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When the Blood Is Up #3
A Lady's Finder
Lady Agnes is a scandal thanks to her sister’s marriage to a prizefighter. Or rather, she should be, but as a charitable spinster-to-be, she remains firmly invisible, even to those she loves. Always dutiful, Lady Agnes should be the toast of her family, but only if she marries well. Finding the prospect of wedding a man unpalatable, Lady Agnes cannot be the social savior of her sister. Suddenly, receiving attentions from the unpredictable and surprisingly resourceful Mr. Jack Townsend, Lady Agnes finds herself believing he might love her and not her dowry. After being overlooked for so long, can she believe he cares for her, or is she a means to an end as her family insists?
Jack About Town is London’s best Finder of Lost Things. What few realize is that Jack transcends the spheres of men and women, existing as both, or perhaps neither, sex. True, his most lucrative finds are pornographic artifacts for rich toffs. But now he has found Lady Agnes, a meticulous, generous, knock-down incredible lady who wears men’s boots. Best of all, Lady Agnes accepts him in his entirety—a jewel so rare that even Jack is surprised he could find it.
When Jack is commissioned to steal from Lady Agnes’s cousin, can Jack find a way to prove his love and still earn the money he needs to protect himself and his home?
Jack About Town is London’s best Finder of Lost Things. What few realize is that Jack transcends the spheres of men and women, existing as both, or perhaps neither, sex. True, his most lucrative finds are pornographic artifacts for rich toffs. But now he has found Lady Agnes, a meticulous, generous, knock-down incredible lady who wears men’s boots. Best of all, Lady Agnes accepts him in his entirety—a jewel so rare that even Jack is surprised he could find it.
When Jack is commissioned to steal from Lady Agnes’s cousin, can Jack find a way to prove his love and still earn the money he needs to protect himself and his home?
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2022
15 people are currently reading
147 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 The next in her series, THE BOXER AND THE BLACKSMITH won the Hearts Through History Legends Award as an unpublished manuscript in 2019 and was the Discovering Diamonds Book of the Month in May 2021, and won the Best Indie Book Award.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 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 22, 2022
Phenomenal book which proves Edie Cay is doing some of the most interesting work in historical romance– our hero is non-binary with he/him pronouns and our heroine is primarily attracted to women (I hesitate to definitively say bi considering she rejects the idea of marriage and sex with cis men, and spends the book mourning a prior relationship with another woman, but she also falls for Jack when he is male-presenting as well as female-presenting), and the spark between them is electric. It’s a sweet, charged romance of being Seen.
Cay treats her characters with warmth and love, even when she shows the complicated but ultimately deeply loving relationship between Lydia and Agnes. While the HEA is predicated on families being accepting and open– isn’t that the fantasy? That your families will do whatever it takes to make you happy and accept you as you are? And given the way the historical record works, it’s possible something similar could have happened. Cay cites her research, and it shows. I don’t want to speak for non-binary and trans folks, but I loved seeing the queer culture of regency London filled of people living happy, full lives. There’s several potential future plots unraveled here, and I will be reading them if Edie Cay decides to write them.
I particularly liked the little subversion of “heroine who doesn’t fit in must want to wear and feel comfortable in men’s clothing/do masculine things to be Strong”, and neither the plot nor Jack invalidate Agnes when she is clearly uncomfortable! There is also some subtle exploration of racial and class assimilation during Jack’s plot with his brother Roland.
The underlying “Jack was hired to steal from Agnes’s cousin” plot takes the back burner, but is resolved satisfactorily if within the last 40 pages.
Cay treats her characters with warmth and love, even when she shows the complicated but ultimately deeply loving relationship between Lydia and Agnes. While the HEA is predicated on families being accepting and open– isn’t that the fantasy? That your families will do whatever it takes to make you happy and accept you as you are? And given the way the historical record works, it’s possible something similar could have happened. Cay cites her research, and it shows. I don’t want to speak for non-binary and trans folks, but I loved seeing the queer culture of regency London filled of people living happy, full lives. There’s several potential future plots unraveled here, and I will be reading them if Edie Cay decides to write them.
I particularly liked the little subversion of “heroine who doesn’t fit in must want to wear and feel comfortable in men’s clothing/do masculine things to be Strong”, and neither the plot nor Jack invalidate Agnes when she is clearly uncomfortable! There is also some subtle exploration of racial and class assimilation during Jack’s plot with his brother Roland.
