"Swimming with the Dolphins"

DOLPHIN SONG takes a classic romance story of star-crossed lovers and provides it with a contemporary setting and a couple of adorable dolphins.

Cassandra Chase is happy living in Los Angeles and working for a small dolphinarium. She doesn't have much of a love life because she has never quite forgotten Jack "Digger" Coady, who left her for a job in Australia 6 years before.

Cass had refused to marry Digger because she was in school and has not seen him since. When Digger reappears in her life, he doesn't propose marriage, but merely that they date and get reacquainted. At the end of his stay, Digger invites Cass to visit him in Australia.

Cass anxiously goes to Australia, fearing further heartbreak if things don't work out. When Cass arrives Digger is away on business and she moves in with two of his friends. She ventures into the waters of Dolphin Bay and makes friends with Darby and her baby, Bubbles.

When Digger returns he is pleased to see her and they agree not to speak of love and marriage until Cass's month vacation is up. Digger also tells her of his concern about 'dolphin-rustlers' and that he is keeping an eye on the boat of a man named Jenkins.

Cass falls into a routine of playing with the dolphins daily and becomes very close to Darby and Bubbles. She is determined to protect them from Jenkins and begins to keep a close eye on him. She finally decides to do a 'sting' and get Jenkins on tape selling dolphins. The only problem is that she doesn't tell Digger and he feels betrayed when he finds the tape. This misunderstanding marred the book slightly for me, but luckily it is short-lived.

This is a cute story of love thwarted by separate goals that is finally achieved with compromise. The dolphin lore is interesting and the book moves along quickly and although the ending is predictable it is still satisfying. The author's writing style is quick and spare, there is no purple prose here. Those who are looking for a quick read with a fun setting and a likable couple will enjoy this story. Linda Hurst

Reviewed by Linda Hurst
Posted March 21, 2002

Summary

When Cass Chase, from Los Angeles, visits Digger Coady at Dolphin Bay in West Australia, she finds more than a reunion with an ex-fiancé. She matches wits with a dolphin smuggler, and is rescued from him by Darby, her favorite dolphin. She renews her love for Digger, but is concerned about finding career fulfillment in this isolated place.

Will their mutual love of each other and of dolphins be enough to bring them together, or will Cass's trip fade into nothing but a nostalgic memory of Dolphin Song?