Beauchamp Hall by Danielle Steel
Published by Delacorte Press on November 20, 2018
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon
#1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel tells the uplifting story of an ordinary woman embracing an extraordinary adventure, and the daring choice that transforms her world.
Winona Farmington once dreamed of graduating from college, moving to New York City, and pursuing a career in publishing. Then real life got in the way when she left college and returned to her small Michigan hometown to care for her sick mother.
Years later, stuck in a dead-end job and an unsatisfying relationship, Winnie has concluded that dreams were meant for others. She consoles herself with binge-watching the British television series that she loves, Beauchamp Hall, enthralled by the sumptuous period drama set on a great Norfolk estate in the 1920s. The rich upstairs-downstairs world brilliantly brought to life by superb actors is the ultimate in escapism.
On the day Winnie is passed over for a long-overdue promotion, she is also betrayed by her boyfriend and her best friend. Heartbroken, she makes the first impulsive decision of her conventional life—which changes everything.
She packs her bags and flies to England to see the town where Beauchamp Hall is filmed. The quaint B & B where she stays feels like home. The brother and sister who live in the castle where the show is filmed, rich in titles but poor in cash, are more like long-lost friends than British nobility. And the show itself, with its colorful company and behind-the-scenes affairs, is a drama all its own. Winnie’s world comes alive on the set of the show.
What happens next is the stuff of dreams, as Winnie takes the boldest leap of all. Beauchamp Hall reminds us to follow our dreams. . . . You never know what magic will happen!
Amongst my mother, Gloria, her sister and my favorite aunt, Barbara, and my other aunt, Bernice, they read and own the hardbound version of every single book Danielle Steel has ever written. Now that I’ve enlisted my mother into helping me keep up with book reviews, when I saw today’s book, Beauchamp Hall by Danielle Steel available thanks to my book blogging relationship with NetGalley, I requested it and was approved to read and review it! Unfortunately, my mom is having eye surgery at this time, so the duty to read and review this book came upon me.
The protagonist of Beauchamp Hall is Winona Farmington who has been working in a dead end job for the past ten years in small town Michigan. Winnie gives up her dream of college and career in New York when her mother falls ill and she must care for her. Winnie spends her free time with her dull and lazy boyfriend and only does so because it’s comfortable.
When Winnie finally fails to resist watching the unwanted DVD’s she won at work of a period drama filmed at Haversham Castle in England called Beauchamp Hall, a Winnie’s life and attitude begin to change. She’s overlooked for a promotion at her job and then has an ugly confrontation with her boyfriend and her best friend.
Winnie takes time to evaluate the current status of her life and she decides it’s the perfect time to take a leap of faith. She resigns from her job, takes her savings, and heads to England for a tour of Beauchamp Hall where the show is being filmed. As the story unwinds, Winnie works to find a more fulfilling life than the one she left behind.
I felt that Winnie was a great heroine, and I really enjoyed how she began to blossom, exploring options using her own talents, providing readers with a great ending to the story. Winnie slowly came out of her shell and learned to experience life to its fullest to learn about all the things she didn’t even know she was missing.
Danielle Steel definitely wrote a great novel with believable and realistic characters. I personally found the story line of Beauchamp Hall to be much lighter than some of her more current “high society” novels and I really enjoyed that aspect as well.
Danielle Steel has sold 650 million copies of her books internationally, and every one of her books is a bestseller. She is published in 69 countries and 43 languages.
Steel’s latest novel is In His Father’s Footsteps. Other recent bestsellers include The Good Fight, The Cast, Past Perfect, and Fairytale, all of which have leapt to the top of the New York Timesbestseller list, the Wall Street Journal list, and comparable best seller lists around the world.
Steel has written more than 168 books, 144 of which are novels; 18 children’s books, including Pretty Minnie in Hollywood and Pretty Minnie in Paris about her white long-hair teacup Chihuahua; four works of nonfiction, including His Bright Light: The Story of Nick Traina, A Gift of Hope: Helping the Homeless, and Pure Joy: The Dogs We Love; a book of poetry; and she has written the lyrics for a music album.
She also founded and runs two foundations, one named in honor of her late son, The Nick Traina Foundation, which finances organizations involved in mental illness, child abuse, and suicide prevention. The second foundation was established to assist the homeless. In 2002 Steel was decorated by the French government as an “Officier” of the distinguished Order of Arts and Letters and in 2014 she was decorated as a Chevalier (Knight) of the Order of the Legion d’Honneur in Paris. She lives in Paris and San Francisco and is the mother of nine children.
WEBSITE // TWITTER // FACEBOOK
I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!
It would be great if you would stay connected with me!! You can follow me on Twitter @DebiL1611, like me on Facebook at 2014 and Beyond, circle me on Google+, follow me on Tumblr, Instagram and Bloglovin’, subscribe on YouTube, or connect with me on LinkedIn and Pinterest.
Please make sure to visit my homepage and subscribe to my blog for more great posts on running, fitness and lifestyle topics as well as food, product, music and book reviews, and more!