The underlying “Jack was hired to steal from Agnes’s cousin” plot takes the back burner, but is resolved satisfactorily if within the last 40 pages.
February 24, 2022
I received a free copy of the ebook from NetGalley and this is my freely given opinion.
I am definitely a fan of Edie Cay through her previous two books in this series, and the different perspectives of Regency England and romantic relationships. So if you are looking for a traditional romance - this may not be for you. But I would still say give it a try because you may still love the story that shines through regardless!
I have to admit, it started a wee bit slow for me and I was thinking I would not enjoy it half as much as I would the previous two books... but after the first few chapters, I was drawn in.
Lady Agnes, the younger sister of Lydia, from A Lady's Revenge, seems to be the opposite of her sister. She is dutiful, quiet, and kind of fades into the background, overshadowed by her sister's more forceful personality. But in this story, we learn so much more about Agnes and she wants to be truly seen, loved, respected, valued, and accepted as she is. Is that not something we can all relate too - see me... love me... value me - warts and all. However, she is does not conform to what is expected by Society at the time, in that she is attracted to women, and chafes against some of the other expectations - such as dancing and dainty footwear. Initially, she thought she was in love with another female friend, and that they could plan a quiet life together in the country, but has her heart broken when this same friend decides to enter into a traditional marriage because she wants children.
We met Jack About Town earlier in the series. His gain to fame is his ability to find things and help those in need. He also has quite the crush on Lady Agnes, including her little quirks and differences - he sees them and he empathizes with them too. Jack also doesn't conform, and doesn't identify with traditional gender roles, and this has caused him to leave his family and live a very different lifestyle than members of his family tried to force him into before. He is also looking for someone to see and accept him truly as he is, and he thinks Agnes may be that person. But they have so many obstacles... social status, social expectations, his family, her family.
The build up of their relationship is sweet as Jack tries to show Agnes that he sees, understands and loves her differences, and tries to show her what his true self is, and see if she accepts and loves him. He tries the route of traditional courtship, including trying to reconcile with his family to gain acceptance with hers. It was rather heart wrenching some of the barriers they faced, and learning more about Jack's history and what caused him to leave home.
I loved this story and the creative path to the HEA. It was a bit of a rough ride for the two main characters, but I loved how the relationships were written. The sisterly conflict between Lydia and Agnes, but with the underlying love and support was lovely. It was a great contrast also between Jack and his brother. I liked that it was a romance, but not quite traditional, and with a gritty realism, including the continuation of the story of Corinthian John and Lydia, and the story of her trauma as well.
Keep at it Edie - I love your perspective and depth, and wonderfully diverse characters. The writing was at times quite poignant and touching; some lovely phrasing. I sincerely hope to hear more about James, Lord Andrepont, his history, and story as well.
4.5 stars out of 5.
I am definitely a fan of Edie Cay through her previous two books in this series, and the different perspectives of Regency England and romantic relationships. So if you are looking for a traditional romance - this may not be for you. But I would still say give it a try because you may still love the story that shines through regardless!
I have to admit, it started a wee bit slow for me and I was thinking I would not enjoy it half as much as I would the previous two books... but after the first few chapters, I was drawn in.
Lady Agnes, the younger sister of Lydia, from A Lady's Revenge, seems to be the opposite of her sister. She is dutiful, quiet, and kind of fades into the background, overshadowed by her sister's more forceful personality. But in this story, we learn so much more about Agnes and she wants to be truly seen, loved, respected, valued, and accepted as she is. Is that not something we can all relate too - see me... love me... value me - warts and all. However, she is does not conform to what is expected by Society at the time, in that she is attracted to women, and chafes against some of the other expectations - such as dancing and dainty footwear. Initially, she thought she was in love with another female friend, and that they could plan a quiet life together in the country, but has her heart broken when this same friend decides to enter into a traditional marriage because she wants children.
We met Jack About Town earlier in the series. His gain to fame is his ability to find things and help those in need. He also has quite the crush on Lady Agnes, including her little quirks and differences - he sees them and he empathizes with them too. Jack also doesn't conform, and doesn't identify with traditional gender roles, and this has caused him to leave his family and live a very different lifestyle than members of his family tried to force him into before. He is also looking for someone to see and accept him truly as he is, and he thinks Agnes may be that person. But they have so many obstacles... social status, social expectations, his family, her family.
The build up of their relationship is sweet as Jack tries to show Agnes that he sees, understands and loves her differences, and tries to show her what his true self is, and see if she accepts and loves him. He tries the route of traditional courtship, including trying to reconcile with his family to gain acceptance with hers. It was rather heart wrenching some of the barriers they faced, and learning more about Jack's history and what caused him to leave home.
I loved this story and the creative path to the HEA. It was a bit of a rough ride for the two main characters, but I loved how the relationships were written. The sisterly conflict between Lydia and Agnes, but with the underlying love and support was lovely. It was a great contrast also between Jack and his brother. I liked that it was a romance, but not quite traditional, and with a gritty realism, including the continuation of the story of Corinthian John and Lydia, and the story of her trauma as well.
Keep at it Edie - I love your perspective and depth, and wonderfully diverse characters. The writing was at times quite poignant and touching; some lovely phrasing. I sincerely hope to hear more about James, Lord Andrepont, his history, and story as well.
4.5 stars out of 5.
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May 27, 2024Love this series...
February 20, 2022
An new author I put on my TBR list. Maybe I should have read the first two books first, but there is enough information in this book to understand the many relationships to Agnes and Jack.
Lady Agnes just had her heart broken by a young lady she thought would be her life companion. Jack Townsend has loved Agnes from afar. Known as The Finder and an honest person, he seizes his chance to woo Agnes after her heartbreak. But will she accept the person she will come to know or will it be total rejection? A very unusual book set in the Regency period, with a non-cookie cutter ending.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Lady Agnes just had her heart broken by a young lady she thought would be her life companion. Jack Townsend has loved Agnes from afar. Known as The Finder and an honest person, he seizes his chance to woo Agnes after her heartbreak. But will she accept the person she will come to know or will it be total rejection? A very unusual book set in the Regency period, with a non-cookie cutter ending.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
March 4, 2023
This whole series from Edie Cay is fantastic, but A Lady's Finder is my favorite book in the series! I'd been wanting Agnes's story ever since about halfway through book 1, when she was a supporting character with hints that she wasn't about to live a traditional life, and this book totally delivered on that promise. Agnes is the best kind of craft nerd - smart, subtle, queer, not concerned with other people's opinions about her, just trying to make her own way in a world that (like her shoes) never quite fits. She's in the background, quietly fixing the little things here and there with the bespoke little systems and codes she has crafted, making it all work just a little bit better for the people around her, and trying not to get hurt. Jack About Town is similar - slipping through the cracks on purpose in a world that doesn't fit, making things better here and there, trying to stay under the radar and build an unconventional life where he can be happy, somehow. Jack is also a dashing nonbinary hero, a master of disguise, and deep down, as lonely as Agnes is. You just really want to see both of them win! The story is a delightful look into the dimly lit corners of a time and place with fewer trails blazed for queer and nonconforming folks, where with the help of their families (blood relations AND queer chosen-family) they build their own way to happiness from scratch, with some unexpected twists along the way. I will not spoil the ending in this review, except to say that it's absolutely epic!
I think readers of all orientations and identities will enjoy this story (and the whole series!) but it's especially dear to my heart to see a couple of queer nerds get such a delightful happily-ever-after. ♥
I think readers of all orientations and identities will enjoy this story (and the whole series!) but it's especially dear to my heart to see a couple of queer nerds get such a delightful happily-ever-after. ♥
July 2, 2025
Jack About Town
I must say that this book was well written, however there were times where it was just slow and similarly hard to understand what was being said on how it was phrased. And just because the writer k owes the backstory to her characters done mean that some hints don’t fly over our heads because leading up to the hints was lost in moments of boredom.
Jack was a really good character written for the time. And her lady of choice was made for her. Who wouldn’t like Agnes. In the beginning she was boring and small. As described. And thank goodness that Miss Townsend and her brother Jack About Town with whom she saw “signs of life.” I didn’t really care about where they lived and what was going on there was “interesting.”
Being neither male or female, being both, or in between has been hard for me to understand in a way that I feel female and do not feel male. Well whatever we think female is. It’s a rather deep question that he puts forth. Those sensitive conversations around this question and “being” should have been much longer. Unless the point was not to go too deep and get too philosophical. But it may be a conversation well needed that feels a kinsmanship to Jack.
