"A good romanance dealing with a social issue"

She barely talked to her father over the last decade or so as she considered him to be a no good lazy bum. So when Lucy Donovan inherits Sonny's Marine Park in Nassau, Bahamas from her dad, she visits with the intent of selling. Lucy prefers staying home where she works long hours as an ad executive.

At the park, someone is trying to kidnap the star attraction, Randy the dolphin. Lucy sees a gorgeous male in the pool molesting her fish. Chris Maddox founder of the Free Dolphin Society informs Lucy that Randy needs to swim free in the ocean with his peers as opposed to being caged in a chlorine pool. Chris and Lucy talk as he explains that he must untrain Randy so that the dolphin learns to use his echolocation skills. As the mainlander and the dolphin "thief" become better acquainted, each realizes that the other brings out the best qualities in them. However, he has a world to save and she has issues remaining from her estrangement with her father, making a permanent relationship less likely than society ending the caging of animals.

THE BEST OF ME is a strong contemporary romance containing a powerful plot involving the freeing of captive dolphins. The story line works due to a wonderful support cast including Randy and the lead couple, though Lucy carries too much baggage, that often conflicts with the Free Randy theme for the dominant plot. Still, fans will root for the precociously intelligent Randy and want Lucy and Chris to make it together saving the world.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 5, 2002

Tina Wainscott is an award-winning author of thirteen books for St. Martin's Press and Harlequin. The Best of Me is Tina Wainscott's first Harlequin Temptation.

Summary

Lucy Donovan has always subscribed to the finer things in life. That is, until a fateful trip to the Bahamas and an even more fateful encounter with the sexy, cynical Chris Maddox. A man who has dedicated his life to freeing captive dolphins, he prefers their company to human company. His take on the world leaves her speechless. So does his gorgeous body. Lucy knows he brings out the best in her, but can she give up everything for him? For them?