The Metropolitan Affair marks the debut novel in the On Central Park Book series, penned by the talented Jocelyn Green. This captivating tale is a second-chance love story that unfolds against the backdrop of New York City's roaring twenties, replete with all the glitz and glamour of the era. The novel is a veritable feast for the senses, with its richly layered plot and vividly drawn characters. I was swept away by the author's masterful storytelling as she weaves a tale of love, loss, and redemption that will leave a lasting impression.

“Dead people were easy to talk to. It was the living ones that often gave Lauren trouble. Even her father. No. Especially him.” Therein lies the difficulty that Dr. Lauren Westlake has as her estranged father reappears in her life after being absent for so long. I loved this book. The ever-forgiving Lauren, fake Egyptian artifacts, mystery, romance, villains, it’s all there.

Ms. Green is a masterful storyteller weaving historical facts and an intriguing story into a book that once I began reading it was hard to put down. Here are some other things I loved about it:

1920’s era
a female assistant museum curator
a detective with right on hunches
lifelike historical details
plot twists!
redemption message

I highly recommend purchasing this book. It would be a perfect selection for a book club so that others can enjoy reading and discussing it with you.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

I have read and loved several of Jocelyn Green's books and this is definitely one of my favorites. She has proven that she is a master storyteller, adept at switching from one historical setting to another with ease.

In The Metropolitan Affair, she has penned an outstanding blend of history, mystery and romance. I adored this story set in Prohibition era NYC. With a hero who is solving crime within the dangerous mafia world of speakeasies and a heroine who is an expert on Egyptian antiquities, I found the characters well-written and engaging. They combine their talents to undercover the identity of a forger that might have connections in the art world as well as the underworld of organized crime. Joe is a true hero, a man of integrity, in pursuit of justice. Lauren is a successful Egyptologist who has spent her lifetime seeking her father's approval and love.

With a well-paced plot, I found myself glued to the pages, intrigued not only by the mystery but by the fascinating details of Egypt and its antiquities that Ms. Green wove throughout the story. This is also a story of grief and loss, of family and faith. Looking forward to reading more books in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Sometimes people felt what they feared. And sometimes they saw what they wanted to see."

This is my favorite Jocelyn Green book to date! I absolutely adored being in 1925 New York City and seeing the city through the eyes of history. The plot was complex and engaging, with a rousing mystery regarding forgeries and stolen guns, corruption, and bribery during the era of Prohibition. There was a sweet, slow-burn romance between Joe and Lauren who shared a history, a thirst for justice, and love for art. A strong faith thread highlighting the all-encompassing love of our Heavenly Father surrounded the characters as themes of acceptance and finding home were explored. Historical details like the emergence of Egyptology as science and art as well as the structuring of the Egyptian artifacts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art were absolutely fascinating. I will have a whole new appreciation and perspective the next time I visit the MET.

Joe and Lauren, though they seem worlds apart as an NYPD detective and PhD in Egyptology, were truly a perfect couple. Their hearts, purpose, and worlds melded so seamlessly that it was hard to believe they'd been apart for more than a decade and a half. Joe's integrity, love for family, loyalty, and devotion made him a fantastic hero. Lauren's intelligence, bravery, and compassion made her an excellent counterpart to Joe. There are some surprises along the way as Joe and Lauren chase down Egyptian forgeries and you won't be able to put down the book when the intrigue picks up speed.

It's a wonderful combination of history, mystery, suspense, faith, and romance. I received the book from Bethany House via Interviews and Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bethany House for access to this arc.


Well, I'll just be honest and say that I thought it took a while for the plot to get its legs under it and start moving forward. Frankly the first 50 or so pages wandered around awkwardly with seemingly random things happening and little to tie them together. The plan (which is different from what the blurb hints at) that the police hero devised sounded wacky to me and his police chief.


The plot was quite intricate, having wheels within wheels. It took all the book long to unfold, had seemingly dozens of moving parts, and ended up being actually very interesting but wow, there were so many extraneous bits and pieces that clogged it up that I nearly gave up a time or two. There was also a lot of telling vs showing.


I did appreciate that Lauren, Joe, and many of the other characters are not plaster saints. They seemed real with challenging flaws, faults, and lots of area for character growth. I felt that they did, with one exception, indeed learn from what happened over the course of the story. Lauren was portrayed as intelligent but also struggling with self doubt because of how she'd been brought up. Joe's family faced a crisis because of his father's actions and what a close friend and colleague did, has left Joe reeling at work. It takes them time and effort to emerge from the other side of their doubts but when they did, it was believable.


There were little things that caught my attention throughout the book, tiny things here and there that yes, turned out to be important. At one point when Lauren explained how she knew that something was a forgery and then later when she wrote an article about it, I thought "That's just telling the forgers how to do a better job." But it also went to show how well Lauren knew her stuff.


New York City in 1925 came alive but while I appreciated all the historical details I found them to be too much. The plot was already convoluted and keeping track of the many characters was an effort. To have entire scenes tossed in that ended up not adding much made the book drag. I also felt that the short religious parts were awkwardly stuck in rather than feeling natural.


So I enjoyed parts of the story - the main character's growth especially - but it's just not a book that I can recommend wholeheartedly as too much of it felt like a slow trudge waiting for all the pieces to finally fall into place and reveal the whole. C

THE METROPOLITAN AFFAIR is highly recommended for fans of historical fiction. Green does a fantastic job of immersing the reader in the story's world, in this case 1920s Jazz Age New York, and in particular, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You don't need an interest in Egyptology to enjoy this fast-paced novel, but the author has clearly done her research. There's a lot going on here, especially as the main character helps investigate potential forgeries and teams up with a local detective. At times this feels like a plot-driven crime adventure. At other times it's character-driven. The romantic relationship is a pleasure to watch as it develops slowly and realistically. I also appreciate how the author is not afraid to portray familial relationships as messy, which is realistic, and resists the urge to tie up everything with a neat bow. The faith angle is handled beautifully with a resounding message of authenticity, hope, and redemption.

#BookRevew: THE METROPOLITAN AFFAIR by Jocelyn Green

What a beautiful cover. This was a multi-layered story with complex characters and some mystery. I enjoyed the historical details about Egypt and the various artifacts. The passion and knowledge of the Egyptologists were interesting to read. I really wanted to but somehow, I couldn’t connect with the main characters. The slow burn romance was sweet though. I enjoyed the author’s other works and I look forward to her future books.

Rating: 3.5 stars
Pub date: 14 Mar 2023 |

Thank you Bethany House and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was lost in the book right from the get go! Green is just that good!
I really couldn't put this book down!
Such a great adventure! I didn't want this book to end!
I learned many new things from reading this book and had no idea about. I loved how she made this book interesting!
My favorite was the family dynamics even though I didn't much care for Lauren's father.
Always promising things and never falling through with them.
But, thats what made the family dynamics so great!
Lauren was a great character! She was my favorite. She had the patience of Job a trait that love and admire in a person.
Lots of wonderful quotes that I loved throughout the book.
My second favorite was so much wonderful things going on in this story of redemption! That is what kept me turning the pages! I wanted to see what happened to this family and I must say, I wasn't disappointed at all!
I really loved Joe.
He was pretty awesome himself.
I give this amazing read 5 solid stars for the wonderful writing and for keeping my interest throughout the book.
I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review All opinions expressed are my own.

The Metropolitan Affair
By Jocelyn Green
Publisher: Bethany House
Series: None
Rated:
Obtain: Borrow
Back of the Book: “Bestselling author Jocelyn Green sweeps you away in a dazzling novel of secrets, betrayal, and romance within one of New York City's most esteemed museums.
For years her explorer father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she'd accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations.
The first is her repentant father's offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the world of New York's wealthiest patrons who have been victims of art fraud.
With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York's high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him track the criminal. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger's identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.”

Impressions: I enjoyed this mystery and romance. The drama of this story was engaging. The family dynamics were a favorite of mine as they showed a genuine struggle in relationships. Laurens character was well written as she opens to the messy hurts of her past and attempts to forgive and adapt. I particularly appreciated the ending as it was not tidy and happy ever after but authentic to the messy nature of relationships.

Quotes: “‘...what we do in this life matters in the next. That we should be preparing ourselves for what comes after. Death isn’t the end of life- it's really the beginning of eternity.’” - I found this interesting as the book is talking about ancient Egyptians who planned for death in a very different way then Christ follower's plan. Both have eternity in mind but were putting emphasis and preparation on very different entities of ability.