I am happy that this is a stand alone book. I don’t think I would be interested in following this couple. They were fighting a system that was against them with women having little to no power. There were lots of statements that went no where. Like, “I have loved Lady Agnes for years.” Then no follow up to what that means. I’ve enjoyed these characters while I was with them. Their lives together became only what they could become…friends public facing and a married couple within their home together. What else is there?
I must say that this book was well written, however there were times where it was just slow and similarly hard to understand what was being said on how it was phrased. And just because the writer k owes the backstory to her characters done mean that some hints don’t fly over our heads because leading up to the hints was lost in moments of boredom.
Jack was a really good character written for the time. And her lady of choice was made for her. Who wouldn’t like Agnes. In the beginning she was boring and small. As described. And thank goodness that Miss Townsend and her brother Jack About Town with whom she saw “signs of life.” I didn’t really care about where they lived and what was going on there was “interesting.”
Being neither male or female, being both, or in between has been hard for me to understand in a way that I feel female and do not feel male. Well whatever we think female is. It’s a rather deep question that he puts forth. Those sensitive conversations around this question and “being” should have been much longer. Unless the point was not to go too deep and get too philosophical. But it may be a conversation well needed that feels a kinsmanship to Jack.
I am happy that this is a stand alone book. I don’t think I would be interested in following this couple. They were fighting a system that was against them with women having little to no power. There were lots of statements that went no where. Like, “I have loved Lady Agnes for years.” Then no follow up to what that means. I’ve enjoyed these characters while I was with them. Their lives together became only what they could become…friends public facing and a married couple within their home together. What else is there?
March 7, 2022
I have only had the opportunity to read one of the other books in the series, and I loved it, so I thought to give this a try. This is the third book in the series, When the Blood is Up, and it definitely did not disappoint! Lady Agnes is the dutiful daughter, however, thanks to her sister's marriage, she is tainted by scandal. Her family is confident that if she marries well, she could save their social standing. But she has no interest in marrying. She has always been shy and quiet and tends to fade into the background, but all she really wants is to be accepted and valued as she is. When Jack starts paying attention to her, she begins to hope that he truly sees her for who she truly is. Jack is not without his own quirks and when Agnes accepts him for his whole self, that simply blows him away. This is definitely not your traditional regency, but it was certainly a well-written tale that I found both enjoyable and entertaining. The characters were well-developed and I enjoyed getting to know them. I would definitely like to read more from this author in the future.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
August 31, 2024
This is the first Edie Cay book I’ve read and I was so so happy to find out that this was part of a series.
I saw it at my library and got it because I’m a huge historical romance fan and am glad I did.
First of all, it’s a beautifully written romance. The characters feel genuine and like they stand on their own feet. And have very sweet, heartfelt, and sincere reasons that they fall for each other. The chemistry between them feels natural and grows as the characters grow.
And on top of all of that it is a queer love story! Jack’s perspective and thoughts on gender are a delight to read and see how they navigate their gender identity in a world where no one else is doing it like them. It’s beautiful and sweet and thoughtful. I love seeing historical fiction with queer characters getting understanding from families and well deserved happily ever afters.
Finally, the plot is unique and fun. So many romances rely on lies as a way to build tension do having a character promise to never lie (in the most romantic way possible) and then keep that promise was amazing.
I highly, highly recommend this book! 5/5 stars. Cannot wait to read more of Edie Cay!
I saw it at my library and got it because I’m a huge historical romance fan and am glad I did.
First of all, it’s a beautifully written romance. The characters feel genuine and like they stand on their own feet. And have very sweet, heartfelt, and sincere reasons that they fall for each other. The chemistry between them feels natural and grows as the characters grow.
And on top of all of that it is a queer love story! Jack’s perspective and thoughts on gender are a delight to read and see how they navigate their gender identity in a world where no one else is doing it like them. It’s beautiful and sweet and thoughtful. I love seeing historical fiction with queer characters getting understanding from families and well deserved happily ever afters.
Finally, the plot is unique and fun. So many romances rely on lies as a way to build tension do having a character promise to never lie (in the most romantic way possible) and then keep that promise was amazing.
I highly, highly recommend this book! 5/5 stars. Cannot wait to read more of Edie Cay!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2023
I'll preface this by saying I don't read many romances and I don't think I'd ever read a Regency one (although I love Jane Austen). I made an exception for Edie Cay's "A Lady's Finder," and I'm really glad I did. This HF novel, set in 1817 London, is a deliciously good time, with a cast of appealing and vividly drawn characters—especially the main couple, Lady Agnes and Jack About Town. In today's parlance, Lady Agnes would probably call herself a lesbian, and Jack would be non-binary. The historical record shows that, even before there were such identity labels, people like Agnes and Jack existed and carried on full lives. I loved learning more about London's molly-house culture.
This is #3 in Cay's When the Blood Is Up series (each volume includes a boxing element), but you don't need to have read the first two books to understand and appreciate the characters and plot. I liked this novel so much I immediately bought Cay's newest release, "A Viscount's Vengeance," which is #4 in the same series. Highly recommended.
This is #3 in Cay's When the Blood Is Up series (each volume includes a boxing element), but you don't need to have read the first two books to understand and appreciate the characters and plot. I liked this novel so much I immediately bought Cay's newest release, "A Viscount's Vengeance," which is #4 in the same series. Highly recommended.
April 6, 2022
It's always nice to get books with lots of queer rep. Nonbinary Jack was a great character, and I really enjoyed watching him find his place in Agnes' life. Agnes took a while to grow on me, because at the beginning she really didn't seem to have any kind of passions or joys in life. As she grew into herself, I did come to like her. This book was heavier/angstier than I personally prefer, with lots of homophobia/transphobia from side characters, including many of those close to the MCs. It felt a bit depressing at times, and I was furious at a lot of the side characters, including the heroine from the previous book. Maybe if I knew her better from her book that wouldn't happen. Overall, though, it was a good book with an excellent ending, and recommended reading if you can go into it knowing there are some uncomfortable moments for the MCs.
August 11, 2023
A historical romance with a non-binary MC? Yes please! I loved this book - Agnes and Jack are so different from the MCs you'd normally find in the historical romances, and they were done so well. It's rare to find LGBTQIA+ representation in historical romances, and I thought Cay did an excellent job of bringing both setting and characters to life in a way that transports the reader into the story. Agnes and Jack were clearly meant to be together - despite the trying circumstances they find themselves in. I won't give any spoilers, but this will tug at your heartstrings, and you'll find it hard to put down once you start. I'll definitely be checking out other books by Cay!
March 1, 2022
I absolutely LOVED this book. I believe it to be my favorite in the series!! It was one of those that kept me up reading into the wee hours of the morning bc I most couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend!
March 7, 2022
The third book in the When the Blood Is Up series. Lady Agnes Somerset and Jack Townsend's story is well written and kept me turning pages. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 16, 2022
Lady Agnes and Jack Townsend are two of the most unique characters I've read. Neither are characters I would normally connect instantly with, but Cay writes them in such a compelling fashion that I'm a champion of theirs from page one.
March 2, 2022
I literally couldn't put this one down. These fantastically relatable characters had me rooting for them from the very beginning. Very enjoyable read.
June 29, 2023
Delightful. The central romance is deeply charming and convincing, treading a delicate line between being grounded in the period and allowing the characters acceptance and space to breathe.
February 22, 2022
Lady Agnes is a scandal thanks to her sister’s marriage to a prizefighter. Or rather, she should be, but as a charitable spinster-to-be, she remains firmly invisible, even to those she loves.
Always dutiful, Lady Agnes should be the toast of her family, but only if she marries well. Finding the prospect of wedding a man unpalatable, Lady Agnes cannot be the social savior of her sister.
Suddenly, receiving attentions from the unpredictable and surprisingly resourceful Mr. Jack Townsend, Lady Agnes finds herself believing he might love her and not her dowry. After being overlooked for so long, can she believe he cares for her, or is she a means to an end as her family insists?
Jack About Town is London’s best Finder of Lost Things. What few realize is that Jack transcends the spheres of men and women, existing as both, or perhaps neither, sex. True, his most lucrative finds are pornographic artifacts for rich toffs. But now he has found Lady Agnes, a meticulous, generous, knock-down incredible lady who wears men’s boots. Best of all, Lady Agnes accepts him in his entirety—a jewel so rare that even Jack is surprised he could find it.
When Jack is commissioned to steal from Lady Agnes’s cousin, can Jack find a way to prove his love and still earn the money he needs to protect himself and his home?
This book is funny and poignant. It seems like a huge problem in that there is nothing more that they can overcome.
