Review, blog tour and giveaway can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

You know that you have great romantic suspense when both characters have also angst and their own conflicting emotions to deal with, along with everything else! That's what I enjoyed so much reading in Karina Halle's new book! Following the success of the first book, Disarm is the story of Seraphine and Blaise who are step-cousins and at the same time rivals in the war for power in the fashion industry.

Following the events from the first book, we learn about how Seraphine came into the Dumont family who adopted her and loved her in the way every child should be.
Following the POV of Blaise and Seraphine back and forth from past to present, I got to see the longing and the unrequited love. There were so many emotions in this one I could burst! Not to mention that there was action and the scheming of the other members of the family was downright evil.

Money indeed doesn't bring happiness.

This was a really good sequel which left me anxiously hoping to see how Pascal will be redeemed!

HOLY WHOA! Karina Halle went for it with this one and it paid off. Big time. Talk about dark and twisted, sexy and dangerous. From the start, Disarm grabbed me by the throat and the hold kept getting tighter and tighter as the story unfolded.

I loved Seraphine. Her grit. Her need to find the truth. Her faith in people even when they've let her down. Her quest to get answers about what really happened the night her father died unleashes a chain of events that nobody could've seen coming. Thankfully, Blaise was there. Watching. Trying to stay two steps ahead and keep both his father and brother in check.

It was for sure a love-hate relationship between Blaise and Seraphine. There was years of family feuding and broken promises. And a touch of the forbidden only made the anticipation that much more But with lives on the line, they had no choice but to band together and find a way out of the mess.

My heart was pounding through the final third of this book. Karina Halle took me on a ride that had me wondering just how bumpy the ending would be. And let me tell you, all the pain and fear and anticipation and mystery was so worth it. I loved how Blaise and Seraphine were able to work through their years of anger and hurt. How they created their own world where all that mattered was hope and love and happiness and they had that in spades. But that ending...gah! It was beyond perfect and more than either one ever dreamed of.

Ok

I found the flashbacks too distracting from the story but there was good intrigue.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Seraphine was adopted by the Dumont family when she was six years old and now she is attempting to keep the family business afloat While her uncle and his son try to destroy the business she also suspected that they where the ones to kill her adopted father. No one will believe her the only person willing to help is her cousin Blaise (he isn't a blood cousin) He has tormented all of her life with the Dumonts but at least he is now by her side As they spend more time together emotions come to the surface Blaise has loved Seraphine for years and is only waiting for her to fall for him. Can they get a HEA and can he keep her safe from her uncle.

Seraphine and Blaise took my breathe away! The chemistry! Wow! I loved every minute of their actions pact, thrilling story and you could cut the tension between them with a knife! For two people that come from such different backgrounds, they have so much in common. It's not wonder there has always been something drawing them together! Seraphine, the orphan Indian girl who was adopted by two loving parents, rich, with two older sons to call brothers. Blaise, the youngest son of another wealthy couple, unloved and punished at every turn. Two brothers at odds. One kind and loving, adored by the world, successful in business and in life. The other jealous, coveting all the other has, who will seemingly stop at nothing to have it. Which is exactly what Seraphine suspects. Her father was murdered by her Uncle. But where will her quest for answers and justice lead her? Will she be next? Who can she trust when she has no one left? Blaise has always wanted his adopted cousin, but circumstances have always had him choosing to protect her by pushing her away. Now her life hangs in the balance and he wants nothing more than to prove to her that she can trust him, despite everything. Will they get their happily ever after? Or will the rot that is the Dumont family destroy them too?

Karina Halle’s Disarm is the second book in her must-read series, The Dumonts, and I can’t get enough of these sexy, swoony love stories with their delicious, soap-opera-worthy family drama. While Disarm can undoubtedly be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the first book in the series, Discretion, in order to have the best reading experience.

Seraphine and Blaise have a complicated relationship—to put it mildly. They are cousins through adoption with an intense connection, who have been attracted to one another for years. They’re also coworkers at their families’ fashion empire and often pitted against one another as their families battle for control and dominance of the iconic brand. When Seraphine begins to suspect her father’s recent death may have been the result of foul play, she searches for answers, and Blaise is forced to decide where his loyalties reside. They’re a compelling mix of friends, enemies and lovers, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat as they hunt for the truth while also falling in love. Romance, intrigue and drama blend together to concoct a unique and decadent love story that you won’t soon forget.

If you thought this family was complicated in the first book... you haven’t seen anything yet. A gripping and mysterious look into family dynamics and the forbidden nature of falling for your adoptive cousin, Disarm is about more than just romance. The first book in the series faltered a bit for me, so I didn’t go into this with high expectations (even though I usually love Karina Halle’s writing). That all changed very quickly as I got into the story. If you haven’t read the first book, that’s ok - the mysterious/suspenseful aspects of the story are laid out pretty clearly. It’s well written, complex, and engrossing with a slow burn that spans over a decade until it pays off in a big way. Not so much a book about falling in love as it is a book about embracing it, Disarm builds up to a pretty great conclusion... while laying the groundwork for what should be another powerful book featuring a Dumont in need of redemption.

The story follows Seraphine, the adoptive daughter of the Dumont family. As an orphan of Indian descent going from one foster family to the next, she didn’t have the best childhood and saw the Dumonts as her chance to finally have a real family. There’s tension between her father and uncle, but it isn’t until her father’s death (murder?) that things really come to a head. Through the years, her complicated feelings for her adoptive cousin, Blaise, added tension to their relationship. They’re not blood relations, but the attraction that simmers between them still doesn’t feel right. In the present, their relationship is as strained as it’s ever been - Seraphine is, after all, accusing Blaise’s father of murdering her own - but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still feelings between them.

Mixing flashbacks with events in the present day, the reader gets to see the undeniable connection between Seraphine and Blaise. The attraction has been there for years, but they’ve never completely taken the leap - dating your cousin isn’t something you can just rush into and hope it works out. I loved seeing the softer side of Blaise when he was younger, because in the present he’s a pretty cold and detached guy. Perhaps my only complaint about the book is that we don’t get to see the connection between them in the present until quite a ways into the book, because the family dynamics take up so much of the story. That being said, it all pays off in the end, culminating in such a great ending for these two. I’m glad I gave this a shot after the lackluster first book in the series (Halle acknowledged writing that one was a struggle and it showed). This completely made up for that, and left me wanting to see what’s next for this family - I think the third book has the potential to be fantastic. My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy. I am voluntarily leaving a review of this suspenseful, multi-faceted book.

DISARM by Karina Halle is book 2 in The Dumonts Series. This is the story Blaise Dumont and Seraphine Dumont. I have read the previous book which did help me to enjoy this one as it set the background but with that said you could make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Seraphine was adopted into the Dumont family when she was around 9 years old. The Dumont family as we learn is a complicated type of family. Seraphine father has died and in the back on her mind she thinks her Uncle may have been involved. Blaise is Seraphine's cousin but of course not by blood so there isn't any strong taboo story line. But Blaise has been told to watch Seraphine by his family which leads him to start to think maybe Seraphine is correct to be worried.
Enjoyed this dark romance.

All I can say about this story was that it was good. Really good.
Seraphine was adopted into the family at a young age, because her father and everything fell apart. Now that she's grown she wants answers. And she is determined to get it no matter what or how dangerous it is. And the only one looking out for her is Blaise Dumont, her uncle's son, and she doesn't know if she can trust him.

I love this author's books and this one was no different. Like I said it was good. Romance mixed in with some intense suspenseful drama. Blaise was just so damn hard not to love, and even though Seraphine thought she couldn't trust him, eventually he proved himself to her. He was adamant in his feelings for her, but he always put her first and he never gave up on her. Definitely my kind of hero...❤😊

Disarm is book two in the Dumont series. I LOVED the first book, Discretion, and I’d recommend reading that one first, however, if you don’t this one will still make sense and you’ll still be able to follow along with the story for the most part.
This book was a SLOW BURN. Like super slow burn. I was getting frustrated with Blaise and Seraphine at times. I would just yell at my kindle telling them to just give in to each other and to their chemistry. Of course, when they finally do things are explosive.
Not only is this a slow burn, but this story is a taboo/forbidden romance. If you’ve read Discretion you have met Blaise and Seraphine, so you know they are cousins, however not by blood. Seraphine was adopted as a child.
Disarm packs in plenty of drama and suspense, along with the steam. Overall, this was a fun read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This second book in the Dumonts series should come with free oxygen as you might need it while holding your breath to see what happens next!

What a brilliant sequel this was, it features Seraphine the adopted daughter of the good side of the Dumont family and includes her backstory. After her Father's suspicious death and the death of her mother, she is left alone to fight for the survival and reputation of her side of the family against her evil uncle and cousins. It's really a shame that her brothers abandoned her and left Italy to pursue their own interests when their uncle took over the business, but it made Seraphine a stronger woman and more determined to find out the truth.

As Seraphine sets out to find out how her father died, she foolishly enlists some unreliable help which comes back to bite her and threaten her life. Real help comes in the form of her cousin Blaise who has loved her from afar since their childhood, and though Seraphine as already fallen for him can she trust him? Is he here to protect her or is he still doing his father's bidding? How far is he willing to go for her?

As this thriller and love story plays out you will be left biting your nails and sitting on the edge of your seat, it is totally unputdownable. Bring on book three soon!

Wow! I am never disappointed in reading anything from Karina Halle. I wasn't sure Seraphine & Blaise's story would be similar to Discretion(The first book to the series). I was intrigued yes, a little skeptical of the sudden romance after certain scenes. Action, mixed with suspense yes, also don't forget your mix of romance this is your book. After reading the first book, I wanted to know about what would happen to Seraphine and couldn't be more satisfied.. You all need to read this 2nd book to this series. when this is released.

Well, I'm done. Finished. I reached the end.
I can sum it up with:
* Seraphine is a strong woman with guts, when she knows she's right, she usually is.
* I'm not just a little fond of Blaise-
I love him.
* Pascal, well he might just surprise us all. Me thinks he has a soul, a tad hidden but still it's there. He's growing on me for sure.
* I hate Gautier like the plague! That man is pure evil. Even if some hatred is kind of understandable

I was intrigued by non-biological cousins Seraphine and Blaise in Discretion. There was animosity between them, but it was tinged by sexual tension and obvious history.

Seraphine is the adopted daughter of "the good side" of the Dumonts. But now her parents are both gone and her brothers live in the US, so she is the only one of her side of the family left working for the Dumont label in Paris. So she is the outcast to her Uncle Gautier and cousins, Pascal and Blaise. And Blaise seems to be sharing her job now so she knows she is on borrowed time in the company. But when she starts sticking her nose into her father's cause of death, things become more precarious for her.

Blaise has always had it bad for his cousin. There were a few shared kisses and flirting mixed in times of avoidance or animosity. But he would always step back for both his own and her protection. A relationship between them when younger would have caused issues with their families. He has never been the favored son and does not agree with his father and brother's tactics. But Seraphine does not know what to really think of him since he has always run so hot and cold, and his family all seem to be out to get her side of the family. So it is hard to trust him.

Seraphine has always had insecurities about being adopted, Indian, feeling ugly, and lonely. She is sensitive and smart, and tries to hide her self doubt under a polished and professional veneer. And now she is becoming worried and for good reason. She is getting involved in a situation that others do not want to be investigated. She may not be just fighting for her job, but for her life.

Blaise is torn between loyalty to his family and the woman he loves. Helping her will also put a target on his back. He will have to make choices and be willing to fight to keep them safe. But they are up against people who do not value them much and have money, power, and friends in low places.

This is a slow-burn, forbidden romance overlying a danger and suspense murder mystery plot. There are secrets, lies, and betrayal layered into it. I liked both Seraphine and Blaise. Getting into Blaise's head made it much easier to understand him and his feelings and motivations. I did wish that we got a bit more relationship development with them in the present, but it seemed a bit overshadowed by all of the external danger. There is suspense, action, and all kinds of dirty deeds. I was not sure how Blaise and Seraphine would get out of the mess they were in.

I enjoyed this one more than the first book and became immersed again in the Dumont world. I am interested in reading Pascal's book, Disavow and getting his point of view. I love it when an author can take a villain type character and bring redemption.