“’If you become an expert on the real thing, you’ll know the counterfeit when you see it.’” - I like the focus shift in this quote. Rather than focus on all the errors, turn your energy on what is authentic.

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here. For more book reviews go to: https://thebluestockingbooknook.wordpress.com

𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚕𝚕 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚒𝚝.

While this book took me forever and a day to read, it was actually a good book. It was definitely not a favorite of mine, but the plot was captivating and unique. I can safely say I’ve never read a book quite like this one before.

Lauren’s story is very sad and heartbreaking, but she didn’t let it ruin her life. I love how she used her difficulties to make herself a better person.

𝚃𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚛. 𝚃𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗’𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚜.

Joe was such a great friend to Lauren. I love that he was always there for her, knowing and anticipating her every need. He definitely led an interesting life, which was also filled with betrayal and hardship.

I was most definitely not a fan of Lawrence from the get-go and he just frustrated the tar out of me for the entire story. It was hard to see Lauren trying so hard to have a relationship with this no good man. I felt bad for her in the end though. I’m glad she had a decent mother, though, for as long as she was able to have her.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝙻𝚊𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚗’𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢’𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚎.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book before the release date. All opinions listed above are expressly my own.

Thank you Bethany House Fiction for the gifted review copy.

This was unfortunately a DNF for me at 20%, but I think it had way more to do with just not the write timing/writing style for what I personally prefer. In no way is this a book that I would deter others for trying for themselves. The premise and characters seemed great and I loved the Egyptology aspects so I thought this one would be a winner for me, but I just struggled connecting. The writing style is a bit more "telling" than "showing" and I just prefer something a little more nuanced.

3 star rating based on what I read before DNFing.

A FUN historical fiction mystery! I loved the characters, and the sweeping narrative. I give this a solid 4.5 stars. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read and review! I can't wait for the remainder of the books in the series!

I really enjoyed this historical mystery! Ancient Egypt has always fascinated me, and this story surrounding Egyptian artifacts was so interesting. The characters were great and the story kept me engaged to the very end.

@author_jocelyn_green is a go to author for me - I was super excited to get an early copy of her latest book, The Metropolitan Affair.

Based on actual people in world of Egyptology, this story takes to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the 1920s, after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb when everything Egyptian was the rage.

The main character, Lauren, is a strong woman - groundbreaking for her time - who is a curator at the Met, and also tasked by the NYPD with helping sniff out forgeries of Egyptian artifacts.

The @author_jocelyn_green books I have read usually have an element of mystery, which is fun. This book was no different. Through Lauren’s relationship with Joe, a detective, we get to sleuth behind the scenes.

Also present is the element of REDEMPTION, which is why I am a fan of Jocelyn Green’s. Her characters struggle with issues of faith, but ultimately come to acknowledge God’s sovereign work in their lives, and their need to place Him first.

I learned more about Egyptology and enjoyed reading another book from this time period - I’ve been on a roll with books set during this Jazz Age, which matches up perfectly with our @squiltmusic lessons this month! Literature helps me so much in planning music appreciation lessons for my students because it immerses me in the feelings and trends of the time.

Thank you @bethanyhousefiction for this copy, and thank you to Jocelyn Green for another work of historical fiction I can recommend to others!

Wow! Jocelyn Green’s latest book, The Metropolitan Affair, is another must read. Mystery, intrigue, and romance blend together in a captivating historical setting. The novel is set in the mid 1920’s in New York. It was a time of clash between old money and new money. King Tut’s tomb had recently been discovered which created an interest in Egyptian artifacts. Dr. Lauren Westlake works as an assistant curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She is an expert on Egyptian artifacts and gets approached by Detective Joe Caravello to help him uncover the forger responsible for passing on counterfeit Egyptian artifacts. This book has everything—an intriguing setting and time, historical characters both real and inspired by real characters, heroes and villains, twists and turns and an underlying message of God’s true love for us as his child. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel.

