FAME. POWER. SUCCESS. HAPPINESS
Andy Westfield is the CEO of Global, one of the most successful movie studios in the world. The son of famous actor parents, fame, success and wealth are all he's ever known. He's given his life to the job he loves at the cost of his marriage and a relationship with his daughter as she was growing up.
It seems that everything is perfect until a mega deal involves the buy-out of Global, and Andy suddenly finds himself out of a job. His world is turned upside down. He's no longer the revered god of Hollywood where every door and table is open to him. His famous actor girlfriend dumps him immediately now that he's not going to indulge her every whim or further her career.
Devastated and lost, he knows he must leave LA, and escapes to England to lick his wounds. He rents a beautiful house set in the quiet seaside town of Winchelsea in Sussex. There he meets Violet Smith, who comes to work for him as an assistant. Violet has a tragic past – she was married to a rich but controlling, cruel man who was at the wheel in a car accident that killed their seven-year-old son. Grief-stricken Violet, knowing her husband had made his money causing people huge misfortune, exposed him to the police and he was sent to prison for twenty years. Violet is free but completely broke.
Andy finds a manuscript Violet has been secretly working on. It's based on the story of what happened to her but he is blown away by the writing, plotting and storyline. He's determined it should be recognized, and introduces her to an indie producer in London who is also convinced of its potential. Andy agrees to write the screenplay with Violet and the movie is made, receiving great acclaim and nominated for the Golden Globe and Academy Awards.
Andy and Violet fall in love. Apart from her natural beauty, he loves her lack of ego and her disregard for financial reward even though she needs money, and he realizes that this kind of happiness is what he's wanted his entire life. Violet helps him to recover from the trauma of losing his job, and he gives her the love and security she's craved.
Against Andy's will, Violet persuades him to return to LA to join the cast for the Golden Globe Awards. He dreaded returning, but is warmed by the reception he receives. His demise was big news at the time, but now he's back succeeding in a smaller, but equally important and respected, role as an award-winning screenwriter.
When a once longed-for job at the head of the biggest studio in Hollywood is offered to Andy he must make a choice. To return to the life he once loved, or to be with the woman he loves. The past year has taught him a lot about what happiness means. Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with nearly a billion copies of her novels sold. Her international bestsellers include The Whittiers, The High Notes and The Challenge. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood. Danielle divides her time between Paris and her home in northern California. Second Act is a moving story about having it all and losing everything, picking up the pieces and finding unexpected happiness again, from the billion-copy bestselling author, Danielle Steel.
