In Your Wildest Dreams

by Toni Blake

The author of "The Red Diary" pens an irresistible erotic romance about a woman posing as an escort to find her sister, and the sexy bartender who helps her. Original.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Ebooks, Suspense, M F Romance, Fiction

440 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2005

About the author

Toni Blake's love of writing began when she won an essay contest in the fifth grade. Soon after, she penned her first novel, nineteen notebook-pages long, and announced to her mother over breakfast one day that she was going to be a writer when she grew up. Since then, Toni has become the author of more than a dozen contemporary romance novels. Her work has been excerpted in Cosmo, she's been a recipient of the Kentucky Women Writers Fellowship and a nominee for the prestigious Pushcart Prize, and she's also had more than forty short stories and articles published. Toni lives in the Midwest and enjoys traveling, genealogy, crafts, and snow skiing.

Toni has also written under the name Toni Blair.

Photo: Cassandra Stella

Reviews

[KarenH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I'm suffering from a case of "hero worship" with Toni Blake. Has she ever written a bad book? Her heroes are sexy, sultry, swarthy, lusty, brooding hunks that are written with enough faults and shortcomings to give us readers hope that men like them actually exist somewhere on this planet.

Jake Broussard fits the TB hero package perfectly. He's a bartender in a New Orleans private club that caters to top-dollar hookers and the rich men who desire their company. Jake is also a dead man walking, for life as he once knew it ended when a bullet meant for him struck and killed his pregnant wife.

Stephanie Grant is on a mission to find her little sister and get her out of New Orleans and the call-girl lifestyle she has adopted. Acting on the advice of an ex-hooker she met online, Stephanie dresses up in her "come f**k me" best and cruises into the private club...hoping to get some insight on the whereabouts of her sister. Jake, warring between not giving a damn and not wanting to see the girl get hurt, succumbs to the latter and promises Stephanie he will help her find her sister. How could he not help her? It was so blatantly obvious that she was not what she appeared to be, Jake figured the least he could do was keep her from getting herself killed.

His soul may have died but his libido was alive & kicking, and Jake put the moves on Steph early-on. Steph, for God only knows what reason, prickteases Jake to the point of no return and then thwarts his advances at the last minute several damn times! Her reason was so lame it didn't warrant the 100+ pages it took to work up her confidence. However, they finally get on the same sexual page; and, once Jake coaxes Steph out of her shyness, she totally connects with the hidden nasty wanton within and....rabbits they become!

Ok, we are all aware this is nothing more than a fling. Steph has a life and another guy back in Chicago and Jake wasn't even in the market for sex with the same person twice. So who burst the bubble? C'mon, Jake is beyond-this-world sexy with his dark good looks and husky-voiced Cajun accent. Steph commits THE SIN by blurting out those 3 little words guaranteed to send the majority of single men running for cover...in another country. And Jake, being that realistic hero Toni does so well, says "I'm sorry beb, but I can't love anyone else but her" (meaning his dead wife). Ugh. Would that be devastating or what?

The book definitely had some Hallmark moments, and I was swiping at my eyes more than once. But all problems are nicely resolved and there is a sweet HEA (as well as the coveted "epilogue", which seems to be on the verge of extinction lately) And as usual, TB's characters are so real that when Jake starts talking that lusty Cajun sex talk....well, just keep your legs crossed and count to 10 backwards. LMAO Have I sold you on this one yet?

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Jake

[Kathrynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this modern, romantic suspense set in New Orleans (written just before Hurricane Katrina). As much as I tried to like it, the story didn't move fast enough for me and the heroine (Stephanie) became very annoying. She started out okay, but eluded to having a sexual hang-up that prevented her from getting intimate with Jake (who was a neat character). A lot of leading up (teasing really) and she would break off with "I'm sorry." When she finally revealed her problem, I was rolling my eyes. What a sappy excuse! She commenced to do a series of stupid things that she was very lucky in the outcome(s).

Jake was a former police officer in New Orleans who quit two years ago because of something bad and became a bartender for a high-end escort service. His character grew from rough and tough to very nice pretty quick. He picks up a homeless girl living on the streets and takes a homeless dog in then agrees to help Stephanie find her (prostitute) missing sister.

