The Perils of Autumn by Rusty Blackwood is literary fiction with an intriguing setting in Kentucky in the 1970s, a dramatic tale of romance with interesting characters. Autumn Leeves has been raised by her single mom who succeeds in getting her through Lexington School of Nursing. Her first job is to take care of the dying wife of Cyril Landon, an English equestrian master. Cyril owns a thoroughbred racing stable, Landon Lawns Stables, which is very popular in Lexington. When his wife dies, he asks Autumn to stay a bit longer with him and get some horse riding classes. In spite of her mother's misgivings, Autumn laughs it off — what can possibly happen between her and a man 35 years older. She couldn't be more wrong, for soon affection deepens and transforms into an attraction.

This is a beautiful story with strong plot points and great characters. The Perils of Autumn looks at a love affair between two people with a huge age gap. The pacing isn't fast, but the writing is focused, which compels readers to read on. There is a lot of backstory which I think could have been written into the dialogues; however, it enriches the plot rather than becoming a distraction for readers. The characters are written with rich backgrounds and readers can follow their growth process alongside the build up of the romance between Cyril and Autumn. Rusty Blackwood has what it takes to keep readers engaged — the realism that fills the story, the well-crafted scenes, the humanity of the characters which is explored in depth.

I am a fan of romance and good writing. These two come together perfectly in Rusty Blackwood’s The Perils of Autumn. I hesitate to call it a romance novel because in my mind that term implies a formulaic book, written quickly, and meant to be read quickly before moving on to the next one, which will be just like it in style and structure. I will call The Perils of Autumn a novel of romance. The writing and the story come first. The romance just blossoms naturally, just as it does in real life. That is why I liked The Perils of Autumn. The writing took me away long before the romance had even blossomed. I had never read a story about an unwed mother in the 1940s. Popular culture would have you believe they didn’t exist at that time.

I have to say the writing was the strongest attraction for me as I read The Perils of Autumn. However, it is hard to say if that attraction would have been so strong without such great characters as Autumn and her mother, Abigail. I fell in love with Abigail as she made the very best of a very bad situation. A lot of people would have become bitter and unlikable. She went in the opposite direction and became more lovable with each turn of the page. She raised her daughter in an environment of love, and that is an accomplishment any time. These two characters appealed to me very strongly and kept me engaged throughout the story. The plot was good too and became more complex as the story progressed. It was also fun to learn so much about this area of the country known for horses and racing. All in all, The Perils of Autumn is a great romantic read.

The Perils of Autumn is a work of dramatic fiction penned by author Rusty Blackwood, focusing on equestrian and country living in 1970s Kentucky. We first meet title character Autumn when she is born into post war austerity in 1946, and watch her and her mother struggle until Autumn has achieved a job as a qualified nurse. When Autumn takes a job caring for the terminally ill wife of a wealthy racehorse stable owner, her life takes on a whole new twist. Cyril Landon is an older man who bonds with Autumn over the death of his wife, nurturing in her a love of the horses he’s worked all his life. What follows is their drama in running the stables together.

Rusty Blackwood does a great job in crafting powerful characters to anchor the story at its true heart. Though it seems an unlikely romance amid the tragedy of Cyril’s wife and the misgivings of those around them, I found Autumn’s growing fondness for Cyril and his country life really endearing and I was glad that they came together despite prejudices. The drama at the stables with the other, smaller characters made for some interesting twists as the plot went on, and the spark of horse racing at The Meadows was a real insight into an exciting world I’d never really thought about before. Overall, The Perils of Autumn is an excellent life drama novel full of heart, strife and enjoyment, with a relatable heroine that all readers are sure to warm to.

The Perils of Autumn by Rusty Blackwood is a romantic drama set primarily in the early 1970s in Kentucky. We start in 1946 when Autumn Leeves is a child. She and her unmarried mother are trying to make a life for themselves, trying to escape a world that looks down on them. As time goes on, Abigail settles into a job and Autumn qualifies as a nurse, eventually taking a private position as a nurse to terminally ill Alice Landon. When Alice dies, Autumn stays on, against her mother’s wishes, and soon gets to know Duff Taylor, a British jockey who rides for Landon Lawn stables. Hiding a very dark secret, Duff isn’t very well liked and Autumn soon finds herself embroiled in things she wished she’d stayed away from.

The Perils of Autumn by Rusty Blackwood is a steady story that covers quite a long time span, following the trials and tribulations of Autumn Leeves. It is centered firmly around horses and will likely appeal to fans of horse-racing novels. The characters were very well developed across the course of the story and the plot remained steady all the way through. There is plenty going on, with suspense, intrigue, romance and a little humor thrown in for good measure. Rusty Blackwood writes in a descriptive manner, slightly graphic at times but nothing too bad, leaving you feeling every emotion and being drawn into the story. It is a good story, perfect for those who want to escape from real life for several hours.

