I have enjoyed Jocelyn Green's books in the past, and this is another winner. The 1920s time period and NY setting are rendered beautifully. I like Elsa as a main character, especially having her be a polio survivor. Understandably that would impact her sense of her self worth, especially since she feels rejected by her own parents. Things get interesting when she is sent to a strange estate and makes new friends. (At first there is almost a Secret Garden feeling.) The parallel between the child and Elsa's own circumstances is fairly obvious but it works. The treasure hunt aspect to the plot is definitely fun. Ultimately I especially admired the theme: we are all made in God's image.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinions in this review are completely my own.

The Hudson Collection
by Jocelyn Green
Pub Date: June 4, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Step into the beguiling world of 1926 New York and discover the power of resilience, friendship, and love from award-winning author Jocelyn Green
.I read the first book in the series, sorta by accident- and really enjoyed it. When I saw the cover for this one, I was hoping that it was part of the series (and was not disappointed) I think I loved this one even more than the first! And here's hoping that the last roommate gets a book too.

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.
The main characters were complex, well-developed people. I cared about what happened to them. They struggled with real issues, and relationship tensions were created by realistic behavior.
I recommend this Christian/historical fiction to people who enjoy a clean, well written novel.
4 stars

Historical fiction about a young ornithologist assigned to catalog the birds collected from an estate. Along the way, she learns to makes new friends, finds love and learns to deal with her disability.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this from Net galley in exchange for my honest opinions.

I read the first book in the series, sorta by accident- and really enjoyed it. When I saw the cover for this one, I was hoping that it was part of the series (and was not disappointed) I think I loved this one even more than the first! And here's hoping that the last roommate gets a book too.

Elsa's book is set serval months after the ending of the first book. Elsa works for the ornithology department in New York's natural history museum, she is sent on assignment to collect a donation from a wealthy bird collecting family. While there she becomes enmeshed in back fighting the family is doing over the will as it affects the work she is doing for the collection for the museum.

The core of the story has to do with the idea of what does it mean to be an image barer, to be created in the image of God most high. And that part is beautiful, scars and all. I loved this!

It also didn't hurt that it hit on all these random historical things I knew something about. I've read about the Luna babies, I knew about Cher Ami and the lost battalion, and the birds at the museum. It felt like being re-aquainted with old friends

The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green features a bird-watcher or an ornithologist for the American Museum of Natural History. I can’t imagine all the research that Green had to go through to have the names and the sounds of the correct birds to ring true in her novel. But then again, if they are wrong, is not like I would know the difference. I know nothing about birds except they fly, look different, and sing songs. The plot has a mystery element to it as the heroine Elsa tries to catalog all the birds in the mansion that she was assigned to bring back to the museum. Green crafted a character that had a flaw that she acquired when she had polio as a child that affected her today. But she is a strong character who knows her limitations, but there are moments when it does rear its ugly head, but she keeps moving. Similarly, there is a romance aspect between Elsa and a male character that has some surprising twist to it, but Green does a wonderful job at showing a relationship that can see past faults and learn to trust in God and grow together. Overall, The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green brought some lights to the world of birds and the work of the American Museum of Natural History, so fans of historical fiction with a hint of romance and mystery might love this book.

I received a complimentary copy of The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

"The Hudson Collection" is a Christian romance set in 1926 in New York. Elsa had polio as a child and felt rejected by her parents and looked down on by others when she didn't recover fully. She can walk but not smoothly and she has weak lungs. When she's sent to catalog and pack a huge collection of birds at a mostly-empty estate, she meets an odd young girl and her mother, a gardener, who quickly become her friends. She also befriends two men scared from the Great War who are removing architectural elements that can be reused (since the house is to be destroyed). They're told to keep an eye out for a rare book that's been willed to the child, but the house's inheritor believes in eugenics and sees the child as unfit and therefore unworthy of such a gift. Elsa wants to find it first to make sure the child gets it, but everyone (including people with no possible legal claim to the book) are also trying to find the treasure.

The main characters were complex, well-developed people. I cared about what happened to them. They struggled with real issues, and relationship tensions were created by realistic behavior (rather than manufactured obstacles). Elsa and her man supported each other and made each other feel more confident and lovable. Interesting historical details were woven into the story and immersed me in the time and place. There were a couple of 'just how did that dog find her?' type moments that pushed believability.

The Christian theme was that we're made in the image of God and have value, even if we aren't physically perfect. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical.