 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: Joy Hannabass I love anything written by Jocelyn Green, and The Hudson Collection is another amazing book by this author. Set in 1920s New York, Green offers readers a healthy dose of historical New York, sprinkled with just the right amount of suspense, mystery, and romance throughout the story. I really liked the main character, a lady named Elsa, who is an ornithologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. To be honest, I never knew what an ornithologist was, and I really didn't know a lot about these birds in the museum. I am in awe of all of the fascinating things I learned from Elsa and the other characters working with her. The entire story was rich in historical findings, and Green does an amazing job detailing each scene with so much information that I forgot I was actually reading a book. An amazing amount of research comes through the pages of the book like never before. Or that's how I felt reading about this topic for the first time. There's quite a bit going on within the pages of this book. With the huge bird collection that was left to the museum and all of the people and work involved, it was quite a task. And I can't leave out the mystery lurking around every corner of the museum. Elsa endured some pretty scary situations, but she handled them well. And later on, she had Luke, who was kind of looking out for her. I really enjoyed getting to know Luke, he was so easy to love. And I appreciated the way he was with Elsa, especially with her disability. It was quite touching. I feel that Jocelyn Green did a fantastic job dealing with Elsa's polio, not making a big scene of it yet letting the reader know what this illness is and what it can do to your body. This is a story I won't soon forget, with characters that will stay with me for a long time. If you are a person who enjoys historical events, museums, and just about anything to do with historical New York, you will definitely enjoy this book. I'm giving this book five stars. I hope you like it as much as I do. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Winnie Thomas When I pick up a Jocelyn Green book, I know I’m going to read an intricately researched story filled with rich historical detail. The Hudson Collection is no exception. Set in New York in the 1920s, it’s a perfect blend of history, suspense, and romance, with some inspiration thrown in to enhance it. Green is a master at creating engaging, flawed, realistic characters, which she proceeds to toss into riveting situations. She then brings them out on the other side with a noticeable increase in personal growth. I enjoyed the main characters in this tale. Elsa is an ornithologist with the American Museum of Natural History in New York who is dealing with the aftereffects of having polio as a child. When she is assigned to catalog the birds at the country estate of a deceased patron, she finds more than she bargains for—including some new friends and a mystery. Architectural salvage dealer Luke Dupont is an endearing, compassionate hero, and it was so easy to like him. I admired the way he was so caring and considerate with others, especially Elsa. I was impressed with the way they helped each other become better versions of themselves. “People can be salvaged. Relationships can be restored. We can save the beautiful that remains and build upon that, can’t we?” Themes of acceptance of others, the value of family relationships, and the worth of each individual stood out to me while I was reading. I recommend this book and author to those who enjoy historical romantic suspense. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews and Reviews. All opinions are my own. Reviewer: Deanne Patterson I always find it a treat to read a Joycelyn Green book. She's written on many different subjects, and I've found them all fascinating. Taking place in New York in 1926, you get a real feel for the sights and day-to-day activities of the time period. The author really brings this Central Park series to life. I'm not a bird watcher, but I do enjoy seeing pretty birds when I'm out and about. I learned so much about birds from this book. The information was fascinating. Due to a recent death, a wealthy family leaves a vast bird collection to the American Museum of Natural History. Elsa Reisner, an ornithologist, is tasked with finding a magnificent bird collection in the spellbinding Gothic mansion. While searching, secrets are revealed. You can feel the tension rising as you read, which is very intriguing and suspenseful. There is so much going on in the book—things I've never seen mentioned in a historical fiction book before. Our main character had polio as a child, and it has affected her mobility. There is an aging gardener with a special-needs daughter. These are good people—people who are there for Elsa. The focus is on Elsa as she does a very important search and the consequences of this search. The book had me spellbound as I read. Recommended. Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Interviews & Reviews in exchange for my honest review. Reviewer: Paula Shreckhise This is a magnificent historical set in 1926 New York. Ms. Green takes us into the inner workings of the American Museum of Natural History. It reminds me of touring behind the walls of the Field Museum in Chicago, where my father’s cousin was a curator. This multi-faceted story taught me about cataloging birds as well as interesting facts about historical salvaging done in the 1920s. Paired with a search for a mysterious, valuable illuminated manuscript from the Middle Ages and secret rooms in an abandoned mansion, this book was very hard to put down. It also told of Elsa's bout with childhood polio and how she coped with the effects as an adult. Luke, an architectural salvage dealer, is also dealing with the scars left from the Great War. But they help each other glean valuable spiritual lessons. A takeaway was that it is important to communicate, as Elsa learned to do concerning her experience with polio, which left her feeling abandoned and lonely. Also, we should care more about how God sees us than about people who have no real place in our lives. Elsa and Luke, as well as other characters, were easy to engage with. The scenes with Danielle, a young autistic girl, were well depicted, showing attitudes and ignorance of the condition during that time. The author cited an interest in eugenics and how it affected the characters. So much valuable information is wrapped in an appealing story. I look forward to the next book. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone. Reviewer: Laura J. Davis I never expected orthinology and eugenics to be two of the main subjects in Jocelyn Green's latest book, The Hudson Collection. In fact, I don't think I've ever given either one much thought. Learning about orthology was interesting. However, I nearly put down the book when the main character (Elsa) appeared to be dissecting a bird. She wasn't, but the description was so vivid that I quickly skimmed that part. Even though I didn't enjoy the sections about the birds and their preparation for museum exhibits, I did value the author's research in providing readers with an understanding of the process. I also loved how she included people with disfigurements or who were disabled, either physically or mentally. This, of course, led to some serious discoveries by Elsa on eugenics during one of her many explorations of the mansion. The added mystery made this novel all the more intriguing. I loved the romance between Elsa and Luke, and I felt they were perfect for each other. This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to the next book in the series. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Nikita Wells “Eugenics is hogwash. The self-directed evolution in the quest of a ‘perfect human product’? Absolute rubbish. You were made in the image of God, and so was every other person. Once you start reducing people to measurements and heredities, you strip them of their dignity. We aren’t livestock. We have souls." First of all, I want to say I really appreciated the author's stance on the subject of eugenics in this book and how the so-called science clashed with what God's word says about who we are—made in His perfect image, chosen, worthy, and loved. The cast of characters was excellent, the story intriguing, and the mystery woven in was the perfect finishing touch. Also, kudos to the cover designer. This book cover is gorgeous! Elsa was a character I loved and could easily relate to. She was very interesting, and I loved her dedication to ornithology as well as her care and concern for others. She had a lot of grit despite her condition, and she tried her best not to let it get her down. Luke was a great male lead and just the sweetest guy. I can't say a whole lot about him because of potential spoilers, but he was a fine gentleman and had a neat, redemptive backstory. He was compassionate and a good friend to both Tom and Elsa. Here's one of my favorite quotes from the book: "I will always be your safe place to land. I can’t give you wings, but I’ll be your solid ground.” The Hudson Collection was a sweet and clean, slow-burn, closed-door romance that I loved and definitely recommend! I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review, and the thoughts above are solely my own. 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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