“I will always be your safe place to land. I can’t give you wings, but I’ll be your solid ground.”

This was such an interesting and powerful story! It beautifully blends together mystery, suspense, romance, and friendship. I loved the themes of forgiveness, compassion, and loving and accepting yourself.

Elsa is an ornithologist working for the American Museum of Natural History, and has been assigned to catalogue a large collection of rare taxidermy birds that an elderly woman has willed to the museum.

While working at the estate where the collection is located, Elsa makes new friends with the estate’s gardener and her daughter, and Luke, the architectural salvage dealer who is there to preserve pieces of the estate before it’s demolished.

Elsa and Luke learn of a rare and valuable manuscript from the Middle Ages that’s missing, and was intended to be given to the gardener’s daughter. Together they search for this treasure, but they aren’t the only ones who are looking for it.

What I loved:,
1920s New York
Ornithologist FMC
Protective hero
Treasure hunt
Beautiful friendships
Suspenseful mystery
Disability rep
Learning more about birds
Sweet romance
Profound & beautiful insights
Light Christian themes
Gorgeous writing style

Luke and Elsa’s romance was just the sweetest! She has some issues from polio, he has physical scars from the war, but they only see the beauty and value in each other.

Besides the mystery and romance, the story also includes some heavier topics like eugenics, disabilities, and PTSD for war veterans. All of these are handled with compassion and sensitivity.

This is my first book by this talented author, and now I need to read her entire backlist!

I received a copy from Bethany House Fiction and Austenprose via NetGalley but a positive review was not required.

I always find it a treat to read this author's books. She's written on many different subjects, and I've found them all fascinating.
Taking place in 1926 New York 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, 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, 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.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Hudson Collection lands as book two in Jocelyn Green’s On Central Park series. Like its predecessor, The Metropolitan Affair, this novel started slow but grew into an enjoyable story that had me rooting for the main characters. I admired Elsa’s competence and personal journey. Her friendship with Luke became a source of support and balance that turned into a beautiful romance. I love a humble, kind, supportive hero, so it was a pleasure to watch the development of their relationship.

Beyond the characters, while reading The Hudson Collection, I also enjoyed the mystery of the lost medieval aviary, the thought-provoking quotes, and the sensitivity with which the author handled PTSD, physical scars, and autism. These elements combined with other topics and themes to create depth and interest. Perhaps the overarching theme of the novel was dealing with adversity in a healthy way. This played out in Elsa’s life as she faced workplace discrimination, eugenics philosophy, and the physical effects of childhood polio. As always, Jocelyn Green’s extensive research showed in her depictions of the time and the formation of her characters.

I recommend The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green to readers who enjoy inspirational historical fiction with depth. 4.5 Stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Such a fascinating read!

As an ornithologist working for the American Museum of Natural History, Elsa is tasked with cataloguing a large collection that belonged to a wealthy patron who has passed away. But her time at the mansion is much more than she bargained for.

She develops a friendship with the estate's gardener and her daughter, an attraction to Luke, the handsome architectural salvage dealer who is on site to preserve pieces of the estate, and an impulse to solve a treasure hunt for a missing relic.

But Elsa and Luke must first untangle a web of lies and secrets as they race to solve the mystery before it is too late.

What you'll love:
1920s New York
Forced proximity
Single POV
Ornithologist FMC
Disability rep
Protective hero
Treasure hunt/ticking clock
Beautiful friendships
Suspenseful mystery
The bird walks
Super sweet romance
Light Christian themes

This book was such a great blend of all the things!

Mystery, adventure, romance, friendship, and beautiful themes about loving and accepting yourself. It also touched on some heavier topics, like eugenics/disabilities and PTSD from war, but the author handled them so gently and with understanding and grace.

Luke and Elsa's romance was so very sweet and they complimented each other so well! Their careers were both so unique and fascinating, I found them their passion for their work inspiring.

So many beautiful truths shared within these pages that practically turned themselves because I was so entranced with the story. Highly recommend for anyone who loves historical fiction. 4.5 stars

TW: Talk of eugenics, death of a child, PTSD/memories of war

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

“I will always be your safe place to land. I can’t give you wings, but I’ll be your solid ground.”

