Sadie Reynolds never thought her dream trip to Europe would be something of a disaster, but here she is…alone. She’s broken up with her cheating boyfriend in the middle of the trip, she’s low on funds and she’s been attacked in a dark alley, and now has a sprained ankle Being rescued by a handsome stranger who just happens to be a billionaire and the dream of every woman in France has a trip looking better than ever. Until she heals, she’s spending her days being pampered and nights in the bed of said handsome stranger. A girl could get used to this treatment, except said handsome stranger keeps her at a distance. No matter how much he wants her (and she knows he does), he won’t let her beyond those barriers.
Olivier has never wanted for anything, that includes being in the spot light. Rescuing Sadie has given him a taste of the life he knows he wants but secrets he holds reminds him that he can never have.
I have to admit, I was slightly disappointed with this book. It didn’t grab me the way I thought it would and more than a few times I had to put in down and come back to it. I don’t know why it didn’t because I actually liked the characters. Part of me felt like the Olivier’s “secret” that kept him from totally committing to Sadie, wasn’t really that big of a secret and it was drawn out a little too much for me.
For the most part it was cute read and I’d like to add the upcoming books in the series on my TBR list because there are a few supporting characters that have piqued my interest.

"I can feel myself being drawn to him like the stars toward a black hole."

Discretion is smoldering drama in the French Riviera and I did not want this story to end! Olivier and Sadie's story captured my attention from the first chapter. It's fast paced, sexy, thrilling, and full of suspense.

I can tell that this series is just going to get better and better as it unfolds. And with Karina Halle's classic style of mixing travel with writing, you can't help but feel completely immersed in all things French! It's really a stunning book to unfold.

Oliver appears to be living a life of power and privilege, but an action ten years ago has changed the course of his life and it has become more of a prison than anything else. He can have any woman he wants but he is drawn to an American tourist who just may be his greatest pleasure and his downfall.

Sadie is living her dream of backpacking through Europe when she gets into a dangerous situation and it is Oliver, a suave and sexy stranger, who comes to her rescue. They are unable to deny the chemistry and connection between them but the happiness they have found in each other is about to implode as Oliver’s family drama and secrets come to a crescendo.

Full of emotion, twists, heat and drama this story sends you on a romantic adventure unlike any other.

Desecration
By: Karina Halle

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Absolute opposites attract!

In the first book in the The Dumonts we meet Olivier and Sadie and they couldn’t be more different. I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engrossed throughout. I really loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other. This is a fun, hot, romantic must read book and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

Authors Blurb: The Riviera means indulgence—if you’ve got money. For Sadie Reynolds, a down-on-her-luck student, the Riviera means dingy hostels and back streets. When a wrong turn puts her in jeopardy, the last thing she expects is to be saved by the most handsome stranger she’s ever locked eyes with. When she later wakes up in a luxury suite with a Mediterranean view, she’s in the tender care of her rescuer: Olivier Dumont, France’s most eligible bachelor, billionaire hotelier, and heir to the Dumont fashion fortune.

Olivier also owns his reputation for scandal. But Sadie is unlike any woman he’s ever met. Her humble persona and wild innocence promise real passion. He’s promising Sadie something too: anything she wants. From Bordeaux to Cannes to Paris, Sadie’s past in America is swept away and replaced with a fantasy too good to be true. Pulled into Olivier’s orbit of wealth, glamour, and excess, Sadie discovers that the Dumont dynasty comes with a legacy of wicked secrets. And Olivier’s secrets may be the most damning of all…

Well let me start by saying
This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV my personal favorite this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

This is the first book of a new series about The Dumonts by Karina Halle. 

Sadie is backpacking through Europe on her own, after she ditched her boyfriend. She has two weeks left before she heads back home to the States. On the night that she is supposed to leave on the train to Spain she is about to be attacked, but thankfully she's saved by a handsome stranger. He brings her to the hospital and put her up in a hotel. 

The handsome stranger is Olivier Dumont, a mysterious, rich, protective man. He falls hard and fast for Sadie and we start to learn more about his family and his family dynamics and that's when the story really starts to pick up. 

The story is a page turner filled with action, family secrets and steamy scenes. 

I'm not a huge fan of insta-loves and I didn't quite get why and how Olivier and Sadie fell so hard and fast for each other, it seemed a bit over the top, but in the end the two of them are tight as can be and they really support each other 100% 

I had some unanswered questions by the end of the book, but I hope they'll be answered in the next one, hopefully it's about Seraphine!

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There is no denying that Karina Halle can write, and this series promises to be amazing. The whole premise oozes romance. The setting doesn’t get any hotter than the Mediterranean, dark-haired French men, fashion industry, luxury hotels, family legacy and scandal. It all comes together as an enticing and exciting story and Discretion is only book 1. There is still more to come from the Dumonts.

Olivier Dumont seems to be your typical leading French man with looks to stop any woman in their tracks. Something about American traveller, Sadie Reynolds, has him totally enraptured and he can’t fathom being without her. The pair meet under unusual circumstances which may even be characterized as fate. Their whirlwind romance spirals into something more, their chemistry heats up and dreams are envisioned. Too bad reality comes knocking.

I was totally captivated by this couple during the beginning of the book. Their story reminded me of the movie Pretty Woman and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Olivier is a billionaire who can provide the world to Sadie and she soaks up the attention and luxury knowing their time together is short lived and has an expiry date. In true Karina fashion, she builds me up and breaks my heart. Exactly what a great romance story should do.

The remainder of the book had it’s moments that I questioned and I wasn’t fond of Olivier’s treatment of Sadie at times, but I still loved the couple. The drama and scandal that ensues is intriguing but a little unbelievable. Yes, Olivier has a huge secret but I just couldn’t get on board with how devastating he felt it was or that he couldn’t get out of it. Setting that aside, I loved the book, and I am anxious for the rest of the series.

Karina Halle is one of the authors I know will always give unique stories to her books. She did exactly that with this book, Sadie’s on a backpacking trip through Europe with her boyfriend. She finds out he’s been cheating and he leaves her to go back home. She now has less money than anticipated but she’s not letting that stop her, she’s staying in shady hostels and enjoying this trip, no matter what. She is using it to get over this heartbreak and enjoy this part of her life. Olivier Dumont is from France and is from a well known family who is in the fashion industry. He happens to run into Sadie just in time. He helps her and doesn’t really tell her much about himself. To not ruin much about this book, these two both keep secrets from another. This book has some serious funny moments and some seriously sexy moments as well. Can they learn to open up to each and help one another? Will Sadie heal her heartbreak and meet a new man? I highly recommend this book.

This author’s has quickly become of my favorites! She writes beautiful stories and I can’t wait to read more from her.

I fell in love in Paris. Olivier was living the typical playboy lifestyle. The heir apparent to a fashion house that rivals Chanel, he's a leading hotelier who happens to have a lot of secrets. Secrets that prevent him from fulfilling his dreams. Secrets that hold him back from true happiness. But something about Sadie has him willing to take a chance, risking it all for the potential for more. Sadie is a college student backpacking through Europe. On the night she's leaving to catch a train to Spain, she's about to be mugged (or worse) when a gorgeous stranger saves her. He even steps it up a notch by taking her to the hospital and then putting her up in a hotel. She's moving up since all she's known for months is the hostel life. But who is this guy? Hot or not, what does he want from her?

For me, this story was all about Olivier. Sadie was just a supporting character and I wasn't all that interested in anything to do with her unless it directly related to something about him. Sorry, not sorry. It's just that Olivier was larger than life and yet ever so humble. He was family-oriented, warm, generous, loving, and extremely hot. From the first moment between him and Sadie, he stole the show. My heart went out to him when it became apparent that he was struggling with something from his past. Although I personally think his secret was lame AF, I don't know what it is to be in the spotlight or have to live up to not only my loved ones expectations, but to have what I do effect a brand's reputation. While I think the secret should have been something more fatalistic, other than that bit of a let down, everything else about this story fed my soul.

As the first book of a new series, I can honestly say I'm sold on continuing with it. I love the idea of the good Dumonts versus the bad ones. I'm a greedy girl for wanting the next book to be Olivier's as well and I'm hoping to have this wish fulfilled. The author did a fantastic job of bringing the romance of France to life and making me fall in love with this hero and I want more!

**3-3.5 Stars**
Discretion is the first book in Karina Halle’s new series The Dumonts. The Dumonts are a very rich and powerful family, known for their high-end fashion and luxurious hotels. But there are secrets, scandals and family drama going on behind the scenes.

When Olivier Dumont (a billionaire hotelier) saves Sadie Reynolds from a very scary situation one evening in the French Riviera, both of their lives will never be the same. Sadie is only traveling abroad for a short period of time, but their whirlwind romance has her re-thinking her future.

However, Olivier has secrets from his past that could destroy any chance of happiness and future for them.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I do wish I felt more of a connection between Olivier and Sadie, aside from the sex part. They definitely had the chemistry there though! Hot!

I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

3.5 'Mon lapin' Stars!
ARC provided by the publisher via via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Karina Halle, as many of you already know, is one of my favorite authors, especially when it comes to a deliciously sexy contemporary romance. Now, she comes with a new series which happens to focus a bit more on the suspense inside of a very wealthy and very famous French family. The theme surely intrigued me and I dived right in!

So, Discretion is the first installment in Karina’s The Dummonts series and it’s the love story between Olivier Dummont and Sadie Reynolds. These two meet when Oliver saves Sadie from a pretty dangerous situation and their lust for each other is instant after that. They start a very intense affair that happens to be explosive, in secret and with lots of secrets mixed in it. These two people are from very different worlds. Will Olivier and Sadie’s relationship survive it all? Find out reading Discretion!

I want to consume this man, and I want him to consume me.
I want to feel this part of him before we say goodbye and the fairy tale ends and my old life begins again. I want Olivier before it’s too late.

One thing I am always happy about when it comes to Karina’s books is that they are oh-so-freaking-sexy! I mean, Olivier and Sadie connect almost instantly and their chemistry is smoking hawt. I enjoyed reading how France’s most eligible bachelor falls in love with a poor American college student who is backpacking through Europe. These two fall in love pretty quickly (maybe too quickly for my taste..) but not everything is hearts and flowers. One side of Olivier’s family is decided to make him pay for his past and that is when drama appears. If that interests you, I am sure you will enjoy this novel quite a lot!

I love her, and that has changed my whole world at a time when my whole world has just changed.
It makes me realize the lengths I will go to protect us, to keep her safe.

Therefore, my rating for Discretion is 3.5 STARS because I found it to be a good introduction to Karina’s new series that I am sure will be full of scandal, suspense and sexiness! Yes, I do have to say this is not my favorite novel from hers (it took me a while to connect with the couple and the whole storyline) but her writing is always amazing, the chemistry between the couple was mind-blowing and I am definitely curious to read the next book after all that teasing about the next couple!

4 stars

The first book in Karina Halle’s Dumont series is romantic, dramatic and super sexy with an intriguing, suspenseful twist. Taking us to France, and an exclusive world of wealth, privilege, power, greed and hidden secrets, we are introduced to the Dumont family for the beginning of a dramatic family saga that had me completely captivated.

Sadie Reynolds is a struggling American student backpacking around Europe. She started the trip with her boyfriend, but is finishing it as a single woman after her relationship fell apart, and she’s navigating the back streets of the French Riviera when she runs into trouble. She is rescued by a gorgeous stranger who turns out to be a millionaire hotel mogul from one of the most exclusive families in Paris. Heir to a fashion empire, Olivier Dumont is one of the most bachelors in France, and her personal knight in shining armour.

Olivier is well aware of his reputation as a player, and he owns it. He has dated models and celebrities, avoiding relationships and living in the moment, but from the moment he picks up an injured American tourist and whisks her away to one of his hostels, he is captivated. Sadie is unlike anybody he has ever met – real and unpretentious, and with no clue about his celebrity or strange family dynamics, and he is drawn to her in a way he never has been with anybody else. And amidst the luxurious backdrop of the French Riviera, their chemistry sparks a wildly passionate love affair that flips both of their worlds upside down.

“Are you trying to, I don’t know, seduce me?”
I regret it the moment I say it.
He breaks into a devastating grin, the kind that could steal my breath away and never give it back. “Do you want me to seduce you?” he asks, running his long fingers down the length of his jaw, like he’s now considering it.
“No,” I say quickly.
I’m pretty sure I’m lying.
“Good,” he says, still smiling. I see a hint of pink tongue as he bites his lip. “Because, believe me … you wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

Karina’s books usually contain a healthy dose of steamy time… this book is hotter. Seriously. Between Olivier’s confidence, sexy moves and filthy mouth (complete with French accent), and Sadie’s willingness to embrace all that he has to offer, and give it right back, the chemistry between these two is off the charts! You can feel the connection between them, which very quickly develops beyond just the physical, and they fall hard, fast and completely, and I loved watching it happen!

"Our lives are made up of nothing but moments.
But I want to live in every moment with her."

But as Sadie is swept up into Olivier’s world, she also learns about his complicated family politics full of greed, secrets and vicious blackmail, and he is caught right in the middle of it all. And as much as Olivier tries to protect her, when Sadie is dragged into it, it will put the new lovers to the test in ways they never expected.

“You are the only thing that’s good and pure and real in my whole life.”

Oh, I love this love story! It’s super romantic and really fast moving, but it works! You can feel everything happening between Sadie and Olivier, and it gives you that heart-pounding, tingly anticipation feeling that I love about reading romance, and I was in a world of swoon.

“Look at you, being all romantic.”
“I’m always romantic,” he says, kissing my neck. “Because it’s impossible to be anything but a lovestruck slave around you.”

This book has a different feel to it than what I usually expect from Karina’s writing. It doesn’t have that edge that I associate with her books and felt a bit more generic than her usual writing style. But I think this series will have a different sort of feel overall. The intensity of the romance and the family drama is extreme, but it feels intentional, creating this decadent, powerful and passionate world, and I really enjoyed losing myself in it. And Sadie’s down-to-earth nature balances it out really nicely. Though talking of extreme, I did think that the reason behind the blackmail and the resulting consequences were a bit OTT, but it works to bring intrigue to the story and set up the next book nicely, so I just went with it.

This is a really great read. The characters are likable, the romance is hot and heavy, the setting is wonderfully described, and the drama/suspense adds a great twist to things. It’s a really strong start to the series, and I’m excited for more.

4 stars!

The Riviera is a most wondrous place - but for Sadie Reynolds, hosteling it by herself after discovering her boyfriend had left after she uncovered his infidelities, she was anxious to return home. One wrong turn put her life in jeopardy but never did she expect to be saved by the most handsome stranger who came to her rescue. When she wakes up she is ensconced in a luxurious suite with views of the Mediterranean and her rescuer, France’s most eligible bachelor Olivier Dumont.

Olivier, heir to the Dumont fashion fortune, is no stranger to scandal, but Sadie is unlike any woman he’s ever met. He’s promising Sadie something too: anything she wants. Pulled into Olivier’s world Sadie is witness to wealth, glamour, and excess like she’s never imagined before. She is also witness to the betrayals and wicked secrets of the entire Olivier family.

*** Ah, to wake up in Prince Charming’s bed and world – such a fairy tale come true and it began that way for Sadie, as Olivier seemed captivated by Sadie, but Sadie knew without a doubt that it couldn’t possibly last. However she was helplessly in love/lust with Olivier and come hell or high water, she wanted to stay by his side.

Sadie was a wonderful character fully fleshed out honest and caring, quite the opposite of all the high profile models and socialites Olivier had been sporting around, but with Sadie he recognized that she was a gem he wanted to keep to himself which is where the title of the novel probably came from. Not only that but he didn’t want his relatives/enemies to discover and ruin the first honest relationship he desired to keep – safe from the vultures who were out to destroy him.

All in all, this was a great read and though I wasn’t thrilled with the ending I am hoping to see in the some really great karma and payback in subsequent volumes!

Marilyn Rondeau

I'm always super excited when Karina has a new series for us!. This centers around Olivier Dumont, who runs the hotel side of the Dumont empire and Sadie is a poor student from US .When Olivier comes into her life unexpectedly, he offers to change it for the time she remains in Europe.

I really enjoy it, and I liked the characters a lot!There is a great banter and chemistry between them!
The plot was intrigued and there was suspense too!

“Oh, mon lapin,” he whispers, kissing me softly, “you are the only thing that’s good and pure and real in my whole life.”


I'm excited for the next book in the series!

Where to begin? There's so many things I like about this book.
There's travelling, there's a little age difference, there's a hot French guy(!),there's drama and suspense.
But still I felt there was something lacking, with the family drama, I wish there were even more drama and suspense. Can't say so much without spoiling too much.
All in all, another good book from Karina and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Can I start off with saying THIS COVER! Gah! I absolutely love it. Definitely needing a paperback to join my collection.

Olivier and Sadie's story starts off when he literally saves her in France. Their connection is fast and furious - the speed at which they connect is like a BOOM! But I will say there's more to the story than that - SO MUCH MORE - suspense, intrigue, lies - this one's got it all. The chemistry between the two is OFF THE CHARTS and I really enjoyed their banter too. This was a great read.

Well, this is a hard review to write. I’m a fan of Karina Halle and have really liked her books in the past, but this one was a struggle. Sadie is an American backpacking through Europe, when she is almost mugged. Luckily, Olivier, a French billionaire, happens to be driving by and saves her. He brings her to his hotel by the Mediterranean Sea and their love story begins. While Sadie and Olivier have sexual chemistry, everything else was missing for me. I did not see the connection between these two at all. Their relationship moved super fast and it was pretty unrealistic and far-fetched to me. I really wish this one would have worked for me, but unfortunately, it missed the mark.

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Karina Halle's books always transport me to another place, and Discretion was a beautiful ride to France. Sadie is a young, broke college student who is backpacking through Europe and stumbles through a breakup and finishes her vacation solo. While she rushes to catch the train to her next destination, she falls victim to an attacker who unsuccessfully mugs her, but manages to rough her up quite a bit. Luckily, her knight in shining armor drives up in his shiny sports car to save the day. He stays by her side through her recuperation and they notice the sparks flying. They both have secrets that could unravel their fragile relationship and some are much bigger than others. When the cards fall, can they survive? Could he be her forever? It almost seems all to perfect, until it isn't. Can she rescue him right back, or is this it for them?
I enjoyed the twists, turns, and characters that Karina crafted. As always, her imagery of the destination is picturesque. Even through exhaustion, I couldn't put it down and I can't wait for the next book!


**I was one of the lucky readers chosen by the publisher to receive an ARC for an honest review.**

Discretion by Karina Halle is the First book in The Dumonts Series. This is the story of Olivier Dumont and Sadie Reynolds.
Sadie is backpack through Europe when she is almost robbed along with something worse. Olivier is the one to help her although he shouldn't be helping her due to his family and things he has to keep to himself. Oliver just can't let her go along with the feeling he is having for her. But there is more going on in this book than just their feelings. This book brings with it some drama that adds to the story line.

3.5 - 4 stars. I have been an avid fan of Karina for a lot of years, and have fully enjoyed the wide variety of tropes she has written in. She is an amazing writer and always keeps me captivated with her stories. This new Dumonts series has intrigued me from the time of first hearing about it, and the description is so intriguing, " a delicious saga of wealth, luxury, and scandal—and the wicked secrets of success behind an envied family dynasty." I was super excited to see what was in store for us!

Karina starts the story off with a bang, with Sadie having a terrifying encounter and Olivier swooping in to save the day. They set off on a whirlwind romance, and admittedly the sexy encounters they have are hot and passionate and I lived vicariously through Sadie and the luxury that Olivier was lavishing on her.

There is intrigue right off the bat with secrets that Olivier is keeping, that his Uncle is holding over his head. What could those secrets be? It is obviously something affecting how he's been living his life for the past ten years, and has driven a wedge between his family and that of his Uncle Gautier. Talk about a slimy snake! And his cousins Pascal and Blaise...

The story was a little slow for me, lots of Sadie and Olivier and their sexy times, and the pace didn't really pick up until the end, when we're taken on a wild ride through the streets of Paris. So that part left me a little breathless but it happened too late into the story for me to feel like this was an evenly paced book. It was quite a wild ride though!

The secret that Olivier has been keeping all these years, the "thing" that his Uncle is holding over his head? It just fell flat for me, it wasn't believable that it would hold the level of power over Olivier's head that his Uncle was wielding. The secret that was being kept felt very insignificant compared to the consequences that were being held over Olivier's head. Since there is no resolution at the end of t his book, I am hoping that things turn around and are resolved in the next book.

Speaking of the next book, it will center around Olivier's sister, Seraphine, who I felt like had the biggest balls of all the men in this story! She is a kickass woman!! I can't wait to see what Karina has in store for her!