This opposites attract romance was enticing and steamy. Karina Halle always has a way of taking me on a journey that's exciting, magical, and romantic. This story swept me away and kept me totally engaged from start to finish. It opens years earlier with Oliver being rebuked by his Uncle. He makes him do something that isn't revealed at first. In present time, Sadie is backpacking alone in Europe when she is attacked. Oliver saves her life and is concerned by her injuries. He feels responsible for her, but quickly his feelings turn to so much more. Sadie is a poor college student and Oliver is a successful rich businessman. She is enamored by the sexy, charming Oliver and agrees to spend more time with him. But Oliver has dangerous secrets, and Sadie is soon in the cross-hairs. Their romance is a whirlwind that could cost them everything. This thrilling and sexy story kept me turning the pages, wondering what would happen next. Even tho their story seems to have a HEA, there are so many questions that I need answered. I truly enjoyed this emotional, exhilarating and sexy story and can't wait for more of The Dumonts!

This book didn’t make my heart sing, like other books written by this author. I didn’t admire the hero and didn’t find the heroine all that special. I found both a little spineless.

Olivier Dumont belongs to a very wealthy and powerful French family who deal in the world of haute couture and hotels. When he was twenty years old, he made a mistake and his uncle found him out. He paid for his mistake signing some document that gave his uncle power over him. In their empire, Olivier’s father and his uncle are partners but the father is a good, kind and old-fashioned man whereas the uncle is bad, ruthless, ambitious enough to ride roughshod over everyone and even blackmail his own nephew.

Ten years later, we have Sadie, a broke college student backpacking over Europe. Olivier saves her from a mugging, brings her to his hotel and invites her to stay for a while. He finds her innocence and lack of knowledge about him refreshing and wants to enjoy the feeling of spending days as a normal man with a girl he likes. He’s very taken with her and she’s mesmerized by his looks and manners and Frenchness.

And here is when things get dicey for me. He hides her from public viewing because he’s afraid his family will learn about her. He’s afraid of his uncle and cousin’s nefarious plans that may harm her, and oust him. He’s also afraid of facing his father and confessing his sins for fear of disappointing him. For a worldly and knowledgeable man of thirty years, who succesfully formed a hotel empire and has the power of his money and his name, this is very wimpy and cowardly.

As for Sadie, she’s spending all this time in Paris, hating that she can’t be seen with Olivier in public but rather has to wander around the tourist sites by herself, waiting for when he’s free to see her. Their encounters usually entail that she has to go meet him at some place. There was one situation where the Dumont yearly masquerade ball was held in a castle two hours away from France and Sadie had to get on a train, then a car ride, all on her own to get there, while Olivier was present on-site from the start. Then once at the ball, after a brief initial encounter, they have to feign not to know each other, which left Olivier chatting and laughing with guests and Sadie wandering around like a lost soul who knows no one there. To me, he behaved like a scumbag and she like a wimp.

There’s some suspense in the story from the deadly duo comprised by the uncle and one of his sons. They do sound dangerous and scary but I hated Olivier’s cowardice at accepting defeat, not looking beyond the obvious and realizing what has really happening. Overall, I hated that he didn’t face things and make them right.

I was disappointed in the direction and the place where this story ended up. It just didn’t feel right. And this saddens me because I have loved all the books I’ve read by this author up to this one.

Discretion is only my second book by Karina Halle, (the first was Nothing Personal). This, while having a hot as sin hero and a French one to boot, oh la la!!, and a sassy, care-free heroine, was a far more suspenseful and kept me on my toes.
I really enjoyed Olivier and Sadie’s story. Olivier was a true knight and such a kind soul even though he didn’t see himself that way. To Sadie, he was everything she’d ever wanted and never looked for. They were made for each other. Talk came easy, opening up only slightly less so. It was lust at first sight that fell quickly and believably into love. Add in a mystery, danger and some
hot, steamy, slightly kinky sex, and you’ve got a top contender for a sweaty summer read. Grab your copy today.

Would you like to escape to France for a few hours? Discretion can provide that opportunity - right from your own home, no PTO or plane tickets required.

Sadie is a student backpacking through Europe alone on a very tight budget. Olivier ends up being in the right place at the right time (late at night) to rescue her from danger. Suddenly Sophie is staying in luxury 5 star hotel accommodations instead of the budget hostels. She learns that Olivier is a billionaire hotelier from a family with business across many areas. Their chemistry is clear from the very start.

However, Olivier also has secrets that he's keeping - from his family and from Sophie too. Will those secrets ruin everything when they are revealed? Will Sophie still be on her flight home to America in three weeks?

I enjoyed the first half of this book very much - it was fun to see Sophie swept off her feet into a world that was very different from her own. I also really enjoyed her sense of humor. However as more came out about Olivier and his family, I felt the back half of the book ended up feeling a bit bogged down. As we learn about Olivier's evil uncle - I couldn't help but feel strong comparisons to Scar from The Lion King (I know, the more literary reference would be Claudius from Hamlet - but that's not what I thought of first).

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the heck out of Discretion. It's the first book in Karina's new romantic suspense series The Dumonts. This scorching hot romance is full of intrigue and suspense. One thing that I know I'll get from Karina is a beautiful set location. She has a way of making me fall in love this the country. Olivier would've had me dropping my backpack and staying in Europe. Sadie and Olivier have an easygoing, natural connection. I was glued to the pages once the action and suspense kicked into gear. It had me looking over my shoulder lol. I can't wait to find out more about whos behind some of the family secrets.

Ten years ago Olivier Dumont made a mistake that changed the course of his family’s dynamic. Still living with the guilt and the reminder from time to time, Olivier knows that the time is going to come soon when he’s going to have to answer to his indiscretion. But for now, life goes on and he’s more than okay with it. When he meets a woman that was in need of rescuing, life as Olivier knows it is about to change.

Sadie Reynolds has spent the past few weeks backpacking across Europe on her own. Thanks to the actions of her now ex boyfriend and what was supposed to be a couple's trip, Sadie now has to enjoy the scenery on her own and reevaluate her plans. But when she encounters a sexy Frenchman who became her savior, those plans went out the window and she entered the glamorous world of the Dumont Family but little does she know, she’s in for one hell of a ride.

I can’t express this enough and say how much I loved the backdrop of this story. It was romantic, visually stunning, and you really felt as if you were there in person. Karina Halle did an amazing job with making you feel as though you were a part of the scenery and I really loved that. But as much as I adored that, I did have a major issue with the secret once I knew what it was. The drama was unnecessary for that kind of secret and Olivier was too weak IMO. I wanted him to take charge and be the leader I know he could’ve been but that never happened.

Aside from that, I enjoyed the suspense part of the story and I'm eager to see what’s going to happen with the other family members because there's a LOT of drama going on! If you’re looking for a sexy new drama filled series, then you should give this one a try.

Discretion is the first book in The Dumonts series by Karina Halle and it's not completely a stand-alone novel. Oliver and Sadie's story is over, but there is a part of the plot that's going to continue on the next book which will be about Seraphine, Oliver's sister.

Sadie broke up with her boyfriend Tom 4 weeks before the events of the book and now she travels alone which leads her to meet with Oliver. What bothered me is that she admitted to not being over her ex and yet she fell for Oliver instantly. Honestly, I don't think that she missed her ex as a person, but as someone who was able to provide stability and financial support for her because the moment Oliver provided that, she got over her ex. She seemed to accept everything so easily for a person who kept saying that she didn't want all the luxuries money could offer.

Oliver was running away from his problems and living his playboy life and he didn't seem like boyfriend material to me. I was expecting him to fight the bad guys of the series, but he just gave up. The most annoying thing is that I don't believe that if his secret got out his whole life would be ruined. It would be a scandal, but nothing more. I guess all the fighting will be done by Seraphine since he is a quitter. She seemed like a character I would love to read about and she has brains.

I am a fan of Karina Hale, but this is not of her best works in my opinion. The writing wasn't up to her usual standards and I am sure that it's an one time thing. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and I have to see Seraphine getting revenge!

The premise of this book was so promising, I liked the one other Karina Halle book I read a while ago but I was unlucky with Discretion and I really did not like it.

Firstly the concept of a young woman falling in love with a billionaire guy while backpacking in Europe sounds great, a perfect concept as I love books that have a travel element. But to be honest that was the best part for me. Otherwise I just found the book to be predictable, I couldn’t take the romance seriously, it just felt all a bit forced.

I think it’s a fun easy read, with lots of drama and a steamy romance, it just wasn’t for me.

**ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.**
I've read a fair amount of Karina Halle's novels and have enjoyed them for the most part. Discretion, however, just didn't do it for me. It took me a long time to finish this one. I finished, but mainly because I just wanted it to be over. The synopsis was promising so I jumped right in. But is soon became apparent that this one was not for me. I didn't connect with the characters at all. I suppose this is billed as a romantic suspense but the romance and suspense just seemed forced in my opinion. The overall plot is a bit lacking. It was kind of far fetched. But one thing is for sure, Oliver's family puts the "D" in Dysfunctional! Even though I didn't really enjoy this one, I've read enough of Karina Halle's book to always give a new one a try. Although I may skip the next installment in this series.

<b> “But the way I feel about him, the way that he makes me feel . . . It’s like every cheesy song I’ve heard on the radio has suddenly become true, and the space in my chest that I never thought would belong to anyone again—he’s filled every hollow crevice of it.” <b/>

3.6 stars ⭐️
ARC provided by Netgalley

Karina Halle has once again taken us to another beautiful city, with a beautiful love story.

<b> “You’re too beautiful for words,” he whispers to me, his lips brushing against mine. “None of the words in English will do. None of the words in French will do either. There is no language that can describe what I see before me.” </b>

Sadie is a backpacker in France that gets saved by a hot French millionaire during a mugging. There starts their sweet beautiful connection, they both find in each other the freedom to be themselves, a love that changes you, that finally makes you live.
<b> “This is where Sadie Reynolds was able to become someone else. Or maybe it’s like Olivier said, and I both became someone else and myself at the same time.”</b>

Olivier comes from a rich family full of secrets and people who want to bring him down, his uncle uses his mistakes to blackmail him for his gain.
I found that Olivier mistakes and a lot of things relating to his family were a bit dramatic for me, small things were made into bigger deals and there was just a lot of drama that needed a better writing flow.
The book had a lot of sweet moments, I liked the connection Olivier and Sadie had, i just wish at some instances the writing was better.

Recommended to fans of Penelope Douglas, Jodi Ellen malpas

I love Karina Halle's books having read a few of them in the past and this one did not disappoint. It was alittle slow paced in places for my taste but storyline twists set against the glamourous money dripping backdrop of the French Riviera and character layers helped me to push past that downside. I will certainly be looking to continue onto the next book in the Dumont series and hope to see Oliver and Sadie pop up again at some point.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

4.5 Stars

Discretion by Karina Halle is the first book in The Dumont’s series and it was soooo good! I get so excited every time Ms. Halle comes out with a new book, so I could not wait to get my hands on this one! It was full of suspense, drama, and of course romance. There were twists and turns and OMG the secrets-I was so addicted to reading it that I couldn’t put it down.

Sadie and Olivier were two fantastic characters. I seriously fell in love with the both of them. Their connection was beautiful and real. While Sadie was pushed into a world that she wasn’t a part of, she stayed strong and true to herself and to Olivier. And man, Olivier was SWOONY! He was so protective and never made Sadie feel less than. Overall, I loved reading Discretion. Halle is a phenomenal writer and I am so looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

While I have stalked Ms. Halle on social media for many years this is the first time I have read one of her books. I am still struggling with myself on the star rating which btw I hate. I should just be able to tell you how I felt about the book without having to star it which I'm sure many other readers feel the same way. So I'll give it a 3 star since I'm in between "It was ok" & "liked it".

This book felt very disjointed to me and the ending felt very pushed under the rug. There were so many ways this story could have gone but it all felt very contrived. Aside from the epilogue the whole book takes place in the span of three weeks and while I get the whole insta love genre this just didn't come off right. Sadie was backpacking through Europe with her boyfriend, they break up, Olivier saves her and bam it's all insta craziness. Then there's the big secret. This secret just didn't work for me. Why would anyone feel that they could be blackmailed over that. It was simply a non entity to me. It meant nothing really.

Will I read the next books in the series. Probably not. I'm just not invested in any of the characters. Will I read this author again. Absolutely!! I have heard amazing things about KH's books and I've no doubt I'll be reading her again.

One thing I did love: that cover. It is breathtaking.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

4.5/5 Stars

Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers. I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.

This is such an intriguing story that grabbed me from the first page!

This is the first book that I have read from this author but it will not be my last. I fell so in love with the writing style. It was elegant, easy to read, and it flowed so smoothly.

The plot of this book was pretty tantalizing. I loved all the family drama and the mysteries contained in the plot. The sequence of events definitely left me on the edge of my seat and wanting more. The twists and turns in the story had me on edge. The ending was satisfying yet open enough for the coming books in the series. There were some things that were left unanswered so I am hoping that we get more closure and answers in the next books.

The main characters in this book had wonderful personalities. I adored the banter between them as well. I felt that Olivier had the most character development, though Sadie had some nice growth as well. We get to know both characters fairly well throughout the course of the story so there is plenty of depth to them. I liked getting to know all the members of the Dumont family and see the bonds that they shared or lack thereof. The family drama was pretty exciting. I can't wait to get to know the Dumonts even better in the following books in this series.

I enjoyed the romance because the chemistry between these two main characters was explosive. Right off the bat, these two felt so right together. I did feel that they became intimate and emotional far too quickly though. I like a little build up and believability in my romances and this felt a little forced in the beginning. While it wasn't necessarily insta-love, it also wasn't a slow-burn romance either. I think that a little more time to get to know each other at the start would have made things a bit more convincing. Apart from that, these two really were perfect for each other. I liked how they brought each other comfort and they were each able to be themselves around the other when neither really had that with anyone else.

I thought that the world-building was very well written. I am not very worldly since I haven't traveled out of my own country before, but I could feel the scenes all around me while reading this book. The descriptions of France and the little things that Sadie experiences while she is there were so vividly described that I could swear that I was right there with her.

Overall, this is a compelling story filled with family drama, scandal, skeletons in closets, and a seriously sexy romance. This is a book that I couldn't put down and I am so eager for the next books in this series.

Wow this was a lot lol. But it was entertaining for sure. Lol. Gotta find out more about these characters.

I'm a fan of Karina Halle books, and this was a fun, indulgent read set in the backdrop of France. Sadie Reynolds is an American student, currently in France, backpacking alone as a result of a cheating boyfriend. A series of events introduces her to Olivier Dumont, and his life of wealth, opulence, and deception. Sure, this is a romance novel but there's also family betrayals, mystery, and scandal. This was a fun story, and Olivier was positively delicious as a book boyfriend. I believe this book is one in a series, and I'm looking forward to reading the others!

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars. I had read most of this, then the audible came out, so I continued with the audio.
This was an example of insta lust. Sadie was just mugged and then goes off with another stranger?
He has a Mercedes Benz and looks rich, so that's ok. In context, it made a little bit more sense. Just a little.
This was dual first person POV.
Sadie was pretty straight forward and easy to understand. I had some issues with Olivier. His parts reminded me a little of the narrator from Amelie- if you've seen that movie-remember the part when she finds that tin box in her apartment? It was from a little boy that lived there many years before. Amelie tracks him down, the narrator goes over what his name could be: Bretodeau?, Bredetau? and on & on. Things like this in Discretion made me laugh a little, but they were supposed to be serious.
Somehow, I got involved with the family drama. It was like a French version of Dallas or Falcon Crest (old 1980s references there!) OR even more so- it reminded me a little of (a few years ago) the Louis Vuitton heirs fighting over the family patriarch's fortune.
I do like the written Discretion book a little more than the audio.
I wonder whose book will be next? I love Karin Halle's books, so I might be too curious to pass up.

Discretion is the story of a a rich Frenchman who meets an poor American tourist. From the moment they meet they are full of action. Sadie is attacked and Oliver comes to her rescue. Giving her a place to recover turns out to be the best thing for both of them because they both have a lot of darkness in their lives. Being together brings happiness neither has ever felt but can they survive the secrets and family and everything else.

3.5 stars!

This is my third Karina Halle book, but it wasn’t my favorite. I was really looking forward to this one after enjoying the Irish backdrop and characters in My Life in Shambles, but the story fell a bit flat for me. Check out my full review on goodreads and Instagram! Thanks Netgalley for approving me from an arc!

I was so excited to receive a copy of Discretion! Karina is one of my very very fave authors and I love when she writes in a foreign setting.

Characters: Sadie and Olivier are the lead protagonists of this story. Sadie is such a strong female protagonist, she made the best decisions for herself the whole way through and did not let any bad situation get her down. Olivier is such a multidimensional character, who tends to show off his different sides in front of different characters. I really found myself empathizing with him quickly pertaining to the situation dominating his life.
Setting: From Nice to Paris, the French settings are gorgeous. Karina went to France for research, and that definitely paid off. So many scenes from the masquerade ball to Sadie perusing Parisian cafe felt so authentically France. It made me want to rush back to Europe, ASAP.
Pacing: Karina made the choice to reveal Olivier's secret much earlier on than I thought she would. Instead of feeling like it spoiled the story, it was unexpected and propelled the story forward. A nice blend of a good plot and pacing choice.
Romance: I loved loved loved Sadie and Olivier relationship. To see in both of them how unique and special their feelings toward each other felt. Plus the sex scenes were so hot, Karina is so good at writing them. It is always a good sign when the couple makes me cry while reading, that I love them to death and want the best for my babies.