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When the Blood Is Up #2
The Boxer and the Blacksmith
Can London’s lady champion fight for love?
As London’s undefeated women’s boxer, Bess Abbott has the scars—both inside and out—to prove it. But when one of her boxing students, Violet, needs protection, Bess Abbott’s rock hard heart cracks open. And when a handsome blacksmith comes along, giving her compliments and treating her, well, like a woman, Bess doesn’t know what to do. She’s on the ropes in the face of his affections.
Os Worley was a child when he became an accidental stow-away. He grew up not knowing the family or the island that inflected his accent. His only memory of his mother is a head bent, hands working a stitch, a voice humming a melody. Now that he has his own foundry, and his own apprentice, he’s come to London to find the woman attached to this impression. His heart is already tempered and quenched, focused on his goal—but a lady boxer threatens to recast his love in her own image.
As Os and Bess face off, will they toe the line or retreat to their corners?
As London’s undefeated women’s boxer, Bess Abbott has the scars—both inside and out—to prove it. But when one of her boxing students, Violet, needs protection, Bess Abbott’s rock hard heart cracks open. And when a handsome blacksmith comes along, giving her compliments and treating her, well, like a woman, Bess doesn’t know what to do. She’s on the ropes in the face of his affections.
Os Worley was a child when he became an accidental stow-away. He grew up not knowing the family or the island that inflected his accent. His only memory of his mother is a head bent, hands working a stitch, a voice humming a melody. Now that he has his own foundry, and his own apprentice, he’s come to London to find the woman attached to this impression. His heart is already tempered and quenched, focused on his goal—but a lady boxer threatens to recast his love in her own image.
As Os and Bess face off, will they toe the line or retreat to their corners?
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2021
10 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Edie Cay
19 books136 followersEdie Cay writes Feminist Regency Romance. Her debut, A LADY’S REVENGE won the Golden Leaf Best First Book, and the Next Generation Indie Book Award for Romance. The next in her series, THE BOXER AND THE BLACKSMITH won the Hearts Through History Legends Award as an unpublished manuscript in 2019 and was the Discovering Diamonds Book of the Month in May 2021, and won the Best Indie Book Award. Her third book, A LADY'S FINDER, is a finalist for a Lambda Award.
Her fourth book, A VISCOUNT'S VENGEANCE published in March 2023.
She obtained dual BAs in Creative Writing and in Music, and her MFA in Creative Writing from University of Alaska Anchorage. She is a member of The Regency Fiction Writers, the Historical Novel Society, and a founding member of Paper Lantern Writers. Follow her on social media for pictures of the latest baking project with her toddler @authorEdieCay.
Her fourth book, A VISCOUNT'S VENGEANCE published in March 2023.
She obtained dual BAs in Creative Writing and in Music, and her MFA in Creative Writing from University of Alaska Anchorage. She is a member of The Regency Fiction Writers, the Historical Novel Society, and a founding member of Paper Lantern Writers. Follow her on social media for pictures of the latest baking project with her toddler @authorEdieCay.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 27, 2022
At the most basic level, Edie Cay’s novel The Boxer and the Blacksmith is a Regency Romance. It takes place during England’s Regency period, when Prinny—the much-derided heir to George III—ruled the country in his insane father’s stead, and it is about the burgeoning relationship between the two protagonists.
But that is where the similarities end, for this is nothing like your standard bodice-ripper. Gone are the simpering debutantes and dukes aplenty; there are no gold-gilded ballrooms shimmering in candlelight or elegant parlours where young ingenues discuss the horrors of being unwed at 19 and would you please pass the lemon biscuits.
Rather, we are cast into the London of the masses. Not the stews of St. Giles or the filthy alleys by the docks, but the London where a million people toiled and loved and spent their lives, hoping to get to tomorrow with a full belly and a decent night’s sleep. Our heroine is a boxer, and a successful one at that. Born in the gutter, tall and plain, Bess Abbott hides her need for acceptance beneath her rough exterior. She is a boxing champion and can take care of herself, thank you very much, but when one of her young students is threatened, she will move heaven and earth to protect the girl.
Enter the hero. Os Worley is no duke or knight in shining armour, although he might well make it. He is a blacksmith, a skilled tradesman, who is a pugilism enthusiast and a fan of Miss Abbott in particular. He is also a Black man who might or might not have been born to an enslaved mother, and who is desperately chasing down rumours that she is now in London. He is an anomaly, as comfortable in a fine drawing room as in front of his forge, and he will abandon everything he has to find his long-lost mother… or will he?
I loved this book. I read and write Regency, but I get tired of the parade of earls and barons. I thoroughly enjoyed these normal, real people, living in a world I can imagine so much more than that of the haute ton. Ms. Cay’s descriptions brought the scene to life: the soot-covered aprons, the sweat of the training rooms, the slightly rough neighbourhood taverns, and the community of people in our protagonists’ lives. Even when we do move, briefly, into the parlours of the elite, it is tinged with the grime of the lower classes and it is more real for that.
