NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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 … 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!
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If you are a Downton Abbey fan you’ll especially enjoy this story of a heroine who runs away from her depressing life and takes a vacation in a small UK village where a Downton Abbey type show is filmed. She only means to be there for a vacation, but ends up getting a job on the set and meeting all kinds of interesting people, among them the brother and sister that own the huge mansion where the show is filmed. Very entertaining….I didn’t want it to end. A great book to curl and and get lost in.
Beauchamp Hall by Danielle Steel has us traveling to Beecher, Michigan. Winona “Winnie” Farmington is thirty-eight years old, works at the local printing company and has been dating Rob for the last eleven years. At one time, Winnie was attending college and looked forward to a publishing career in New York. Then her mother became ill and Winnie left college to care for her mother. In the office white elephant gift exchange, Winnie gets a DVD set of the British television series Beauchamp Hall (pronounced Beecham). Over the Christmas holidays, Winnie is alone and starts watching Beauchamp Hall. She soon finds herself binge watching all six seasons of the show loving the period drama set in the 1920s. After the holidays, Winnie is anticipating being promoted to the open management position. When the job is given to ditzy, but sexy Elsie, Winnie has had enough and quits her job. She arrives home to find her boyfriend and best friend in her bed. Winnie makes an impulsive decision and books a flight to England. She decides to visit the estate where Beauchamp Hall is filmed and falls in love with the quaint village. Then Winnie gets an unexpected opportunity that changes her life forever. Sometimes magic happens when you follow your dreams!
Beauchamp Hall is a pleasurable way to pass an afternoon. Winnie Farmington life has been trudging along. She is in a dead end job and a boyfriend who will not commit plus he does not treat her as she deserves. Her sister, Marie is married with two kids and they are her main focus. I believe many of us can relate to Winnie and her situation. Winnie gave up her dream to care for her mother. When she loses the promotion to the woman who can barely find her way to work and discovers her boyfriend cheating with her best friend, it is the last straw (I do not blame her). I was thrilled that Winnie finally stood up for herself and set out to have some fun. I loved the descriptions of the village and Haversham Hall where Beauchamp Hall is filmed. Those who watch Downton Abbey will see the obvious similarities. Beauchamp Hall contains good writing and realistic characters. I did feel the beginning was a little long (with Winnie in Beecher) and had a slower pace. It could have been shortened and more time spent on Winnie’s adventure (which is the best part of the book). The ending felt rushed and the characters in England were not fully developed (more 2D than 3D). Beauchamp Hall is a combination romance, women’s fiction and fairy tale. I am giving Beauchamp Hall 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). It is reminiscent of Danielle Steel’s earlier works. I found Beauchamp Hall to be a delightful escape novel (we all need a diversion from reality now and then), and I enjoyed seeing Winnie get her happily ever after.
This book was very good, it reminded me of “Downton Abbey”. I loved that show, although not as much as Winnie loves Beauchamp Hall (pronounced “beecham”). When Winnies life goes awry she decides to move to were her new favorite show is filmed and finds more then she thought she would. For Winnie she found a job she loved and a place she belongs but when the show is canceled what is going to happen? Well read this book and find out. It is my dream to move to a small town in England or Scotland so this book hit home with me.
I fell in love with this setting, the feel of the story and the fact that it was very Downton Abbey-ish. I am a sucker for a main female character whose dreams come true. Poor Winnie had a horrible afternoon, her life completely changed in an afternoon so she binge watched her favorite show, Beauchamp Hall, after all watching this show was like comfort food to her. Then Winnie decides hey I have no real ties here and a bit of savings so why not go to England and see where my fave show is filmed.
What follows is a bit like a fairy-tale , with some ups and downs of course, for Winnie.
Winnie meets and interacts with many of her idols from the show. What I absolutely love about Danielle Steel’s books is that they can be a bit like a fairy-tale escape for me and this just took me away to a place were dreams come true for Winnie. The story is not all wishes coming true and happy endings, Winnie needs to make things happen and work through a few relationship issues but still this book was a great escape.
hard to put the book down once you start reading
This book was boring. All her books are the same story line just changes the names
I think this is the best book she has written in a long time, or maybe ever. It’s different from most of the others, so many are so much alike, only different characters. Having grown up in Michigan and having played basketball against Beecher, I knew the area well. I COULD NOT put it down. I absolutely loved it!!! No matter if you are a Danielle Steele reader or not, you should read Beauchamp Hall and you will be hooked forever!
all her books are easy reading
An entertaining story of a woman who had the courage to change the course of her life. A great read for DS fans.
It was her typical style “poor old me ” I keep reading her books that she empowers women??
great
An unwanted pair of DVD’s won at the office Christmas party changes Winnie Farmington’s life drastically. Working in a dead end job for the past 10 years in a small, rural town in Michigan, she spends her free time with a mind-numbing boyfriend who is too lazy to shovel her driveway. When she finally succumbs to watching the DVD’s she won of Beauchamp Hall, a period drama set in England, her life and attitude begin to change. Those readers that have watched Downton Abbey will not fail to recognize it in disguise.
After a serious setback at her office and an ugly confrontation with her boyfriend and her best friend, Winnie resigns, takes her savings, and heads to England for a tour of Beauchamp Hall, currently being filmed at Haversham Castle. The story unwinds as Winnie works to find a more fulfilling life than the one she left behind.
The story is more down to earth than a typical Daniel Steel novel, with characters that are believable and pretty realistic, a sharp contrast to many of Steel’s other novels set in high society. The storyline is lighter and less intense, a totally enjoyable read.
This ARC copy was received from Delacorte Press and Netgalley.com. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
Loved it! Great story – happy ending