For me, the book dragged in many places. The suspense was minimal. Stephanie's sister, Tina (Tiana) was no brighter and the stupidity of the females just annoyed the heck out of me.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I REALLY liked the last half of this book much more than the first half. The Hero was fantastic, I loved everything about him. The heroine got on my nerve's a bit at the beginning until she finally gave into her feelings for the hero. I cried in several parts of this book, soaking the front of my shirt.

So far every Toni Blake book I've read have been really good. I can't wait to read the next one.

[Saly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay book, like a typical Toni Blake it had loads of sexy moments. The heroine Stephanie pretends to be an escort to find her sister Tina, who came down here following her boyfriend, but after being dumped told her she was going into the escort business. Stephanie hasn't heard from her in a while and fears her disapproval may be the reason for that or something bad may have happened. The hero Jake is the bartender of the club she goes to and he can tell straight off she doesn't fit there, a conversation reveals what she is really after and he warns her she is playing a dangerous game and to stop, she doesn't listen and he is forced to intervene and save her and despite not wanting to agrees to help her.

Jake is a former cop sleepwalking since his big loss two years ago, he shut down and shut everyone off after losing his wife Beckyhis cover was blow, he took his wife out & she took a bullet meant for him, she was pregnant. He doesn't want to get involved but kind of does helping a teenage runaway Shondra and even the heroine.

The heroine has a great career but is kind of weird about sex, she gets hot and heavy and then stops the heroshe overheard her mother say no to her father, and he didn't stop & that kind of sat on her, she doesn't wanna lose that power.

I was never really that involved in the book. The heroine's sister is shacked up with a married guy who swears he will leave his wife, but you know he won't, she wises up and needs a rescue. The heroine time and again does foolish things, like go off on her own dressed as a hooker, loves sex with the hero and then him, when he says he can't becomes all pissy. My quip, hello you were the one who wanted casual sex and now you call him a bastard for giving you just that? In the end I felt things got tied up way too neatly, the hero gets his wife killer, an epiphany that he can move on and viola we get a HEA.

This isn't Toni Blake's best work, I will recommend trying other books by her first.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when your sister has seemingly disappeared from the face of the earth after she told you she was going to be an escort in New Orleans? Well if you are buttoned up Stephanie, you drag your butt down to the Big Easy and start to go to those same places, passing yourself off as an escort, even though you are so far out of your element.

It in one such place that Stephanie crosses paths with Jake, an ex-cop, who is working as a bartender. Jake is a very emotionally broken man, one who is barely living. It is only after he agrees to help Stephanie look for her sister (his old cop good guy habits peeking out), that he starts to live again. I found it ironic that on the same day that he agrees to help Stephanie, he helps a homeless teen (again the good guy wanting out).

From the moment Jake and Stephanie meet their attraction was so explosive, you couldn't wait for them to explode. The only downer of their unusual relationship is Stephanie's issues with sex. I have to say that there were a couple of times that I didn't like Stephanie. Her actions going so far, but then crying no at the last minute. Even after we get to the root of her problems you wonder how she managed to get as old as she was with them intact.

Aside from that their sex scenes were enough to melt the paint off the walls. Because they were focusing on sex, both of them seemed to keep reaching for the other, not realizing that at the same time they were working through their issues.

When Jake finally tells the tale of why he is so remote you want to cry for him. Especially as you see him caring more for Stephanie and the homeless girl.

I really liked how things were all wrapped up at the end of the book. Everyone found the ending they needed.

[LaFleurBleue · Rating 4 out of 5]

In comparison with other books I read recently which tried to deal with difficult topics as well sexual fear and death of a beloved spouse , this one is way above the others in terms of realism and emotions. Obviously this is a romance and not a romantic suspense, the investigation behind to find out Stephanie's sister being more of a background than the core of the meal.
I found this book very compelling and difficult to lay down, before the end.
The writing was nice, the storyline very well balanced offering regularly understanding of the way characters see themselves, considering that both of them change during the course of the book. Both characters were nice and had everything I could wish for them to be my friends. I really loved the way their encounter and relationship helped them both overcome some difficulties and become someone better.
I even flirted with a 5-star rating, but two things prevented the book to reach this absolutely perfect status: there were regularly interludes in between chapters describing dreams, mostly erotic, that Jake had. Honestly I believed there were too many of those and the story could have done without most of them. Second thing, I was really annoyed by Stephanie's behavior when she stopped abrubtly for the second time a hot making-out session with Jake , with no further explanation that I'm sorry. This stroke me as out of character with her normal persona and I kept wondering how she had been handling it before, because we knew she did.
Though not the best of what Toni Blake can offer, this is indeed a very good one with her trademark likable characters and some slow rollercoaster of emotions.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TBR Challenge 2011--August Category: Steamy Read. In Your Wildest Dreams has been on my TBR list since June 2010.

Mild on suspense and long on relationship development, In Your Wildest Dreams is a satisfying and sensual novel. Like many steamy reads, suspension of disbelief is a must. The reader has to buy into the almost instant attraction between the leads, even though neither one is looking for any kind of relationship. At least the male lead, Jake, isn't a horn-dog. The female lead, Stephanie, is sexually experienced but somewhat repressed. While trying to infiltrate the high-priced escort service in New Orleans to find her missing sister, Stephanie meets Jake, a former cop now working just enough hours as a bartender to pay his bills. As the book progresses, it's revealed that Jake has given up on having a "life" due to a tragic event a couple of years earlier.

While the sex is the stuff dreams are made of (and reality isn't), there is more to the story than just the frequent, steamy sex scenes. Both Jake and Stephanie are good, if flawed, people, and Blake does a good job making their journey toward each other plausible. Well drawn secondary characters like the homeless girl, Shondra, round out this enjoyable novel.

[Tracy Curtis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to most of this audio book but just could not get through it. At first I was super interested and honestly it was just WAY too long. Maybe if the story was cut in half it would have held my interest more. the idea of the story is great but just didn't move along enough.

[Kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was a super cheesy romantic suspense. The heroine was exhausting and kept taking the stupidest chances. The hero was a bit over the top in his brooding. I also didn't love the coincidences in the end of the book. It's not the worst I have read, but it wasn't great.

[Kim Schellin-Rog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book overall. It was repetitive and as a result 50 pages or so could have been eliminated. But none the less a pretty enjoyable read.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie is in New Orleans looking for her sister whom she has not seen or heard from in a while. And like any other sister she is worried and wants to make sure she is ok. She goes to a place where escorts frequent sol that maybe she can find someone who knows her sister or where she could be. She never thought that meeting a bartender would completely change her life. She never thought that one person could change her outlook on life sex and love.
Jake is born and bred in New Orleans who lost his wife in a very tragic way. He is a retired cop because he could not work his line of work anymore since she passed. His friend got him the job as a bartender for a club so that he would not slip deep into his depression like he did when his wife first died. He just never thought that one woman who stood out in the crowd would make him want to live again. One woman would make him want to be alive again.
Jake offered to help Stephanie find her sister. Strange things start to happen between them. Jake dreams of a woman he cannot truly see and Stephanie cannot help thinking about Jake, the more they work together the closer to each other they become. Jake admits his past and about his wife to Stephanie. Stephanie admits about her sexual and personal past to Jake. They realize that they are completely attracted to each other and try to fight it because Jake feels he would dishonor his late wife’s memory and Stephanie feels that since she is not a native to new Orleans she does not need to fall for someone who is when she will leave.
By the end of the book Stephanie’s sister is found and safe. Jake finally figured out who the woman he was dream actually was. He also came to terms with his wife’s passing. Stephanie finally realized that being in New Orleans was the best thing for her. Jake and she also admitted that they loved each other and wanted to be together.
I absolutely loved this book. One of the best parts for me was the dreams, it brought the book together. The author is completely amazing and could not put the book down. I have been a fan of her for a while and loved having the opportunity to read this book.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you may know, I’m quite the Toni Blake fan. WILDEST DREAMS was originally published as In Your Wildest Dreams and takes place in New Orleans featuring a sexy Cajun and a very inquisitive heroine named Stephanie.

Stephanie Grant is on a mission. Her sister Tina has been missing. She has spent her life as an high-paid hooker but when Stephanie doesn’t hear from her, she gets worried. At the desparate end, Stephanie poses as a hooker herself, entering the bar where she hopes someone knows her sister. This is where she meets Jake Broussard, the bartender and ex-cop who knows just how much trouble Stephanie is putting herself in to find her sister.

While I liked Stephanie’s determination and her willingness to risk anything for her sister, I also thought that there were a few moments where she got in over her head. I understood Jake’s frustration with her, but I could also understand her drive. As a result, I went back and forth liking Stephanie because of her stubborn ways.

Though this story does sound like it would have a lot of suspense in it, it’s actually more contemporary in feeling. The circumstances in which they find themselves in is just the way they are brought together. However, Stephanie and Jake also take their time in opening up to each other.

I loved Jake and loved reading about his kindness towards the homeless girl. The presence of flaws only enriches the characters in this book, as well as the sex scenes which are off-the-chart-hot!

WILDEST DREAMS may not be my favorite Toni Blake book, but you can see just how much growth she has had as a writer when you read her earlier works. All the grand elements are there, they just need to be polished and shown to the world like the true gems they are.

*ARC provided by publisher

[Lia Mcintosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A woman disguises herself as a high-priced call girl to help find her missing sister in Toni Blake's latest steamy novel, WILDEST DREAMS. It's a sizzling hot romance that takes place in the heart of New Orleans. Jake Broussard is a local New Orleans ex-cop who is now working as a bartender at an exclusive club called the Chez Sophia. Stephanie Grant is a sexually naive woman from Chicago who thinks she can disguise herself as a call girl in order to find her missing younger sister Tina.

When the two meet the sparks fly. Jake teaches Stephanie a lot of things behind closed doors, but Stephanie's main objective is to find her sister, who she thinks is now a prostitute. Jake doesn't want a committed relationship, but unfortunately Stephanie starts to subconsciously think that he really loves her. The sex is hot, and Stephanie tries to remind herself that after they find Tina, it's "goodbye, Jake".

On the other hand, Jake's past with Becky was a welcome part of the story, as it explained why he had a hard time getting seriously involved with any woman, including Stephanie. The author teases the reader, throwing out hints who Becky was, until their history is finally explained.

WILDEST DREAMS had plenty of sexy erotic scenes for those who love their romances hot and wild. However, for those who like their romances a little bit more tame, this may not be for you. The mystery behind the missing Tina adds a dimension to the novel that the reader will enjoy.
A terrific romance with a dash of mystery. Yes, it sizzles with hot love scenes, but it's more than just that. You actually care about the characters. Stephanie is strong yet vulnerable. And Jake. Sigh. I just loved reading about him, yet ached for his heartbreak. Together they're one couple you can see being together.
Amy Rubinate was fantastic with the delivery of the story

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this out as an audiobook from the library to occupy my mind while engaged in tedious chores. I really, really liked this story, loved the characters and the setting, and except for some parts (the heavy sex scenes) would recommend this book to almost everyone. It is set in a place I've loved all my life and the city and supporting characters acted normal.

What I didn't like {one of my Particular Pet Peeves} was the exaggerated and often mispronunciation by the narrator, Amy Rubinate, for common everyday names and words used by me and mine. It's not her fault really so I don't blame her for aggravating me. She has a really lovely reading voice and I enjoyed the parts that didn't jar very much.

So, for those that have no cajun/french speaking or listening skills:

Cher is pronounced 'Share' in Parisianne french and 'Sha' as in the first syllable of the word shadow in Cajun French. It means exactly the same thing just pronounced different. The word was used continuously throughout the story, but pronounced 'Shar' as in the word SHARD or 'Char' as in the word CHARcoal and like a shard of glass, cut with each use. I know this would not have bothered me at all had I been actually reading it instead of listening to it as I scrubbed algae, mold and mildew off the north side of the house, but reading and scrubbing are not good multitasking partners. :)

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't summarize the story in my reviews, you can get it everywhere else. With that being said I have to say that this book was nothing special to me. I got the sexy scenes, in fact, more than it really needed. The story line dragged and I found it annoying that Stephanie constantly did things that she knew were dumb. I have a horrible time connecting with heroines like that.

The actual writing was well done and was a quick read. No stumbling blocks or words that stumped me (I have a rather extended vocabulary) to annoy me. The story seemed to drag though and at times stop. I had to suspend my disbelief in this story as it seems way out there to me. While I certainly believe that a person could run away and become an "escort" I found it hard to believe Stepanie's part. I am sure she was worried, I am sure she would even go down to New Orleans; but the whole "be an escort" herself and being able to get into "the third floor"? Seems a bit much to me.

I won't tell anyone to skip the book, that isn't fair, but don't look for a story that is quick paced and will leave you itching to get to the next page.

[Suzie Quint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though there are a couple of moments where I was knocked out of the story by what can only be described as the heroine's too-stupid-too-live moments (like when she steals [yes steals--and then sinks] a boat to follow the hero up a bayou waterway), I'm glad to have read this.

I love the way the author takes the reader on the journey of healing that Jake must go through to rejoin the living. The guilt he feels about his wife's death, his inability to talk about his emotions, the way his friends all stand back from him, hoping but not interfering, all strike me as true to the masculine method of coping and made this a real emotional journey. The author also has a talent for painting memorable moments. It doesn't hurt either that she makes me hear Jake's soft Cajun lilt in my mind, ensuring that Jake will stand out when I remember the best heroes.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

After Stephanie's younger sister moves to New Orleans and is dumped by her boyfriend, she becomes an escort and disappears. Stephanie takes a leave of absence from her job in Chicago and goes undercover as an escort to try to track her down. She soon meets Jake, a sexy bartender who agrees to help find her sister.

Overall, this was boring and I could not stand Stephanie. For someone that was supposed to be smart and successful, her uncover plan was not well thought out nor executed well. She had a hangup about sex and when it was finally revealed 'why' I just rolled my eyes. Jake was a more compelling character and I think this would have worked he was the narrator.



Grade: 2/5

[(NurseLisa) Square Granny from Ohio · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars. I read the updated/re released version (2014 or 2013); I really liked the story a LOT & totally appreciated the effort taken by Ms. Blake to take an originally published in the early 2000's novel & edit it to jibe with technology, verbiage, etc of today's works. I'm already a big Toni Blake fan but that extra effort scores even bigger in this reader's opinion. If you're a fan of Toni Blake, this is truly a "must read"! If you're not a fan YET, I betcha will be once ya read this! ;)
Cheers! L.

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake and Stephanie meet while she takes a dive into a world of high class escorts to low class ex for drugs. This adventure takes Stephanie through a world she had never dreamed of and her out of her comfort zone. Stephanie learns a lot about herself. While Jake copes with the facts that he is indeed a man that wants to help those in need.

[Ellen Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Ms Blake writes bad boy heroes really well. You just can't help but fall in love with them. Her writing is such that the atmosphere of New Orleans is very much part of the book. The sex scenes are great. All in all an excellent read.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Toni is a new author for me and a good writer but I just couldn't get into the characters. This was a dud for me. I may try her again in the future but for now, it is a quick read, you will sweep through the pages but the characters didn't stick, i was over it in a heart beat.

[Shxrxn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange, the journeys life led a person on—strange what someone could make themselves do for love.

In love with someone who loves you back and who you know would never hurt you or leave you. Ever. Someone truly worthy.

[Nora · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started it-flipped through & read a bit a couple of times & looked at the end. I'm not totally sure why I hated this book, but I think it had something to do with the fact that it was pretty much porn with some woowoo mysticism crap thrown in for good measure. Ick!

[Missy~ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Normally love Toni Blake and her style of writing. Just couldn't seem to get into this one. Had a very hard time finishing it.

[Carol Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensual, touching, romantic -- a classic keeper of a contermporary romance, and also an unforgettable picture of New Orleans before Katrina!

[Michelle [Helen Geek]]

No eBook available .. recommended to me by GR based on other books I've read.

[Huluriasquias · Rating 3 out of 5]

More guilty pleasure. Not as good as Tempt Me Tonight.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

also known as, WILDEST DREAMS by Toni Blake. very, very good!!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toni Blake never fails to make my day.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars... Not one of her best, but was steamy. Plot ok.