The characters are also engaging and beautifully drawn, as real as if they lived down the street rather than on the pages of a novel. Despite her physical size and prowess in the ring, Bess cannot believe that anybody could love her. We feel her insecurities as much as we want to shout at her to believe in herself. As for Os, as we learn more about him and his sad past, we sense his pain and anger at the callous way his people back in the Islands have been treated, commodities rather than people, no matter the platitudes given by people who claim to care.
This is not a book about the hard lot of people of colour in Regency London, per se, but the awareness of racism is pervasive. This is not a didactic novel, or one which focuses on colour and race, but on the differences experienced by people from all backgrounds. This makes the subtext of discrimination all the more powerful. Os is, for the most part, accepted by his community without trouble, but there is always that element of distrust. There is always that one person who will not deal with him, or who accepts the enslavement of his family with callous disregard. By not placing this prejudice at the centre of the story, Ms. Cay has shown us how much it was just a part of society, and, sadly, still is in so many places. It is refreshing to see a novel deal with these issues without the taint of tokenism or the sense of being trendy. These are just people, normal people, who happen to have extra weights on their shoulders.
The Boxer and the Blacksmith is not a perfect book. There are some anachronisms, in language more than in essentials, and certain plot elements feel glossed over or rushed. I want to know more about some of Bess and Os’ friends and family; I want to know more about the underworld that Os uses to search for his mother. There are tantalising hints dropped that leave me sometimes curious, sometimes confused. Some of this is likely due to this particular book being the second in a series, so these stories might be told in previous or subsequent tales.
Still, despite these minor issues, I enjoyed every well-written word of this gritty love story, and would heartily recommend the novel to anybody who enjoys a tale of real people finding each other in the dust and bustle of the real world.
Five stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award
But that is where the similarities end, for this is nothing like your standard bodice-ripper. Gone are the simpering debutantes and dukes aplenty; there are no gold-gilded ballrooms shimmering in candlelight or elegant parlours where young ingenues discuss the horrors of being unwed at 19 and would you please pass the lemon biscuits.
Rather, we are cast into the London of the masses. Not the stews of St. Giles or the filthy alleys by the docks, but the London where a million people toiled and loved and spent their lives, hoping to get to tomorrow with a full belly and a decent night’s sleep. Our heroine is a boxer, and a successful one at that. Born in the gutter, tall and plain, Bess Abbott hides her need for acceptance beneath her rough exterior. She is a boxing champion and can take care of herself, thank you very much, but when one of her young students is threatened, she will move heaven and earth to protect the girl.
Enter the hero. Os Worley is no duke or knight in shining armour, although he might well make it. He is a blacksmith, a skilled tradesman, who is a pugilism enthusiast and a fan of Miss Abbott in particular. He is also a Black man who might or might not have been born to an enslaved mother, and who is desperately chasing down rumours that she is now in London. He is an anomaly, as comfortable in a fine drawing room as in front of his forge, and he will abandon everything he has to find his long-lost mother… or will he?
I loved this book. I read and write Regency, but I get tired of the parade of earls and barons. I thoroughly enjoyed these normal, real people, living in a world I can imagine so much more than that of the haute ton. Ms. Cay’s descriptions brought the scene to life: the soot-covered aprons, the sweat of the training rooms, the slightly rough neighbourhood taverns, and the community of people in our protagonists’ lives. Even when we do move, briefly, into the parlours of the elite, it is tinged with the grime of the lower classes and it is more real for that.
The characters are also engaging and beautifully drawn, as real as if they lived down the street rather than on the pages of a novel. Despite her physical size and prowess in the ring, Bess cannot believe that anybody could love her. We feel her insecurities as much as we want to shout at her to believe in herself. As for Os, as we learn more about him and his sad past, we sense his pain and anger at the callous way his people back in the Islands have been treated, commodities rather than people, no matter the platitudes given by people who claim to care.
This is not a book about the hard lot of people of colour in Regency London, per se, but the awareness of racism is pervasive. This is not a didactic novel, or one which focuses on colour and race, but on the differences experienced by people from all backgrounds. This makes the subtext of discrimination all the more powerful. Os is, for the most part, accepted by his community without trouble, but there is always that element of distrust. There is always that one person who will not deal with him, or who accepts the enslavement of his family with callous disregard. By not placing this prejudice at the centre of the story, Ms. Cay has shown us how much it was just a part of society, and, sadly, still is in so many places. It is refreshing to see a novel deal with these issues without the taint of tokenism or the sense of being trendy. These are just people, normal people, who happen to have extra weights on their shoulders.
The Boxer and the Blacksmith is not a perfect book. There are some anachronisms, in language more than in essentials, and certain plot elements feel glossed over or rushed. I want to know more about some of Bess and Os’ friends and family; I want to know more about the underworld that Os uses to search for his mother. There are tantalising hints dropped that leave me sometimes curious, sometimes confused. Some of this is likely due to this particular book being the second in a series, so these stories might be told in previous or subsequent tales.
