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 September 10 and 11, 2026. The promotion is exclusively through Amazon, where readers can download the book at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rusty-Blackwood/author/B0092XLBRM.
Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster serves as the prequel to Blackwood's thrilling Autumn Trilogy, a series that immerses readers in the equestrian world of professional racing, concealed secrets, and an unfaltering love. The prequel explores the origins of Cyril Landon, a central figure in the trilogy, demonstrating that determination and grit can turn uncertainty into triumph.
Set in the village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire, England, the novel follows Cyril Landon, a young Englishman born into poverty whose prospects appear hopeless. A chance laborer's position at a local farm opens a door to a future he had never imagined, setting him on a path that will lead to unexpected heights. The story delves into his difficult beginnings during England's war years, offering context for the grandeur that awaits in The Perils of Autumn.
In a 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."
Blackwood expressed her enthusiasm for the promotion: "I am pleased to offer, Before the Grandeur: The Making of a Horsemaster, at no charge during this timeframe. 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."
The 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 a finalist in the American Book Fest's 2019 awards program. The book also received a 5-star rating from Reader's Favorite. Set primarily in the early 1970s, it centers on Autumn Leeves, a young Kentucky woman who becomes entangled with Cyril Landon, the owner of a successful Thoroughbred racing stable near Lexington, Kentucky. Their romance is plagued by those trying to stop it, and peril strikes when Autumn's mother dies, leaving her pregnant and fighting to save her baby.
Blackwood's previous works include the 5-star rated romantic fiction novel Willow's Walk and Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary. Willow's Walk, set in Ottawa, Canada, in 2003, tells the story of a woman determined to prevail at all costs. Passions in Paris 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 at http://www.rusty-blackwood.com. Readers can download paperback and Kindle versions of her books at Amazon sites worldwide, including Amazon.ca.