Jack is actually a woman and Agnes is in love with her.
Edie Cay has written a good book.
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Merged review:
Lady Agnes is a scandal thanks to her sister’s marriage to a prizefighter. Or rather, she should be, but as a charitable spinster-to-be, she remains firmly invisible, even to those she loves.
Always dutiful, Lady Agnes should be the toast of her family, but only if she marries well. Finding the prospect of wedding a man unpalatable, Lady Agnes cannot be the social savior of her sister.
Suddenly, receiving attentions from the unpredictable and surprisingly resourceful Mr. Jack Townsend, Lady Agnes finds herself believing he might love her and not her dowry. After being overlooked for so long, can she believe he cares for her, or is she a means to an end as her family insists?
Jack About Town is London’s best Finder of Lost Things. What few realize is that Jack transcends the spheres of men and women, existing as both, or perhaps neither, sex. True, his most lucrative finds are pornographic artifacts for rich toffs. But now he has found Lady Agnes, a meticulous, generous, knock-down incredible lady who wears men’s boots. Best of all, Lady Agnes accepts him in his entirety—a jewel so rare that even Jack is surprised he could find it.
When Jack is commissioned to steal from Lady Agnes’s cousin, can Jack find a way to prove his love and still earn the money he needs to protect himself and his home?
This book is funny and poignant. It seems like a huge problem in that there is nothing more that they can overcome.
Jack is actually a woman and Agnes is in love with her.
Edie Cay has written a good book.
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily
Always dutiful, Lady Agnes should be the toast of her family, but only if she marries well. Finding the prospect of wedding a man unpalatable, Lady Agnes cannot be the social savior of her sister.
Suddenly, receiving attentions from the unpredictable and surprisingly resourceful Mr. Jack Townsend, Lady Agnes finds herself believing he might love her and not her dowry. After being overlooked for so long, can she believe he cares for her, or is she a means to an end as her family insists?
Jack About Town is London’s best Finder of Lost Things. What few realize is that Jack transcends the spheres of men and women, existing as both, or perhaps neither, sex. True, his most lucrative finds are pornographic artifacts for rich toffs. But now he has found Lady Agnes, a meticulous, generous, knock-down incredible lady who wears men’s boots. Best of all, Lady Agnes accepts him in his entirety—a jewel so rare that even Jack is surprised he could find it.
When Jack is commissioned to steal from Lady Agnes’s cousin, can Jack find a way to prove his love and still earn the money he needs to protect himself and his home?
This book is funny and poignant. It seems like a huge problem in that there is nothing more that they can overcome.
Jack is actually a woman and Agnes is in love with her.
Edie Cay has written a good book.
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Merged review:
Lady Agnes is a scandal thanks to her sister’s marriage to a prizefighter. Or rather, she should be, but as a charitable spinster-to-be, she remains firmly invisible, even to those she loves.
Always dutiful, Lady Agnes should be the toast of her family, but only if she marries well. Finding the prospect of wedding a man unpalatable, Lady Agnes cannot be the social savior of her sister.
Suddenly, receiving attentions from the unpredictable and surprisingly resourceful Mr. Jack Townsend, Lady Agnes finds herself believing he might love her and not her dowry. After being overlooked for so long, can she believe he cares for her, or is she a means to an end as her family insists?
Jack About Town is London’s best Finder of Lost Things. What few realize is that Jack transcends the spheres of men and women, existing as both, or perhaps neither, sex. True, his most lucrative finds are pornographic artifacts for rich toffs. But now he has found Lady Agnes, a meticulous, generous, knock-down incredible lady who wears men’s boots. Best of all, Lady Agnes accepts him in his entirety—a jewel so rare that even Jack is surprised he could find it.
When Jack is commissioned to steal from Lady Agnes’s cousin, can Jack find a way to prove his love and still earn the money he needs to protect himself and his home?
This book is funny and poignant. It seems like a huge problem in that there is nothing more that they can overcome.
Jack is actually a woman and Agnes is in love with her.
Edie Cay has written a good book.
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily
February 6, 2023
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned before how much I loved @authorediecay ‘s first book in this series, A Lady’s Revenge (just kidding! I tell everybody all of the time!) I have been waiting for this book for what seems like forever because it’s about Lydia’s little sister Agnes, the “good” sister, the one who doesn’t cause any trouble. Agnes doesn’t get in trouble with men like Lydia did with John, because she’s too busy getting into trouble with ladies, which has not quite been noticed by the ton. When Agnes’s paramour Mary Franklin decides to get married to a man, Agnes falls apart. The errand boy for the Franklins, Jack, witnesses her private shame, which annoys Agnes, around the same time she agrees to help a poor Miss Townsend learn how to be a lady.
Jack is both the errand boy and Miss Townsend. Jack is not gender bent, Jack is genderqueer - self described as sometimes neither male nor female, sometimes both, but presents for most of this book as he/him and in trousers. Jack has not had it easy — his brother threatened to out him as Guinevere, as a freak, so Jack ran away. Jack lives in a Molly house (a gay brothel) with his found family, but just being there is dangerous. If they were to be found, they’d all risk jail or prison to America, or even death.
Agnes and Jack are in love, so of course they risk it all. In the course of this book, there’s an overarching lesson about love and queerness as Jack and Agnes learn about each other: they’re both very different in their experiences thus far, but there is no wrong way to be queer.
There are a few books out there with gender nonconforming characters, or women hiding as men — but this one felt like a sapphic romance, which made it different from the others that I’ve read. The ultimate resolution was well done and devious, and it was fun to revisit characters I loved so much from the previous books in a new stage of their lives. It was also a bonus to read about Lydia and Agnes repairing a long fraught relationship - something that siblings tend to do as they mature. Since I’m a sucker for a sibling subplot, this was a real joy for me.
Now, let’s talk about cousin James… 🤔😎
Thank you for the ARC!
Jack is both the errand boy and Miss Townsend. Jack is not gender bent, Jack is genderqueer - self described as sometimes neither male nor female, sometimes both, but presents for most of this book as he/him and in trousers. Jack has not had it easy — his brother threatened to out him as Guinevere, as a freak, so Jack ran away. Jack lives in a Molly house (a gay brothel) with his found family, but just being there is dangerous. If they were to be found, they’d all risk jail or prison to America, or even death.
Agnes and Jack are in love, so of course they risk it all. In the course of this book, there’s an overarching lesson about love and queerness as Jack and Agnes learn about each other: they’re both very different in their experiences thus far, but there is no wrong way to be queer.
There are a few books out there with gender nonconforming characters, or women hiding as men — but this one felt like a sapphic romance, which made it different from the others that I’ve read. The ultimate resolution was well done and devious, and it was fun to revisit characters I loved so much from the previous books in a new stage of their lives. It was also a bonus to read about Lydia and Agnes repairing a long fraught relationship - something that siblings tend to do as they mature. Since I’m a sucker for a sibling subplot, this was a real joy for me.
Now, let’s talk about cousin James… 🤔😎
Thank you for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2022
A lovely story.
This book was not what I expected but the book was done rather well. I have read some books dealing with this historical taboo but it has been gentlemen not ladies. I liked Jack and I liked Jack’s mother. I felt so sorry for Agnes at the beginning of the book a broken heart is always hard to deal with. I liked the ending. I did receive a free copy of this book from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.
This book was not what I expected but the book was done rather well. I have read some books dealing with this historical taboo but it has been gentlemen not ladies. I liked Jack and I liked Jack’s mother. I felt so sorry for Agnes at the beginning of the book a broken heart is always hard to deal with. I liked the ending. I did receive a free copy of this book from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.
May 1, 2022
I yrie twice but couldn't get interested enough in tthe story dedpite itcraising a number of valid sociological points about that era and female roles.
Female boxers were indeed a thing then but the rigid class boundaries and expectations meant they were a very suspect part of society.
The style of storytelling was not engaging and lacked some humour. It took itself too seriously i thought for the points it was making.
Female boxers were indeed a thing then but the rigid class boundaries and expectations meant they were a very suspect part of society.
The style of storytelling was not engaging and lacked some humour. It took itself too seriously i thought for the points it was making.
April 29, 2022
I'm never disappointed by Edie Cay and A Lady's Finder is definitely my favorite of this series! I love the non-binary rep and the characters are wonderful. I was invested in Agnes and Jack's story and I felt their struggles throughout this book. I will continue to read Edie Cay and highly recommend this book.
Thanks NetGalley for a copy of this book!
Thanks NetGalley for a copy of this book!
October 27, 2022
I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. An interesting novel. Love the cover.
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