Thrown together by their employers sending them to a Hudson Valley mansion, Elsa and Luke forge an acquaintanceship that quickly turns into a friendship with the possibility of something more. As an ornithologist, Elsa is tasked with cataloging and readying for transport to the American Museum of Natural History all the stuffed birds a couple collected on their trips around the world. While seeking location information for the specimens, Elsa stumbles across eugenics logs for an infant named Sarah, which leads her to uncovering a family secret hidden in the house.

Meanwhile, with Luke's help (an architectural salvage dealer), Elisa races against time and greedy relatives to track down a rare medieval book about birds that has been willed to the daughter of the groundskeeper, both of whom befriend Elsa and Luke. Danielle, the daughter, has peculiar personality traits and habits that today would be classified as common to the autism spectrum.

Characters discuss God's involvement in situations, and prayer becomes a larger part of Elsa's life throughout the novel. PTSD is discussed through one character's reactions to certain stimuli, and Elsa and her mother have a moving conversation about her childhood polio contraction and resultant limp that mends their strained relationship. 1920s NYC is well depicted through the author's prose, and I might backtrack to read the first installment in the series. Hopefully, there will be a third book giving Ivy, Elsa's roommate, her own adventure.

Absolutely loved this story! The characters were so lovable and was rooting for them the whole time. The setting was fascinating and I learnt so much. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Elsa Reisner fell in love with birds during a childhood bout with polio, and her love turned into a passion for ornithology. Unfortunately, polio left her with a weak leg, making it difficult for her to explore and encounter birds in their natural environment. When she finishes college, Elsa finds a job as an ornithologist research assistant at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

When her boss assigns her the task of identifying, tagging, and sorting hundreds of bird specimens in a wealthy donor’s estate, Elsa relishes the chance for a change of pace. She doesn’t expect to make friends with Luke Dupont, an architectural salvage dealer, nor find friendship with the gardener and her daughter.

The more time Elsa spends at the gothic mansion looking for specimens, the more questions she has about the former owner, her daughter, and the missing aviary bequeathed to the gardener’s 12-year-old daughter.

As the mystery surrounding the book deepens, Elsa wonders who she can trust when everyone seems to have a secret to hide.

What I Loved About This Book

Jocelyn Green weaves together a mystery, love story, and ode to ornithology in one can’t-put-down novel that will warm your heart. Elsa’s childhood bout with polio leaves her feeling less than, and only frank conversations with her parents can help her rewrite her narrative. As she learns to advocate for herself, Elsa discovers the wealth of her inner strength—something she must rely on when danger lurks.

Readers who have experienced difficult relationships with their parents will relate to Elsa. Readers can enjoy The Hudson Collection as part of the On Central Park series, or as a standalone novel.

✨Review - The Hudson Collection by @author_jocelyn_green

This is the second book in the ”On Central Park” series, set in 1920s New York, but can be read as a standalone. “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.”

This book transcends genres. Part historical fiction, part romance, part mystery/suspense, this book is equally character and plot driven. I find Jocelyn Green’s writing to be easy and comforting, while keeping me turning pages. I also loved that birding made an appearance - it keeps coming up in so many books I’ve been reading recently!

The standout element of this book, however, is the disability representation. From PTSD to autism to physical disabilities caused by polio, this book does a wonderful job portraying physical and mental health challenges in a truly remarkable way.

I did find that there was quite a large ensemble of characters, and I often had to flip back to remind myself who was who, but it didn’t distract too much from the plot.

A huge thanks to @bethanyhousefiction for this complimentary review copy. All thoughts are my own.

Elsa has always dreamed of one day becoming an ornithologist at the American Museum of Natural History. But she is currently stuck just doing grunt work behind the scenes. However, when a deceased patron bequeaths his bird collection to the museum, Elsa is sent to their Gothic country mansion to catalog the collection.

The change of scenery isn't the only change in Elsa's life. For at the mansion, she befriends the gardener and her intriguing daughter as well as the gentlemen working as the architectural salvage dealers. All together this group of new friends works to unearth the treasure that holds the key to the future for the gardener and her daughter.

Elsa also is facing changes to her own health as her childhood illness continues to haunt her.

Can Elsa overcome the external and internal pressures, as well as the secrets old and new, to secure hope for the future for herself and her new friends?
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I was so invested in every facet of this story. Elsa's struggles, excitements, and dreams became my own as I felt like I too was wandering through NYC and this Gothic country estate. So many topics were covered in this book, but I felt that they were woven seamlessly together.

Elsa's struggles with her disability because of childhood polio felt so grounded and real. It added such depth to her character.

This book has a romance, yes, but the relationships between all the key players are the fabric from which this story is woven. And I was invested in every facet of those stories the whole way through.

If you want a unique look at 1920's NYC, give this one a shot.
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This is a closed door historical mystery/romance. It is the second in a series but can be read as a stand alone.

Thank you to the author and Bethany House for the gifted book! All opinions are my own.

Beautiful story! I loved reading about Elsa and her career as an ornithologist in the 1920s. I learned many fascinating details.
I find NYC so fascinating, and I especially enjoy reading about it in this particular time period.
I loved learning about the museum, and Elsa's work and love of birds.
I especially enjoyed reading about Elmhurst and the beautiful estate that it was.
I would love visiting!
The characters are also just amazing, and feel like old friends.
This is the second book in the series, and does tie in to the first one, but I think it could also be read as a stand alone novel.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I really like The Metropolitan Affair (book #1 in this series) so I was eager to read this story about the American Museum of Natural History and ornithology, the study of birds. Although I couldn’t really relate to Elsa Reisner’s line of work,. I was intrigued by all the bird species and their historical background; however, I thought the conversation moved slowly.

This book is great for people who enjoy learning about birds in general. I’m excited to read the next book this series

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN: Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog: https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

This second book in the series was quite different from the first book. I really enjoyed the characters in this second book, but the story didn't fully grab my attention until halfway through. I liked the mystery and trying to figure out where the pieces of the missing puzzle could be. Did I figure it out? No😅. I liked the description of birds as well, even though I'm not a huge bird watcher I could really appreciate the details the author researched for that particular field of ornithology.

The romance was very sweet, I liked that it was also a slow burn romance rather than love at first sight. And that both characters had their flaws and saw past that to the beauty they saw in each other.

*thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House for a copy of this book to read and review, all thoughts are my own.

I enjoyed this story of a young woman who gets sent by the museum she works for to an estate along the river to catalog a stuffed bird collection. It was pleasant historical fiction, and I can‘t say I‘ve ever read about an ornithologist before. I liked how the author worked the flu pandemic, WWI, and polio into the story. (I received this ARC from library thing early reviewers.)

Review ↝ I “Literally, metaphorically, consistently, voluntarily.” Loved this book.

Here’s why, it has a Woman in STEM FMC ☑️ 1920s New York setting ☑️ Gothic mansion ☑️ Brooding MMC ☑️ Found Family ☑️

Elsa (FMC) and Luke (MMC) and the entire cast for that matter have my heart, I’m simply smitten. I’m enamored with Elsa’s profession-Ornithology and I’ve just realized that I’m a bird watcher myself. I swooned at this sweet romance and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the plot, characters and writing. A truly remarkable story about faith, family, and friendship and the dynamics that intertwine them. I resonated with this story in many ways and definitely recommend this read to others searching for the perfect blend of history, empowerment, and mystery.

Thank you @author_jocelyn_green @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose and NetGalley for sending me this beautiful book to read and review.

4.5 stars

“No matter how strong you may be, some wounds we can’t reach by ourselves.”

I’m going to have to quit saying that I’m not a fan of reading about the 1920s, and it’s exactly because of novels like The Metropolitan Affair and The Hudson Collection that I have a newfound appreciation for stories set during this era.

There is so much depth to The Hudson Collection, and Jocelyn Green seamlessly incorporates several thought-provoking ‘hot button’ topics of the day into the larger narrative. I appreciated the layers that these complexities – as well as explorations of PTSD, sexism, and chronic illness – added to Elsa’s story. In particular, the spotlight on the eugenics movement served as a timely reminder of how easily sin uses fear as a foothold to trick us into supporting the unthinkable under the guise of the greater good. I also found the contrast compelling between the eugenics proponents and those working outside conventional medicine & means to give preemie babies a chance at life.

Elsa Reisner is kindhearted, warm, and intuitive, making her an easy character to love. Her battle with the lingering effects of polio reminded me in many ways of my late mother-in-law who also suffered from polio as a child and walked with a limp the rest of her life. Because of this, I felt personally invested in Elsa’s journey on perhaps a different level than I would have otherwise. I also have a recent penchant for bird watching (from the safety of my living room) and a new appreciation for all the bright colors and vibrant birdsong, giving Elsa and I yet another connection. One thing I humorously could not relate to, however, is her job of preserving bird specimens for display at the museum. The line “A mansion full of dead birds awaited her” had me chuckling over how that would have marked my last day of work in that field LOL.

Luke Dupont – with his own external & internal scars – is the perfect match for Elsa, and I fell quickly for his steadiness, his integrity, his gentleness, his strength, and his ability to really ‘see’ Elsa. The care he takes with not only Elsa and her work but his friend Tom as well as the estate gardener Tatiana and her daughter Danielle (who would now likely be diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum) too had me solidly in his corner from his earliest encounters with Elsa. I adored watching their relationship blossom, and I admit to shedding some tears over an incredibly meaningful and tender gift that he gives her. The emphasis on leaning on each other, on not being ashamed to ask for help, reminded me again of the fact that we were created to live in community, not isolation.

Bottom Line: Once again, Jocelyn Green completely immersed me in the world of 1920s New York along with an eccentric estate full of preserved birds (and greedy relatives), and a mystery of medieval proportions. Not only did I love Elsa and Luke and their tender romance, but a host of supporting characters like Tom, Tatiana, Danielle, Barney, and even the late Birdie herself also captured my heart. The message that every person is skillfully created and wholly loved by God became even more resonate when considering the contrast between these wonderful characters and the horror of the eugenics movement that considered them each ‘less than’ in some way. Luke and Elsa’s love story fits perfectly alongside the historical layers and mystery elements that Green incorporates into The Hudson Collection, and I found myself thoroughly entertained as well as challenged. Looking forward to Ivy’s story!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

3.7 stars / As Elsa works to uncover secrets from old journals as she catalogs a private art collection in 1926, she discovers secrets but also friendships, love and the chance to become her true potential as she struggles with the after affects of having polio as a child. Suddenly the illness seems to return with odd symptoms in her heart and lungs. Luke ( loved him! ) , a WW1 vet struggling with PTSD aids her in her search for the missing relic and love soon bloom between them as they bond over helping each other through their physical and emotional problems.
I thought their relationship was endearing and sweet, as both were strong for one another during weak times. Elsa’s health issues are not yet understood yet she works to remain positive and enjoy life as much as she can. Her strength is inspiring, but I definitely prefer a more fast paced novel than this one and hoped to connect to the characters better.

𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠: mystery, art collection, 1920s New York, MFC has serious health issues, MMC has PTSD, clean romance/no spice, inspirational, historical fiction.

The Metropolitan Affair was one of my favorite books last year, so I was very excited to read The Hudson Collection! I listened to the audiobook and loved @pilarwitherspoon’s narration!

Elsa is tasked with cataloguing the bird collection of a recently deceased patron who lived in a Gothic country mansion. As she spends more time on the estate, she is pulled into the mystery of where a very valuable aviary is hiding. Said aviary was willed to the daughter of the property gardener, who loved birds and spent a lot of time with the property’s owner, Birdie.

Also working on the estate is a brooding veteran, employed as an architectural salvage dealer, who is tearing out pieces of the mansion to be displayed elsewhere after it’s demolished.

Elsa battled polio as a child and still walks with a limp as an adult. She begins to experience a flare up of symptoms and worries what this means for her future.

The Hudson Collection was a mashup of topics that don’t go together at first glance - birding, eugenics, historic houses, New York City - but it absolutely worked. Jocelyn crafted a truly interesting premise for her story that combined historical fiction and mystery elements.

I really appreciate how Elsa’s character was written. She had so much care and concern for others, and she was very genuine. I really appreciated the side plot with her and her parents as she questioned why she was sent to boarding school as a child after recovering from Polio.

The setting was so phenomenal! I love books set in historic New York City and imagining a city filled with parks and locals rather than busses of tourists. Add in great human (and animal) side characters, a slow burn love story, and a compelling mystery, and this was an absolute win for me.

CWs: discussion about eugenics, PTSD, and child death

Thank you to Bethany House Fiction for the complementary copy. All thoughts are my own.

This is a well-done historical mystery set in the beautiful Hudson Valley just after WWI. The writing is excellent, as well as the characterizations. The legacy of polio, PTSD, autism are well represented against the backdrop of eugenics, but this is only part of the historical setting and characters. The mystery itself, if you’re looking for an interesting, complicated puzzle with high stakes, is very satisfying.
Elsa works for the American Museum of Natural History (the first novel in the series started at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) in the Ornithology section preparing the bodies of rare birds for display. She is sent to obtain the collection of a recently deceased widow’s estate along the river and finds a solid mystery and so much more. I’m really looking forward to reading the first book in the series and whatever follows. Highly recommended historical mystery.

The Hudson Collection by author Jocelyn Green is set on the Hudson River in New York City. A beautiful tale in the 1920's.

The main character, Elsa Reisner, is sent to Elmhurst by the American Museum of Natural History to go through the estate and categorize the taxidermy bird specimens bequeathed to the museum. While she is there, she befriends the gardener and her daughter. She learns about a mystery that has great value. No one can find this piece of antiquity, and with the mansion slated to be destroyed, time is running out. Her attraction to Luke DuPont brings her out of her shell, that has kept her since she developed polio as a child.

This story is so full of compassion and is rich with some heavy topics. I found this story to be fascinating and enlightening with well written characters. Very sweet and clean reading. The authors informative notes at the end were very interesting as she has based a lot of the story on facts and history.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Author Jocelyn Green has written a world from the 1920’s filled with such rich detail that I wish I could visit the mansion she described along the Hudson River. Choosing a the profession of an ornithologist for the main character, Elsa Reisner, was interesting. I loved the rambling home of a reknown millionaire and his wife, and the task that Elsa is given to catalog and retrieve the birds from their collection. I am familiar with many of the birds that are described and loved learning more about them as well as new ones too.

The misperception of how Elsa’s family felt about her contracting polio and its aftereffects caused her to see things in a different manner. I loved that she was courageous and spoke with her parents about what took place. I can imagine how freeing it was for all involved to confess their feelings and move forward in their relationship.

There are so many wonderful characters in this story. Luke, the wonderful, caring, and protective man. I wish everyone had a person in their life like him. He was the perfect match for Elsa. Danielle, a child with autism who could see things in a way that was uniquely her. Tom, a man who was carefree and loving and recovering from the horrors of war.

The topic of eugenics is part of the story and shows the devastation that it creates. I loved how many of Ms. Green’s characters would be labeled as imperfect but how distinctive each one of them is. I could see the tapestry of each of them fitting into Elsa’s life.

Other things to love:
Treasure hunt
Faith of characters
Things aren’t always what they seem
Restoration

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction. It can be read as a standalone even though it is part of the On Central Park series. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley and Austen Prose. All views are only my opinion. I was not required to write a positive review.

This is so beautifully written! I loved the characters, the time period, the mystery, and the multiple important messages this story shared. Each person has worth and value. The intrinsic and undeniable importance that we all have a voice and we all matter is a main theme. Besides the unique storyline of having an MC that is an ornithologist, this book touches on important subjects that were taboo to talk about in the early part of the 20th century.
The Hudson Collection is special and it’s addictive. You throw in the found family aspect, an MC that fights for those who can’t, and a love story too? I’m going to be hooked, and I was. Loved it!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

New York City’s Central Park and Elmhurst, a country mansion on the Hudson River, set the scene for Joceyln Green’s The Hudson Collection. Green’s main character, Elsa, is sent to Elmhurst from the American Museum of Natural History to catalog the vast collection of birds, recently bequeathed to the museum. She’s just in time to join the manic search of the mansion for a valuable medieval manuscript filled with illuminated bird illustrations.
This treasure hunt takes place in the fall of 1926. Green’s narrative is filled with lush descriptions of birds, garden paths at Elmhurst, and iconic Central Park. These details add extra depth to the development and growth of the relationships between Elsa, Luke Dupont, and young Danielle. Mother-daughter relationships, fear of limitations, and family expectations are themes explored as tension builds and Green weaves clues to the manuscript’s hiding place with obstacles and twists.
Well known NYC historical sites like Coney Island, Nathan’s Famous, the Plaza, and the Beresford Hotel enhance the early twentieth century feel of the novel. In contrast to the hurried Manhattan setting is the quiet Hudson River Valley and its sprawling, fictional Elmhurst Mansion, based on the Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, New York.
Green presents valuable lessons as she parallels how to handle life’s challenges with Luke’s crumbling mansions and architectural salvage business. Elsa’s important personal discovery, “doing less to make room for what really matters,” is a gem. Jocelyn Green’s readers will be inspired by The Hudson Collection; an insightful, faith-based approach to dealing with how life’s choices and personal perspectives change through experiences and relationships.

Reminiscent of the old gothic romances, The Hudson Collection features a plucky heroine who teams up with a damaged but noble man to aid a young girl and her family in danger of losing their home. Elsa is one of the most appealing heroines I've come across recently - smart, vulnerable, and very brave. The story is very well-developed with action starting almost immediately and not stopping until the very end.

The historical elements here are fascinating, with dives into New York's elite society scene post World War I, the polio epidemic and the far-reaching effects of medical research, and post-war mental health challenges for returning soldiers. If you're tired of blood-and-gore mystery & suspense novels that focus on the most horrifying aspects of the human psyche, this book is for you. It is a captivating, gentle mystery that keeps your attention page after page.

Recommended.

At the surface, this book is about an estate that is being processed after a wealthy couple has passed away. The main character knew the lady of the house that passed away and she works at the Natural History Museum in the Ornithology department. She is tasked with going through the estate and cataloging all of the bird specimens that are there for the museum to take possession of. This task proves difficult as there are not only a lot of birds to process, but the notes pertaining to where the birds were located and when, are difficult to sift through.

Underneath the surface, this is a story about loss. Every main character featured in this story has lost something of themselves. Elsa, the main character, suffered from polio as a child and still struggles with the affects it had on her body. From her physical ailments to her emotional trauma of feeling different. The salvage dealers she meets at the estate are war veterans and have suffered mental and physical damages that they also try to hide from. The gardener of the property and her daughter have their own challenges as well.

What this book really provides in its entirety, is a reminder that we all struggle with something and how important it is to see people for who they are; we are made up of all these pieces of ourselves and its important to remember that. Embrace all of ourselves and everything else comes in time.

The plot of The Hudson Collection was intriguing in its mystery. I enjoyed all the time spent with Elsa exploring the estate with it's vast rooms and hidden spaces. There is a lot of mystery around the owner's past as well which is intricately weaved between the lines of the entire story as the bigger pictures unfold.

Also, with the main character being an Ornithologist, I learned a lot more about birds as well! I especially enjoyed learning about the chikadees and their specific call to one another when a predator arrives. Interesting stuff!