✨ALL THE THINGS✨
•Tarrytown NY 1920’s
•Museum of Natural History NYC
•Ornithology
•Quiet, protective veteran
•Chronic illness rep
•Found family
•A little mystery
•Gothic mansion

Do you like birds? Do you enjoy watching them at a bird feeder or do you like them as subjects of art or science?

Elsa Reisner is an ornithologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. She puts together displays of birds including skeletons and taxidermy of birds. An older lady who has just passed away has left her collection of taxidermy rare birds to the museum. Elsie is sent by her boss to inventory the collection at the estate. Elsa makes new friends at the estate and together they start a treasure hunt for a missing rare, illuminated manuscript from the middle ages that can help secure the servants’ futures when the estate is sold. Will they find the manuscript?

My thoughts on this novel:
• This novel is set in 1926. I loved the descriptions of New York City during this time frame and what a night out on the town for young people would be like.

• Elsa has a handicapped leg from having polio as a child. She must work through illness and issues with her handicap. I thought it added an interesting dimension to the story.

• I also found Elsa’s job fascinating at the museum. I learned a lot about being an ornithologist and about birds in general. It made me really want to visit the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

• Luke is a World War I veteran and an architectural salvage dealer. He is working at the estate at the same time as Elsa. He is still dealing with his own internal issues from the war.

• I also thought it was interesting that a young girl in the novel, Danielle, displays symptoms of what now would be called autism, but it was not well understood in that time period.

• I enjoyed the sweet and clean romance between Elsa and Luke. The romance was slow burn which is one of my favorite tropes.

• This novel had an overall theme of forgiveness.

• There was an interesting discussion of eugenics in the novel. It was a hot topic during that time period. The characters all had imperfections, but they were made in the image of God. I thought this was a powerful theme of the book.

• I enjoyed the very informative author’s note at the end of the novel. A lot of the story was based in fact and some of the characters were real people from history.

Overall, The Hudson Collection was a powerful story of forgiveness and acceptance. I enjoyed the characters, time period, setting, and romance. It was a unique story, and I would love to read more by this author.

It's always a privilege to receive a book from partner, Bethany House by Jocelyn Green! I've enjoyed each of her books and am so grateful to be among the first to enjoy this newest release!

Leave it to Ms. Green to enchant us with intriguing historical fiction. And as part of her On Central Park series, New York of yesteryear is once again brought to life. While reading her books, I'm always filled with the sights, sounds, and scents of this bygone era. She weaves so much rich detail into her stories, and this one was no exception...

In this installment, we meet Elsa, an ornithologist affected by polio as a child. What was once her dream job at the American Museum of Natural History has become a bit mundane, until she's offered a chance at procuring a bird collection left to the museum by a very wealthy family. What follows is a beguiling story filled with imagination and heart. Readers are also treated to a little mystery and a delightful romance.

Be prepared to read about wide-ranging topics such as bird species, Eugenics, polio, autism, and PTSD. Jocelyn Green leaves no stone unturned!

For more of my reviews, please check out my blog at www.mamasgottaread.blogspot.com or follow me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mamasgottaread!

The Hudson Collection
On Central Park #2
By Jocelyn Green

Elsa Reisner works at the American Museum of Natural History in the ornithology department. But her passion for birds is getting lost in the work of preparing specimens for the displays. When she is assigned the task of cataloging a vast collection left to the museum she finds much more than she could have imagined.

The estate is scheduled for demolition, Elsa is working on a limited timeline, as are the architectural salvage workers who are removing the library. Add in a missing treasure, a sinister secret, and a tragedy and one gets a moving historical story that blends factual events with fictional aspects into a captivating read.

Elsa is a polio survivor who is experiencing the fallout from her illness - prejudice and even scorn. But she is not alone as she befriends two WWI survivors who dealing with their scars as Eugenics still holds sway in the minds of those seeking to have a superhuman race.

Yes, there are some harsh topics presented. History not to be proud of but important yo be aware of. I highly recommend this book, but I have never been disappointed in the author's work. It was well researched and well written making for an unputdownable read.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Elsa Reisner is an ornithologist with the American Museum of Natural History in New York City in the mid-1920s. She was surprised when her job took her to an old estate on the Hudson River to examine a large collection of stuffed birds that had been willed to the museum. While her job was to determine the condition of the birds, Elsa became involved in so much more, including the lives of the gardener and her daughter. Luke Dupont worked for the family architectural salvage company. He was working at the estate dissembling rooms to later be sold to interested clients. His plans had not included becoming involved with a young ornithologist and her plans to help an aging gardener and her special needs daughter, plans that include solving the mystery of a missing medieval aviary worth a great deal of money.

Jocelyn Green's latest series, On Central Park, is wonderful with great intrigue and suspense. The actual historical events add so much to the drama of the stories. This second book is equally as good as the first. The tension between the main characters and their friends, and the less compassionate and far more greedy characters in the story causes a great deal of angst for Green's readers, the good kind, the kind that compels one to keep reading long after they should be in bed asleep.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Hudson Collection from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

“I will always be your safe place to land. I can’t give you wings, but I’ll be your solid ground.”

Another amazing book in the On Central Park series! The Hudson Collection whisked me back to 1920’s New York to Coney Island, the Hudson Valley, Central Park, the luxurious Ritz & 5th Avenue, & the American Museum of Natural History. I loved the romance, mystery, and fascinating history with a touch of faith. It’s a beautiful story of recognizing ones’ worth & accepting limitations combined with a compelling treasure hunt that kept me thoroughly engaged from the start.

Ornithologist Elsa Reisner’s been tasked with cataloguing a large donation of bird specimens at a deceased patroness’ Hudson Valley mansion. Struggling with new symptoms after surviving childhood polio, Elsa pushes herself to keep up despite her limp and weakened lungs. Her previously lonely job at the museum suddenly becomes an intriguing mystery as she makes new friends at the mansion and searches for a valuable missing medieval relic.

Luke Dupont’s an architectural salvage dealer who’s tearing out pieces of the mansion before it’s demolished. He bears the scars from WWI along with his friend and coworker Tom. As he gets to know Elsa, he finds himself helping in the hunt for the missing relic especially when he learns it’s supposed to go to the gardener’s delightful young daughter. It’s a race against time as they try to locate the treasure before the property’s sold and greedy relatives & other treasure hunters find it.

There were so many things I loved about this story! I loved Elsa’s and Luke’s meet-cute. Theirs was such a delightful, slow burn romance. I loved how he was such a protective hero and she easily saw past his scars. I loved the bird watching scenes & their heartfelt talks. I also loved Tatiana, the gardener and her sweet daughter Danielle, who’d probably be diagnosed with an Autism spectrum disorder. I loved the friendships between all the characters and how they helped each other.

The history was so interesting. I enjoyed learning more about rare species of birds and the painstaking process of cataloguing them in the 20’s. The dark history of eugenics was also included in a thought-provoking, sensitive way. I loved how the characters were such a brilliant rebuttal to all the throughly disproven claims. I loved the themes of recognizing and accepting limits & confronting causes of misunderstandings.

The mystery was so good and I loved all the clues leading up to a nail-biting conclusion. The treasure’s hiding place was absolutely perfect. Highest of recommendations to this lovely historical mystery/romance! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.

Jocelyn Green’s ‘The Hudson Collection’ provides a perfect balance between history, mystery and romance. Taking place in New York City after the Great War, readers follow Elsa who is a young ornithology researcher. She attends a country mansion just outside NY on the Hudson River, to catalogue a bird collection of the deceased residents estate.

‘I need someone to go examine the Hudson Collection - named for the river which flows next to the estate - to see what condition the birds are in.’

This is a multifaceted gem of a novel covering a whole range of engaging topics. Firstly there is obviously much about orthology which was interesting. The story also has a strong focus on Elsa who is a polio survivor and struggles both physically and socially. Then there is a range of other themes such as eugenics, autism, PTSD and discrimination for those with disabilities.

“Father’s view has always been that the weaklings should be allowed to die. Natural selection and all that. He says that even if they did grow up, they would only reproduce more weaklings and lower the quality of the gene pool.”

Set in 1920s New York there are visits to places such as Coney Island and Central Park - much bird watching to undertake there. There is a mystery surrounding the search for a valuable manuscript from the Middle Ages which makes for a climactic ending. ‘The Hudson Collection’ is a story with a great mystery, friendship to romance and an overarching theme of having faith by being loving and accepting of yourself.









This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Joycelyn Green has outdone herself with her latest work - a beautiful and inspiring story that tugs at the heartstrings! The characters were well-developed and relatable. Their relationships was so sweet and a joy to witness. The historical aspects of the book, such as eugenics and the Underground Railroad were a fascinating backdrop to the story and made it a wonderful experience for me. I highly recommend this one.
Thanks Bethany House via NetGalley.

I enjoyed going to bed every night and opening my Kindle to read THE HUDSON COLLECTION. To me, this felt more like a cozy historical fiction novel, and I really enjoyed it.

THC took place in 1926, a time between World War I and the Great Depression in the United States. The main character, Elsa, suffered from polio as a child and now walked with a limp. A lot of the story was her figuring out how she saw herself and how others saw her, too. The author touched briefly on the eugenics area in the US in the 1920s. She included historical figures during this movement, like the doctor who created the organization that helped the incubator babies during those years. But more importantly, she showed readers that everyone has value, no matter what they look like or how valuable society deems them.

Something else I liked about this book was the inclusion of, not only a character with a disability, but also a neurodivergent character. Green had a very diverse cast, and I was able to see a lot of different people and how they would have interacted in the 1920s. It went farther than a Gatsby-like story but a story of realistic characters.

Elsa had polio when she was younger and has a weak leg because of it so she has a limp. Luke has a scars of his own from the war. Elsa is in charge of cataloging for a patron of the museum and then goes on a treasure hunt of sorts for a missing relic. She, along with Luke, meet a young girl who is supposed to inherit the missing relic. While looking they discover more than they bargained for.
I really enjoyed this story. This is the second book and the series and I think I liked it better than the first. I just found the topics really interesting. I loved all the characters. The author does talk about eugenics but does it such a great way. That even though a body is not perfect does not mean that you are less than anyone else. Everyone is made in the image of God. I really loved Luke and Elsa together. Overall a great story and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Content: talk of eugenics, child death, ptsd

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the netgalley and the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

this historical fiction is unlike any other and while it was my first read by Jocelyn, it will most definitely *not* be my last! the way she captured a strong-willed woman and brought a book character to life brought me so much life myself 🥹

i loved Elsa and I loved the *important* themes explored throughout the book, including autism and ptsd. My favorite explored was probably eugenics and how each and every individual is created in the image of God. AMEN. 🙏🏼

also i felt like I was in the 1920’s while reading my this story - Jocelyn has a way of bringing a setting to you! I just loved this one!

The Hudson Collection is the 2nd book in The Central Park series. Having not read book 1, I can definitely say it can stand on its own.

This was the perfect historical fiction book. So atmospheric it transported me back in time. Full of fantastic characters who were so well developed. Layered with mystery and sprinkled with love. It truly was the perfect combination.

"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."

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 won an ARC of this book through Librarything. This review is fully my own opinion and freely given.

I have not read any books from this author and I did enjoy this book. It flowed very well and the story was interesting. The characters were well-developed as well.

There were a few errors in editing but not enough to make reading difficult. The errors did not detract much at all.

I can usually guess the ending of a book but not this one. It kept my interest throughout.

This is a Christian book but not at all preachy. If you are looking for a clean, historical fiction slight mystery you will enjoy this book.

I give this a 5 out of 5 star rating.

“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."

5 stars for this book!

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 was 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!

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary e-book I received to review through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review, and the thoughts above are solely my own.