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, 2026, at Amazon. This prequel to the Autumn Trilogy immerses readers in the equestrian world of professional racing, concealed secrets, and unfaltering love, demonstrating that determination can turn uncertainty into triumph.
The story follows Cyril Landon, a young Englishman born into poverty in the village of South Wood Chester, Gloucestershire. With little hope of success, Cyril's life changes when a labourer's job at a local farm opens a door to a future he never imagined. This free download allows readers to understand the difficult journey that precedes the grandeur in The Perils of Autumn, the first book in the series, which earned Blackwood a finalist spot in the 2019 International Book Awards and American Book Fest for Fiction Romance, as well as a 5-star rating from Reader's Favorite.
Richard Prause of Readers Favorite praised the novel, stating, "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." 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."
The Autumn Trilogy's first book, The Perils Of Autumn, set in the early 1970s, centers on Autumn Leeves, a young Kentucky woman born to an unwed mother. After graduating nursing school, she is assigned to care for the terminally ill wife of Cyril Landon, an English equestrian master. The story weaves romance and peril as Autumn and Cyril navigate obstacles, including a dark secret held by jockey Duff Taylor. Reviewers have lauded the book; Ray Simmons noted, "Romance and good writing come together perfectly," while Trudi LoPreto said, "This book has it all."
Blackwood's other works include the 5-star rated Willow's Walk, 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, and her books are available at Amazon sites worldwide, including Amazon.ca. This free download offers a significant opportunity for new readers to discover Blackwood's historical fiction and for fans to deepen their understanding of the beloved character Cyril Landon.
