelyn Green is my favorite author, and I buy all of her books! I've pre-ordered this one! Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of the book through Interviews & Reviews on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Reviewer: Ewurabena Wilson This is a very good read from the pen of Jocelyn Green. Jocelyn Green's The Hudson Collection is the second book in the On Central Park series. The novel is set in 1926 in New York City. Elsa Reisner, a research assistant at the American Museum of National History, is sent on an assignment to retrieve stuffed birds left for the museum by Bernadette “Birdie” van Tessel, the recently deceased owner of Elmhurst Estate. Her presence at the estate causes her to cross paths with Guy Dupont, a war veteran, his dog Barney, Tatiana and Danielle Petrovic, a mother-daughter duo, and the Spalding clan. When Elsa takes on a personal assignment to find a rare book being sought after by different people with different intentions, a simple assignment takes a different turn. Elsa must learn to juggle her assignment, work, her search for a medieval aviary, her health, and her strained relationship with her parents. One thing that I loved about this novel was the writer’s knowledge of birds and the romance between Guy and Jocelyn, two people with physical imperfections. Elsa’s relationship with her parents is another aspect of this novel that I liked. The incorporation of eugenics gave another twist to the novel. All in all, this novel is worth reading, with subtle plot twists that kept me engaged to the end. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Leave a Reply. |
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5/12/2024
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