What do you think?
Rate this book
Rekindled
Barbara Delinsky enthralls millions of readers with her gripping, emotionally powerful stories of love and loss, commitment and betrayal, and the strength for survival and success that dwells deep within the human heart. Now the New York Times bestselling author of A Woman's Place, Shades of Grace, and Together Alone presents two of her favorite novels, each filled with the passion and rich characters that are her hallmark. New York Times bestselling author Barbara Delinsky Presents two of her classic stories Flip Side of Yesterday and Lilac Awakening. Flip Side of Yesterday Sometimes life gives us a second chance to find the one thing we thought we'd lost forever. Lilac Awakening The darkest secrets are no match for the passions of a lover's heart.
Mass Market Paperback
First published October 7, 1998
229 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Delinsky
312 books4,372 followersI was born and raised in suburban Boston. My mother’s death, when I was eight, was the defining event of a childhood that was otherwise ordinary. I took piano lessons and flute lessons. I took ballroom dancing lessons. I went to summer camp through my fifteenth year (in Maine, which explains the setting of so many of my stories), then spent my sixteenth summer learning to type and to drive (two skills that have served me better than all of my other high school courses combined). I earned a B.A. in Psychology at Tufts University and an M.A. in Sociology at Boston College. The motivation behind the M.A. was sheer greed. My husband was just starting law school. We needed the money.
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 1, 2018
This is really two of Delinsky’s early stories published under this new name. The theme of both is working through grief and loss. Well done.
March 19, 2018
Rekindle contains 2 books. Finished reading the 1st book called FLIP SIDE OF YESTERDAY.
Read
December 15, 2017Flip Side of Yesterday-Chloe McDaniel was twin to Crystal. They went to a party at a friends house and both saw Ross Stephenson there. They flipped a 2 headed coin for dibs at introducing themselves to him. Chloe won because the coin was hers. They hit it off and she ended up losing her virginity that night during her first Thanksgiving break of college. She returned home and her and Crystal got in a fight over her actions. Crystal stormed out to her car and drove off. She died in a car accident. Chloe blamed herself and cut herself off from everyone.
It was 11 years later now and she was a geological consultant and one of the founding partners of Earth Science Education, Inc. She was hired by her state Senator to argue against the proposed Rye Beach Resort and Condominium Complex. It was being proposed by the president of the Hansen Corporation, Ross Stephenson. She was startled to see him.
She planned on returning home after the town hall meeting but her car wouldn't start. Ross took her back to the hotel where he was staying and got Chloe a room. They ate, talked, and kissed. They were both still physically attracted to each other but in Chloe's case, there was a lot of stored up guilt.
They went their separate ways and Chloe didn't expect to see him again but he showed up in town to visit with her. He was determined to get her attention and he did. He stayed close by over the weekend and they ended up sleeping together again. She was still hesitant to let the relationship go any further. They talked about the guilt she was still holding inside. He told her that it was time to accept the past and learn to live with it. Ross told her that she need to reconcile with her family and allow them back into her life. He also told her that he was in love with her and wanted to marry her.
Chloe let that sink in for awhile and knew that he was right, she was just slow about getting it done. He hired her firm as consultants for their firm and asked her to work with him. She reluctantly agreed but left her assistant to try and deal with Ross as much as Ross would let him.
Ross had decided that since they only had the one night together 11 years ago, they needed to get to know each other this time around. He spent as much time as he could spare with her. Her company accepted the job and she went to visit her parents. She spent Thanksgiving with her family for the first time since the loss of her sister. She and Ross talked about that too.
Chloe's business partner, Lee, told Chloe that it was obvious that she was in love with Ross and that she should admit it and tell him. Chloe told Ross that she loved him and that she would marry him.
Lilac Awakening-Anne Boulton's husband had died in a plane crash and she quickly tired of everyone asking about her and trying to take care of her. She was beginning to feel suffocated so she chose to take a week off and go to Vermont to get away. Shortly after she arrived, she found out that the real estate agent had rented the same cabin to Mitch. Mitch thought that one of his friends had set him up with a girl so he kissed Anne senseless. She struggled and he let up. It was raining outside and he was irritable. He told her that he wasn't leaving and she said the same thing. They stayed in separate rooms and decided to talk in the morning. She noticed that one of his arms appeared injured.
Morning came he was extremely loud in the kitchen and yelled at her for the arrangement of the pans and cooking items. He didn't seem to have any qualms about eating her food or criticizing her cooking skills. This lasted for a few days. She refused to budge on leaving so they both decided to stay but in separate rooms. Throughout the week they learned to manage around each other and even became friendly. It was September and he told her he would be back the week before Thanksgiving. She told him that she would remember that he was coming. Anne then headed back to her friends and family in NY.
She was nervous but she came back before Thanksgiving and they talked more. She was excited to see him. They talked about his wife and Mitch told her that she had also died. He told her there was a special person in his life and she wasn't a tall person. Anne and Mitch still didn't know each other's last names. He asked her to come back and she did in February. Each time they got to know each other a little bit more each time. They met again in March.
Her family noticed that Anne seemed to be healing from the loss of her husband. They were also putting pressure on her to sue the airlines for the loss. She mentioned this to Mitch. Mitch was fighting not sleeping with Anne. They almost had sex and he gave her the keys to the cabin and told her that he owned it. She spotted him once in New York. He was with his sister, she found out eventually. He noticed that she was acting slightly jealous.
They met again at the cabin just before they were supposed to meet with the airline attorneys. They finally had sex and she told Mitch she was in love with him. He seemed distant when they left and she didn't understand why.
She returned home and went with her father-in-law to meet with the airline attorneys. She found out that Mitch was Mitch Anderson who owned the airline. She was told that he was suing the manufacturer of the airplane because of a defect. Anne was very upset that he hadn't told her who he was at that point. She refused to see him. She didn't answer his calls and slammed the door on his face when he came by. He eventually used her parents to get her to agree to take a trip with them but it was Mitch who picked her up. He picked her up with his daughter in the car. She felt like she couldn't refuse in front of her. She went to the cabin and spent a week there with them both. Mitch's parents came and picked her up and they were now alone. He forced her to listen to his side of the story. He told her he didn't want to lose her. He had lost his wife and hurt his arm in an car wreck with him driving. Then the airplane crashed and he felt things getting out of control. He was scared. Anne looked at it from his point-of-view and admitted that she understood. He told her that he loved her and wanted to marry her. She again said she was in love with him and that it was time to introduce him to her family. She noticed that it was spring outside and the lilacs were in bloom and told him so.
It was 11 years later now and she was a geological consultant and one of the founding partners of Earth Science Education, Inc. She was hired by her state Senator to argue against the proposed Rye Beach Resort and Condominium Complex. It was being proposed by the president of the Hansen Corporation, Ross Stephenson. She was startled to see him.
She planned on returning home after the town hall meeting but her car wouldn't start. Ross took her back to the hotel where he was staying and got Chloe a room. They ate, talked, and kissed. They were both still physically attracted to each other but in Chloe's case, there was a lot of stored up guilt.
They went their separate ways and Chloe didn't expect to see him again but he showed up in town to visit with her. He was determined to get her attention and he did. He stayed close by over the weekend and they ended up sleeping together again. She was still hesitant to let the relationship go any further. They talked about the guilt she was still holding inside. He told her that it was time to accept the past and learn to live with it. Ross told her that she need to reconcile with her family and allow them back into her life. He also told her that he was in love with her and wanted to marry her.
Chloe let that sink in for awhile and knew that he was right, she was just slow about getting it done. He hired her firm as consultants for their firm and asked her to work with him. She reluctantly agreed but left her assistant to try and deal with Ross as much as Ross would let him.
Ross had decided that since they only had the one night together 11 years ago, they needed to get to know each other this time around. He spent as much time as he could spare with her. Her company accepted the job and she went to visit her parents. She spent Thanksgiving with her family for the first time since the loss of her sister. She and Ross talked about that too.
Chloe's business partner, Lee, told Chloe that it was obvious that she was in love with Ross and that she should admit it and tell him. Chloe told Ross that she loved him and that she would marry him.
Lilac Awakening-Anne Boulton's husband had died in a plane crash and she quickly tired of everyone asking about her and trying to take care of her. She was beginning to feel suffocated so she chose to take a week off and go to Vermont to get away. Shortly after she arrived, she found out that the real estate agent had rented the same cabin to Mitch. Mitch thought that one of his friends had set him up with a girl so he kissed Anne senseless. She struggled and he let up. It was raining outside and he was irritable. He told her that he wasn't leaving and she said the same thing. They stayed in separate rooms and decided to talk in the morning. She noticed that one of his arms appeared injured.
Morning came he was extremely loud in the kitchen and yelled at her for the arrangement of the pans and cooking items. He didn't seem to have any qualms about eating her food or criticizing her cooking skills. This lasted for a few days. She refused to budge on leaving so they both decided to stay but in separate rooms. Throughout the week they learned to manage around each other and even became friendly. It was September and he told her he would be back the week before Thanksgiving. She told him that she would remember that he was coming. Anne then headed back to her friends and family in NY.
She was nervous but she came back before Thanksgiving and they talked more. She was excited to see him. They talked about his wife and Mitch told her that she had also died. He told her there was a special person in his life and she wasn't a tall person. Anne and Mitch still didn't know each other's last names. He asked her to come back and she did in February. Each time they got to know each other a little bit more each time. They met again in March.
Her family noticed that Anne seemed to be healing from the loss of her husband. They were also putting pressure on her to sue the airlines for the loss. She mentioned this to Mitch. Mitch was fighting not sleeping with Anne. They almost had sex and he gave her the keys to the cabin and told her that he owned it. She spotted him once in New York. He was with his sister, she found out eventually. He noticed that she was acting slightly jealous.
They met again at the cabin just before they were supposed to meet with the airline attorneys. They finally had sex and she told Mitch she was in love with him. He seemed distant when they left and she didn't understand why.
She returned home and went with her father-in-law to meet with the airline attorneys. She found out that Mitch was Mitch Anderson who owned the airline. She was told that he was suing the manufacturer of the airplane because of a defect. Anne was very upset that he hadn't told her who he was at that point. She refused to see him. She didn't answer his calls and slammed the door on his face when he came by. He eventually used her parents to get her to agree to take a trip with them but it was Mitch who picked her up. He picked her up with his daughter in the car. She felt like she couldn't refuse in front of her. She went to the cabin and spent a week there with them both. Mitch's parents came and picked her up and they were now alone. He forced her to listen to his side of the story. He told her he didn't want to lose her. He had lost his wife and hurt his arm in an car wreck with him driving. Then the airplane crashed and he felt things getting out of control. He was scared. Anne looked at it from his point-of-view and admitted that she understood. He told her that he loved her and wanted to marry her. She again said she was in love with him and that it was time to introduce him to her family. She noticed that it was spring outside and the lilacs were in bloom and told him so.
August 31, 2024
This book was actually two of her older books in one e book. They were both good. “Flip Side of Yesterday” was a rekindled romance from a brief fling 11 years prior. “Lilac Awakening” was a good romantic story. I was surprised what happened toward the end. I did figure it out, but not until right before it happened. Both books kept my interest and I couldn’t put them down.
February 17, 2018
Two very good short stories
Times can be tough, life throws hard balls sometimes, it is not easy to move on sometimes. These stories were well written and thought out.
I really related to the second story as I have just lost my husband and am embarking on a new life on my own.
Times can be tough, life throws hard balls sometimes, it is not easy to move on sometimes. These stories were well written and thought out.
I really related to the second story as I have just lost my husband and am embarking on a new life on my own.
July 27, 2020
A Relationship Worth Locing
A new author that I have justfound. I like the way she writes. She keeps you guessing what's going to happen. A good ending.
A new author that I have justfound. I like the way she writes. She keeps you guessing what's going to happen. A good ending.
March 27, 2021
I fully enjoyed both of these stories "Flip Side of Yesterday" & "Lilac Awakening".
May 10, 2022
Liked the 1st story better than the 2nd but an entertaining read just the same.
Read
February 12, 2026review text for 78
January 11, 2020
This was a two-fer. I enjoyed both stories, mostly romance. I enjoyed the second one a little more
April 3, 2013
Rekindled by Barbara Delinsky
two books in one:
Flip Side of Yesterday by Billie Douglass Barbara Delinsky
Chloe and Russ meeting once again...he's moved into her beach house in Little Compton, RI (a town I'm familiar with and it's surroundings)
Fun to listen to where they go for lunch, mansion for dinner at night and all the descriptions of the sea and sand scenes.
She's an geologist consultant and plans for big communities that will not harm the land. He's into developing land with a bit of regard for the environment.
Hot steamy sex scenes add to this tale.
She doesn't want to take his business offer but she considers it...
Lilac Awakening by Bonnie Drake
She is in Vermont and needs time to think. The perfect setting is the cottage and pure nature all around her.
After 7 years she has lost Jeff and needs time to herself...
During the storm a knock comes and he thinks the cottage is his for the week...
They do not get along at all and they do end talking about their lives, as to why they each want no human contact and want alone time.
After a week she leaves to return to her job in the city as a translator and he has an invite for her to return...
Love learning about maple sugaring, and other tasks where you have to use your hands.
two books in one:
Flip Side of Yesterday by Billie Douglass Barbara Delinsky
Chloe and Russ meeting once again...he's moved into her beach house in Little Compton, RI (a town I'm familiar with and it's surroundings)
Fun to listen to where they go for lunch, mansion for dinner at night and all the descriptions of the sea and sand scenes.
She's an geologist consultant and plans for big communities that will not harm the land. He's into developing land with a bit of regard for the environment.
Hot steamy sex scenes add to this tale.
She doesn't want to take his business offer but she considers it...
