I haven’t read too many Karina Halle Books but I really enjoyed this one. The characters were great. I loved Oliver. He was sexy and protective, sweet and loyal. Super rich from the Dumont family. The chemistry he has with Sadie is super intense. I loved her character as well.

The atmosphere of this book makes me want to leave and travel to France! I love books that take place in a foreign country! I’m looking forward to the next book that’s in the series.

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve been a fan of Karina Halle since The Swedish Prince. I don’t recall what drew me to her originally (I believe it was the recommendation of another beloved author), but, from the start, I have been drawn to her books. She has this way of writing flawed heroes who aren’t too dark, but they carry some type of secret or worry that inherently derails their journey with the heroine. Inevitably, they work through the hero’s issue and find their happily-ever-after, but there are times when the reader is never quite sure. I’m fairly certain that The Wild Heir is still my favorite Halle book, but I’m currently intrigued by her newest series The Dumonts, starting with Discretion.

Set initially in the chic French Riviera, we meet Sadie. A student from the US who has been living and traveling through Europe in the shadow of a break-up with her boyfriend. She is low on money and coming to end of her journey. As she prepares to leave the French Riviera for Spain, the final jaunt on her journey, she is attacked. In the midst of the attack, a man stops and saves her from her attacker. He is instantly drawn to her and transports her to the hospital for treatment. From that moment, Olivier, the rescuer, and Sadie are connected. He is drawn to her inexplicably at first, and she finds protection with him.

What Sadie doesn’t realize is Olivier hails from one of the richest, most storied French fashion families akin to Chanel. Having branched into the life of a hotelier, Olivier has distanced himself from his famous family. However, this is intentional as he carries a secret, one that potentially dooms their burgeoning relationship. Will Olivier reveal his secret, and will it end his relationship with Sadie? That is the turmoil of this book.

I was reading this book shortly after spending time in Paris, one of the locations in the book, and I found myself walking along Olivier and Sadie. There is something about Paris that underscores the magic of this couple. Olivier is really a dreamy hero. He’s attentive, handsome, rich, and a magician in the bedroom. He recognizes that Sadie is different, and he is drawn to her difference. It changes him in this story, and it’s my favorite part of this book. What may frustrate some readers, me included, is his insistence on holding fast to his secret. He doesn’t tell his father, his siblings, and even Sadie for much of the book. And, of course, that’s the impetus for the drama in Discretion.

As a heroine, Sadie is every woman. I’d love to say that she’s exceptional, but, as a heroine, she really isn’t. She is exceptional in loving and challenging Olivier’s perception of himself. She doesn’t do this consciously, by the way. Olivier’s realization of her power over him comes to him gradually. But this story isn’t about powerful heroines. Instead, it’s a story of intrigue, of power, of debauchery.

The story itself is the driving force behind this book. Yes, Olivier’s journey is my favorite part of Discretion. However, the story pulls you through. It keeps you reading because Discretion is actually more romantic suspense than contemporary romance. There is no resolution to the overarching story in this book, which leads the reader into Disarm, the second book of the series: more intrigue, more struggles for power, more secrets to reveal.

In general, I liked Halle’s Discretion. Like I said at the beginning of this review, Karina Halle is a “go-to” writer for me. Whatever she writes I will read. However, there was some sparkle missing from this book. I felt like the characters weren’t as developed as previous characters in her other books. There was something a bit flat with their development. After reading her acknowledgments, however, I realized that this book was a turning point for her, and it made me love her just a bit more. Do I recommend you read Discretion? Absolutely. My quibble is nothing, really. I simply have an expectation of Halle that is probably unreasonable. You will fall in love with Olivier and Sadie’s story. You will love the intrigue of the story and its supporting characters. And you will remember that Karina Halle has a magical way of telling stories, even with a struggle.

In love and romance,

Professor A

This book sucked me in right away. I fell in love with the setting, the characters, the drama, and the suspense.

Sadie, an American backpacking alone through Europe after her boyfriend leaves her, is saved by Olivier Dumont. What she doesn’t know is that Olivier is part of one of the most famous fashion families in France. She’s alone and he quickly offers his help. After a lot of convincing, she agrees to take it knowing she doesn’t have much of a choice. Olivier is a very swoony book boyfriend. He’s a little alpha, a lot protective, and extremely sweet.

I absolutely loved the setting for this story. This author does such a good job at setting her books all over the world and brings them to life. I’ve never been to Europe but I felt like I was there right along with these characters.

There are two things I didn’t absolutely love about this book. The first was how insta-lovey the relationship felt. Usually, I can get on board with insta-love, if it’s done well. This felt too rushed and not as realistic as some I’ve read in the past. I wish the timeline had been expanded a little more to make it a little more believable. The second thing was how much was left open at the end of the story. There was so much drama and nothing was really resolved by the end; it just… ended.

There are so many questions I still have about the Dumont family and I am very interested to see how the second book plays out. I’ve read the synopsis of, Disarm, already so I know that Seraphine, Olivier’s sister is the main character. I had a feeling while finishing this book that her hero would be Blaise, their cousin. Now, we know that Seraphine was adopted so she and Blaise aren’t actually related but this will be a bit of a forbidden romance and I can’t wait.

Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.

I love Karina Halle's writing but this story was not able to hold my attention. I chose not to finish reading this book but may try again at another time.

Dear readers, meet your new Book Boyfriend: Olivier Dumont.

Tall, dark, handsome, successful, and loyal to his family. Well, loyal to his father and siblings, anyway. Uncles and cousins … perhaps not as loyal.

When we meet Olivier, he is twenty and has just made a mistake that causes him to sign a contract with an uncle. As the book unfolds, we learn what prompted this contract as well as its contents. Part of me couldn’t figure out why Olivier signed it because it doesn’t seem like the instigating factor is all that terrible, but to Olivier, it is.

Into his life comes Sadie, an American ostensibly touring Europe with her now ex-boyfriend. Like Olivier, Sadie is loyal to her family. She has an exit date not so much because she needs to get back to her college classes as because she believes she needs to get back to her mother.

When they meet, attraction is immediate. As Sadie tries to put the brakes on, she meets with resistance, both hers and Olivier’s. Meanwhile, his family is up to NO GOOD. Those uncles and cousins? TROUBLE.

Karina Halle plays with the notion of family loyalty and what it means. If your focus is being loyal to your family, when are you loyal to yourself? Sadie’s and Olivier’s families react differently to their struggles, yet even with those differences, Sadie and Olivier place an emphasis on fidelity.

Fear not, this is a Hot Romance Novel with one heck of a Hot Hero. I love Olivier. LOVE HIM. I’m curious as to what future Dumont books mean. This is the first in a series, and while the ending isn’t necessarily a cliffhanger in that the plot you’re most concerned about is resolved, nevertheless Karina Halle leaves you wanting more from Olivier, his brother, and his sister. And Sadie, too.

So strap on your vibrators, girls, and enjoy Olivier Dumont.

I’m a big fan of this author. If you’ve seen any of our “best of” lists, you already know that. I’m happy to report that her latest release didn’t let me down in any way.

Plot overview: Down-on-her-luck student Sadie Reynolds lucks out in a BIG way when Olivier Dumont saves her from an attacker on the street, then takes it upon himself to take care of her while she recovers from an injury. But everything isn’t exactly rosy in Olivier’s family, and drama and intrigue ensue. It’s a forced proximity, opposites attract romance with a side of romantic suspense.

First of all, I was a big fan of both Sadie and Olivier. They come from two different worlds, but in their hearts, they aren’t that different. They’re both kind, giving, and fiercely protective of their families and loved ones. Sadie is generous with her heart, and Olivier is generous with his money. They were a perfect match for each other and I had no trouble believing that they could build a long, happy life together.

