Discretion is only my second book by Karina Halle, (the first was Nothing Personal). This, while having a hot as sin hero and a French one to boot, oh la la!!, and a sassy, care-free heroine, was a far more suspenseful and kept me on my toes.
I really enjoyed Olivier and Sadie’s story. Olivier was a true knight and such a kind soul even though he didn’t see himself that way. To Sadie, he was everything she’d ever wanted and never looked for. They were made for each other. Talk came easy, opening up only slightly less so. It was lust at first sight that fell quickly and believably into love. Add in a mystery, danger and some
hot, steamy, slightly kinky sex, and you’ve got a top contender for a sweaty summer read. Grab your copy today.

Would you like to escape to France for a few hours? Discretion can provide that opportunity - right from your own home, no PTO or plane tickets required.

Sadie is a student backpacking through Europe alone on a very tight budget. Olivier ends up being in the right place at the right time (late at night) to rescue her from danger. Suddenly Sophie is staying in luxury 5 star hotel accommodations instead of the budget hostels. She learns that Olivier is a billionaire hotelier from a family with business across many areas. Their chemistry is clear from the very start.

However, Olivier also has secrets that he's keeping - from his family and from Sophie too. Will those secrets ruin everything when they are revealed? Will Sophie still be on her flight home to America in three weeks?

I enjoyed the first half of this book very much - it was fun to see Sophie swept off her feet into a world that was very different from her own. I also really enjoyed her sense of humor. However as more came out about Olivier and his family, I felt the back half of the book ended up feeling a bit bogged down. As we learn about Olivier's evil uncle - I couldn't help but feel strong comparisons to Scar from The Lion King (I know, the more literary reference would be Claudius from Hamlet - but that's not what I thought of first).

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the heck out of Discretion. It's the first book in Karina's new romantic suspense series The Dumonts. This scorching hot romance is full of intrigue and suspense. One thing that I know I'll get from Karina is a beautiful set location. She has a way of making me fall in love this the country. Olivier would've had me dropping my backpack and staying in Europe. Sadie and Olivier have an easygoing, natural connection. I was glued to the pages once the action and suspense kicked into gear. It had me looking over my shoulder lol. I can't wait to find out more about whos behind some of the family secrets.

Ten years ago Olivier Dumont made a mistake that changed the course of his family’s dynamic. Still living with the guilt and the reminder from time to time, Olivier knows that the time is going to come soon when he’s going to have to answer to his indiscretion. But for now, life goes on and he’s more than okay with it. When he meets a woman that was in need of rescuing, life as Olivier knows it is about to change.

Sadie Reynolds has spent the past few weeks backpacking across Europe on her own. Thanks to the actions of her now ex boyfriend and what was supposed to be a couple's trip, Sadie now has to enjoy the scenery on her own and reevaluate her plans. But when she encounters a sexy Frenchman who became her savior, those plans went out the window and she entered the glamorous world of the Dumont Family but little does she know, she’s in for one hell of a ride.

I can’t express this enough and say how much I loved the backdrop of this story. It was romantic, visually stunning, and you really felt as if you were there in person. Karina Halle did an amazing job with making you feel as though you were a part of the scenery and I really loved that. But as much as I adored that, I did have a major issue with the secret once I knew what it was. The drama was unnecessary for that kind of secret and Olivier was too weak IMO. I wanted him to take charge and be the leader I know he could’ve been but that never happened.

Aside from that, I enjoyed the suspense part of the story and I'm eager to see what’s going to happen with the other family members because there's a LOT of drama going on! If you’re looking for a sexy new drama filled series, then you should give this one a try.

Discretion is the first book in The Dumonts series by Karina Halle and it's not completely a stand-alone novel. Oliver and Sadie's story is over, but there is a part of the plot that's going to continue on the next book which will be about Seraphine, Oliver's sister.

Sadie broke up with her boyfriend Tom 4 weeks before the events of the book and now she travels alone which leads her to meet with Oliver. What bothered me is that she admitted to not being over her ex and yet she fell for Oliver instantly. Honestly, I don't think that she missed her ex as a person, but as someone who was able to provide stability and financial support for her because the moment Oliver provided that, she got over her ex. She seemed to accept everything so easily for a person who kept saying that she didn't want all the luxuries money could offer.

Oliver was running away from his problems and living his playboy life and he didn't seem like boyfriend material to me. I was expecting him to fight the bad guys of the series, but he just gave up. The most annoying thing is that I don't believe that if his secret got out his whole life would be ruined. It would be a scandal, but nothing more. I guess all the fighting will be done by Seraphine since he is a quitter. She seemed like a character I would love to read about and she has brains.

I am a fan of Karina Hale, but this is not of her best works in my opinion. The writing wasn't up to her usual standards and I am sure that it's an one time thing. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and I have to see Seraphine getting revenge!

**ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.**
I've read a fair amount of Karina Halle's novels and have enjoyed them for the most part. Discretion, however, just didn't do it for me. It took me a long time to finish this one. I finished, but mainly because I just wanted it to be over. The synopsis was promising so I jumped right in. But is soon became apparent that this one was not for me. I didn't connect with the characters at all. I suppose this is billed as a romantic suspense but the romance and suspense just seemed forced in my opinion. The overall plot is a bit lacking. It was kind of far fetched. But one thing is for sure, Oliver's family puts the "D" in Dysfunctional! Even though I didn't really enjoy this one, I've read enough of Karina Halle's book to always give a new one a try. Although I may skip the next installment in this series.

I love Karina Halle's books having read a few of them in the past and this one did not disappoint. It was alittle slow paced in places for my taste but storyline twists set against the glamourous money dripping backdrop of the French Riviera and character layers helped me to push past that downside. I will certainly be looking to continue onto the next book in the Dumont series and hope to see Oliver and Sadie pop up again at some point.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

4.5 Stars

Discretion by Karina Halle is the first book in The Dumont’s series and it was soooo good! I get so excited every time Ms. Halle comes out with a new book, so I could not wait to get my hands on this one! It was full of suspense, drama, and of course romance. There were twists and turns and OMG the secrets-I was so addicted to reading it that I couldn’t put it down.

Sadie and Olivier were two fantastic characters. I seriously fell in love with the both of them. Their connection was beautiful and real. While Sadie was pushed into a world that she wasn’t a part of, she stayed strong and true to herself and to Olivier. And man, Olivier was SWOONY! He was so protective and never made Sadie feel less than. Overall, I loved reading Discretion. Halle is a phenomenal writer and I am so looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

While I have stalked Ms. Halle on social media for many years this is the first time I have read one of her books. I am still struggling with myself on the star rating which btw I hate. I should just be able to tell you how I felt about the book without having to star it which I'm sure many other readers feel the same way. So I'll give it a 3 star since I'm in between "It was ok" & "liked it".

This book felt very disjointed to me and the ending felt very pushed under the rug. There were so many ways this story could have gone but it all felt very contrived. Aside from the epilogue the whole book takes place in the span of three weeks and while I get the whole insta love genre this just didn't come off right. Sadie was backpacking through Europe with her boyfriend, they break up, Olivier saves her and bam it's all insta craziness. Then there's the big secret. This secret just didn't work for me. Why would anyone feel that they could be blackmailed over that. It was simply a non entity to me. It meant nothing really.

Will I read the next books in the series. Probably not. I'm just not invested in any of the characters. Will I read this author again. Absolutely!! I have heard amazing things about KH's books and I've no doubt I'll be reading her again.

One thing I did love: that cover. It is breathtaking.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

4.5/5 Stars

Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers. I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.

This is such an intriguing story that grabbed me from the first page!

This is the first book that I have read from this author but it will not be my last. I fell so in love with the writing style. It was elegant, easy to read, and it flowed so smoothly.

The plot of this book was pretty tantalizing. I loved all the family drama and the mysteries contained in the plot. The sequence of events definitely left me on the edge of my seat and wanting more. The twists and turns in the story had me on edge. The ending was satisfying yet open enough for the coming books in the series. There were some things that were left unanswered so I am hoping that we get more closure and answers in the next books.

The main characters in this book had wonderful personalities. I adored the banter between them as well. I felt that Olivier had the most character development, though Sadie had some nice growth as well. We get to know both characters fairly well throughout the course of the story so there is plenty of depth to them. I liked getting to know all the members of the Dumont family and see the bonds that they shared or lack thereof. The family drama was pretty exciting. I can't wait to get to know the Dumonts even better in the following books in this series.

I enjoyed the romance because the chemistry between these two main characters was explosive. Right off the bat, these two felt so right together. I did feel that they became intimate and emotional far too quickly though. I like a little build up and believability in my romances and this felt a little forced in the beginning. While it wasn't necessarily insta-love, it also wasn't a slow-burn romance either. I think that a little more time to get to know each other at the start would have made things a bit more convincing. Apart from that, these two really were perfect for each other. I liked how they brought each other comfort and they were each able to be themselves around the other when neither really had that with anyone else.

I thought that the world-building was very well written. I am not very worldly since I haven't traveled out of my own country before, but I could feel the scenes all around me while reading this book. The descriptions of France and the little things that Sadie experiences while she is there were so vividly described that I could swear that I was right there with her.

Overall, this is a compelling story filled with family drama, scandal, skeletons in closets, and a seriously sexy romance. This is a book that I couldn't put down and I am so eager for the next books in this series.

Wow this was a lot lol. But it was entertaining for sure. Lol. Gotta find out more about these characters.

I'm a fan of Karina Halle books, and this was a fun, indulgent read set in the backdrop of France. Sadie Reynolds is an American student, currently in France, backpacking alone as a result of a cheating boyfriend. A series of events introduces her to Olivier Dumont, and his life of wealth, opulence, and deception. Sure, this is a romance novel but there's also family betrayals, mystery, and scandal. This was a fun story, and Olivier was positively delicious as a book boyfriend. I believe this book is one in a series, and I'm looking forward to reading the others!

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars. I had read most of this, then the audible came out, so I continued with the audio.
This was an example of insta lust. Sadie was just mugged and then goes off with another stranger?
He has a Mercedes Benz and looks rich, so that's ok. In context, it made a little bit more sense. Just a little.
This was dual first person POV.
Sadie was pretty straight forward and easy to understand. I had some issues with Olivier. His parts reminded me a little of the narrator from Amelie- if you've seen that movie-remember the part when she finds that tin box in her apartment? It was from a little boy that lived there many years before. Amelie tracks him down, the narrator goes over what his name could be: Bretodeau?, Bredetau? and on & on. Things like this in Discretion made me laugh a little, but they were supposed to be serious.
Somehow, I got involved with the family drama. It was like a French version of Dallas or Falcon Crest (old 1980s references there!) OR even more so- it reminded me a little of (a few years ago) the Louis Vuitton heirs fighting over the family patriarch's fortune.
I do like the written Discretion book a little more than the audio.
I wonder whose book will be next? I love Karin Halle's books, so I might be too curious to pass up.

3.5 stars!

This is my third Karina Halle book, but it wasn’t my favorite. I was really looking forward to this one after enjoying the Irish backdrop and characters in My Life in Shambles, but the story fell a bit flat for me. Check out my full review on goodreads and Instagram! Thanks Netgalley for approving me from an arc!

I was so excited to receive a copy of Discretion! Karina is one of my very very fave authors and I love when she writes in a foreign setting.

Characters: Sadie and Olivier are the lead protagonists of this story. Sadie is such a strong female protagonist, she made the best decisions for herself the whole way through and did not let any bad situation get her down. Olivier is such a multidimensional character, who tends to show off his different sides in front of different characters. I really found myself empathizing with him quickly pertaining to the situation dominating his life.
Setting: From Nice to Paris, the French settings are gorgeous. Karina went to France for research, and that definitely paid off. So many scenes from the masquerade ball to Sadie perusing Parisian cafe felt so authentically France. It made me want to rush back to Europe, ASAP.
Pacing: Karina made the choice to reveal Olivier's secret much earlier on than I thought she would. Instead of feeling like it spoiled the story, it was unexpected and propelled the story forward. A nice blend of a good plot and pacing choice.
Romance: I loved loved loved Sadie and Olivier relationship. To see in both of them how unique and special their feelings toward each other felt. Plus the sex scenes were so hot, Karina is so good at writing them. It is always a good sign when the couple makes me cry while reading, that I love them to death and want the best for my babies.

An enjoyable wrong-side-of-the-tracks romance between a backpacker touring Europe and a billionaire set to inherit a French high fashion empire. I really enjoyed both characters and thought that they had phenomenal chemistry. My only gripe is that the plot was a little too mustache-twisting villain and I thought the red flags were so obvious that it made the MCs look ignorant. That and the lack of communication when it came to information that could be life saving had me frustrated. I do love the ending and look forward to the next installment in The Dumonts series.

I wasn't too sure about this book when I first picked it up- it felt like it was falling to what I would consider a story I've read 1000 times before- it was missing something in the beginning and I almost put it down to pick up again at a later date- but I powered through a few more pages and I hit the Halle magic I was waiting for.

I really enjoyed this book once it got going- I loved Sadie- I liked Olivier.

For me the story was what was happening in the background- the family scandal- that interested me more than the love story between these two- and I'm really looking forward to the next book to see how karina willl spin it.

It's a 3.5-4* review from me

When it comes to romance novels, Karina Halle is definitely one of my go-to authors and she once again didn’t disappoint me.

Discretion is a great romantic suspense novel and I devoured the novel in about two sittings. Sadie and Olivier were amazing main characters and I grew fond of both of them very quickly. The only reason I’m not giving this five out of five stars is that I think the suspense part of the novel was lacking a bit. Most of the things that happened were very predictable and didn’t shock me at all which is why the novel just didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat as much as I’d hoped it would.

Nevertheless, Discretion was a great book and I can’t wait to read the sequel which comes out later this year!

This book was suspenseful which I loved, I am usually not a fan of insta love, but I did not mind it so much with Oliver and Sadie. The location of this book just screams for sexy times...this was a bit of a slow read for me, but I did however still enjoy the classic Karina Halle staples. It's nice to see how the other half lives.

3.75 stars--DISCRETION is the first instalment in Karina Halle’s contemporary, adult THE DUMONTS erotic, romance series focusing on the wealthy Dumont family of France. This is thirty year old, eldest son Olivier Dumont, and twenty-three year old, American college student Sadie Reynolds’ story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Sadie and Olivier) DISCRETION follows the building romance between thirty year old, eldest son Olivier Dumont, and twenty-three year old, American college student Sadie Reynolds. Sadie Reynolds found herself alone in Europe after discovering her boyfriend Tom had cheated back home. By herself, struggling to make ends meet, Sadie will come face to face with her future following an attempted robbery wherein our heroine is rescued by the man with whom she will fall in love. Enter billionaire hotelier and heir to the Dumont fashion house of France, Olivier Dumont. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Olivier and Sadie, and the potential fall-out as the dysfunctional Dumont family forces Sadie to run to protect the man that she loves.

Sadie Reynolds was on vacation in Europe with her boyfriend when her best friend called to say she discovered Sadie’s man had been having an affair. Alone, and without support, Sadie travels from hostel to hostel until someone attacks leaving Sadie injured, and in need of help. Olivier Dumont hides a secret that is about to implode his well-organized world, a secret that will affect his relationship with our story line heroine- the woman with whom he is hoping to spend the rest of his life. A scandal that could potentially split the House of Dumont; a blackmail scheme that could have easily been nipped in the bud years before is about to come to fruition and upend Olivier’s life.

The relationship between Sadie and Olivier is one of immediate attraction but Sadie struggles with the difference between the haves (Dumonts) and the have-nots (Sadie). When Olivier offers Sadie the opportunity to remain in France until it is time to go home, Sadie jumps at the chance only to discover that all is not well within the Dumont dynasty. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Olivier’s sister Seraphine and brother Renaud, as well as their father Ludovic Dumont; Uncle Gautier, and Olivier’s cousins Pascal and Blaise.

DISCRETION is a story of family, betrayal, power and control. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the characters are colorful, energetic and dynamic; the romance is steamy and hot. DISCRETION is a dramatic and interesting tale but several scenarios were not quite believable, and could have been dealt with in other ways.



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