Lilac Awakening by Bonnie Drake
She is in Vermont and needs time to think. The perfect setting is the cottage and pure nature all around her.
After 7 years she has lost Jeff and needs time to herself...
During the storm a knock comes and he thinks the cottage is his for the week...
They do not get along at all and they do end talking about their lives, as to why they each want no human contact and want alone time.
After a week she leaves to return to her job in the city as a translator and he has an invite for her to return...
Love learning about maple sugaring, and other tasks where you have to use your hands.
June 2, 2011
I hate tearing down a book, but this book did not meet my expectations, not even close.
First off, in one portion of the story Ms. Delinsky seems to intimate that homosexuality is a bad thing. A thing to be avoided. When it's hinted that her male friend is gay Chloe responds vehemently, and not in a flattering way. Sorry, but that won't fly with me.
It's also unrealistic and cliche. After being around each other for two days Ross tells Chloe that he loves her and wants to marry her. My response to that would be to back away slowly. He repeatedly informs her that she will love him. That there is something 'deep' about her that draws him in.
The writing is passable. Over-all I did not enjoy this book. Not at all. I won't warn you against reading it as your tastes are not necessarily my own, but I won't be reading anymore books by Ms. Delinsky.
First off, in one portion of the story Ms. Delinsky seems to intimate that homosexuality is a bad thing. A thing to be avoided. When it's hinted that her male friend is gay Chloe responds vehemently, and not in a flattering way. Sorry, but that won't fly with me.
It's also unrealistic and cliche. After being around each other for two days Ross tells Chloe that he loves her and wants to marry her. My response to that would be to back away slowly. He repeatedly informs her that she will love him. That there is something 'deep' about her that draws him in.
The writing is passable. Over-all I did not enjoy this book. Not at all. I won't warn you against reading it as your tastes are not necessarily my own, but I won't be reading anymore books by Ms. Delinsky.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2011
Two novels in one ("Flip Side of Yesterday" & "Lilac Awakening"). VERY different novels than the one I read most recently. As usual, Delinsky has super character and plot development. I was disappointed that they were more risque than I'm used to reading and lacked any real substance. However, easy quick reads that didn't require too much thought. I'm thinking I will stick to her newer novels which deal with some major societal issues.
December 30, 2011
This was a bit saccharine for my taste. A typical love story or two. I don't remember the first story as I read it quite some time ago. But the lilac story seemed unrealistic (which is what I guess romance is supposed to be Luke - fantasy for women). Would Anne really have gone back to Mitch after being deluded by him for so long? And she would have forgiven him that easily? Really? Anyway, besides my being realistic, it was a "nice" story.
December 23, 2013
Just finished it, oh, how I loved this book. I enjoyed both stories, but the second one Lilac Awakening more, it was a wonderful story! It's not so much a story to relate to by the situation, but more by emotions, I just couldn't stop reading.
Don't want to spoil it for anyone, so i won't write any details here, but I do definitely think that this is so worth reading! I might say the same for some other books by Barbara Delinsky, i guess, I'm a fan of her work.
Don't want to spoil it for anyone, so i won't write any details here, but I do definitely think that this is so worth reading! I might say the same for some other books by Barbara Delinsky, i guess, I'm a fan of her work.
June 14, 2010
Relaxed reading...two novellas that I lost myself in this Sunday.
I've always enjoyed Delinsky as she never fails to deliver. Although I believe both of these stories could have been full novels, the characters were developed enough that I felt involved.
Thanks for a wonderful way of escape Barbara...I'm one of your fans and appreciate the way you write!
I've always enjoyed Delinsky as she never fails to deliver. Although I believe both of these stories could have been full novels, the characters were developed enough that I felt involved.
Thanks for a wonderful way of escape Barbara...I'm one of your fans and appreciate the way you write!
December 15, 2012
These are two early novels. The Flip Side of Yesterday is about a romance that began 10 years earlier and then begins again. Lilac Awakening is a story of two lonely strangers that meet in Vermont. Both stories have an interesting twist. Well written with a strong story line that kept me interested to the very end.
May 26, 2008
Rekindled has two books in one by Barbara Delinsky. Both are very good and make this romance-lover very happy. I really like Barbara Delinsky's writing.
May 6, 2012
I liked the second story much better than the first.
August 8, 2013
this book might be some other kind of books wrote by Barbara D. but there is something unique about it, it touched my heart, it brought out something exquisite. Maybe beyond words.
April 26, 2015
very romantic
March 28, 2014
This was not my favorite book by Barbara Delinsky. It has two different novels in this book. I think the second novel was better and it did have a surprise twist toward the end.
Read
February 12, 2008Delinsky, Barbara
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews