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Victoria Lesser #1
The Real Thing
Stranded on an island off the coast of Maine, Deirdre and Neil got the solitude each so desperately craved--but they also got each other, something they hadn't expected. Now, with the idea of living alone unimaginable to them, they wonder if their passion can survive the forces of the outside world. Reissue. .
248 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
330 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Delinsky
308 books4,357 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 5, 2022
First published in the mid-1980s, this first in Delinsky's Matchmaker series is very dated and does not transfer well to the 21st Century. It may have been slightly dated when it was published.
Neil is facing the destruction of his legal career by the criminally minded board of a major corporation he served as general counsel - think Worldcom. Angry, depressed, and at his wit's end, he asks his friend Victoria if he can borrow her isolated cabin on an island in Maine for a couple of weeks while he re-evaluates his life. She agrees and sets it up with her caretaker. An hour later, Victoria receives a call from her friend Deirdre who has a broken leg in a cast full cast, facing the imminent end of her aerobics instructor career and also needs an escape to a remote cabin on an island to avoid the relentless pressure from family to step into running the family corporation which has struggled since her father died. Victoria of course sees a match and blithely sends Deirdre to Maine along with Neil without telling either that they will have company.
The premises is entertaining and of course a familiar trope of strangers stranded together in an isolated remote location. Bad weather plays a serious part in their situation. I confess to a fondness for these tropes. I also enjoyed how the caretaker maneuvered things to abandon them on the island by themselves. BUT, the bickering that goes on between these two for page after page isn't all that amusing after the first couple of rounds. Plus the whole idea that someone could release herself from the hospital in a full leg cast and drive hours to Maine and maneuver on a boat and on an island by herself is just too much suspended disbelief. Lastly, Deirdre in the end is perfectly happy to be the happy helpmeet of Neil on their marriage ... which makes the entire earlier presentation of her drive and commitment to her career and other goals as hypocritical.
It eked out 2 stars because inspite of the weariness I had with the bickering, I actually have a couple of friendships that have lasted 50 years based on exactly that.
Neil is facing the destruction of his legal career by the criminally minded board of a major corporation he served as general counsel - think Worldcom. Angry, depressed, and at his wit's end, he asks his friend Victoria if he can borrow her isolated cabin on an island in Maine for a couple of weeks while he re-evaluates his life. She agrees and sets it up with her caretaker. An hour later, Victoria receives a call from her friend Deirdre who has a broken leg in a cast full cast, facing the imminent end of her aerobics instructor career and also needs an escape to a remote cabin on an island to avoid the relentless pressure from family to step into running the family corporation which has struggled since her father died. Victoria of course sees a match and blithely sends Deirdre to Maine along with Neil without telling either that they will have company.
The premises is entertaining and of course a familiar trope of strangers stranded together in an isolated remote location. Bad weather plays a serious part in their situation. I confess to a fondness for these tropes. I also enjoyed how the caretaker maneuvered things to abandon them on the island by themselves. BUT, the bickering that goes on between these two for page after page isn't all that amusing after the first couple of rounds. Plus the whole idea that someone could release herself from the hospital in a full leg cast and drive hours to Maine and maneuver on a boat and on an island by herself is just too much suspended disbelief. Lastly, Deirdre in the end is perfectly happy to be the happy helpmeet of Neil on their marriage ... which makes the entire earlier presentation of her drive and commitment to her career and other goals as hypocritical.
It eked out 2 stars because inspite of the weariness I had with the bickering, I actually have a couple of friendships that have lasted 50 years based on exactly that.
November 5, 2012
Trust by Barbara Delinsky
Two books by the same author:
The Real Thing
Deidre a dancer.
Neil a lawyer.
Both need time alone as work has gotten to them. They each contact Victoria and she tells them separately that they can use the Maine island for a week.
They both arrive and meet up with the boat captain who will take them to the island. He leaves them at the dock with food. They have nothing in common
and don't get along. Because of her broken leg and his extra long body they both must sleep in the largest bed in the cabin and do.
As time goes on they do talk to one another, likes, dislikes, wants and needs...
They are each able to talk about their real problems and they come to a mutual conclusion...
Her mother interferes a lot...
.
Two books by the same author:
The Real Thing
Deidre a dancer.
Neil a lawyer.
Both need time alone as work has gotten to them. They each contact Victoria and she tells them separately that they can use the Maine island for a week.
They both arrive and meet up with the boat captain who will take them to the island. He leaves them at the dock with food. They have nothing in common
and don't get along. Because of her broken leg and his extra long body they both must sleep in the largest bed in the cabin and do.
As time goes on they do talk to one another, likes, dislikes, wants and needs...
They are each able to talk about their real problems and they come to a mutual conclusion...
Her mother interferes a lot...
.
August 20, 2018
I loved it. Nothing deep, not much plot but a cheerful, hopeful outlook on life. This is one of Delinsky’s early novels so it doesn’t pretend to be profound. I smile when I think of it.
August 1, 2022
Vale, ya me he animado con la amiga Delinsky. Este es mucho mejor al anterior que leí de ella.
Este tiene gracia y personajes creíbles y adorables. La trama no es nada del otro mundo, bastante predecible, pero las tonterías por las que se pelean y cómo se comportan los personajes es lo que hace de este libro uno de mis favoritos románticos que leí en este año. Hacen que te rías (o al menos sonrías) con sus ocurrencias y suspirar cuando se dicen cosas bonitas.
¡Lo recomiendo!
Este tiene gracia y personajes creíbles y adorables. La trama no es nada del otro mundo, bastante predecible, pero las tonterías por las que se pelean y cómo se comportan los personajes es lo que hace de este libro uno de mis favoritos románticos que leí en este año. Hacen que te rías (o al menos sonrías) con sus ocurrencias y suspirar cuando se dicen cosas bonitas.
¡Lo recomiendo!
May 29, 2025
Such a cute, feel good story. When life throws curves, one way to move on is to go to an isolated island and regroup. Thinking you would be alone on the island is uprooted by another person also trying to regroup. One is a female, the other a male. Deidre and Neil, both angry at life take it out on each other until anger is replaced by something neither expected. The story was well paced with believable characters.
February 4, 2019
I could not finish listening to it. I realized I was half way through and nothing had happened. The couple was still stranded on the island, arguing with each other and fighting a strong attraction to each other. This is one of Delinsky early books and I have enjoyed her more recent books. Her writing has come a long way.
April 2, 2022
Pretty Hokey
While I have greatly enjoyed several of Barbara Delinsky's books, this book falls short. I finished it, thinking that the plot would get better, but the whole book was shallow.
I don't recommend this book, although I do recommend the author.
While I have greatly enjoyed several of Barbara Delinsky's books, this book falls short. I finished it, thinking that the plot would get better, but the whole book was shallow.
I don't recommend this book, although I do recommend the author.
December 28, 2017
letto per la prima volta tantissimi anni fa.
June 1, 2018
It was obvious, it was predictable, but it was short and quick, and I liked it.
September 29, 2019
Another good one
Loveable characters as usual. Can't go wrong with this author. Can't get her books through my library as ebooks yet.
Loveable characters as usual. Can't go wrong with this author. Can't get her books through my library as ebooks yet.
January 5, 2020
As in all of your books that I have read over the yrs. I enjoyed this
September 2, 2023
Loved this short little book.
May 15, 2024
DNF. This book did not age well.
August 26, 2024
Read the 1986 original cover book. After they leave the cottage it's downhill from there and outdated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2025
Barbara Delinsky delivers
A lovely love story. Neil is a man most women would love to have. I highly recommend this book for light reading and a HE .
A lovely love story. Neil is a man most women would love to have. I highly recommend this book for light reading and a HE .
January 1, 2017
Deirdre and Neil's Business Merger 2.5*****
Arghhhh!
Having read this trilogy out of order, I should have ignored my CDO(ha, ha... OCD), and quit while I was ahead time-wise. This was actually the best of the three in this dangerous romantic matchmaker series.
So in a nutshell, a crippled, crutch wielding dance/exercise emporium owner, but soon to be CEO of Joyce Enterprises, (a prosperously, family run, engineering firm??), Deirdre Joyce is stranded on Victoria's island with a stranger, none other than black-ball lawyer Neil Hersey. They bicker the first three days as foreplay, then fall in lust and love at the end of their two week reality escape. On returning to Providence, they announce their marriage to the family, and Neil's take over of the family business. She becomes unhappy and pregnant, slowly losing her feistiness along the way. But upon voicing her dissatisfaction by doubting his motives, he reexamine a his courtship and sees the error in his moves; they say the magic words," I love you!", and all is well. Really?!?!
This novel, like the other two, lacks intense feasible plot/subplots, while subpar character development, sex scenes, and the dangerous romantic Victoria Lesser, as her name implies, all fail to engage and entertain the reader. The unrealistic scenarios and characters show a lack of business and legal research done on the author's part. What truly concerned friend would desert a helpless, physically disabled woman on an island with a stranger, she, herself, barely knows for three years?? Argghhh!
Arghhhh!
Having read this trilogy out of order, I should have ignored my CDO(ha, ha... OCD), and quit while I was ahead time-wise. This was actually the best of the three in this dangerous romantic matchmaker series.
