I am a fan of Karina Halle's brand of Romance, and this book does not disappoint. I love the love between Hanah and Oliver. It's a modern-day fairytale. Young broke American woman backpacking through Europe is rescued by a handsome French stranger. Karina builds a believable bond between Hanah and Oliver while delivering her usual blush-worthy sex scenes. The addition of Oliver's family dynamics and Hanah's belief that someone had watched them have sex adds a great side plot. Being careful to not include any spoilers, my only problem with the story came towards the end. I wish there had been more consequences for the antagonist. It seems that part of the storyline just fell off. Although I wonder if this is on purpose because there are more stories set in this world, to come. I hope that's the case.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43806074-discretion?from_search=true

What a fabulous start to a series!! I could not put it down!! An amazing storyline which made it different and exciting. I love Karina's style of writing and that she has you loving everything about her books and characters.
Olivier and Sadie are a cute couple with intense chemistry and passion. I love how easily Olivier accepted Sadie even though she didn't come from wealth.
I'm looking forward to Seraphine's story (hoping she'll have her own book!!!) and what other secrets we'll find out about the Dumont family!!
If you are a fan of Karina's other books like me, then I'm sure you are going to absolutely love Discretion too!!

I struggled with the first half. There wasn't anything wrong per se. Just nothing really stood out. I think I was suppose to be wowed about the fairy tale aspect of an extremely rich french man saving and then falling for a young woman who is barely getting by but it didn't wow me the way it should have. The main character lives a life of decadency and wealth. And in the immortal words of Shania Twain "that don't impress me much". And I'm not a huge fan of instalove which is pretty much how I would describe their relationship.

Now I enjoyed the last 40% more. There was a lot more action and the plotline picked up. There are some loose ends at the end of this book but not a cliffhanger. Initially I didn't think I would be interested in the second book but after reading the synopsis on Goodreads I'm kind of intrigued so who knows.

***Advanced copy obtained from Montlake Romance via Netgalley***

Sadie is an American girl who is backpacking across Europe. When she is attacked in the middle of the street, she is saved by a gorgeous man, Olivier Dumont
He is part of the richest family in the country. A family fighting for power. And they will do whatever it takes to keep it.
I was really surprised by this book because I thought it was a romance book. Don't get me wrong. It is. But there is also action. Some parts reminded me of a thriller!! I was even imagining a movie in my mind.
Karina Halle is fantastic writing stories set in Europe. This is a nice book for this summer. I hope I get to read the next one in this series.

I really liked this book! It had me feeling all sorts of ways! It sucks you in from the very beginning! I have been a fan of Karina Halle for quite a while now, and this book did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely loved this book! Olivier comes to Sadie’s rescue. She is backpacking through Europe. She is leaving France for Spain when she is mugged. Olivier saves her and basically takes her home to his hotel. Olivier Dumont is known for his family’s legacy. This book has it all! Family drama and intrigue and a love story that will get your heart pumping. Karina Halle, you have done it again! I cannot wait to read the other Dumont books! 5 stars

***I was given an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.***

What a decadent start to a new series by Ms. Halle. She is able to write words that create such visual scenes that I feel I am there with her characters.

From the south of France to Paris you get to experience the rich and famous life of Olivier.  The middle sibling of the Dumont family.  This is his story.  He is born into privilege and family secrets that would haunt him for years.  He is struggling to keep his secrets from those he loves the most.  He is a true Frenchman and boy is he swoony....I could almost hear his accent and just wowza.

This is also Sadie's story.  A gal that doesn't let her circumstances bring her down.  She is brave.  She is also loyal to those she loves and struggles with her insecurities when it comes to her budding relationship with Olivier.  

This story is in the style of the prince and the pauper, which I really enjoy! But you also get mystery, intrigue and you get an introduction to the other players in this world.  While I was reading I felt like Ms. Halle was dropping hints at how her next story in this series will play out.  It kept me guessing until the very end.

I absolutely flove Ms. Halle stories and this one is no exception.  I cannot wait to see what the next story in this series brings us next!

It was a good book . It made me cry and some times a little angry it was a really nice book. I like all of the books that Karina Halle has wrote.

I don’t even know where to start. I have read just about every book Karina Halle has written. I’m a HUGE fan. I’m telling you, she did not disappoint. Discretion was phenomenal and letting me wanting more. Sadie is the type of woman that women can cheer for. You want it all for her. Her life is difficult but she doesn’t complain or feel sorry for herself. She perseveres. Now Olivier, I’m torn. I loved him. He was everything a hero should be. Hot, rich and extremely masculine. However, he needs bigger balls. I feel like he was too much the victim. He really needed to man up and take control of the situation rather than succumb to it. There’s hope for him though. I hope through out the remainder of the series we see glimpses of that. I’m also really looking forward to Seraphine and Blaise’s book.

I'm a bit at odds as where my feelings are with this story. While on the one hand, I enjoyed some parts, but on the other I was disappointed. I did like how the story started off. It had some action, was intense, and had steamy sexy scenes. I even liked the bit of suspense/mystery that had been thrown in...until it fell flat and nothing came of it. Why? I don't know. Perhaps she'll "solve" it in the next book. I didn't care for the insta-lust/love with no real development of their relationship.

Sadie was an alright lead. She was sweet, practical, self-aware, and had a good head on her shoulders. I liked her courage in following her heart, even going so far as to protect Olivier at one point.

Olivier was also an alright lead. He was charming, protective, and a gentleman. I liked that he wanted to help Sadie from the get go and wooed her. His drama (the prologue and hinted at throughout the story) was a bit silly, dragged out, and just thrown in there for the sake of having some drama. I felt it could've been resolved faster and better.

All in all, this was just an alright read for me. I think it'll be one of those that I won't recall much about now that I've finished reading. Will I read the next one (Seraphine's story) in the series? Perhaps. She intrigued me. I suppose it'll all depend on my mood. Thank you NetGalley for this copy. This is my honest review.

3.5 stars

I have mixed feelings about this one. Karina Halle does a nice job creating a complex story. The wealthy Dumont family owns a clothing empire that rivals Chanel. But the family is divided in how to manage the company and that leads to a lot blackmail, tension, backstabbing, and maybe even murder. Olivier Dumont is the family heir. He is harboring decade old secrets and is torn between his father and his uncle...two men struggling over how to lead the company. One night he rescues American tourist Sadie Reynolds from an attack. He's immediately attracted to her but is reluctant to let her into his world because his secrets are closing in on him.

I didn't really understand the hold that Olivier's uncle had on him. Sure, he made mistakes when he was younger but his youthful indiscretions don't seem to warrant what happened with his uncle. I found the end of the book to be very chaotic with a bunch of plot lines that don't get wrapped up. Maybe there is another book in the series? I was also disappointed in how the book ended with Olivier just up and leaving without making any attempt to work through the chaos going on with his family in France.

I have very mixed feelings about this book, for one, I know I enjoyed it quite a bit, but at the same time I'm not sure I would be able to remember much a few days from now.

I think the thing I liked most was the writing, and by writing I don't mean plot and such, I mean the writing style. I'm not sure it was anything jaw-dropping, and the french phrases felt very google translate but still, I liked it.

Now onto the things I have mixed feelings about the most, the first thing I wanna mention is the romance. I don't know how I feel about it, although I know I enjoyed it, it didn't really do much for me. I wasn't attached, I didn't care all that much, it felt very "insta-love" with no real development or depth that made their falling in love or inability to part make sense to me. I didn't feel it at all, but for some reason, after they declared their love I found myself quite... content. Nothing that would set my heart ablaze with joy but... it was cute.

However, the thing I wasn't really a fan of is the whole drama. The big secret Olivier had was stupid and didn't really justify all that it lead to. I feel like it could've been resolved way differently and way faster. It felt very much like a cope-out just for the sake of creating drama, but it was very much a miss.

Gautier and Pascal are officially on my "I just hope they die painfully list." Especially Pascal. What a twisted, pervert, sick fuck. I was so disgusted and creeped out every scene he was in, I just want him dead.

On a final note, I'm intrigued by Seraphine and Blaise's story, although the family tie they have makes me a bit uncomfortable (I'm well aware they're not actually related), I can't help but be excited for their book, especially with the whole "I hate that I feel something" vibe they have going on and ESPECIALLY because Seraphine is a WOC.

All in all, this book was very enjoyable, albeit, not that memorable down the line.

I honestly couldn't believe my luck when I got the email to say I could read and review Karina Halle's latest novel.

I've always been a huge fan and I'd requested to read it as soon as I saw it was available.

Pleased to say it did not disappoint.

Now what I will say, is that if hot and steamy sex scenes aren't your thing then perhaps this isn't the book for you however if you like a good romance with a bit of lust thrown in then you're in for a treat.

Discretion follows Sadie as she embarks on the rest of her trip around Europe, a vacation that she started off with her boyfriend and appears to be ending as a single lady. That is until once fateful evening when she finds herself being followed by a strange man and almost mugged....

In steps Olivier Dumont.

Handsome, heroic and ridiculously rich. But is there more to this bad-boy bachelor?

A whirlwind romance and family drama make this novel sexy and mysterious. I devoured it in one sitting and now I cannot wait for more in the series. I'd really like to see where Olivier and Sadie end up next!

A story full of romance, passion and intrigue, all wrapped up in a new family drama series following the Dumonts, a family with no love lost between them. As much as I enjoyed this story, I wasn’t invested in the characters. I couldn’t find it in myself to really appreciate tall, sexy, multi millionaire Olivier Dumont, who didn’t have an alpha bone in his body. I like my leading men a little more take charge, and Olivier was a little bit too nice for my taste. Sadie however was more my cup of tea, dumping her cheating boyfriend whilst they’re backpacking around Europe, and still she continues on her journey, not even thinking about running home with her tail between her legs. As the story progressed it did become more and more addictive, and I was curious as to the outcome. I’m definitely thinking about what book 2 will add to the mix. This family is entertaining to say the least. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this one. When Karina Halle announced the series, I was so excited. As I read along, it was as it should be, with the glamour of the rich, the mystique, the air of beautiful, gorgeous people, erring and loving.

Yet, without being able to pinpoint it specifically, some things felt forced and over-the-top. The level of drama didn’t match the outcome. I believed in the instant connection between Olivier and Sadie however their communication was a rollercoaster. Things left unsaid were puzzling at certain times. This felt soap opera-ish and maybe I wasn’t in the mood for such stuff.

The positive- The crumbs left for the next book, which is about Seraphine, Olivier’s sister, and her cousin-in-name, Blaise, sounds delish.

I’m somewhat unsatisfied at the end because this is Karina Halle and I LOVE her writing. I will not lower my expectations because I know what she is capable of.

*ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review*

Discretion is the first book in Karina Halle’s new The Dumonts series and color me intrigued. This had all the elements of a great romantic suspense. It was scandalous, sexy, romantic, and had Karina’s insanely talented writing.

When Sadie finds herself alone backpacking through Europe, the last thing she expects is to be mugged. And even more surprising is the man that saves her. Oliver Dumont. Oliver and Sadie couldn’t be more different. Oliver is rich, french, and from an influential family. Sadie is a broke college student from Seattle who just went through a breakup. They shouldn’t work. But the heart wants what the heart wants.


What starts out as Oliver helping Sadie get back on her feet (quite literally) turns into Oliver and Sadie having loads of hot sex to Oliver and Sadie having true and real feelings for one another.

If only love could be so simple. But Oliver’s family isn’t simple. There are people in his family he loves and truly cares about, and there are others. Those that are deceitful, manipulative, and have something big they’re holding over his head. Something he wants no one to know about.


The only thing I didn’t necessarily love about this one was the original reason Oliver had been blackmailed… I felt it a little weak, like that’s something that wouldn’t have been taken quite so seriously with his family if he had just came clean all those years ago. But I also understood his pride and how he wanted his father to see him in a certain light so I got it to an extent I was just expecting something bigger.

This is one of those books that hooked me from the start. I loved the dynamic of Sadie and Oliver’s relationship and enjoyed this book a lot. If you’re looking for a romantic suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat, pick this one up. I can’t wait to read more of these books. So many of the secondary characters piqued my interest and I can’t wait to read more about them and Sadie and Oliver as well!

I love Karina Halle and will read any book that she writes. But to be honest, this wasn’t my favourite book from her. It is still worth reading, but it wasn’t a must read for me.

I loved the couple at the centre of the book, Olivier and Sadie, they were HOT. And if the book was just about their relationship, I think I would have liked it more. But I think my problem was that the conflicts in the story were frustrating instead of suspenseful, the characters just needed to talk to each other.

This book doesn’t end in a cliffhanger, the next book is Olivier’s sister’s story. I would recommend not reading the second book’s synopsis because it contains spoilers for the first book (I made that mistake!).

Again, if you’re a Karina Halle fan, I would still read Discretion, especially since it is the first in the series about the three Dumont siblings. And I will still be reading the next book in the series!

ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: DISCRETION BY KARINA HALLE- releases 6th August 2019 💚
Sadie is a 23yr old American student backpacking across Europe. On her way to catch a train she finds herself in a scary situation and is rescued by Olivier Dumant, who, as one of the heirs to a fashion empire and a billionaire hotelier is practically French Royalty. But Sadie doesn't know any of this and Olivier finds that he likes that. But what should have been a light holiday romance turns into something deeper and secrets that had been buried for ten years are about to be exposed. This was an enjoyable read I liked Olivier and Sadie. Despite the short time frame their romance was believable. This book is definitely a good start to the series and it has me very curious to what will happen next. It does not have a cliff hanger ending, but there are plenty of questions that I need answers to. This did not leave me frustrated rather, it left me excited to see what happens next. I want to know more about Olivier's siblings and I hope his sister Seraphine gets a book too. It will be great to see how certain people get their comeuppenace, though I am intrigued over one that maybe redeemed? I think? I hope?! @karinhalle has written an engaging romance full of intrigue, greed and possible foulplay with wonderful characters. The author has done an amazing job with the start of this series I can't wait to see where she takes us from here!
A Solid 4⭐/5!!! 💚
Discretion by Karina Halle comes out 6th August 2019. 💚

I have a new appreciation for French dudes named Oliver. Damn he’s hot! This was a super twisty journey with lots of ups and downs. I liked the flow of the book and was very easily sucked into it. Karina’s books are always good! This story I had a harder time connecting to the heroine. For some reason I didn’t click with her but it didn’t make me like the book any less. Overall the book was great and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I have loved many books by Karina Halle and I will continue to pick her books without hesitation, but I have decided to put this one down at 70%. The writing itself was fine, and I wouldn't expect anything less from this author, but it came down to character development for me. The main characters and the antagonists felt one-dimensional to me. As a couple, I didn't feel the chemistry between Sadie and Olivier, It was too fast, too soon, overwrought. Individually, Sadie also fell flat. There wasn't anything about her that I particularly disliked, nor was there anything about her that I particularly liked. She seemed to float about wherever the plot took her; reacting about as incredible (literally, not credible) things happen around her, but she could have been more interesting if were the driver of the plot at times. Then, there was Olivier. I could see where his character was supposed to go: sexy, charming, rich guy with a mysterious past; but I didn't feel it. What I saw was a character who made a mistake a long time ago, and allowed the super-villains in his life to manipulate and control his life from that point forward.

Thanks NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.