Award-winning novelist Rusty Blackwood has announced that the ebook version of her latest novel, Before The Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster, will be available at no charge on July 30 and 31, 2024, at Amazon. This prequel to the thrilling Autumn Trilogy immerses readers in the equestrian world of professional racing, concealed secrets, and an unfaltering love, demonstrating that determination and grit can turn uncertainty into triumph.
The story follows Cyril Landon, a young Englishman born into extreme poverty in the village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire, England. With little hope for success, Cyril’s life takes a turn when he takes a labourer’s position at a local farm, opening a door to a future he never imagined. The novel explores his difficult beginnings during England’s horrific war years, providing context for the grandeur that awaits in The Perils of Autumn. “Born into extreme poverty with little hope of survival, Cyril Landon’s difficult beginnings… will better assist readers in understanding the difficult journey that precedes the grandeur awaiting them,” Blackwood stated.
Critics have praised the novel. Richard Prause of Readers Favorite noted, “It doesn’t depend on manufactured plot twists to drive the story. Instead, it focuses on the simple, powerful moments of a man earning the trust of a stallion. It’s a perceptive exploration of ambition and loyalty, indeed.” Asher Syed added, “Overall, this will be a boon for readers who are already fans of the series, and a brilliant introduction to fans-in-waiting.”
Blackwood’s Autumn Trilogy began with The Perils of Autumn, which was named a finalist in the Fiction Romance category by the International Book Awards in 2019 and received a 5-star rating from Readers Favorite. Set primarily in the early 1970s, the novel centers on Autumn Leeves, a young Kentucky woman born in 1946 to an unwed mother. After graduating nursing school, Autumn is sent to care for the terminally ill wife of Cyril Landon, owner of Landon Lawns Stables. The story intertwines romance and peril as Autumn and Cyril navigate attraction amidst secrets and tragedy.
Blackwood’s other works include the 5-star-rated Willow’s Walk, a gripping tale set in Ottawa, Canada, and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, a romantic fiction novel compared to Erich Segal’s Love Story and Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook. Information on all of Blackwood’s work is available at her website. Readers can download paperback and Kindle versions of her books at Amazon sites worldwide, including Amazon.ca.
