What do you think?
Rate this book
Wildest Dreams
Joletta Caresse's beloved grandmother dies, taking with her the secret to the formula of a legendary perfume that is now the most sought-after perfume on the market. Joletta tries to track down the formula through journals written by her ancestress, Violet Fossier, who in 1854 made a grand tour of Europe.
As Joletta follows Violet's itinerary across the continent, the story goes back in time, to nineteenth- century Europe and a scandalous love affair that is intimately bound up in the mystery of the perfume. In the present Joletta finds herself attracted to--and suspicious of--Rone Adamson, a Southern playboy whose astounding knowledge of perfume makes Joletta wary. Yet his chivalrous charms prove too much for her scruples, and Jolettta succumbs to her dubious white knight, even as danger swirls around them....
A Main Selection of the Doubelday Book Club
From the Paperback edition.
As Joletta follows Violet's itinerary across the continent, the story goes back in time, to nineteenth- century Europe and a scandalous love affair that is intimately bound up in the mystery of the perfume. In the present Joletta finds herself attracted to--and suspicious of--Rone Adamson, a Southern playboy whose astounding knowledge of perfume makes Joletta wary. Yet his chivalrous charms prove too much for her scruples, and Jolettta succumbs to her dubious white knight, even as danger swirls around them....
A Main Selection of the Doubelday Book Club
From the Paperback edition.
341 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
77 people are currently reading
434 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Blake
174 books542 followersA pseudonym used by Patricia Maxwell.
Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.
Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.
Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.
Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 15, 2013
Wildest Dreams by Jennifer Blake is a 1992 publication.
What a great story. Joletta has her world turned upside down when her fiancee decides he's not ready for marriage after all and then her grandmother dies suddenly, taking with her the formula for their most famous perfume. Joletta' s relatives are dying to get their hands on the formula so they can sell it to a large cosmetic company, making them quite wealthy. But, Joletta doesn't want to sell and her grandmother left her an old journal written by one of their ancestors that might hold a clue about the formula. So, Joletta sets off to Europe hoping to research the places in the journal . She soon finds she has a lot of familiar company.
Rone meets Joletta in New Orleans. He then follows her to Europe. Joletta begins to care for Rone, but he has a secret that will have to come out. When it does , Joletta will not feel the same about him.
As Joletta travels through Europe, she constantly refers to the journal written by her great, great, great, etc. grandmother, Violet. We are taken back in time to Violet' s dull marriage and an illicit affair which leads to the discovery of the now famous perfume and an epic love story.
We switch back and forth between past and present . The two stories parallel each other. Both women are let down by men , both women are put in grave danger ,and both women find true love.
I wish there were more stories like this one. Overall a A.
What a great story. Joletta has her world turned upside down when her fiancee decides he's not ready for marriage after all and then her grandmother dies suddenly, taking with her the formula for their most famous perfume. Joletta' s relatives are dying to get their hands on the formula so they can sell it to a large cosmetic company, making them quite wealthy. But, Joletta doesn't want to sell and her grandmother left her an old journal written by one of their ancestors that might hold a clue about the formula. So, Joletta sets off to Europe hoping to research the places in the journal . She soon finds she has a lot of familiar company.
Rone meets Joletta in New Orleans. He then follows her to Europe. Joletta begins to care for Rone, but he has a secret that will have to come out. When it does , Joletta will not feel the same about him.
As Joletta travels through Europe, she constantly refers to the journal written by her great, great, great, etc. grandmother, Violet. We are taken back in time to Violet' s dull marriage and an illicit affair which leads to the discovery of the now famous perfume and an epic love story.
We switch back and forth between past and present . The two stories parallel each other. Both women are let down by men , both women are put in grave danger ,and both women find true love.
I wish there were more stories like this one. Overall a A.
January 21, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book has just the right amount of mystery mixed with romance set in a historical setting. It started slow, but I’m glad I pushed through because the storytelling was amazing. I loved following Joletta and her grandmother through their European travels and couldn’t have asked for a better ending.
Read if you like:
- strong independent female leads
- a modern story intertwined with narratives from the past
- romance
- mysterious characters that will have you guessing until the end
This book has just the right amount of mystery mixed with romance set in a historical setting. It started slow, but I’m glad I pushed through because the storytelling was amazing. I loved following Joletta and her grandmother through their European travels and couldn’t have asked for a better ending.
Read if you like:
- strong independent female leads
- a modern story intertwined with narratives from the past
- romance
- mysterious characters that will have you guessing until the end
October 19, 2015
Slow but a big finish
It took a while for me to fully get into the storyline. It was a bit confusing going between the two sets of main characters. Still I was intrigued enough to want to find out more about the people. The ending was great. I really enjoyed this book.
It took a while for me to fully get into the storyline. It was a bit confusing going between the two sets of main characters. Still I was intrigued enough to want to find out more about the people. The ending was great. I really enjoyed this book.
February 14, 2019
Tiene un muy buen armado del misterio y los enredos.
Una joven pierde a su abuela perfumista antes de que ella pudiera revelarle el secreto para preparar el perfume de su ancestro. Lo único que logra balbucear es “el diario”.
Los parientes no le creen que no sabe cómo prepararlo ni tienen el olfato para discernir si miente o no.
Ella decide seguir los pasos de su abuela en el viaje para descubrir alguna pista. Su tía y prima sospechan y su prima la sigue.
Violet es la bisabuela que replicó el perfume preferido de la amante de Napoleón. Comienza la historia de ella, que se casa con un viejo gordo enamorado de la joven que pretende moldearla y que no la satisfacía pero lo hizo porque era su deber impuesto por sus padres.
Conoce un galán que la seduce de a poco y se enamoran. Ella conoce el placer de su mano. Conoce el perfume.
Joletta conoce a un señor que la rescata de un atentado a ella y luego lo encuentra y la vuelve a salvar en otro. Ella se deja llevar y conoce el placer igual que Violet.
También conoce a un italiano. Luego aparece su prima y se mete entre ellos.
Violet queda embarazada y él la abandona porque sufre atentados y pretende alejarlos de ella. Joletta descubre que él es hijo bastardo del zar Nicolás y quieren coronarlo.
Ella no descubre la fórmula. Pero se entera que el diario fue copiado por Violet
Y fueron ocultadas cosas.
Él vuelve y lo matan. Violet vuelve con su marido a EEUU y viven felices, lo cual es extraño.
A Joletta no le cierra y descubre que no había muerto él sino el marido y cambiaron identidades.
Joletta se enreda con él después de una tarde romántica con paseo en góndola y todo y el italiano que los conducía queriendo acecharla y él alejándolo. Él se complace en ella no pretendiendo fastidiarse por el paseo y en un canal estrecho y neblinoso donde el italiano no los veía, la besó. Luego fueron a la habitación y él la arrinconó en la puerta y luego hicieron el amor.
Él se da cuenta que está enamorado.
Ella nota, cuando aparece su prima de improvisto, que lo trata con mucha familiaridad. Luego ella le hace saber que fueron íntimos.
Él le confiesa su amor. Ella no le cree pues quiere el perfume para su madre que desea comprarlo. Él le confiesa que ella lo abandonó y no lo quiere.
Juntos buscan el perfume y hallan un medallón que había pasado de generación en generación de la familia que asistió a Violet y supone que les pagó algo. Fue su silencio porque quien murió fue su marido y su amante lo suplantó.
Una joven pierde a su abuela perfumista antes de que ella pudiera revelarle el secreto para preparar el perfume de su ancestro. Lo único que logra balbucear es “el diario”.
Los parientes no le creen que no sabe cómo prepararlo ni tienen el olfato para discernir si miente o no.
Ella decide seguir los pasos de su abuela en el viaje para descubrir alguna pista. Su tía y prima sospechan y su prima la sigue.
Violet es la bisabuela que replicó el perfume preferido de la amante de Napoleón. Comienza la historia de ella, que se casa con un viejo gordo enamorado de la joven que pretende moldearla y que no la satisfacía pero lo hizo porque era su deber impuesto por sus padres.
Conoce un galán que la seduce de a poco y se enamoran. Ella conoce el placer de su mano. Conoce el perfume.
Joletta conoce a un señor que la rescata de un atentado a ella y luego lo encuentra y la vuelve a salvar en otro. Ella se deja llevar y conoce el placer igual que Violet.
También conoce a un italiano. Luego aparece su prima y se mete entre ellos.
Violet queda embarazada y él la abandona porque sufre atentados y pretende alejarlos de ella. Joletta descubre que él es hijo bastardo del zar Nicolás y quieren coronarlo.
Ella no descubre la fórmula. Pero se entera que el diario fue copiado por Violet
Y fueron ocultadas cosas.
Él vuelve y lo matan. Violet vuelve con su marido a EEUU y viven felices, lo cual es extraño.
A Joletta no le cierra y descubre que no había muerto él sino el marido y cambiaron identidades.
Joletta se enreda con él después de una tarde romántica con paseo en góndola y todo y el italiano que los conducía queriendo acecharla y él alejándolo. Él se complace en ella no pretendiendo fastidiarse por el paseo y en un canal estrecho y neblinoso donde el italiano no los veía, la besó. Luego fueron a la habitación y él la arrinconó en la puerta y luego hicieron el amor.
Él se da cuenta que está enamorado.
Ella nota, cuando aparece su prima de improvisto, que lo trata con mucha familiaridad. Luego ella le hace saber que fueron íntimos.
Él le confiesa su amor. Ella no le cree pues quiere el perfume para su madre que desea comprarlo. Él le confiesa que ella lo abandonó y no lo quiere.
Juntos buscan el perfume y hallan un medallón que había pasado de generación en generación de la familia que asistió a Violet y supone que les pagó algo. Fue su silencio porque quien murió fue su marido y su amante lo suplantó.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2021
2.75 Stars for me!
My rating range of this story...
If significant, why?
Main Character Ratings...
H = 7
h = 5
Was cheating involved? Yes
Any major triggers to be aware of? Husband rapes wife (not descriptive)
Scenes with heat... Meh
Heat Rating... 2/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above
Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? No
The back story... Too much to list
The Romance... Builds over time
Final Notes... There was just too much going on and it distracted me to the point I was skipping forward.
HEA or HFN? Unknown for me!
My rating range of this story...
If significant, why?
Main Character Ratings...
H = 7
h = 5
Was cheating involved? Yes
Any major triggers to be aware of? Husband rapes wife (not descriptive)
Scenes with heat... Meh
Heat Rating... 2/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above
Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? No
The back story... Too much to list
The Romance... Builds over time
Final Notes... There was just too much going on and it distracted me to the point I was skipping forward.
HEA or HFN? Unknown for me!
January 2, 2017
Reminiscent of Mary Stewart, 'Wildest Dreams' captures the imagination and takes you on a languid and luscious tour of Europe. Two love stories and a hidden treasure, as well as other secrets to be shared, make this a mixture of romance with a drop or two of danger that deserves to be experienced breath by breath.
October 29, 2016
This never went where I thought it would and I loved the heroine who was true to herself, resourceful and honest. I certainly enjoyed the ride! It was also by today's standards fairly clean.
Read
November 28, 2023Una entretenida aventura, llena de romance y pasajes picantes. El final me pareció un poco apresurado y repentino.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
March 22, 2025spring pile
February 5, 2016
The nose knows and Jolette Caresse a testament to that. Fossier’s Royal Perfume, a successful business for almost a hundred and fifty years, has been in the family from the beginning. Now, with the death of Mimi, her grandmother, threatens to destroy it all. The perfumery’s most famous and consequently best-selling perfume was known as La Jordin de Cour and is rumored to stem from the Royal Court of Cleopatra and was brought into Europe by no less than Napoleon Bonaparte and was given to his empress Josephine. Violet Fossier, a distant grandmother, brought the perfume formula from Europe and started producing it in New Orleans. Violet had a nose that knew and that, combined with the recipe made success assured; Jolette inherited both.
This story is hard to precisely classify. Is it a contemporary or a historical dramatically romance? Actually, it doesn’t make any difference. What does is the fact that it reads like water flowing from your tongue and holds the reader’s attention and interest. Two steamy romances are wrapped into one. There is a devious, deceitful, cunning and flaming undercurrent with both of these men. It begged for caution but growing passion made this all but impossible. Are they destined for happiness? I found myself reverently hoping only the best for both beautiful women. The past and present are mixed into a delicious literary concoction and neatly wrapped in a tortilla, making a fictional burrito, sure to tickle the reader’s erudite taste buds. The author’s beautiful descriptions of sexual foreplay and aftermath seem like poetry in its lyrical prose; more than enough to sate the appetite of the most demanding reader. This cosmopolitan contemporary / historical mystery / romance are worth all of the laurels I award it and more.
This story is hard to precisely classify. Is it a contemporary or a historical dramatically romance? Actually, it doesn’t make any difference. What does is the fact that it reads like water flowing from your tongue and holds the reader’s attention and interest. Two steamy romances are wrapped into one. There is a devious, deceitful, cunning and flaming undercurrent with both of these men. It begged for caution but growing passion made this all but impossible. Are they destined for happiness? I found myself reverently hoping only the best for both beautiful women. The past and present are mixed into a delicious literary concoction and neatly wrapped in a tortilla, making a fictional burrito, sure to tickle the reader’s erudite taste buds. The author’s beautiful descriptions of sexual foreplay and aftermath seem like poetry in its lyrical prose; more than enough to sate the appetite of the most demanding reader. This cosmopolitan contemporary / historical mystery / romance are worth all of the laurels I award it and more.
December 23, 2016
Blake is a strong writer and I love her heroines, but I admit I got a little antsy reading this. It was ambitious, and I loved that she went back and forth through history, but I actually wanted to stick to the main, modern-day plotline. Still, blake's writing is good and her heroine smart, savvy, and appealing.
November 18, 2023
Здравейте четящи приятели!
Времето днес е съвсем подходящо за увлекателни, приключенски и мистериозни истории като тази.
Дълго пазени тайни, забранени връзки и една скандална любовна история, тясно преплетена с магията на един парфюм.
След смъртта на любимата си баба, Джолета е съкрушена.
Баба й отнася в гроба пазената в тайна рецепта за легендарен парфюм, който е бил сред предпочитаните аромати на Клеопатра. След като открива дневникът й, заинтригувана, младата жена решава да тръгне по следите на загадъчния парфюм,който баба й описва.
Тя започва авантюристичното си пътешествие из Европа.
И далеч неслучайно пътят й се кръстосва с този на Рон Адамсън, очарователен плейбой от южните щати с много познания за парфюмите.
Той се превръща в нейн съперник, но и мъж, на когото трудно може дълго да се устои…
Сладка,интересна и много добре поднесена история, която до взех от колекцията със старите любовни романи на свекърва ми.
Времето днес е съвсем подходящо за увлекателни, приключенски и мистериозни истории като тази.
Дълго пазени тайни, забранени връзки и една скандална любовна история, тясно преплетена с магията на един парфюм.
След смъртта на любимата си баба, Джолета е съкрушена.
Баба й отнася в гроба пазената в тайна рецепта за легендарен парфюм, който е бил сред предпочитаните аромати на Клеопатра. След като открива дневникът й, заинтригувана, младата жена решава да тръгне по следите на загадъчния парфюм,който баба й описва.
Тя започва авантюристичното си пътешествие из Европа.
И далеч неслучайно пътят й се кръстосва с този на Рон Адамсън, очарователен плейбой от южните щати с много познания за парфюмите.
Той се превръща в нейн съперник, но и мъж, на когото трудно може дълго да се устои…
Сладка,интересна и много добре поднесена история, която до взех от колекцията със старите любовни романи на свекърва ми.
May 25, 2013
This story starts out very interesting. Joletta's grandmother has died without passing on the recipe to the family perfume shop's most famous perfume. Joletta's ancestress Violet got the recipe while on a trip in Europe. Joletta heads to Europe with Violet's journal to see if retracing the steps of her ancestor will help elucidate the perfume recipe. Joletta encounters attempts on her life.
We flash back to Violet's experiences and life. At first this is very interesting but it begins to bog down the current day story when it takes over right as it looks like Joletta may get some answers.
We flash back to Violet's experiences and life. At first this is very interesting but it begins to bog down the current day story when it takes over right as it looks like Joletta may get some answers.
February 20, 2013
The first book of Jennifer Blake's that I've read. It's been years but I can still remember that it's the first and only out of all the books I've read that made me literally cry: tears, snot and all. I just couldn't help myself then but it's the reason why I really love this book. It's a book that wretches emotions out of me and I never really cry on books. 5 out of 5 for the great quality and uniqueness of the story!
November 21, 2013
What a wonderful story! First, I have to say, as a collector of Pansies, I loved how they were featured in this story! And the story - what a beautiful telling of a young woman learning her history. A fun romp through Europe! Falling in love. I really think this book had a bit of everything. Action, adventure, romance, and let's not forget, family drama! I really loved how this ended. You must read this. You will like it!
September 15, 2015
Excellent story mystery
Mixture of modern New Orleans, modern Europe, and Europe of the Crimea war and the world of perfume. Mystery, suspense, history, romance all bouncing betwixt eras. Excellent characterization and storyline. This a story you don't want to miss with all the nods to historical names. Adult readers
Mixture of modern New Orleans, modern Europe, and Europe of the Crimea war and the world of perfume. Mystery, suspense, history, romance all bouncing betwixt eras. Excellent characterization and storyline. This a story you don't want to miss with all the nods to historical names. Adult readers
November 4, 2016
To be honest I read only the beginning and because it was wack I just stopped to find sth more interesting, maybe later the book would be better and maybe I'll try again but for now there are tons of books to check and I'll read the whole book only when they get me interested. Maybe I am wrong, idk, I didn't read even the half of the book :/
March 5, 2017
I was not expecting that ending, it surprised me a bit. I loved and hated the part where Joletta was playing hard to get with Rone. They are, in my mind, the reincarnation of her ancestors. It was a beautiful love story!
April 3, 2016
Unforgettable!
Wow, this story is so heartwarming and heartbreaking. It grabs you from the first and keeps you spellbound till the end. A story you want to read over and over so it never has to end
Wow, this story is so heartwarming and heartbreaking. It grabs you from the first and keeps you spellbound till the end. A story you want to read over and over so it never has to end
Want to read
May 5, 2013Amazon freebie 5/5
May 11, 2013
Decent to pass the time for an Amazon freebie. Some characters much better developed than others.
September 9, 2015
Bonita, triste pero tediosa en muchas partes.
March 19, 2016
Loved this one!
June 17, 2016
Is a great book to read
July 1, 2016
Some parts are great and the rest of the book is very slow. I've read better from this author.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews