Beauchamp Hall by Danielle Steel – a Review

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Description:
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!

Review:

Beauchamp Hall by Danielle Steele is another one of her trademark romantic stories with wonderful characters and life changing events.

Winona (Winnie) Farmington, our heroine, has given up her dreams to take care of her dying mother, and now lives in her Michigan home, with a boyfriend and a job that is going nowhere.   When her boss passes her over for a promotion, and Winnie finds her boyfriend in bed with her best friend, she decides it’s time to change things in her docile life, and does the unexpected.  Winnie had recently discovered the famous UK TV show, Beauchamp Hall (similar to Downton Abbey) and after obsessively watching all the episodes, she makes a rash decision; she quits her job, takes out some of her savings to fly to England and visit the town and the castle where Beauchamp Hall is filmed.  Winnie rents a room at a B&B near the castle, and in a short time falls in love with the surrounding  village, the people, and manages to get hired for a part time job as an extra for the filming at the Castle.

Winnie finds herself enjoying meeting the cast and crew, as well as the owners (brother and sister) of the castle. Even in the extra job as a gofer, her organizational ability shows, and she eventually gets a full time job working for the female star, as an assistant.  She is happy, making friends and has no intention of going home.  The pay has improved as an assistant, and just when things are looking up, the show decides not to renew after this current season, as they lost a number of stars to other shows. 

Winnie is a wonderful heroine, and I really enjoyed how she began to explore more options using her own talents; and this would lead to a sweet fairy tale ending.  It was fun to see Winnie befriend the brother and sister, and work with them to help them keep the Castle afloat with her ideas.  It was such a sweet satisfying conclusion as Winnie will fulfill her dreams and find her happy ever after.  I really enjoyed Beauchamp Hall, with a wonderful heroine, great secondary characters and the fun to be able to see that dreams can really come true.  Once again Danielle Steele gives us an enjoyable read, which I suggest you read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher