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Variation on a Theme: A Beautiful and Emotionally Powerful Romance of Mystery, Trust, and the Love Worth Keeping
New York Times bestselling author Barbara Delinsky enthralls millions of readers with emotionally powerful stories that vividly demonstrate the heart's, power to love. Here, first published in 1984, is an unforgettable story of a woman who must discover who she is before she can give herself to the man she loves.
Although he'd already heard a great deal about Rachel Busek, nothing prepared Jim Guthrie for the beautiful flutist's gentle grace. A rough-hewn private investigator, Jim is nearly overwhelmed with the urge to love and protect her. And Rachel is both amazed and delighted at the ease with which Jim slips into her life. Yet as quick passion gives way to leisurely love, Rachel finds herself holding back. Troubling pieces of her past remain a mystery even to her, and keep her from trusting her heart. Now, she must either discover the truth about her past or risk losing the first man in her life worth keeping.
Although he'd already heard a great deal about Rachel Busek, nothing prepared Jim Guthrie for the beautiful flutist's gentle grace. A rough-hewn private investigator, Jim is nearly overwhelmed with the urge to love and protect her. And Rachel is both amazed and delighted at the ease with which Jim slips into her life. Yet as quick passion gives way to leisurely love, Rachel finds herself holding back. Troubling pieces of her past remain a mystery even to her, and keep her from trusting her heart. Now, she must either discover the truth about her past or risk losing the first man in her life worth keeping.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1985
145 people are currently reading
187 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 17, 2018
Short and sweet. Not much to it. This was an early book written under a pseudonym and recently republished. It bears no relationship to her more recent books some of which have been best sellers.
January 2, 2018
Great Romance
I've never read a bad book by Barbara Delinsky. She incorporated some mystery in this book and it was enjoyable reading.
I've never read a bad book by Barbara Delinsky. She incorporated some mystery in this book and it was enjoyable reading.
May 9, 2021
This was a pretty cute late 80s romance. A little goofy and sappy at times, but it has a good heart.
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October 21, 2022This story may have seemed romantic in 1984 when the book was written, but in 2022, the relationship is extremely toxic. So the book was not enjoyable.
January 18, 2023
I loved the happy ending! A romantic love story, but literally 3/4 of the book was foreplay....not used to so many detailed descriptions obsessing about cheekbones and a strong neck!
January 12, 2025
Definitely written early in her career.
June 16, 2024
Very slow moving storyline.
May 21, 2013
I've read quite a few books by this author and by and large enjoyed them very much. By the time I'd read the first few pages of this one I was flipping to the front to see when it was published. No surprise to see it was in the mid-80's, as it felt very dated. This is a far cry from The Vineyard, Lake News, Heart of the Night, Family Tree... In some ways it's refreshing and encouraging to see to what extent relationships have changed - the shy young ethereal thing drawn inexorably to the more primitive, earthy he-man... I'm afraid I just couldn't connect, and the ending, with the decision as to how to resolve their career conflicts still has me cringing.
We've come a long way, baby!
I guess this is a bit of a spoiler... so I'll mark it as such.
We've come a long way, baby!
I guess this is a bit of a spoiler... so I'll mark it as such.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2012
This is an early book by Barbara Delinsky and hadn't reached her full potential at thie time, I think. It was an interesting story and worth reading, but lacked the charm and intriguing situations of her later books. She now developes characters with more depth and more gripping stories. Still, I did enjoy Rachel and Jim's journey.
January 2, 2016
My cover has a black "flute" and yellow rose on it. Not sure if that could be a real flute but it's intriguing.
The insta love thing was annoying. Good start but it definitely bogged down..I skipped thru..did seem dated to me.
The insta love thing was annoying. Good start but it definitely bogged down..I skipped thru..did seem dated to me.
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March 11, 2011i started reading this on 8/5/94
June 8, 2011
This is my first Delinsky book - I liked it!
July 11, 2011
Not one of her better books
August 1, 2012
A fun fast beach read.
December 24, 2013
I liked the plot and the writing. A nice novel and page turner!
September 4, 2016
I didn't actually read this book, I gave up after 57 sappy pages. Terrible. Feels like a 15 yr old wrote it.
February 23, 2017
looking for distraction this did not do it
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews