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 July 30 and 31, 2026, at Amazon.
Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster is the prequel to the thrilling Autumn Trilogy, immersing readers into the equestrian world of professional racing, concealed secrets, and an unfaltering love. The novel demonstrates that determination and grit can turn uncertainty into triumph. The story follows Cyril Landon, a deprived young Englishman born into poverty in the village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire, England. A chance labourer's position at a local farm opens a window into a possible future, leading him through doors that ultimately shape his destiny.
"I am pleased to offer Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster at no charge during this timeframe," stated Blackwood. "Born into extreme poverty with little hope of survival, Cyril Landon's difficult beginnings throughout England's horrific war years will better assist readers in understanding the difficult journey that precedes the grandeur awaiting them in The Perils of Autumn. For fans of Historical Fiction, this page-turner is a must read."
In his review, Richard Prause of Readers Favorite said, "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. If you appreciate character-driven historical fiction, this novel is well worth your time." Another reviewer, Asher Syed, stated, "Overall, this will be a boon for readers who are already fans of the series, and a brilliant introduction to fans-in-waiting."
The first book in the series, The Perils of Autumn, set primarily in the early 1970s, centers on a young Kentucky woman named Autumn Leeves. Born in 1946 to an unwed mother, Autumn faces societal shunning until a kind shopkeeper takes them in. By 1970, Autumn graduates nursing school and is sent to care for the terminally ill wife of Cyril Landon, owner of Landon Lawns Stables. The story weaves romance and peril as Autumn and Cyril marry, but face ongoing disruption and tragedy. The Perils of Autumn earned Blackwood finalist status in the Fiction Romance category at the International Book Awards and American Book Fest in 2019, and received a 5-star rating from Reader's Favorite.
Blackwood's previous works include the 5-star rated romantic fiction novel Willow's Walk, set in Ottawa, Canada, and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, which has been 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.