Still, despite these minor issues, I enjoyed every well-written word of this gritty love story, and would heartily recommend the novel to anybody who enjoys a tale of real people finding each other in the dust and bustle of the real world.
Five stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award
March 16, 2022
Think all Regency Romance books are filled with Lords and Ladies dressed in their finery, sipping champagne at balls? Well, think again. Edie Cay has a unique take on both the genre and the period that makes for an intriguing book.
In The Boxer and the Blacksmith, Cay gives us a chance to see the poor side of the Regency period, with people who have to work hard to get enough money to find food, who experience life in places where rats are prevalent, where they might be attacked on the street walking home at dusk, and where finery might come closer to meaning a dress that isn’t so thin you can think of it.
Bess is an unusual heroine, she boxes for her money. There aren’t many female boxers, and Bess is a dedicated one who works hard at the craft. She is also large for the era, and by no means a beauty. She’s accustomed to having insults about her looks thrown at her, including the fact she has “cauliflower” ears as a result of injuries in the boxing ring, and being considered an ugly woman deserving of rejection.
Then there’s Os, the blacksmith, who thinks Bess is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. Os is also unusual for the time, being much larger than most men with dark black skin and well developed muscles from spending hours at the forge all day. He, too, is used to criticism and rejection but he lets it roll off his rather powerful shoulders.
The love affair that develops between these two is difficult, as both are new at tender words and gestures. Still, that they care for one another is clear and the reader will be hoping they put aside both the awkwardness each has in expressing thoughts of love as well as find success in their individual challenges in this book. Bess is working hard to provide shelter for a young girl while she prepares for a huge fight with an opponent about whom she knows little. Os is determined to find his mother and his search takes her back to the home of his childhood friend, now the “Lord of Manor”, who believes she may have been a slave and if so will need to be purchased if and when Os finds her. To him, she’s no more than another “asset” to the plantation.
There are other characters who are equally well developed and serve to round out the story. This is the second book in a series of three, and readers will benefit from reading all of the books, in order, if they want to fully understand the relationship among these characters as well as how they relate to Bess and Os.
In The Boxer and the Blacksmith, Cay gives us a chance to see the poor side of the Regency period, with people who have to work hard to get enough money to find food, who experience life in places where rats are prevalent, where they might be attacked on the street walking home at dusk, and where finery might come closer to meaning a dress that isn’t so thin you can think of it.
Bess is an unusual heroine, she boxes for her money. There aren’t many female boxers, and Bess is a dedicated one who works hard at the craft. She is also large for the era, and by no means a beauty. She’s accustomed to having insults about her looks thrown at her, including the fact she has “cauliflower” ears as a result of injuries in the boxing ring, and being considered an ugly woman deserving of rejection.
Then there’s Os, the blacksmith, who thinks Bess is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. Os is also unusual for the time, being much larger than most men with dark black skin and well developed muscles from spending hours at the forge all day. He, too, is used to criticism and rejection but he lets it roll off his rather powerful shoulders.
The love affair that develops between these two is difficult, as both are new at tender words and gestures. Still, that they care for one another is clear and the reader will be hoping they put aside both the awkwardness each has in expressing thoughts of love as well as find success in their individual challenges in this book. Bess is working hard to provide shelter for a young girl while she prepares for a huge fight with an opponent about whom she knows little. Os is determined to find his mother and his search takes her back to the home of his childhood friend, now the “Lord of Manor”, who believes she may have been a slave and if so will need to be purchased if and when Os finds her. To him, she’s no more than another “asset” to the plantation.
There are other characters who are equally well developed and serve to round out the story. This is the second book in a series of three, and readers will benefit from reading all of the books, in order, if they want to fully understand the relationship among these characters as well as how they relate to Bess and Os.
February 6, 2021
Smart, romantic and informative, Edie Cay’s new novel “The Boxer and The Blacksmith” packs a punch! I loved the main characters Bess and Os and admire Cay’s capacity to craft a believable love story between these two unique individuals. I’d already met female boxer Bess in Cay’s first novel “A Lady’s Revenge” and was happy to learn more about her. Os is a compelling love interest with an intriguing backstory. It’s no surprise he’s already an award-winning romance lead. This would be a happy discovery for fans of “Bridgerton” looking for a Regency Romance with a diverse cast of characters. Highly recommend.
January 24, 2021
An amazing read! I read this in two days and loved every second of it. Highly recommended!!
February 23, 2021
I loved this story, but learning that Bess was based on a real character made it all the better. The real Bess was named Elizabeth Wilkinson, a possible stage name. While not everything in the book is based on a true story, many elements, especially ones about Bess and the fight, were real. I found this fascinating. Cay does a wonderful job explaining what was true and false at the end of the book.
I also loved Os, the blacksmith. It showed some aspects of life during this time as a person of color, so that was really fascinating. And the chemistry between Os and Bess is natural and compelling.