Abigail Leeves loses her fiancé in a car crash en route to their April wedding. She is pregnant and gives birth to a daughter, Autumn. She raises her daughter alone and works hard to give her a decent life. After graduating from Lexington School of Nursing, Autumn works in two hospitals for a brief period and then accepts an assignment to care for Alice Landon, the wife of English equestrian master Cyril Landon, who is terminally ill. The ties between Autumn and the patient grow stronger every day and she feels at home in Landon Manor. But Alice eventually dies, and instead of her leaving Landon Manor, Cyril asks Autumn to stay a little longer and take riding lessons. It is not long before Autumn begins to feel the stirrings in her heart, and while she reasons that she can’t fall for a man thirty-five years older than her, the reality is different. The Perils of Autumn by Rusty Blackwood explores the workings of the heart and a romance that will surprise readers.

Told in a deceptively simple voice, this novel has so much to warm the heart of the reader. The characters are elaborately developed and their backgrounds skillfully explored. The author explores three interesting characters — Abigail, Autumn, and Cyril — and moves on to demonstrate how familiarity and simple gestures can guide the heart towards love. It is interesting to follow Autumn and Cyril, especially after the death of Alice. Her emotional struggles, torn between what she feels and the fears of her mother, are deftly handled. The characters in this book are real and likable, the plot is unusual, and the phraseology unique. The Perils of Autumn is written in a descriptive style. But the strength of the narrative is in the author’s ability to explore the hearts of the characters and the skillful handling of a romance that feels real.

February 27, 2023

Return to Autumn penned by the author Rusty Blackwood is a captivating story that hooked my attention from the first page itself. The story is set in the Meadows of Kentucky.

Cyril and Autumn had experienced a mutual attraction to each other the first time they saw each other. After the death of Cyril's wife, Autumn and Cyril got married and are now parents of their young kids. Cyril's friend Agnes is a housekeeper and always there for him.

William Brown and Manfred Montgomery knew that Duff was keeping their master in the dark. Unfortunately, they didn't have any solid proof against him. To express their concern to Cyril, they need proof. Read this story to know more about Duff's secret.

The chemistry between Autumn and Cyril is amazing. I loved their relationship. It would be amazing to see this story in the form of a movie. I strongly recommend this book to my fellow readers. The narration is smooth and strong. Readers would love every bit of this book. I appreciate the writing style of the author that makes it easy for readers to follow the story.

March 19, 2023

After reading 'The Perils of Autumn', I was excited to get my hands on 'Return to Autumn' to follow the further journey of Autumn.

Autumn is now the wife of Cyril Landon and they are the parents of Abby. Cyril's housekeeper and friend Agnes Harris also lives with them. Duff Taylor lives full time at Landon Lawns. He has a secret and it will be interesting for readers to know it as they read the story further.

Manfred Montgomery, and stable foreman, William Brown has a suspicion about Duff. Will they bring the truth in front of everyone? My favorite part from the book was the blooming love between Cyril and Autumn. In spite of the age difference, they manage their relationship well and prove that love knows no age.

This is a great romance fiction drama. It's a great book for light reading. The author's writing skills are impressive. I enjoyed the smooth paced story and would be definitely interested in reading more books by Rusty in the future. The character development is amazing. Don't miss reading this book.

May 2, 2023

Rusty Blackwood's "Return to Autumn" is Part 1 of the 2-part sequel to The Perils of Autumn. The story is set in the Meadows of Kentucky. After reading about the chemistry of Cyril and Autumn in The Perils of Autumn, I was eager to know where their relationship will go ahead.

In this book, the story picks up four years later. Autumn Leeves Landon is now a happy wife of Cyril Landon. They have a beautiful daughter Abby Rose Alice. One month before the birth of Abby, Autumn lost her mother Abigail. Cyril and Autumn experienced mutual attraction to each other the first time they laid their eyes on each other. By living at the stables, Autumn learned a lot about how things work there. She hated to see animals or humans suffer in any way.

But the man named Duff Taylor at their stable is keeping them in the dark. The foreman William Brown and head groom Manfred Montgomery are aware but they don't have proof against him.

Read this book to know more about Duff's secret. The twists in the story kept this book interesting till the end. The way Rusty has created an exciting plot is impressive. As I finished this book, I was left wanting more of the story. Part 2 is already out and I will read it soon.

January 18, 2023

Return to Autumn continues years later from where Rusty Blackwood’s The Perils of Autumn left off. I was excited to have the opportunity to read this one and was not disappointed. I enjoyed going back to the Landon Downs in Kentucky. It was fun catching up with the characters and seeing where they are now. I was once again intrigued with their continuing story that had some romance, mystery and suspense. I loved reading it and could not put it down until the end.

I am giving Return to Autumn five stars. I recommend it for readers and fans of clean romantic fiction will want to read this one. I am looking forward to reading more by Rusty Blackwood in the future.

I received a digital copy of Return to Autumn from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.