The sexy times in the book are of the oh-holy-hell-that’s-hot variety. There were also plenty of sexy times in the book. This is definitely NOT a chaste, closed door kind of romance. But even so, there weren’t so many sexy times that they got in the way of the character development or plot. There was a nice balance here.

Things really got interesting and suspense-y towards the end of the book. There’s plenty of action and intrigue, and while there are no cliffhangers, there are a few unanswered questions that I imagine will be addressed later in the series. (And I’ll definitely be sticking around to read more of these books, I can promise you that.)

If I was going to nitpick, I guess I wish that Olivier would have told certain members of his family to take a flying leap sooner. (Yes, I’m intentionally being vague so as not to give out any spoilers) But I forgave him because his heart was in the right place. And extra points to Sadie for being nothing but supportive when the truth came out.

So, long-story-short, if you like hot and spicy contemporary romance with a side of action and suspense (not to mention a sexy hero with a hot French accent), Discretion might just be your next 5-star read.

Full disclosure: We received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley free of charge.

And don't forget to check out the Romance Rehab blog for more rants, raves, book lists, and other fun romance-y stuff: http://www.romancerehab.com/

I seem to have a love/sorta like relationship with Karina Halle's work. I like the writing, but sometimes the story drags or I'm not feeling the chemistry. This one falls into the not feeling the chemistry category. I just didn't get any depth to their relationship and the "drama" was melodramatic. Now Seraphine's book, however, is something I'm very much looking forward to!

Discretion is another one of my first read from the author. I have had her other works on my TBR list and finally got to read her. I was telling myself, why didn't I do it sooner. Well, guys, this book just freaking smack me in the face with its awesomeness!

First off and I will try to give little details so not to spoil, the story lulls you into thinking, oh this is romance with some secrets, lies that the hero is hiding from the heroine. Okay, I'm down with that. So there I was, reading, enjoying the passionate, sexy, steamy scenes. Boy, was Olivier hot! May I just say, that I think I'm developing a soft spot for French guys? Olivier is the second French man that I'm seriously crushing on, and I think I will be in for more of these hot guys from this series.

But I digress. So again, I was sitting there and plowing through the story, when I was smacked with a heart stopping twist. I was like, what the what? The story just elevated to romantic suspense-ish and I was drawned in. I couldn't stopped reading. I was flipping through pages because man, the intrigue of this level of family dynasty, riches and fame is something you couldn't run away from. It will pull you in with its drama, suspense, lust for power, money, fame or love, take your pick. This book have it and more. You will ask for more, that one is for sure. Also, can we talk about Pascal, that devious cousin of Olivier? I'm torn between hating him and liking him. He obviously hates his cousins and painted as the bad guy, but was he? I really don't know what to think. This book is driving me crazy with its twists, turns, murder plots and suspense.

And of course, the title Discretion made more sense to me after reading it. And although this is a stand alone and end of course with HEA, I have a feeling that these characters will be seen on the next installment, Disarm. I couldn't wait what will happens next to this Dumont family. I freaking love this!

Discretion est le nouveau roman VO de Karina Halle et le héros est un célibataire français riche et héritier d'un énorme empire . Quand il va rencontrer notre héroïne , elle va chambouler sa vie et y apporter une fraîcheur et une sincérité qu'il n'a pas connu depuis très longtemps .



Olivier Dumont a tout pour être heureux : il est beau , les femmes se jettent à ses pieds et sa fortune est intarissable. Pourtant dès le prologue , on sent que sa vie n'est pas aussi idyllique qu'il n'y paraît . C'est d'ailleurs pour cette raison qu'il a fui la capitale pour le sud de la France . Dans cette ruelle , il va venir sauver cette jeune femme qui ne parle pas français et qui s'est blessée . J'ai aimé découvrir ce personnage car il est plein de surprises et il saura nous charmer au fil des pages . Il a ses failles et il va payer un lourd tribut le piteux choix qu'il a fait . Pourtant quand Sadie va entrer dans sa vie, il va devenir un autre homme et son entourage en aura très vite conscience . Son père Ludovic a beau lui mettre la pression pour reprendre les rênes de l'entreprise , il sentira que son fils pourrait être enfin heureux. Sa sœur Seraphine est aussi un sacré numéro et elle saura pointer du doigt les évidences . Pourra t il affronter ses cousins et son oncle pour enfin laisser le passé derrière lui ?



Sadie Reynolds est une jeune femme de 23 ans qui a décidé de faire le tour de l'Europe avec seulement un sac à dos . Le plan de départ était de le faire avec son petit ami Tom mais quand elle découvrira que son honnêteté à son égard n'a pas été à la hauteur de ses espoirs , elle va tout de même continuer seule . Elle va faire face au danger mais telle une princesse en détresse elle sera aidée par un preux chevalier qui va mettre sa vie sans dessus dessous . Elle va découvrir un univers qui est à des années lumières du sien et pourtant elle saura trouver sa place. L'alchimie entre elle et Olivier est évidente et elle prendra des risques en restant à ses côtes . Non seulement sa vie est pleine de danger mais son cœur pourrait lui aussi connaître des rebondissements incroyables. Pourra t elle tout laisser de côté et sa vie à Seattle pour vivre son conte de fées ?



Bref , j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture avec ce premier tome de la saga des Dumont . Le prochain tome se focalisera sur Blaise et Seraphine et je suis donc sûre que nous passerons un excellent moment au cœur d'une intrigue aussi palpitante que celle ci .

Hot, sexy, and scandalous with a dash of suspense, Discretion by Karina Halle is the first book in her new series The Dumomts.

The chemistry between Sadie and Olivier is off the charts and these two fell in love fairly quickly, but can love conquer all of the secrets and lies that are hiding in the Dumont family's closet?

QueenZany 4 Star Review
Discretion
by Karina Halle



Discretion is a tangled web of twist turns and oh the Parisien delights,
OMG! just delightful and full of deliciousness that will make you quiver with joy.
Then leave your jaw hanging wide open with all the sinfulness and drama that takes place.

This was so good! This his was my first book by this author and I have to say I was really impressed. The story is addictive and I didn't want to stop. Features a yummy hero and a spunky heroine. I really enjoyed their story. It was very steamy as well. Not enough to burn the pages, that's for sure. I highly recommend this book!

Karina Halle’s signature brooding alpha male with a rich family pedigree of secrets and lies and a past that always seems to threaten to wreak havoc on his present holds true for Halle’s most recent hero, Olivier Dumont. Olivier is definitely the quintessential eligible bachelor: he’s a playboy who is beholden to his family name, and that comes with a price - one that he has seemingly paid for, for almost a decade due to an indiscretion that he won’t allow to reflect poorly on the rest of his family.

Sadie Reynolds is unfamiliar with the inner workings of the infamous Dumont name and the fortune that comes along with it, and that’s partly because her life is in direct contrast to Olivier’s and the fact that their initial meeting occurred when Olivier saved Sadie from being mugged, so there was already a bit of hero worshipping in place and well as an instant spark between them that refused to lessen even when Sadie finds out her savior’s last name and everything that comes with being a Dumont. And while that knowledge becomes quite overwhelming for Sadie, Olivier refuses to allow their differences or the obstacles that seem to be rallying against them.

I really liked how Halle characterized Sadie. Her personality is refreshing to Olivier simply because there are no pretenses when it comes to who she is or what she wants for him. Her humbleness and her passion are two things that draw him to her, endear her to him, and it’s her nature that keeps him pushing forward, attempting to deal with his mistakes while also ensuring that Sadie’s protected, which, at times, doesn't seem possible.

The story line is filled with deceit, manipulation, and ulterior motives, which all factor into the obstacles and struggles that Olivier and Sadie face throughout the course of their romance, and while things seemed to happen instantly between them and some of the drama driving the plot line forward was not as dense or as fleshed out as I thought it needed to be, I enjoyed Discretion. I’m a huge fan of Karina Halle’s writing and the way she constructs the worlds where her stories take place, and I look forward to the other stories in the series and how the Dumonts handle everything that is undoubtedly headed their way.

4 Poison Apples

Sadie is a broke college student backpacking around Europe. Olivier is a rich hotelier who has secrets that keep him from living his life. These two together turn their somewhat boring, going through the motions life into a whirl wind romance full of suspense and surprises.

At first, I thought this story was a little flat. The connection was insta-love, and it didn’t seem realistic. Once I made it past the “vacation” part of the romance, I was hooked. I am so glad I stuck with this book, because the second half is what we have all grown to love about Karina’s writing.

The characters were so in love and you could tell they loved each other by the way they reacted in certain situations. Even the communication about their true feelings was great. They never left anything up for interpretation and were up front about everything.

The suspense had me flipping pages as fast as I could. I knew something was up, but I needed answers. Some of these questions were answered and hopefully some will be answered in the next book because they deal more with Olivier’s sister. I can’t wait for her book and I feel like the twists are going to keep on coming.

-An Arc was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-

Discretion by Karina Halle is the start of new series, The Dumonts, and tells the story of Sadie Reynolds and Oliver Dumont. They meet when Oliver comes to the Sadie’s rescue. Oliver is immediately drawn to Sadie and the sparks fly. But mix in his family dynamics (not always good) and their budding romance and things are not so easy for them right from the start.

Sadie is a bit lost but determined. Oliver struggles with a past decision but is finding his way. Now they are pulled together and Sadie suddenly finds herself mixed up in Oliver’s world, not necessarily a good thing. Discretion by Karina Halle was intriguing read with a bit of suspense.

Happy reading!

This book has everything you could want in a book. It’s not a heavy book, which makes it perfect summer reading. It’s insta-love with a sexy Frenchman and a beautiful American. There is deceit, danger, blackmail, money and even a car chase! What more could you want? Karina was able to pack a lot into this wonderful novel and I can’t wait for the next one.

Not sure why I waited so long to start Oliver & Sadie’s story, but once I started I couldn’t stop. I was drawn in from the first page.

Oh Oliver was swoon worthy! I adored him & loved how he treated Sadie. Sadie was such a great support for Oliver.

I loved Oliver & Sadie together. And I can’t wait for more in this series!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Karina Halle brings it with Discretion. You will love love love this one. Olivier is so hot. He draws you in from the start with the good and the bad side of his family the Dumonts. Each side is powerful in their own right within each aspect of the family business. Then there is Sadie who is lovely but on a somewhat bad luck trip through Europe. But that only leads to an interesting meeting between Sadie and Olivier. You will love them together. They are electrifying and will set your pages on fire. They just fit so well together. I love how they handle the threats from the other side of the Dumont family. The way they fight for each other and love each other will just make your heart happy. This was a fantastic read that I couldn't put down. I can't wait for more.

What would you do if you got dumped while backpacking with your boyfriend through Europe? Would you continue the vacation? What if you were broke, and only had enough money to get yourself back home? Now imagine you're in the wrong place at the wrong time and a handsome man rescues you and then promises to take care of you. This is how we meet Sadie and Olivier and it's only the beginning of their journey. Karina Halle always does a fabulous job writing a love story that sucks you in and then shakes it all up. And with DIscretion and the Dumonts, she does it again. As turn page after page, you can't help but start to wonder what is going on with this family. Lucky for us, it's only the beginning, we still have two more Dumont books to go. I can't wait.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion....and I plan to start the audiobook today. I'm already up for a reread.

What an interesting, interesting story, made even more so after I read the acknowledgements at the end! Karina Halle always knows her way around a great plot, and this was a really good one. Taking place in France, with an American student, backpacking and staying in hostels, after being abandoned by her boyfriend, and a young, rich hotelier who saves her from the streets and a mugging, and you get the start of this relationship. Both Sadie, and Olivier were strong characters in my mind, and the intensity of this plot made for a very solid read. We have rich family drama, and how it affected everyone. Loved the romance, but even more so, loved the story!