Member Reviews

This book grabs you and pulls you into the plot. I honestly feel that this book was one of Danielle Steel's finest. It really hit a nerve with me, also having lived in Michigan, and in Southern California around the movie studios. - Not aware of all the hard work and emotions, that go into a production.

When Winnie's life literally falls apart at the seams, with a redundant long term boyfriend, betrayal by her best friend, and loss of a unappreciated job, Winnie sinks into watching a DVD about a period drama set in a castle in England. The drama gets into her head and she feels mesmerized. by the people and their manners.

She realizes that she has nothing to lose, so she takes off for England to visit the town and the castle where the filming of Beauchamp Hall actually takes place and falls in love with the village, its people, and actually gets hired by the filming crew, starting as an extra.

She feels like this is where she belongs, and after the series comes to an abrupt end Winnie decides to stay in the village and re-invents herself, and to save the aristocrats from losing their castle.

This is a spellbinding book that is hard to put down, it proves you can follow your dreams.

This would be a great book to purchase as a gift for family or friends.

I did not want this book to ever. end. (sigh)

READ it, enjoy it and pass along the good review!

Was this review helpful?

Reading a new Danielle Steel novel is like sliding on your favorite pair of jeans, it just fits. Beauchamp Hall begins in backwater Michigan and Winnie who has settled into a dull life. In an instant, however, her life changes when she ditches her job, boyfriend, and best friend. On a whim she flies to England to see where her favorite show is recorded. Winnie quickly gets hired on the set and integrates herself. I had an inkling where she would end up as soon as she arrived in England and I was correct. When the show is cancelled, Winnie devises ideas for the castle owners to stay in business. The ending of the story is pretty cheesy and contrived, but anything is possible in Steel land. I read is in a couple of hours because I could not put it down.

Was this review helpful?

I love so many of Danielle Steel's books. Her historical novels are my favorite. That being said, I loved her last-In His Father's Footsteps", but was disappointed in this novel. Beauchamp Hall is more of a modern day fairy tale with a weak main character, Winnie. She endures 11 years of a boring, unsatisfying life, both at work and with her boyfriend,. I was happy that she chose to pursue a dream, but then she goes and gets involved again with another loser boyfriend. This in itself, was not typical Danielle Steel. I did somewhat enjoy this book and did not consider it a waste of my time, but there are so many more books written by Danielle Steel that I enjoyed so much more..

Was this review helpful?

Winnie had dreams of working in New York. She was in college when her Mother became ill and she dropped out to take care of her. Her Mother lived for 7 more years and Winnie never went back to college. She drifted thru an 11 year relationship and a job she hated. When things blow up in her personal and work life she decides to follow a dream. She leaves for England with no job and no idea how long she will stay.


I really enjoyed reading this book and following Winnie’s journey. Her willingness to take chances. The book also makes you feel like you are in the little English town with Winnie. The only problem I had was the ending. I liked the way it was wrapped up but I felt like it should have been longer. I can’t say more without it being a spoiler. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

#NetGalley #BeauchampHall Available November 20, 2018

Winnie gives up her dreams of college to care for her mother, who is ill. When her mother passes away several years later, it feels too late for her to pursue her dreams. She is older, plus she has a boyfriend now. However, she's beginning to think that perhaps her relationship has fallen into a habit, rather than mutual love.

At a Christmas exchange, she gets a DVD set of the series Beauchamp Hall, a period British TV drama set in the 1920s. Her best friend, who happens to have brought the gift, can't wait for Winnie to start watching it. Since the business where Winnie works is closed for Christmas break, and her boyfriend is gone for several days, she crawls into bed and begins binge-watching the DVDs. She falls in love with the show and begins to realize that her boyfriend is far from the gentleman she would prefer.

After Christmas Winnie is passed over for a promotion and shortly after that she finds her best friend in bed with her boyfriend. She realizes there is nothing holding her to that town now and decides it's time to take a big leap. Why not go to England and take a trip to the famous Beauchamp Hall, where her new favorite series is filmed? Without waiting for fear to talk her out of it, she makes plans and quickly leaves.

After arriving, she rents a room near Beauchamp Hall, where she begins meeting some of the people around town and watching the outdoor filming of the show. Eventually, she gets to be in the show as an extra. Her organizational skills come in handy as she slowly gets to know people on the set and is elevated up the ranks.

My Thoughts

My Concerns: While it's obvious that everyone has their own preferences, I felt like about two-thirds of the story was telling. That part kept me from really empathizing or bonding with the characters.

What I Liked Most: Sometimes it's fun to curl up with an adult fairy tale story. And that's exactly what I'd call this book. Though it's predictable, we all like to dream from time to time.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed how Winona takes charge of her own life after years of going to a job she hates and staying with a boyfriend because it became comfortable after all these years. When she is introduced to a TV show called Beauchamp Hall, she yearns for something different and exciting like those found in this show. She changes the course of her life by uprooting herself to the English town where the show is being filmed. From the people she meets to the decisions she makes, Winona is slowly coming out of her shell and her comfort zone to experience life in all of its fullness and finds all the things she did not know she was missing.

Danielle Steel has once again drawn readers to this world of English charm and the world behind the tv screen. The story enfolds slowly at times, but never to the point where you want to put the book down.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this privilege.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book as an advanced readers copy,I loved this book so much I could not help but to be hooked and there is a new plot in every chapter which made it such an enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

This is another extraordinary story written by one of the best. It is centered around Winona Farmington (“Winnie”) an American citizen from Beecher Michigan. Winnie is breezing through life with a man she doesn’t love, is conveniently attached to, her family (only consisting of her sister, nephews and her brother-in-law), and her best friend, Barbara (“Barb”) who she has known since high school. Like so many of us, Winnie has made some life changing decisions earlier on which have forced her to give up the life she has only dreamed of. She is comfortable and complacent until the unimaginable happens and she discovers the realty of Beauchamp Hall.

I have been a fan of Danielle Steele for many years and have read so many of her books. There are all timeless and beautifully written with memorable characters. This one is no exception. It is well written and easy to follow. I only wished it contained a longer ending, because I still wanted more details on Winnie, but I would recommend it to anyone.

Was this review helpful?

I have always been a fan of Danielle Steel, but it has been years since I have read one of her books. When I saw this one I thought, why not! I need a good dose of Danielle Steel to change things up for me a little. This book is your typical Danielle Steel and I got caught up in it right away.

Winnie had dreams of going to New York and going to college, but when her mother falls sick, she moves back to her small town in Michigan to take care of her and spend the last years of her mother's life with her. After her mother passes away, Winnie thinks about pursuing her dreams now but she is hesitant to do anything now. She is older and has a boyfriend that she is just cruising along with in a dead end relationship.

Winnie gets a DVD set of Beauchamp Hall for Christmas in their white elephant game. Her best friend at works bought it and wants Winnie to watch it so bad. Over her week off from work, Winnie gets captured by the DVD's and longs for the time period that the DVD's are set in. She thinks it would be a dream come true to be in that era again and have a gentleman treat her with respect like they did back then.

Winnie works for a printing company in town and thinks that she will be there forever. When she gets passed over for a promotion, Winnie quits her job. Not only does she quit her job, but she finds her boyfriend in bed with her best friend. With all that has happened, Winnie has an idea and is going to just go for it while she can. With nothing to hold her back in Michigan, Winnie decides to travel to England and do some sight seeing, but mainly go and see where the Beauchamp Hall series is filmed. Winnie wonders if she has lost her mind, but nothing is stopping her now.

The journey we go on with Winnie and her travels in England is definitely a fantasy for all of us, but it was nice to go along with her and see how things are done behind the set of a series filming. I won't ruin it all for you because getting caught up in the whole story with Winnie is the excitement of this story. I hope you give this one a chance. Definitely a different read but and enjoyable one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Winnie lives in a small Michigan town. She always dreamed of living a larger and more exciting life in New York. However, those dreams ended when her mother became ill while she was in college. Winnie returned.home to care for her mother who died seven years later. By this time, Winnie had given up her dream. Betrayed by her boyfriend of eleven years, her best friend, and long-time employer in the same day, Winnie decided that she needed a vacation. She was a huge fan of Downton Abbey like television show called Beauchamp Hall, so she decided to visit the small English village where the show was filmed. She became an extra on the show, and eventually became the personal assistant to one of the stars. Winnie befriended the sister of the Marquess who owned the castle. When the show ended, Winnie devises a scheme to help the family continue to live in their home never expecting to fall in love with and marry the marquess. This was an enjoyable and quick read; although the outcome was rather predictable.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve been reading Danielle Steel for years and her latest novel, Beauchamp Hall does not disappoint. The cast of characters are endearing and the story, a modern day fairy tale. A truly enchanting story, for a Marchioness. A solid 4 star read.

See my review on goodreads.com

Was this review helpful?

I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy of this book. And I must say it was a fabulous read. It follows a middle aged (though I consider it the prime of ones life) woman Winnie who has gotten stuck in a complacent rut in her relationship, job and over all life. After binge watching a tv show she gets inspired to start a new in another country. Wonderful and fast paced!

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this story. Winnie found her life turned slightly upside down - her job wasn't meeting her needs and her "love life" hit a major bump in the road. When she sat back and evaluated where she was, she found it was the perfect time to take a leap of faith and head oversees for a bit of a break. After a new obsession with a tv show filmed in a castle, she decided to head to the filming location for a bit of a tourist immersion. The story then follows Winnie's experiences here.

Some readers may think this is unrealistic, but I loved the thought of Winnie being able to embrace the opportunity to take a deep breath, do something fun for herself, and see where life takes her. And throwing yourself into a Downton Abbey-like setting can't be half bad at all!

Was this review helpful?

After having enjoyed the last two Steel books, "In His Father's Footsteps" and "The Good Fight" I was very disappointed in this silly, sappy unrealistic story of a woman who leaves her unsatisfactory, blue collar existence and makes her way to England and reshapes her life and ultimately enters a fairy tale, which is just totally unbelievable and childlike..

I can always strain my credulity and be willing to believe in happy endings, but outright fantasy and pap just don't do it for me. So, Steel can do much better than this and I think that this is not what I expected when I picked up this book.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a pretty good read! Typical Danielle Steel but I liked how it detailed how a tv series works behind the scenes and how it intertwined with the book. . It was a little bit different type of read and I have to admit I enjoyed it along with the setting. Would recommend this book. Thank you netgalley for letting me give an honest review of this book..

Was this review helpful?

Is there any writer more prolific than Steel? Okay, maybe James Patterson, but the point is, fans know exactly what they will get when they pick up a Steel novel, grand settings, a painfully perfect heroine and love that lasts a lifetime. Fans will not be disappointed in this story of a woman scorned who get to have her cake and eat it too. My only quibble is with the author’s run-on sentences – editors, where are you?

Was this review helpful?

This was a great through the decades story. I love books that are multi generational and historical. Nobody rights a better historical novel than D. Steel. I have been a huge fan for over 35 years. I love the stories she writes filled with family, love, drama, resolution. You know when you pick up one of her books you will get lost in the story

Was this review helpful?

Another great story by Danielle Steel. A very creative story line that keeps the book moving right along. You just wont want to put it down !

Was this review helpful?

A typical Steel book. Readers will enjoy this smooth easy read in a fairy tale setting. A perfect read for those sunny beaches or nights with a carton of ice cream curled up on the couch.

Was this review helpful?