I picked out several more quotes than I usually do in my reviews, but that’s just because Cay is a fantastic writer with many poetic moments.
Quotes:
“Even when all else belonged to another, the money in his pocket, the sweat on his back, his word was his own.”
“We don’t get to choose where we start in life, only where we end up.”
“She was exhaustion, she was technique, she was the cold survivor of a lifetime ruled by violence.”
“If a man never tried anything new, a man might never experience anything better.”
I can’t recommend this book enough! This story was awesome and very engaging. I’m excited to see more of what Cay has to offer. Read it if you enjoy historical romances.
I also loved Os, the blacksmith. It showed some aspects of life during this time as a person of color, so that was really fascinating. And the chemistry between Os and Bess is natural and compelling.
I picked out several more quotes than I usually do in my reviews, but that’s just because Cay is a fantastic writer with many poetic moments.
Quotes:
“Even when all else belonged to another, the money in his pocket, the sweat on his back, his word was his own.”
“We don’t get to choose where we start in life, only where we end up.”
“She was exhaustion, she was technique, she was the cold survivor of a lifetime ruled by violence.”
“If a man never tried anything new, a man might never experience anything better.”
I can’t recommend this book enough! This story was awesome and very engaging. I’m excited to see more of what Cay has to offer. Read it if you enjoy historical romances.
January 29, 2022
2021 Best Indie Book Award Winner!
June 27, 2023
Originally rated 5 stars because I just plain loved reading it, changed to 4 on reflection because I don't think it quite reaches the heights of my favorites. There’s a confident, straightforward quality to this book that made it feel quieter than I typically expect from romance but also full of warmth. The leads are working class adults and they act like it, a wonderfully refreshing angle in a historical. Watching the leads build toward their deeply earned HEA was so satisfying. It almost feels like I should end the review by saying I wish them well.
October 28, 2024
Unique & brilliant!
I am obsessed with female pugilists so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. Everything about it was unique and brilliant. The research that went into the details was impressive. Lumbering, bold, masculine Bess is not your typical heroine. On the other hand, Os is a perfect cinnamon roll hero. There is so much depth to these characters. If you are looking for ballgowns and diamond tiaras, this book may not be for you. If you are looking for an amazing multicultural romance with a kick butt heroine, I highly recommend it.
I am obsessed with female pugilists so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. Everything about it was unique and brilliant. The research that went into the details was impressive. Lumbering, bold, masculine Bess is not your typical heroine. On the other hand, Os is a perfect cinnamon roll hero. There is so much depth to these characters. If you are looking for ballgowns and diamond tiaras, this book may not be for you. If you are looking for an amazing multicultural romance with a kick butt heroine, I highly recommend it.
Read
February 3, 2021After reading A Lady’s Revenge, I was so intrigued by Bess Abbott that I couldn’t wait to read her love story.
I love that Edie Cay has taken us to a new place during a historical era that is written about extensively, the Regency era. While most Regency romances focus on balls and dukes and beautiful women, Edie takes us into the streets of London and introduces us to average folks, who are just as deserving of their happily ever after. I love that she introduces us to other aspects of Regency life. Who knew that ladies’ boxing was a thing in the 19th century?
Despite Bess being a champion lady boxer, we see her vulnerable side. And her love interest Os, he deserved to win the Hearts Through History Legend Award: A Man for All Reason for unpublished manuscripts in 2019. A not to be missed read.
I love that Edie Cay has taken us to a new place during a historical era that is written about extensively, the Regency era. While most Regency romances focus on balls and dukes and beautiful women, Edie takes us into the streets of London and introduces us to average folks, who are just as deserving of their happily ever after. I love that she introduces us to other aspects of Regency life. Who knew that ladies’ boxing was a thing in the 19th century?
Despite Bess being a champion lady boxer, we see her vulnerable side. And her love interest Os, he deserved to win the Hearts Through History Legend Award: A Man for All Reason for unpublished manuscripts in 2019. A not to be missed read.
February 17, 2021
Edie Cay has given readers a new heroine to cheer for: Bess Abbott, a woman boxer in early 19th century London. As a regular reader of historical fiction, I was thrilled to see that the author chose something unexpected: there really were female boxers during this period. Not only did Edie Cay write about an interesting character, she populated her story with other characters who are just as fully-drawn as Bess. You can smell the streets of London in this book, and readers will be transported to a world that is both unusual and yet also completely believable.
February 18, 2021
An unusually good book! I love the way Edie Cay shows the flaws of her characters, both inside and out. She tears them down and slowly builds them back up again. Bess, the boxer. is tough but vulnerable. Os, the blacksmith, is strong and sompassionate. Together they make an incredible couple. This is definitely a must-read book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 2, 2021
I was a beta reader for "The Boxer and the Blacksmith" and I genuinely loved it. What's not to like about LADY BOXERS KICKING ASS AND FALLING IN LOVE! ❤️🥊 Edie Cay's historical fiction is meticulously researched, and the characters are surprising, complex, and written with so much care and humor and love. After being introduced to Bess Abbott in book 1, "A Lady's Revenge," I had been anticipating her story and this did not disappoint. The character of Os is a fabulous, nuanced, complex hero. It is at turns surprising, sexy, humorous, and heart-wrenching. Like the first in the series, this book also sets up hints of future stories involving other great characters in this world Edie Cay has created -- and I can't wait to read more.
I honestly never thought I'd be that into regency romance novels, but I'm a huge fan of this series! A great read, highly recommend!
I honestly never thought I'd be that into regency romance novels, but I'm a huge fan of this series! A great read, highly recommend!
February 10, 2021
I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the sweetness of the romance. It’s nice to read a historical romance that is not the typical innocent heroine.
March 9, 2022
Loved it. About half way through the character development became very intriguing and I could barely put the book down. Cannot wait for the next book from Edie Cay.
August 3, 2021
Edie Cay went and did it again. I’ve been anticipating her last novel, The Boxer and the Blacksmith, since the very moment I closed A Lady’s Revenge: would the second installment of When the Blood Is Up live up to the hype? Would I love the main characters as much as I loved Lydia and Arthur? Would it be a book able to stand on its figurative legs?
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
February 6, 2023
This is one of the February books I was salivating to read and I’ll tell you up front that I was not disappointed. Edie Cay wrote one of my favorite books of 2020, A Lady’s Revenge, and she brings the same wistful yearning to the characters in this book, Bess Abbott and Os Worley, that she brought to Lydia and John Arnold, but in entirely different ways.
Bess is London’s premiere women’s boxing champion. It is her identity - she was raised on the streets, live or die, on her feet or on her back. She’s unapologetic but she’s also lonely. She’s what nobody wants to be - a self-described ugly woman. Tall, muscled, broad — in a sea of dainty and fair. She wants to be loved without being left and her first chance at this is not actually Os, it’s Violet, a tween street urchin that reminds Bess of herself. Bess takes Violet in as her de facto daughter after Violet’s drunkard father beats her one too many times. Over the course of the story, Bess starts to see that she’s never been alone, she’s had family all this time. I do love a good found family.
I want to give Ms. Cay some credit here for making a character who is black in a time when many Regency novels carefully tiptoe past race. Slavery is outlawed in Britain, however it is not outlawed in Barbados, and that’s where Os is from. He’s a big, dark skinned man. Ms. Cay doesn’t shy away from the racism he experiences, both at his foundry and in his quest to find his birth mother who he believes may have died a slave. After Os was taken from his family in Barbados, he was taken in by abolitionists and then hired as a companion to a boy named Willrich. You can assume everything you’d like about a boy named Willrich, and they’ll all come true when you meet him as an adult.
Bess and Os don’t have to work particularly hard to be together, so this is an atypical romance. They fall in love, and only suffer through a very mild “oh no!” moment. It’s comforting in its ease, in the joy of two odd ducks finding each other in a very large pond.
I liked this book a lot. There are some touching moments that brought a lump to my throat. There’s a very mild heat to the sex scenes.
Bess is London’s premiere women’s boxing champion. It is her identity - she was raised on the streets, live or die, on her feet or on her back. She’s unapologetic but she’s also lonely. She’s what nobody wants to be - a self-described ugly woman. Tall, muscled, broad — in a sea of dainty and fair. She wants to be loved without being left and her first chance at this is not actually Os, it’s Violet, a tween street urchin that reminds Bess of herself. Bess takes Violet in as her de facto daughter after Violet’s drunkard father beats her one too many times. Over the course of the story, Bess starts to see that she’s never been alone, she’s had family all this time. I do love a good found family.
I want to give Ms. Cay some credit here for making a character who is black in a time when many Regency novels carefully tiptoe past race. Slavery is outlawed in Britain, however it is not outlawed in Barbados, and that’s where Os is from. He’s a big, dark skinned man. Ms. Cay doesn’t shy away from the racism he experiences, both at his foundry and in his quest to find his birth mother who he believes may have died a slave. After Os was taken from his family in Barbados, he was taken in by abolitionists and then hired as a companion to a boy named Willrich. You can assume everything you’d like about a boy named Willrich, and they’ll all come true when you meet him as an adult.
Bess and Os don’t have to work particularly hard to be together, so this is an atypical romance. They fall in love, and only suffer through a very mild “oh no!” moment. It’s comforting in its ease, in the joy of two odd ducks finding each other in a very large pond.
I liked this book a lot. There are some touching moments that brought a lump to my throat. There’s a very mild heat to the sex scenes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2021
They say one shouldn't judge a book by its cover and, equally, one shouldn't judge it by its title or, for that matter, its subject. This is, on the face of it, not a book I would have picked up to read and yet, when I did, I could not put it down.
Yes, there were things that weren't perfect and let me get them straight out of the way because one occurs on the very first page: the use of the Americanism 'snuck' chimed wrongly with me for a book set in post-Napoleonic era London. On a couple of occasions the description of addresses and the locale were not quite how they would normally be described: "Off Edgeware and Harrow" sounded wrong in the mouth of a 19thC English person and even in the 21st century the English don't think of distances in cities as being in 'blocks'. There's also an occasional mixing up of lie/lay/laid.
BUT
These are the only niggles which took a very tiny bit of the sheen off an excellent novel. This is the second in a series but is described as a standalone, and it absolutely reads as such. Yes, there are references to what happened in Book One but they are clear, unobtrusive, and minimal, giving only the information needed to move the story on.
I instantly warmed to Bess. She's unusual, for her time, but she is a beautifully-drawn three-dimensional character, with strengths and flaws. She's bullish and sometimes she acts against her own better judgement, which makes her rather fun. Os is introspective and perfectly and succinctly described, just as he himself is economical with words. Ms Cay has a knack for description in general, with some beautiful phrasing which instantly paints a picture for the reader. I particularly liked one scene where Os, a big man, squeezes into a chair and makes it creak when he moves. When he thinks that he doesn't fit in this particular environment, he means it metaphorically and literally. One gets a good sense of the crowds on the street, in the pubs, and at the boxing matches. All five senses are employed and the scenes are brought to life vividly.
This is, at its heart, a love story between two people, neither of whom quite have a place in society. But there are many more layers to the story and a fine array of supporting characters who, though they don't have a huge number of lines, make their presence and their characteristics felt. The author has clearly done her research and presents us with a London which was rather a melting pot, where members of the upper reaches of society mixed with those in other circles, where social mobility is beginning to be a reality, and where people of different races rub along quite happily. There are darker themes too, and a reminder that the abolition of slavery, when it came about, was not so abrupt as we might think.
In this, and in the story of the young girl, Violet, Ms Cay presents us with a history lesson, and in a way an essay on social inequality, deprivation, and the abuse of women. Yet she weaves it through the novel so skilfully that we are never lectured, only made aware.
From the author's notes, I discovered that her main character was based on a real-life person but that she took elements of her life and moved them to a different era. I applaud this ingenuity and I think it works very well. I enjoyed spending time with these people and what shines through is their relationships with each other. I really believed in their connections, their friendships, the enmity. Even the 'bit part' players, such as the young Irish woman whom Bess will meet in the ring, are rounded and real. In fact, I'd go so far as to say there's not a single two-dimensional or stock character in the book, for everyone is shaped by their circumstances and experiences, and acts accordingly and believably.
I'm so glad this book appeared on my review list, otherwise I'd have missed an opportunity for a fantastic read, and I shall be looking out for more of Ms Cay's books.
[Word of caution, for those who might be offended, there is one instance of a particular four-letter word.]
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
Yes, there were things that weren't perfect and let me get them straight out of the way because one occurs on the very first page: the use of the Americanism 'snuck' chimed wrongly with me for a book set in post-Napoleonic era London. On a couple of occasions the description of addresses and the locale were not quite how they would normally be described: "Off Edgeware and Harrow" sounded wrong in the mouth of a 19thC English person and even in the 21st century the English don't think of distances in cities as being in 'blocks'. There's also an occasional mixing up of lie/lay/laid.
BUT
These are the only niggles which took a very tiny bit of the sheen off an excellent novel. This is the second in a series but is described as a standalone, and it absolutely reads as such. Yes, there are references to what happened in Book One but they are clear, unobtrusive, and minimal, giving only the information needed to move the story on.
I instantly warmed to Bess. She's unusual, for her time, but she is a beautifully-drawn three-dimensional character, with strengths and flaws. She's bullish and sometimes she acts against her own better judgement, which makes her rather fun. Os is introspective and perfectly and succinctly described, just as he himself is economical with words. Ms Cay has a knack for description in general, with some beautiful phrasing which instantly paints a picture for the reader. I particularly liked one scene where Os, a big man, squeezes into a chair and makes it creak when he moves. When he thinks that he doesn't fit in this particular environment, he means it metaphorically and literally. One gets a good sense of the crowds on the street, in the pubs, and at the boxing matches. All five senses are employed and the scenes are brought to life vividly.
This is, at its heart, a love story between two people, neither of whom quite have a place in society. But there are many more layers to the story and a fine array of supporting characters who, though they don't have a huge number of lines, make their presence and their characteristics felt. The author has clearly done her research and presents us with a London which was rather a melting pot, where members of the upper reaches of society mixed with those in other circles, where social mobility is beginning to be a reality, and where people of different races rub along quite happily. There are darker themes too, and a reminder that the abolition of slavery, when it came about, was not so abrupt as we might think.
In this, and in the story of the young girl, Violet, Ms Cay presents us with a history lesson, and in a way an essay on social inequality, deprivation, and the abuse of women. Yet she weaves it through the novel so skilfully that we are never lectured, only made aware.
From the author's notes, I discovered that her main character was based on a real-life person but that she took elements of her life and moved them to a different era. I applaud this ingenuity and I think it works very well. I enjoyed spending time with these people and what shines through is their relationships with each other. I really believed in their connections, their friendships, the enmity. Even the 'bit part' players, such as the young Irish woman whom Bess will meet in the ring, are rounded and real. In fact, I'd go so far as to say there's not a single two-dimensional or stock character in the book, for everyone is shaped by their circumstances and experiences, and acts accordingly and believably.
I'm so glad this book appeared on my review list, otherwise I'd have missed an opportunity for a fantastic read, and I shall be looking out for more of Ms Cay's books.
[Word of caution, for those who might be offended, there is one instance of a particular four-letter word.]
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
April 22, 2022
2.5
I really wanted to like this HR more than I ended up doing. A working class female boxer as protagonist? A Black male blacksmith love interest? Sign me up!
But the actual story didn't gel for me, in part because the arcs for each protagonist's stories didn't intersect. And in part because the story itself did not allow either protagonist to actively pursue their goals. And in part because the romance between the two protagonists seemed to be more "insta-love/lust" than something that develops from any meaningful emotional intimacy they share or develop.
Os is supposed to be searching for his mother—he moved to London from Manchester because he believed his mother was there—but we do not see him spend any time actively looking for her in London. Weirdly, he goes back to Manchester to pursue a tentative lead, which leads less than nowhere; the entire episode seems designed solely to show us how Os's childhood "friend" is a selfish racist, despite his apparent caring for Os. Which comes across as heavyhanded messaging, rather than something a reader needs to know for the story/plot.
Bess's goal is less clear—she wants to earn more $ and respect as a fighter?—which seems like it might happen when an Irish promoter arrives in town and arranges a fight toward the start of the story. But said fight doesn't take place until the very end of the book, and Bess's new reason for fighting it (to help Os pay for his mother's release from slavery) proves totally unnecessary .
And the whole adopting an abused girl then beating up her deadbeat father subplot really bothered me. In part because the girl has no personality, or goal or motivation in the story of her own. And in part because beating up the father doesn't seem like it's going to solve the problem...
And I really disliked Bess's lack of self-confidence regarding her looks. Especially when Os's old girlfriend shows up (for no real plot reason), only so that Bess can feel inferior and reject Os without even talking to him about what he wants or needs from the other woman. Ugh.
So, all in all, a miss for me.
I really wanted to like this HR more than I ended up doing. A working class female boxer as protagonist? A Black male blacksmith love interest? Sign me up!
But the actual story didn't gel for me, in part because the arcs for each protagonist's stories didn't intersect. And in part because the story itself did not allow either protagonist to actively pursue their goals. And in part because the romance between the two protagonists seemed to be more "insta-love/lust" than something that develops from any meaningful emotional intimacy they share or develop.
Os is supposed to be searching for his mother—he moved to London from Manchester because he believed his mother was there—but we do not see him spend any time actively looking for her in London. Weirdly, he goes back to Manchester to pursue a tentative lead, which leads less than nowhere; the entire episode seems designed solely to show us how Os's childhood "friend" is a selfish racist, despite his apparent caring for Os. Which comes across as heavyhanded messaging, rather than something a reader needs to know for the story/plot.
Bess's goal is less clear—she wants to earn more $ and respect as a fighter?—which seems like it might happen when an Irish promoter arrives in town and arranges a fight toward the start of the story. But said fight doesn't take place until the very end of the book, and Bess's new reason for fighting it (to help Os pay for his mother's release from slavery) proves totally unnecessary .
And the whole adopting an abused girl then beating up her deadbeat father subplot really bothered me. In part because the girl has no personality, or goal or motivation in the story of her own. And in part because beating up the father doesn't seem like it's going to solve the problem...
And I really disliked Bess's lack of self-confidence regarding her looks. Especially when Os's old girlfriend shows up (for no real plot reason), only so that Bess can feel inferior and reject Os without even talking to him about what he wants or needs from the other woman. Ugh.
So, all in all, a miss for me.
February 21, 2021
This was a powerful story. About what life was like for the poor and downtrodden.
About making it in a world where being poor means being preyed upon and having to fight for your life, or give up. About slavery, and families being separated. Bess grew up poor, forced into a gang at a young age, and forced to do anything to survive. Until someone rescued her and taught her how to fight. About a black boy, separated from his mother, taken in and forced to do menial labor and beaten by the rich owner. Now adults, they have overcome where they came from, have made a life for themselves, with friends and extended “family”, but no one related by blood, or no significant other. Can they be each other’s love and join their friends together to be one big happily family? Time and outside forces will tell. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
About making it in a world where being poor means being preyed upon and having to fight for your life, or give up. About slavery, and families being separated. Bess grew up poor, forced into a gang at a young age, and forced to do anything to survive. Until someone rescued her and taught her how to fight. About a black boy, separated from his mother, taken in and forced to do menial labor and beaten by the rich owner. Now adults, they have overcome where they came from, have made a life for themselves, with friends and extended “family”, but no one related by blood, or no significant other. Can they be each other’s love and join their friends together to be one big happily family? Time and outside forces will tell. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 22, 2022
I really loved this book! As the title suggests, the novel puts you squarely in a London that is very different from the usual setting of a Regency romance, but it has all the sparks one would expect. The characters are also atypical, but I was routing for them from the beginning. The struggle of Bess and Oz to open their hearts, despite having had emotional challenges in their lives, makes the romance all the more poignant.
Cay has clearly done her homework, both about the time and place and about the lives of a boxer and a blacksmith. That the boxer is a woman, with all of the additional difficulties that implies, made me empathize with her all the more.
I had read the first book in the series, A Lady's Revenge, which I also greatly enjoyed, though it was not necessary to understand this book. Now I feel I have no choice - on to the next book in the series! A Lady's Finder
Cay has clearly done her homework, both about the time and place and about the lives of a boxer and a blacksmith. That the boxer is a woman, with all of the additional difficulties that implies, made me empathize with her all the more.
I had read the first book in the series, A Lady's Revenge, which I also greatly enjoyed, though it was not necessary to understand this book. Now I feel I have no choice - on to the next book in the series! A Lady's Finder
February 24, 2021
I was already looking forward to reading this after the teaser at the end of the first of the When the Blood Is Up series, but I have to say that all my expectations were totally blown away. I loved the characters of Bess and Os and both of their stories; especially towards the end of the book, I found myself holding my breath as the action heated up. The only real downside was that I could have kept reading for chapters more; I was so in love with the characters.
If you are looking for beautifully-written, historical fiction, this is definitely worth your time. It checks the boxes for steamy romance, thoughtful world-building, and most of all a protagonist who kicks ass. Can't wait to see what Edie Cay comes up with next!
If you are looking for beautifully-written, historical fiction, this is definitely worth your time. It checks the boxes for steamy romance, thoughtful world-building, and most of all a protagonist who kicks ass. Can't wait to see what Edie Cay comes up with next!
February 27, 2021
I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this book and was entranced. Bess was one of my favorite characters from the first book, and I enjoyed seeing her shine in this one. And Os is truly swoon worthy. The setting is well researched and lushly described, and the characters have a depth that makes them compelling. I loved tough Bess being driven to protect Violet. I admired Os who grew up alone and managed to make a success of blacksmithing, but still logs for the mother he doesn't remember. The sparks that fly between these two made me want to knock their heads together! If you love Regency romance with a feminist twist, try Edie Cay's new book!
February 11, 2021
This fascinating story transports us to 1818 London, Manchester, & Barbados! The hero, heroine, & friends are very endearing. I’m blown away by Edie’s attention to detail & how she so thoughtfully brings together numerous themes: gender, class, race, family (by blood & choice), sports, romance. Movie material!! 🎥
I read A Lady’s Revenge first, but you can also start with this book & work backwards! It’s a fun, intriguing page-turner, even for slow sleepy readers like me. Looking forward to the next book! 📚
I read A Lady’s Revenge first, but you can also start with this book & work backwards! It’s a fun, intriguing page-turner, even for slow sleepy readers like me. Looking forward to the next book! 📚
February 21, 2021
The second book in the When the Blood Is Up series a well written story with a very good storyline, the story kept me turning pages. London’s undefeated women’s boxer, Bess Abbott and Blacksmith Os Worley's story. A story that is well worth reading. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 23, 2021
While I thoroughly enjoyed A Lady’s Revenge, I absolutely LOVED Boxer and the Blacksmith. Period pieces are not typically my genre but the characters were so real and relatable, they felt contemporary. The story was so well paced with just the right amount of romance, action, heartbreak, and humor. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a great read.
February 21, 2021
This book has everything you want in a good book. I was a bit angry and looking for a fight, had goosebumps, had heart pounding "I can't read this fast enough " sections; all in all, an excellent read and well worth the time. I highly recommend this book to be added to your must read list!
February 22, 2021
A fresh voice.
Yes, we all get the regency period (1818) but this is set in a very different world. It’s a working world, with people working for a living. Or, boxing in this case. Bess is a tough lady fighter. Os is the blacksmith looking for his mother.
Recommend.
Yes, we all get the regency period (1818) but this is set in a very different world. It’s a working world, with people working for a living. Or, boxing in this case. Bess is a tough lady fighter. Os is the blacksmith looking for his mother.
Recommend.
February 27, 2021
Such an amazing book! I'm a huge fan of historical romances and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this book. I really enjoyed it! I loved everything about it. I can not wait to read more by this author!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 21, 2025
Really enjoyed stepping outside of my typical genre with a feminist regency romance. Loved Bess and Os, their stories together & side stories were heart warming. Some of the side characters got a little in the weeds for me, but I suspect it’s setting up potential sequels.
May 14, 2021
I haven’t been this sucked into a novel in some time. This book is everything!
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