Rusty
Blackwood will be awarding an inscribed and autographed hardcover copy of
"The Perils of Autumn" to be given to a randomly drawn winner
(US/Canada only) via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link:
From
the author of the riveting romantic fiction drama, Passions in Paris:
Revelations of a Lost Diary, and the celebrated, 5-star award-winning romantic
fiction drama, Willow's Walk, comes the intense romantic drama, The Perils of
Autumn.
This
page-turner, set primarily in the early 1970s, centers on a young Kentucky
woman, Autumn Leeves, born in 1946 to Abigail Leeves, an unwed mother who
struggles to make ends meet. By 1970, Autumn graduated nursing school and is
sent on assignment by the local hospital to care for the terminally-ill wife of
middle-aged English equestrian master, Cyril Landon, owner of Landon Lawns
Stables, a most successful thoroughbred racing stable located just outside
Lexington, Kentucky in a posh community known as The Meadows.
Duff
Taylor, a world-renown jockey who is tops in his field, lives full-time above
the tack room at Landon Lawns and enjoys the many benefits it brings, but he
also has a dark secret surrounding an unsolved racing incident from his past
that he will go to any length to protect.
Autumn
arrives at Landon Manor in time to be thrown into the drama and finds herself
caught in the ongoing disruption that ensues.
Excerpt
The doorbell of Landon Manor sounded
its Call to the Post chime, alerting those inside of a new arrival to the front
door as efficiently as if a racing venue’s trumpet was summoning horses to the
post. It was the only residence throughout The Meadows known for such a
doorbell which was most befitting to its surroundings, as well as one that was
forever remembered by those departing a visit to the stately manor. Whenever it
sounded, it caused Agnes Harris to shake her head in a disgruntled manner as
she fought the urge to gallop toward the door as if she were a late arrival to
the lineup. This morning was no different, but she paused long enough to catch
her breath while massaging the small of her back before opening the huge ornate
door.
“Good morning,” announced the slight
young woman standing on the column-lined terrace, gripping a suitcase in her
left hand, while straightening her white cap sporting her school’s insignia
with her right, “I am Autumn Leeves from Saint Joseph Hospital. I’ve been
dispatched to care for Mrs. Alice Landon.”
Extending her right hand, Agnes
observed, “Yes, Nurse Leeves, we’ve been expecting you. I am Agnes Harris, do
come in.”
Stepping into the impressive foyer,
the young nurse couldn’t help but stare about in awe as she had never seen such
grandeur. Lowering her suitcase to the marble floor, she took a moment to drink
it all in, before she expressed, “My, this is lovely, and I must say the sound
of that doorbell is most impressive. It certainly lets one know they are
entering the home of an equestrian master.”
Nodding in agreement, Agnes said,
“That it does. I’ve heard it multiple times, but it never ceases to elicit the
need to lope for the door, ha-ha, and at my age, the loping seems to get slower
every day. I’m sure you are most anxious to get settled in your room before
meeting Mr. and Mrs. Landon. They are both looking forward to meeting you. You
come highly recommended.”
“Well that’s nice to hear,” Autumn
acknowledged, and with a smile, she continued, “I hope I can live up to the
image that seems to have preceded me. After all, I’m not all that long out of
nursing school and have only cared for a few patients in two separate hospitals
thus far, but I am looking forward to this assignment.”
The two ascended the impressive,
semi-circular staircase leading to the second floor, and proceeded in a
westward direction toward the far end of the walnut paneled corridor, that of
whose polished walls in between door frames were lined with striking
photographs displaying numerous horses in imposing stances, a few with
prominent looking jockeys sitting atop them, each proudly wearing the bluegrass
green and cream silks of Landon Lawns Stables. Autumn continued along, but as
she did her eyes were strangely drawn to a portrait hanging prominently on the
wall opposite the door to her room. It was that of a huge black stallion and
straddling him in a rather suggestive manner was a slight built, dark-haired
jockey attired in Landon silks, and holding a riding crop high above his head
in an arch of victory. His face held an expression as if to say he would not be
trifled with, lest those doing so would feel his wrath. His brooding dark eyes secured
the onlooker’s attention, boring into the camera lens as if they were
smoldering embers threatening to erupt into a raging inferno upon the least
amount of fanning.
Author bio and links
Top
ranking romantic fiction author Rusty Blackwood, who chose her plume de nom by
combining the colour of her russet hair with her husband's great, great,
Scottish grandmother's maiden name, was born in St.Thomas, Ontario, Canada on
October 5th, and grew up on her paternal grandfather's farm in the County of
Elgin, located in the south-western portion of the province of Ontario.
She
acquired her love of literature while still in elementary school where she
entered her original compositions into county fairs, school contests, and
whatever venue allowed participants in the writing field. She has carried that
love ever since and has put it to use many times since becoming a professional
writer in 2001.
From
the time of youth she has loved the Arts in their many unique forms, she is a
graduate with honors in Interior Decorating & Design. She spent many years
on the south-western Ontario stage performing with her family's country music
band: The Midnight Ramblers, followed by the country - rock - blues band:
'MIRAGE' as an accomplished vocalist, bassist, and rhythm guitarist. She now
resides in the cultural city of St. Catharines, Ontario.
Social Media
Links
Official
Author Website: https://www.rusty-blackwood.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/writerrusty/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/rusty_blackwood
Book
Bub Author: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rusty-blackwood-93610ada-5182-429c-93e3-b42d527eb545
The
Perils of Autumn is a 2019 International Book Awards Finalist in Romance along
with being a 5 star winning novel.
Buy Links
(Kindle Unlimited):
Amazon
US: https://amzn.to/2MuAoN5
Amazon
CA: https://amzn.to/2QVhIou
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Xx27Oj
Amazon
AU: https://amzn.to/2IEmUJR
Also, there’s
an Ebook sale at the same time of "The Perils of
Autumn" Tour for her romance title "Willow's Walk" for $1.99
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteHi Nickie and nice to meet you! I am Catherine of 'Cat Lyon's Reading and Writing Den. Amazing post for Rusty and love your blog.
ReplyDeleteOne question I'd like to ask Rusty ... How long did this book take for you to write? Have you ever got to go to a Kentucky Derby? Love reading "Perils" and looking forward to your next release!
Cat Lyon
Thank you for your comment and question, Cat. I began writing "Perils" in early 2017, and I released it on January of this year. I have never attended a Kentucky Derby in person; would love to, but I do watch it, as well as the entire Triple Crown series each year. I find each and every one as thrilling as if it were the first time viewing one. I'm glad to know you enjoyed this novel. I also hope you will enjoy the follow-up novel fully as much.
DeleteCheers,
Rusty
Good morning, Nicki!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting me and featuring my newest title, The Perils of Autumn. I cordially invite yourself, and your followers to feel free to ask me anything about the novel, or my world of writing, which I adore. Also, I will be awarding three Canadian and or American readers one of 'three' personally inscribed, autographed paperback copies of The Perils of Autumn - not one hardback - that info was incorrect so I want to clarify this. I will be checking in periodically over the course of the day.
Rusty
Now that Day 2 is coming to a close, I would like to again thank you for hosting me today, Nicki, and all the very best in your work and on your Blog!
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Rusty, and The Perils of Autumn