4.5 stars for this historical fiction novel. Filled with intriguing history, an in-depth mystery that gave the plot-line some wonderful twists and turns, a sweet second chance romance and a massive amount of author research, this book was definitely enjoyable! This book follows Dr. Lauren Westlake, assistant curator of Egyptology at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When she's approached by Detective Joe Caravello to see if she will help him find Egyptian art forgers, she gets pulled in deeper than she had thought possible. As they work together, they find that the affection they'd held for each other in their teenage years has only blossomed. This book takes place just a few years after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, which brought about an obsession with all things Egyptian. And this also happened to be during the time of Prohibition, which brought some interesting twists in the law enforcement arc of the story. In addition to a plot that had me turning pages to see what happened next and wonderful characters who I was happy to cheer on, this book also had themes of the importance of community - friends and family, and a deeper spiritual message that shined through at the end. Prior to the ending, the faith thread in this one was subtle, but hope shined through in the end. There were a lot of twists and turns, and some deep heartbreak, but also love and familial support. There was so much research that went into this book - the details about Egyptian artifacts and law enforcement, and museums. I found it all completely fascinating. All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable book and one I'd recommend to fans of all genres as this had a little something for everyone - mystery, romance, family relationships and an abundance of history. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

1925-1926 New York. This book will surprise you, The Metropolitan Affair is a stunning story, of strength, complex relationships, and the little details that made the story so rich in historical reference..... Stunning Cover!

"With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York's high society. Dr. Lauren Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him track the criminal. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger's identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime."

Intriguing-Mystery-Romance, and a little bit of danger. The romance was heartwarming and sweet, loved how Lauren meets again with her first love Joe, for a second chance to love

A dramatic, gripping, and emotional read, which certainly kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat. Characters dealing with past hurts, broken relationships, and how to trust again.

The Metropolitan is superbly written, Jocelyn Green has an easy-going writing style, that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with, the author knows how to grab the readers' attention and draw them into what proves to be one heck of a story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintain a study pace throughout. I loved most all the characters and the way in which they interacted with each other. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jocelyn Green's work in the future.

Clean Read, kissing only but nothing further.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bethany House for this stunning eARC. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.

This book kicks off the On Central Park series in a big way and showcases Ms. Green’s amazing storytelling ability and masterful research skills. Rich historical details about Egyptology and Prohibition, evidencing extensive research, serve to educate as well as entertain the reader. The scenes featuring how to detect counterfeit artifacts are fascinating. Real historical people and places are expertly and effectively integrated into the fictional story. The intriguing, mystery-filled plot drew me in with the first line and kept me reading expectantly for the entirety of the book. Through vivid detailed descriptions, I was immersed in the beautifully drawn Roaring 20s New York City setting. The characters, especially Lauren and Joe, are well-crafted and compelling with realistic, relatable struggles. The second chance romance is heartwarming. I appreciate the inspiring faith lessons with themes of redemption and God’s love for us.
I totally enjoyed this wonderful story and highly recommend it as a must read for fans of mystery, romance, and history. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Author Jocelyn Green is a fantastic storyteller. The Metropolitan Affair is the first book in her On Central Park series and it grabbed me from the first lines. "Dead people were easy to talk to. It was the living ones that often gave Lauren trouble. Even her father. No. Especially him."

Captivating historical fiction set in New York in the roaring 1920's, complete with prohibition, Egyptian art and forgeries, mysteries to solve, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a beautiful second chance romance. "and Joe (Joe Caravello), who feels like the friend I remember and a man of unplumbed depths all at once."

"In taking his parents through the galleries, she (Dr. Lauren Westlake) was touring her past with their son. Years of recollections were housed in this enormous museum, and she knew exactly there to find them."

Along with the well-developed wonderful characters, came backgrounds of brokenness, and powerful themes of family, forgiveness, betrayal, letting go, and the true love of the Father.

"Her feelings were no reliable compass. She had to stand on the truth."
"My best advice would be to study the real thing. If you become an expert on the real thing, you'll know a counterfeit when you see it."

I highly recommend The Metropolitan Affair for lovers of history, art, and mysteries! Now I am craving cannoli! It makes me want to visit all the real locations mentioned in this story! Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. I can't wait for my pre-ordered copy to arrive. It will have a special place on my keeper shelf!

I loved the research that went into this fictional read, be sure to read the author's notes.

This is a story of a accomplished young woman, with a gift for Egyptian art, and finding forgeries! She is also a woman who finds a lost teenage love, and is looking for a relationship with her estranged father. Enter a police detective, actually the teenage boyfriend, and now a police detective, he is seeking her help and expertise.

If your looking for a read with a mystery, suspense, gangsters, and forgeries, this one will keep you page turning!

Looking forward to the next read in this series!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.