**BLog and social media links will go live on 11/19/19 at 7 am cst

Wanting to know the truth about her father’s death just might put Seraphine in danger. Not knowing who to trust, being alone and seeking answers makes this more suspense than romance. Halle knows just the right way to keep suspense in the air and hint at romance. The flashbacks to younger days builds up the intense relationship between this couple. Renaud’s story is bound to be fantastic. I received a early copy, review provided honestly and voluntarily.

THE GUIDE TO ROMANCE NOVELS REVIEW

Not my first read by author, and I have read Book #1 DISCRETION in this series, which I would recommend reading first and I enjoyed very much!
In this book I had a harder time connecting, I don’t know if it was the characters together or the story but it just felt off a little for me. Little disappointed since I loved Book #1 very much.

This slow-burn, taboo, enemy to lovers was not what I expected, there were lot;s of parts where I was on the edge reading but other parts where I got little lost and read off. This is a VERY SLOW-BURN or rather foreplay notion between the hero and heroine. This is where I would recommend reading Book #1 for it to really make all the sense. Lot’s of drama and suspense too. The epilogue is little short, wish there was more and like I said earlier, great read I just…felt little off for me. Not your normal plot line. I appreciate the chance to have gotten an ARC from NETGALLERY for this!

Rating: ★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #2 of Series
Recommended: ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

Now this book can be totally read as a stand-alone, each story in this series can totally stand on its own.  

Now that being said, I was lucky enough to read and review the first book in this series Discretion and when I did, I was so intrigued by Seraphine.  So when I found out the next book was her's? I was excited!

This is Seraphine & Blaise's story and what an adventure it is.  To read Seraphine's backstory and how she became a Dumont is such a heartfelt part of the story.  You can see where her tenacity comes from and also her vulnerabilities.  She is strong because she has to be and finding justice for her father is what drives her.

Blaise is truly the black sheep of the family, not because he wants to be, but because of the twisted way his side of the Dumont family is.  He struggles to want to belong and yet he knows there is something very, very wrong with the new patriarch of the Dumont family.

As with all of Ms. Halle's books, they are rich in visual words that make the reader feel like they are on the streets of Paris, the hot sun of Dubai or even Disneyland.  (Wait and read and you will see too!) 

This story will truly show you what love really means, the chemistry between Seraphine and Blaise is beautiful to read and oh so smexy!  Get your hands on this story and find yourself being transported into a rich, dark and sensual world!

DNF at 36%. I enjoyed Discretion and when I saw this was Seraphine’s book I was interested to see how her story would unfold and didn’t read any more of the description. Unfortunately I probably should have because this one wasn’t for me.

As soon as I saw that the hero was her cousin Blaise I thought uh oh. Both because he’s her cousin (even though they aren’t blood related) and because of all the family drama that I felt bogged down the second half of Discretion.

Sure enough, that’s a lot of what we are getting so far in this book. Seraphine is suspicious about her father’s death and investigating it herself. At the same time her uncle and cousins are keeping a close eye on her. Things get a little over the top - including a cab ride with a “follow that car” moment.

Ultimately - I don’t feel connected to solving the mystery or seeing the romance play out so at this point I am going to stop reading this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy to read and review.

4.5⭐️

This is book two of the Dumont Series. It can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading "Discretion" to better understand the situations and to know the people involved in this book.

I have always been curious about what happens to the Dumonts after Olivier went to California and run after Sadie... I thought, with this book, the answer as to who killed Ludovic Dumont will already come to light... but no. Aaaaand the plot thickens.

This is a taboo, enemies to lovers romance... As you've already guessed, this is Blaise and Seraphine's love story. I know the storyline isn't something we all haven't read about but it's explosive, intense and captivating... it's a very long foreplay for these two... Who would've thought?

It has drama, suspense and action all rolled into one.

I'm curious if the real and obvious killer will be apprehended... I'm also curious about Pascal. Will he turn a new leaf? Change from his conniving asshole ways? I don't think he's beyond saving... I'm just saying.

I definitely enjoyed reading this... The pacing was great and the characters were fascinating..

I just wished there was a longer epilogue or at least a glimpse at the next book in this series. I can't wait to read whats next!

Blaise & Seraphine’s story had some great twists & turns. Their journey was in no way an easy one, but worth it.

Not my favorite by this author, but still a good read with a second chance romance & suspense.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.