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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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



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



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

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

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

QueenZany 4 Star Review
Discretion
by Karina Halle



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

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

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

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

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

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

4 Poison Apples

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy reading!

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

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

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

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

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

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

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

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

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

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.