I’m always eager for a new Karina Halle read, and was eager to dive into Discretion. I was more than ready for a new series from the author, one to devour, and The Dumonts sounded like something I would adore.

Although I had a lot of fun with this one, I’m going to be honest and say it’s not my favourite Karina Halle read. There is no denying I was hooked on it – I devoured it in a single sitting, unable to put it down – but it didn’t wow me in quite the same way as some of the author’s other books.

With this one, even though I enjoyed the relationship between the main characters I never felt the intense connection between them that they seemed to. A lot of it felt like it was surface level stuff, rather than the intense connection I’ve felt in other books by the author. Another thing that got me was the ending. It felt a bit too quick, with things coming together too easily. The story didn’t quite go in the way I’d expected, which was great, but I felt the payoff wasn’t quite there. I’m hoping this is due to this book being the first in the series, and that answers and explanations will come with the future books.

Without a doubt, I’m eager to see what book two brings.

I have read a few Karina Halle books prior to this one and was intrigued by the cover (lets face it, covers draw us in and this one did it job well) and had high hopes. Unfortunately this book fell short for me. I had trouble connecting with the characters, the characters love story fell short, and the big secret was a little weak.

I feel this story had great potential but for me fell short.

Olivier is French and part of the book is set in France.

So, sign me up.

Twice.

Olivier meets Sadie when he rescues her from an attacker and finds it appealing that she does not know who he is...as, he is a Dumont and one of the most well-known and richest men in France. This allows for her to experience the most expensive parts of France, the best hotels, cars and experiences...which was also fun for the reader.

Ignoring that he is French (ok, I can't, I admit it) he is also incredibly appealing, and you like him, and you believe in the attraction between them, even though they are from very different worlds.

There is a bit of a suspense element, some secrets that he has with his family and some things that happen that, possibly, need some explanation and leave you with questions, although as this is the 1st in the series, I am guessing that this will all be dealt with by the last story in the series.

I also liked that, while this is the 1st in the series, you didn't feel like it spent too much time introducing other characters who will be the focus of future books.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

I had no idea what to expect going into Discretion but it was just delicious. And dark and twisted and dangerous and romantic. Karina Halle roped me in right from the start. And while there were a few bumps along the way, I didn't want to put it down.

I liked Sadie and her sense of adventure. Her cautious free spirit but soft heart. Her first meeting with Oliver was unexpected in the worst kind of way, but thank goodness he was there. Holy hot Frenchman! Oliver was a force. A good guy under all the expensive clothes and fancy one-liners. There was no denying the attraction between these two. They were flirty and funny and trying so hard not to give into what their bodies and hearts were telling them.

But, and I hate to say this, about two thirds of the way through, things started to fall apart for me. As the mystery started to unravel a bit, the danger kicked up and things became a tad predictable. And the connection that Oliver and Sadie had been building came to a stalemate.

Overall, I found Discretion a decent start to an interesting series. There was betrayal and alliances and blackmail and possibly murder...The Dumont family has a lot of issues (and that is putting it very mildly). There were still a lot of unknowns when this one ended and I hope Karina Halle will answer them going forward.

I adored Karina Halle's "Discretion." The love story between Sadie and Olivier was romantic, sweet, and oh-so-sexy, and there was plenty of intrigue and family drama to keep me turning the pages quickly. I hated to put the book down when real life intruded!

What I love the most about Karina Halle's books is the emotion that is present on every single page. The characters are so real and relatable, and I can go from laughing with them one minute to crying with them the next. That was particularly true of this book and its main characters, Olivier and Sadie. I found both of them to be well-developed and incredibly likeable, and I couldn't help but root for them to find a way to outsmart Olivier's uncle and end up together.

You wouldn't expect Olivier, with his wealthy, privileged background, to be such a genuinely good, nice guy, but he is, and he's exactly what Sadie needs after what she went through with her mom in her childhood and later with the terrible way her ex-boyfriend Tom treated her. But Olivier needs Sadie too. She's like a breath of fresh air for someone in his position, because he is used to being surrounded by models and socialites who just want to use him for his money and position. Sadie doesn't want any of the trappings of Olivier's wealth; she just wants HIM.

Sadie and Olivier certainly faced their share of challenges in this book, but I appreciated that they never doubted each other or their love. They just kept moving forward, adjusting to things as they happened, until they finally found a way to make their relationship work.

I am very much looking forward to the second book in this series to see what happens next with the Dumont family. Surely this can't be how things end with Olivier's uncle and cousin Pascal! Somebody really needs to bring those guys down...

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

I really, really wanted to like this story but there were just too many holes and things that defied rational logic. The biggest problem is there was absolutely no reason found for Olivier and Sadie's love. What did he see in her? What was the attraction? All the reader gets is he rescues her, sets her up in a hotel, lots and lots of sex, undying love. Somewhere there needs to be some understanding of where the actual feelings came from!

There are also so many situations and decisions that make absolutely NO sense whatsoever that I can't even begin to list them all. From the absolutely absurd blackmail device (seriously? A 20 year old who has a very close relationship with his loving family would rather destroy everything than go to his father over a mistake... huh?) to Sadie's decision never to say anything about the threats, to Olivier hiding her and making her show up to events by herself and pretend they don't know each other, to refusing an autopsy when every single thing points to foul-play. And, the really big one at the end where NOTHING is resolved and his decision makes him look like a complete and utter wimp who hides his head in the sand while Rome burns.

Since this is only the second Karina Halle book I have read and I really liked the first, I'm hoping she just had a freakishly bad run so I won't give up completely.... just with this series.

I’ll spare the recap of the blurb. Discretion was another great read from Karina Halle. She definitely has a way with building characters, flaws and all. One aspect I also thoroughly enjoy in her books are the sub-plots, which Discretion has nailed. I can’t wait for more of this series.

My Thoughts:

I have read a few books by Karina Halle and really enjoyed them, so when I saw that she was coming out with a new series, I was so excited!!! Needless to say, Discretion moved to the top of my TBR and was featured on my Waiting on Wednesday Post.

Sadie Reynolds is down on her luck. While traveling through The French Riviera, her boyfriend Chuck dumps her. Then when she is running to catch her train to Barcelona, Spain, she gets injured when a thief is trying to steal her pack and purse. A gorgeous, sexy, and sophisticated frenchman rescues her, and just like that, her luck changes!

Olivier Dumont comes from wealth, privilege, and power. His family dynasty owns some of the most luxurious hotels and high-end fashion house's synonymous with Chanel. Unfortunately, there is a lot of family drama, feuding, and a major power struggle taking place in his life. On one end of the battle line, there is Olivier, his adopted sister, Seraphine, and their father. On the other end we have Olivier's Uncle Gautier, and his cousins, Pascal, and Blaise.

Uncle Gautier made a "bargain" with Olivier, for an indiscretion he made ten years ago, when he was twenty; and now Olivier is backed in to a corner. Unfortunately, time is running out for Olivier on his deal/blackmail bargain. When he see's Sadie, he feels an instant attraction, and offers her a place to stay, food to eat, and luxury at her fingertips while she recovers.

Sadie begins her adventure with Olivier by staying in a beautiful villa in one of his family's luxury hotels. She is in awe, as she has lived in a small trailer with her mom all her life, and money has always been a struggle. Sadie is only on vacation for a few more weeks, and then must return to the states to attend college and take care of her mom, but what happens when she falls head over heels in love?

I enjoy stories with travel, where I get to "visit" places that I've never been before. I was excited to "explore" France. Sadie was a likable character, and Olivier was sexy, sophisticated, debonaire, and very attentive. He treated Sadie like a queen, and I swooned every time he spoke French to her. My one conundrum with the story is that I enjoy a slow-burn romance, and Sadie and Olivier had a whirlwind insta-love type relationship. I would have liked more substance and believability to their love.

The passion these two shared was intense, and beyond scorching hot! The love scenes were amazing!!! There was no doubt in my mind that these two couldn't get enough of one another. I loved the way that Olivier attended to Sophie during her injury, the way he wined and dined her, and dazzled her.

The family dynamics kept my eyes glued to the story, and I want more! Seraphine was a wonderful secondary character, and I can't wait to get her story next in Disarm! If you enjoy a story full of steamy sexiness, family drama/feuding, and power plays, you should check out, Discretion!

A great start to a new series by an author I love. Karina Halle is one of my go to authors.

Oliver is a sexy French man who is a Dumont and most people know him. Sadie is back packing through Europe alone and never expects to get mugged. Thanks to her sexy hero Oliver she gets out of the situation only a little hurt. She is a college student fresh off a breakup. Oliver helps take care of her until she is back on her feet.

Things shouldn’t work between these two because they are so different and come from different worlds. I really enjoyed these characters and their story. I can’t wait for more in this series.

Karina Halle has done it again. A beautiful, passionate love story set on the French Rivera that delivered the mystery and intrigue it promised. Sadie is a down on her luck American and Olivier is a billionnaire hotelier. Together they are just adorable. I really loved their interactions together and although I didn't love how part of it felt so rushed I could understand how Olivier and Sadie got so attached to each other. Olivier has been hiding this monumental secret and can't tell anyone he would actually trust, and here comes Sadie. She has nothing to do with that world, and she genuinely likes him for who he is. She has no idea of his family or what it means, but even once she finds out it doesn't matter. It's all very romantic.

The writing is solid, and it's meant to feel a little soap opera-y I think so I won't knock any stars off for that. I think it's a great introduction to the series, I'm pretty excited for the next book because Serafina is one of my favorite side characters of all time. 4 out of 5 stars.

Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Discretion, as the synopsis suggests, starts off like most poor-girl-in-an-unknown-country meeting-the-rich-play/bad-boy-and-getting-drawn-into-his-world stories. For most of the first half the book reads very typically, there is a lot of steam and not too much story building as such. 

It's only as the story moves further into the second half that the real plot begins to unravel itself, and the world of family, drama, betrayal and politics begin to arise. I was surprised to be taken unawares at one point of the story, staring agape at what I was reading. What made me like the protagonists is what they chase in each other; they find and sense a unique connection and familiarity that they are--to the end--unwilling to give up or let go of. 

However, it is the secondary characters that have me intrigued unlike no other. Namely, Oliver's sister and a certain other character (hehe read and find out) and if it's her book that's coming out next then there's nothing stopping me from buying it. COME TO ME, BOOK NUMERO DUOS!

The ending was simple and pretty congruent to the personality of the protagonist; it was almost too simple and that's why I hadn't guessed it would happen. But it made sense that the protagonist chose to resolve their issues that way because that was the easiest and most consistent-to-them way to do so. It was also one of the most unique endings I have read and it was what elevated the rating for me. 

Four stars simply for the surprises I didn't guess and definitely for the creep factor that one of the characters gave off *shudders*. You can feel the love of the family of the protagonists; there is even a mild mention of mental health and you can pick this up as an easy read, perhaps while on a drive to somewhere.

All you KU subscribers, get on this. <3 

Happy reading!

|Thank you to @netgalley @amazonpublishing for the digital ARC #partner|

Discretion is the first book in The Dumonts, a new series by author Karina Halle. This series is all about family drama, hidden secrets, and wealthy lifestyles -- and did I mention the book is set in the French Riviera? Talk about an escape for this suburban housewife and mama.

Sadie is traveling in Europe alone (as in she broke up with her cheating boyfriend during their European vacation). He was providing the funds for their trip so she's basically slumming her way through Europe until her return flight to the US. Unfortunately, low funds mean sketchier parts of town and she falls victim to an attempted mugging. Olivier Dumont is a wealthy hotel mogul who's never short of money or women. He happens to be in the right place at the right time, rescues Sadie from her attacker, and then insists on taking care of her. Their attraction and chemistry is apparent instantly but their love story quickly becomes tainted with blackmail, backstabbing family members, deceit, and danger -- all of which threaten to ruin Sadie and Olivier's relationship. 

Discretion is filled with emotion, passionate romance, suspense, intrigue, and lies. This book captured my heart and my attention and wouldn't let go until I'd finished the last page. I still have some secrets to figure out, which is just one of the many reasons I'm already looking forward to the next book in the Dumont series.

Sometimes I read books that I know will guarantee me an easy HEA and lots and lots of good feels and then there are the times I know a book is going to tear me up inside while taking me down the road towards a tortured happily ever after and that is exactly what Karina’s books do to me. “Discretion” is just one of those books. It is a beautiful love story, but it is a torturous journey towards love and understanding. A journey that takes you, the reader, on a string of highs and lows that reek havoc on your emotions. I love Olivier even though I don’t fully understand him or what motivates him to be how he is because he is such a multifaceted character whose layers peel away slowly as the story progresses. Sadie on the other hand is honest, raw, genuine and you feel every emotion alongside her as the story unfolds. Yet another phenomenal read. I look forward to more books in the Dumont series.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is more romantic suspense with emphasis on the suspense than Karina normal stories and I must say that I loved it.

Sadie Reynolds is a student back packing her way through Europe and she has finally made her way to the Riviera. When she is attacked in a dark alley a man comes to her rescue. That man is Olivier Dumont, billionaire hotelier, and heir to the Dumont fashion fortune. They start an affair after Olivier decides he is willing to risk his secrets coming out to keep her. Will they have a chance at a future or will they be destroyed by all the family secrets he has been keeping

This is a beautiful second chance love story which is one of my favourite genres. The road for Jolie and Griffin to get a happy ending is not easy. I always prefer when the reader learns about their past and it's not just assumed. When they meet again years later they are not the same people. Jolie is a widow drowning in guilt who has a somewhat dysfunctional family. I admired Jolie so much, she takes hit after hit but doesn't let it take her under. Griffin was determined not to let her get away again and I enjoyed reading his efforts to win her over. A story about love forgiveness and family.

I've been excited to read Karina Halle's first book with Montlake Romance ever since it was announced. Discretion, which kicks off Halle's Dumonts duet, sounded like it had that romantic suspense feel to it that hearkened back to the some of the author's older releases, i.e. The Artists and Dirty Angels trilogies, but maybe with a far more swanky and sophisticated air to it compared to the grittier backdrop of the two aforementioned series. So, this was definitely one of my most anticipated reads for the latter half of this year, what with Halle being a go-to author ever since I first read her Experiment in Terror series.

My absolute favorite thing about this book was the suspense element to it, not that I was all that surprised since this is Karina Halle we're talking about and she's already proven just how good she is when it comes to that. Where the book falters, however, is with the actual romance aspect of it. I liked Sadie; I liked Olivier. Unfortunately, these two simply didn't click with me as a couple, making it near impossible for me to be emotionally invested in their romance, which is, well, a necessary thing for me as a reader. That pains me to even say since Halle is an author whose work I've enjoyed from the get-go. While it did fall short of my expectations, Discretion still gets three stars. ♥

OMG! How can you not fall in love with this book! I have loved so many of Karina’s books , but this one has made it to the top! Oliver and Sadie’s story is one you can submerge yourself in from page 1 .

This book has it all romance, heartache suspense and family drama! I can’t wait for the second book in the dumont series!

Thank you netgalley for my ARC

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.