So in a nutshell, a crippled, crutch wielding dance/exercise emporium owner, but soon to be CEO of Joyce Enterprises, (a prosperously, family run, engineering firm??), Deirdre Joyce is stranded on Victoria's island with a stranger, none other than black-ball lawyer Neil Hersey. They bicker the first three days as foreplay, then fall in lust and love at the end of their two week reality escape. On returning to Providence, they announce their marriage to the family, and Neil's take over of the family business. She becomes unhappy and pregnant, slowly losing her feistiness along the way. But upon voicing her dissatisfaction by doubting his motives, he reexamine a his courtship and sees the error in his moves; they say the magic words," I love you!", and all is well. Really?!?!
This novel, like the other two, lacks intense feasible plot/subplots, while subpar character development, sex scenes, and the dangerous romantic Victoria Lesser, as her name implies, all fail to engage and entertain the reader. The unrealistic scenarios and characters show a lack of business and legal research done on the author's part. What truly concerned friend would desert a helpless, physically disabled woman on an island with a stranger, she, herself, barely knows for three years?? Argghhh!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2016
This is the second in the Victoria Lesser Matchmaker series. It was not my favorite even though I tried to remember that it was written in the 80's and romance novels were very different back then.
Aerobics instructor Deirdre Joyce escapes to a remote island off the coast of Maine to recover from a broken leg and avoid her family as they pressure her to take over the family business. Neil Darcy also escapes to the island after blowing the whistle on his employer, which backfires on him and destroys his reputation. Angry and confused, the two are forced to share the isolated cabin for two weeks. In that time, the two find love and a resolution to their problems.
It was a fast read. The story line was interesting, although foolish that a woman just out of the hospital with a seriously broken leg, would travel alone to a remote island, accessible only by boat. As with other early Delinski characters (and probably all early romance characters) were over the top annoyingly stubborn. I like later Delinski much, much better.
Aerobics instructor Deirdre Joyce escapes to a remote island off the coast of Maine to recover from a broken leg and avoid her family as they pressure her to take over the family business. Neil Darcy also escapes to the island after blowing the whistle on his employer, which backfires on him and destroys his reputation. Angry and confused, the two are forced to share the isolated cabin for two weeks. In that time, the two find love and a resolution to their problems.
It was a fast read. The story line was interesting, although foolish that a woman just out of the hospital with a seriously broken leg, would travel alone to a remote island, accessible only by boat. As with other early Delinski characters (and probably all early romance characters) were over the top annoyingly stubborn. I like later Delinski much, much better.
February 4, 2014
I love Barbara Delinsky. Her books are a guilty pleasure that I thoroughly enjoy. The story lines are often cheesy, the love scenes somewhat hot yet awkward, and the characters always fall in love within a very short timeframe. Yet, it doesn't bother me because I'm not reading to have my mind stretched or to be left thinking about the story hours after I'm finished reading. I read her books because they're the perfect escape from the tedium of life. While I highly doubt I'll ever give one of her books a five-star, I'm always thoroughly entertained.
Read
January 27, 2017Diedre Joyce and Neil Hersey both decide they need to get away and contact a mutual friend, Victoria Lesser, who owns a private island on the coast of Maine. She lets them both go, and at first they don't get along, but after two weeks they're lovers and planning a sudden marriage to solve both of their problems. All seems to work out, but a few misunderstandings still need to be resolved.
September 5, 2015
Ok. Really don't know why I kept on listening to it. Some of the plot was not plausible...but interesting enough to push through to the end. Typical modern romance...sex happens before love or marriage.
July 25, 2011
This is 80's category romance at its best. The 'career-woman' heroine is an aerobics instructor. I'm rereading all of Barbara Delinsky's backlist right now.
Read
August 9, 2013Read 11/00
January 19, 2015
Not as good as most of hers. I like the later books better.
March 7, 2015
Read for my Romance selection for LIS 528.
July 7, 2015
True love
Fantastic! I used whisper sync and enjoyed the story very much. All the characters werewolf defined. I can't wait to read the remaining books in the trilogy.
Fantastic! I used whisper sync and enjoyed the story very much. All the characters werewolf defined. I can't wait to read the remaining books in the trilogy.
July 26, 2015
Great love story
Fairly predictable from the beginning. Two desperate people despising each other and then a complete turnabout. I've seen it many times over.
Fairly predictable from the beginning. Two desperate people despising each other and then a complete turnabout. I've seen it many times over.
July 31, 2015
Great book
This is a great book for a rainy day. Will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next. Highly recommend the read.
This is a great book for a rainy day. Will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next. Highly recommend the read.
Read
June 7, 2016nice story
November 24, 2015
Cute. Easy read.
March 25, 2017
Very much like a Katherine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy movie. Charming characters. Enjoyable and entertaining. An opportunity to revisit times when things were less technologically advanced when people actually talked to each other face to face. Definitely a worthy read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews