Backpacking through Europe, American college student Sadie is looking forward to forgetting about her breakup with her boyfriend and experiencing life in her journey around Europe. But when she is followed and put in a situation where she wishes she was still with her boyfriend, a stranger saves her and takes her in until she is back on her feet enough to do her traveling. With her bank account quickly dwindling, Sadie isn't sure how she is going to afford this and still stay her three weeks left in Europe before needing to head home. She soon realizes that the handsome, french guy who saved her life is actually a french billionaire who owns numerous hotels, and whose family is as well known and sought after like Chanel. What she didn't know was he had secrets and ghosts haunting him. When a tragedy hits Olivier's family, his hand is forced to do the opposite of what his father wanted, and soon he and his siblings, along with Sadie, are in danger. 


This story was super good. I loved the suspense and "action" of it all, and it was super steamy as heck too which is always a plus. 
I loved how even though there was an age-gap between the two main characters, they didn't let that get in between what they had. Though it seemed their relationship moved SUPER fast, and a little too fast for me, I hoped throughout reading it that they would hold strong together and make it through to their happy ending.

I have loved almost every book that I have previously read by this author but this book just didn't live up to the expectation and excitement I was so looking for. The story had all the basics that made for a great romantic suspense novel but it just didn't live up its blurb and description, for me it fell a little flat of its full potential. Olivier Dumont is from a rich well known family that own a fashion label and hotels in France. The Dumonts consist of Olivier his father, his sister, his uncle and his two cousins. Olivier runs the hotel side of their family dynasty while the others run the fashion label. There is a underlying sense of ruthless greed and want from the uncle and cousins that does become very clear in the story, but as for the excuse that is used to have total control over Olivier (as they have a secret hold over him) I felt it to be a little weak to say the least and made the story feel a bit out of date for a modern day romance.
Nevertheless I did really like the parts where the love story that blossoms between Olivier Dumont wealthy hotelier and Sadie Reynolds a young poor American student. They first meet when he comes to her aid in her time of need and it does become quite an intense read as their holiday romance becomes something more. It felt like all good fairytale stories where the prince rescues the damsel in distress. I absolutely felt their connection with each other so that I could engage with their emotions and feel all the hurt and distress that they both go through to do with their relationship but still it was not enough to make think that the villains of this book were believable.
This was just an ok read for me and I was so hoping for something more from this author.

This is the first book in "The Dumonts" series.

Sadie is backpacking through Europe with very little money and a broken heart. Growing up in a difficult situation Sadie is learning to flex her own wings.

Olivier is a French businessman who could have any girl he wanted at any time. Olivier is guarded and closed off. His heart is seemingly made of stone. One bad decision irreparably changed the course of his life.

A chance encounter sets these two on a path of self-discovery and self healing. Together they will overcome guilt and shame, as well as family secrets. The bond that they forge will be tested in ways neither see coming. When a tragedy strikes too close to them, it will push them together or tear them apart. Forced to work through their collection issues, Sadie realizes there is much more intrigue and drama in Olivier's family than she baragained for.

This perfect was the perfect mix of mystery, suspense and romance. I loved the way the relationship of Olivier and Sadie progressed. Their chemistry was immediate. The ebb and flow of this story was set at a perfect pace, not rushed nor slow burn. Ms. Halle's writing was smooth and linear and the story simply pulled you in.

Dumont... Olivier Dumont! Sexy af French man! I rarely read books centered in France. It was a nice change of pace. This book is completely different from Shambles. One thing that I love about Halle's books are she takes you all over the world. The last three books I have read from her, I've lived in Hawaii, Ireland, and now France... and of course the US. She is a very worldly author and it is something I love about her.

Sadie, an American girl backpacking through Europe meets Olivier when he saves her. She is alone and he knows she needs his help, so he offers her his help and she takes it, knowing she doesn't really have a choice. Things bloom from there.

I was hooked on this book. I messaged Amber at 3am saying she needed to hurry and catch up with me and then ended up finishing the book before me. But... let me tell you, this book took a turn I didn't see coming.

Something about me, I don't read synopsis's. So I didn't know anything about the book. That's how I like it. All I need to know is that it was written by Karina Halle. So when that twist came in to play, I was like what! Olivier Dumont is a man with many secrets. His whole family, the twist and turns, the secrets, it really all explodes.

There was a lot of drama, but my only reason for giving four stars is because of how it ends. I LOVE the ending, but there were some things left open, some thing that left me questioning some things. There was a lot of drama at the end and then all of a sudden it is over. Again, I loved Olivier and Sadie's ending and I do think that we will be seeing more of Olivier and Sadie in book two... which I am so excited for!

j'ai trouvé que le contexte et les personnages étaient vraiment bien amenés et que l'on vivait chaque instant avec eux d'une très jolie manière. Il m'a manqué quand même une petite étincelle pour que tout s'embrase mais on ne voit pas défiler les pages et j'ai apprécié aussi bien la romance que le petit côté suspense qui concerne la vie d'Olivier. On navigue donc à vue avec eux et on découvre les tenants et les aboutissants à la fin de l'aventure. Une romance simple et assez légère qui nous donne le sourire et nous fait vivre des moments très intenses entre nos protagonistes !

Money, family drama, mystery, and steaminess all set in France. I was intrigued by the blurb and the moment I started this story I was completely hooked. I read this book in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down.
Olivier is a wealthy French hotelier, also a member of the famous Dumont family. A fantastic hero. He is protective, caring, 100% sexy alpha male. Sadie Reynolds is an American college student backpacking her way through Europe, until she has a run in with Olivier and everything changes for the both of them.
The Dumont family is at war with each other and Olivier is right in the middle of it all. There is LOADS of family drama and of course it always revolves around business and money. There is so much mystery and suspense to this story. That is what truly got me hooked. I had to know what was going to happen next!!
It did take me a bit to warm up to Olivier and Sadie’s relationship. I felt there was some missing chemistry in the beginning but definitely started feeling it between them the more I kept reading and by the end I was completely in love with them. Olivier is seriously swoon worthy.
With all the crazy family drama, the suspense and the steaminess I can’t wait to read the rest of this series!

3.5 to 4 stars
This is the introduction to a new series based in France about an extremely wealthy and powerful family. This centers around Olivier Dumont, who runs the hotel side of the Dumont empire while his other family members deal with the haute couture and other subsidiaries.

But there are some serious family dynamics and secrets in play. Olivier made a mistake ten years ago and is still paying for it, and the situation is about to get even more complicated. He is handsome, charming, intelligent, rich, and known as a playboy. He does not really get close to people and lives with his guilt and shame.

Sadie Reynolds is a poor student from the US just backpacking during her summer. She has not had good luck with men, and is barely scraping by during her trip. But she is smart, resourceful, spunky, and independent. When Olivier comes into her life unexpectedly, he offers to change it for the time she remains in Europe. And due to their new connection both of their lives do change significantly. It is pretty much insta-chemistry and insta-love for these two. But they are good for each other and seem to provide a much-needed anchor when needed. And suddenly Olivier has someone to lose.

But is it just a short fling? Is there any way for them to find a way to make it work with them living in two different countries and really two different worlds?

And as tension mounts in the Dumont family, will the innuendo and threats become all too real? Would it be safer for Olivier to just let her go? How far are people willing to go to have the power and money they want?

In addition to the quick and steamy romance, it's got intrigue, secrets, and suspense. I will admit I had a hard time getting into this one at first, but by the end, the author had really introduced this intense cast of characters and family drama and made them seem more real. I honestly did not think his big secret was that big a deal although I could see how a young man could be guilted and influenced. But in the present day, it did not seem as significant anymore. Some of it felt a bit over the top and some of it will probably bleed into the next two books. I am looking forward to more with Seraphine and Blaise's love-hate relationship in the next book, Disarm. It is going to take some work for the author to make me like his malicious cousin, Pascal, but I have faith that she will manage it in his book, Disavow.

Blog and social media links to go live on release day 8/6/19

I received an ARC from Netgalley and I am happy to give my honest review.

This is the second book by this author I have read and I think I'm not her target audience. This book was like a Bond soap opera with rich conniving families and stolen weekends to luxurious hotels. The book was okay but nothing I could really get into.

Sadie is a student from Seattle backpacking across Europe after she broke up with her boyfriend. She meets Olivier in Paris when he saves her from being mugged. He's rich and she doesn't trust him but still goes with him to his hotel. They spend the week together and it's insta love/lust.

Instead of going back home she decides to stay with Olivier even though he won't show her to the public. They only date in secret. He smuggles her into a masquerade ball where someone dies unexpectedly. Gasp! Is it murder? Who knows! And now his family is pressuring him to give everything up because blackmail!

To be honest, I skimmed most of the book. There was very little angst between Sadie and Olivier and most of the drama was surrounding his family's business. The side characters were a little over the top. Not my cup of tea but entertaining enough that I finish the book.

My first thought when I picked up Discretion by Karina Halle was "Wow, that cover is stunning". So, yes, I am shallow. But, the story sounds interesting: billionaire French playboy meets poor American student. Also, the setting sounded stellar: The French Riviera! Karina Halle has certainly caught my attention from the start!

Olivier, our hero, has one seriously dysfunctional family. They are greedy, secretive, and cruel to each other frequently. He is beholden to some in his family due to some information he doesn't want shared. I struggled with this a bit because it felt a bit weak. I think Olivier could have handled it differently and it wouldn't have been such a big deal. But, that's totally just my opinion! Sadie, our heroine, is backpacking in Europe and dealing with her own issues. She was relatable in many ways. She is young, undecided about some things in her life, wanting to explore and find herself. Its all very common for college age kids (except many of them don't get to leave the country and travel). She is freshly single and there certainly is instant chemistry between her and Olivier. Beyond the chemistry, I am not sure I totally understood their relationship. I didn't FEEL it. I can't quite put my finger on why, but something about these two didn't feel believable.

Discretion has some suspense to it as well which was satisfying. What I loved most was the way Karina Halle created such a beautiful setting. Discretion doesn't just take place in the Riviera, the Riviera is a part of the story in each beautiful description. If you like soap opera type families, gorgeous settings, and a touch of suspense, you will enjoy Discretion by Karina Halle!

But the chemistry between Olivier and Sadie was off the charts and the connection was amazing. I just kind of wish that there was a little more development on the relationship as a whole. The development, for me, was a little rushed. I would have loved another chapter or two on the relationship. I think it would have added a lot to the book but not having it didn’t detract from the book.

Discretion is about more than Olivier and Sadie’s relationship though. It’s also about familial relationships.

Olivier Dumont was not very clean-cut. His family, albeit extended family, was mixed up in all sorts of crimes and ne’rdowell things. His immediate family much less so. But because the Dumonts had built an empire, the entire family was involved. And that became a problem when half the family was working to overtake the other half. Karina Halle describes the Dumont family as having two halves, a light and a dark side. And that dichotomy rings true throughout the entire book. Discretion was a work of art in that sense. The Dumonts were trying to save their business and Olivier was being blocked by an old mistake. He had been trying to overcome his past and especially with Sadie but his uncle kept pushing him back.

This is my first time reading this author but I am sad to say this book is just not for me. The sexual chemistry was HOT but that is about all that this book had going for it.

I actually really enjoyed this story. While some of the storyline is a little over the top, I still found myself pulled in by the characters and wondering what would happen next. The chemistry between the characters was off the charts and I had fun reading this story. I am looking forward to seeing what Karina has in store for us next.

Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. I have read and liked work by the author in the past but this was a kiss for me. I felt the plot plugged along slowly as link between one awkward sex scene to the next. The “suspense” element felt forced.

I received a complimentary advance copy of this title from the publisher. All comments/opinions are my own.

Karina Halle always takes you on a journey through her books, this time Its France where we meet Olivier and Sadie. The story starts in the French Riviera traveling on to Nice, Paris and Bordeaux. The settings are so well written you feel like you’re there with the characters and you can almost smell the roses, grown lovingly for their scent and not their longevity, and taste the food prepared by Oliviers chefs.
I’m in love with Oliviers tortured soul and even though Sadie was on hiatus from men after her last relationship ended she couldn’t ignore the connection she has with Olivier. Follow these two as they journey through France but also through their emotions and discover what secret Olivier is keeping and why he’s made the decisions he’s made through his life.
I loved Discretion and honestly can’t wait for the other books to be released.

Was a pretty good story. I liked the characters and the storyline went pretty smoothly. Not a whole lot of drama or umm sexy times, but it did keep my attention, for the most part, from beginning to end. Overall, I enjoyed it.

DNF at 36%

Sadie is annoying. She apparently cannot function without a man in her life, and her decisions always seem to revolve around whatever person she's with at the time. She goes to Europe with her boyfriend, discovers he's been cheating on her and ends things, and then she attempts to scrape by on her own until her (already scheduled) flight home. She's in an unfamiliar city, an unfamiliar country, but chooses to walk around alone in the dark in the middle of the night. She only has her phone for directions, and continues walking down empty streets with little to no light. Are you screaming at her stupidity? I was.

After her perilous encounter with the bald man, she tries to brush off what happened like it's not a big deal. If someone attacked me in the middle of the night, it wouldn't be something I quickly forgot. I wouldn't care that my attacker was handsome, or even notice what his eyes looked like, if I had just been fighting for my life. I would likely thank whoever it was and then wait for the police to arrive. I would not follow another stranger into their car with few reservations. Especially one that claims to be rich and willing to pay for my medical care.

I get it. It's a romance book, and unlikely scenarios sometimes make amazing stories, but Sadie was incredibly frustrating. She had no sense of self-preservation, and very little self-respect. She doesn't think she's very attractive, slept with her best friend just to get the experience out of the way, and then chose to date someone boring, safe, and predictable. She didn't want spontaneity, and she didn't think very highly of herself. However, she's totally okay with finishing her trip through Europe broke and solo, getting into a strangers car in the middle of the night, and then proceeding to stay with him for the duration of her trip. Additionally, she complained nonstop at the start of the book about not wanting his charity, and repeatedly said she didn't want him to spend so much money on her, but then was fine with him surprising her with expensive champagne, lavish dresses, and luxurious dinners. *pulls hair out*

Sadie was so hot and cold, and it was difficult to keep track of her thoughts and feelings. Did she want to make it on her own, or did she want to let someone help her? Does she want to fight with him about money, or want to enjoy the experience? She was all over the place! I'm also okay with having adventurous sex and exploring your options, but she went from being a person that wanted to "get it over with" to someone that wanted to "have amazing sex nonstop" in a very short amount of time. It was too easy for her to dismiss who she'd been her entire life. She was shy one minute and cheeky the next𑁋it gave me mental whiplash. No one becomes a new person overnight.

"He might be able to fit me in a flattering and beautiful dress, but it might be akin to putting lipstick on a pig. Or at least designer clothing on a girl from a trailer park."

Also, if she couldn't walk on her ankle, she definitely couldn't swim on it. At least, not enough to tread water while making out in the middle of the ocean. It sounds romantic, but the logistics don't work. I had a similar experience in my youth, and sexy times in the ocean are difficult and really not that exciting. I'm not saying it cannot be done, but it didn't seem plausible in this scenario.

I guess I had more to say about this one than I thought... but when woman in books act like airheads, it really grates on my nerves. I wish Sadie had been a little more confident in herself and what she has to offer the world, but she only talks negatively about herself. He tells her she's beautiful, and she's mentally congratulating herself for not correcting him and just being in the moment. I wanted to yell at her to embrace her beauty and enjoy the experience for what it was.

Needless to say, this one didn't work for me. Although I am curious what "big secret" Olivier has been keeping for ten years. Details were trickling in, but what he did honestly didn't seem like that big of a deal. I'm assuming there's more to the story, but I just couldn't deal with Sadie anymore.

*review will post on Amazon on its release date, and on my blog at the end of the month
*will provide links when available

3.5 Stars

The European trip that Sadie Reynolds planned so meticulously is not turning out how she envisioned it. As a poor college student, she scrimped and saved for the opportunity to travel, and the entire adventure was completely derailed by her former traveling companion, and now, very current ex-boyfriend.

And then things go from bad to worse...

Olivier Dumont is sexy, wealthy, French... and way out of her league. A chance encounter where Olivier saves Sadie from a bad situation, and these two polar opposites may have just found the love of their lives... albeit in a very temporary situation....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Discretion was an extremely sexy and tumultuous read, where family secrets and true love collide in the glamorous world of the French elite. What starts out as a fling with a very solid end date, Sadie and Olivier finding each other supersedes everything they thought was important in their lives. But, will their love be enough to bridge the gap of just how different their lives truly are...

Sadie is a college student on vacation with her boyfriend... until they have a spectacular breakup and he returns home without her. Meeting Olivier couldn't have happened at a better time, and while she knows she shouldn't just effortlessly trust the man who has saved her, there is something about Olivier that makes her feel completely safe and cherished...

Olivier is the heir to the Dumont empire, from hotels to handbags, it will all someday be his... unless his uncle has a say in the matter. Meeting Sadie on the cusp of his ultimate secret being exposed is either the greatest distraction... or the worst timing ever. The young American is innocence, happiness, and everything he could ever want in a relationship, but she isn't meant for a man like him.... no matter how much he wishes it could all be different...

From the visual treat of all things spectacular and French, to the bold characters who are dedicated and loyal in a world where secrets are held the highest regard, this book was a fascinating read. Sadie and Olivier come from two very different worlds, and share an attraction that is instant and uncomplicated... unlike their lives and the impossible decisions that they will have to face together... 

The relationship between Sadie and Olivier was incredibly sexy and sweet, and it had me rooting for them to find a way to stay together, against all odds, from the very beginning. And while I really enjoyed the plot and the characters in this book, I did feel like there was an issue with how this story ultimately flowed. Olivier seemed way too busy to actually fall in love with Sadie, and I would have really loved to see something more concrete in their relationship building as a result. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

2 stars.
This one simply wasn't for me!!!
I am a big fan of Karina Halle's work (have read 18 books to date) but I struggled with this one quite a bit and also found it fairly unsatisfying in general.

It was more than a case of not really "feeling" the connection between Olivier and Sadie- other than maybe their sexual chemistry that is. They were just such an unlikely couple in my opinion.
Also, I want to point out..... this story was beyond incredulous!!!!
And I am not joking here!!!......

I simply couldn't wrap my head around most of it- especially the ending. It felt really disjointed and didn't make any sense to me.....
Why would Olivier essentially turn a blind eye and run away from his problems with his family??

Maybe the next book in this series will have all the answers????
I can only hope so....very telling was the author's acknowledgements - where she states "this book was the hardest I've ever had to write."
She talks about being sick and also suffering from SAD (seasonal affective disorder):

I couldn’t conjure up the will to care about anything, let alone my characters or the book. The spark was gone. There was no joy to be found. And it wasn’t this book . . . it was everything. It didn’t matter if I wrote something else or nothing at all; I just couldn’t conjure up the mental energy or the will to do it. Every time I tried, a brick wall came down in my mind, and I had no strength to fight my way over it. I stopped caring, and I needed so deeply to care. Yet, somehow, I kept going. Kept trying to climb over that wall or dig under it or pick my way through it. It must have worked, because, eventually, the book got finished.......

I would definitely like to read the next one, mainly to see if Karina can manage to pull it all together (this wild and crazy storyline)- especially now that I found out that it is about Seraphine (Olivier's sister).
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Oh La La! This book was a romance that is set in France, mostly in Paris, and it feels as if the locales are a main character because of Karina Halle's fantastic writing.

Olivier comes from a wealthy family and is known to spend his time with models. His family name is synonymous with Chanel. He's also hot as hell and so swoony I don't even have the right words to describe him!

Sadie is a college student who started out backpacking across Europe with her boyfriend. When said boyfriend ditches her all by herself, she gets by staying in cheap hostels and trying to make the best of an unexpected situation.

When Olivier and Sadie's worlds collide, it is like two worlds colliding. Sadie has no idea who Olivier is when they meet and if he had his way, she wouldn't find out. His name comes with complications and even at the beginning, he knew she needed to be protected.

I loved their first meeting. I loved EVERYTHING about Olivier. I loved EVERYTHING about Sadie as well. They were both mature, didn't play games, and there was very little drama that was caused by the two of them, which was nice. It really felt like they were there for each other and it was them against the world.

There was also some action in this book, which was surprising and took me back to the days of the Sins & Needles days. (More of that, please.)

Overall I really liked this book, I liked the story and the romance of it all, and the drama and action as well. It was interesting to read about an average girl getting to go inside this world of this wealthy family and what that was like for her. I will definitely be continuing this series and can't wait to read about more of the Dumont family!

3.5 stars
Leave it to Karina Halle to write a new series which can capture the interest from the start. Handsome rich hero- check.
Lovely young woman down on her luck-check.

Have them both need each other from the start-check
and then romance, suspense, and HEA check, check, check.