This was a quick, exciting, and thrilling 'mafia'-esque romance read.

I loved the individual characters of Sadie and Olivier and their chemistry was dynamic. It may have been quick and on par with an insta-love but I was all about it in this instance. 

This novel would be good as a standalone but also was a good introductory novel for the series. It left me wanting to know more about the stories of the other characters in the Dumont family but also left me wanting to know the future of the Dumont empire. I have questions and I will need to read the future books for the answers. 

This would be the perfect book to read on a vacation or during the summer as it gives you all of the vacation vibes of being on holiday in a faraway place. 

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

This was not my favorite Karina Halle book, but I still really enjoyed it. I loved the setting and I felt like I was in France with the characters experiencing all the luxury. The romance was a little hit or miss for me. Sometimes I liked them as a couple and other times I couldn't feel the chemistry as much as I wanted to. But overall solid book. Can't wait for more in this series

I enjoyed this one. There isn’t a lot of meat or depth to the story, but it was entertaining and steamy.

I really enjoyed the characters. I liked their chemistry, physically and emotionally. The physical tool center stage more than emotional, but their relationship was authentic.

I did enjoy the storyline. It was a bit more suspenseful and mysterious than I was expecting. I’m certainly excited for the next standalone.

Karina Halle is one of my one-click authors. I do like that I always seem to get a different trope or genre within the romance world with her books, and I did enjoy the world she created.

***audiobook - male narrator was hot***

Not much to say about this book. I loved the cover and I've enjoyed KH's books before but this one was too insta-lovey and the French.. meh.

I loooove Karina Halle and I was so excited that she was back to writing some romance suspense but sadly this one didn't do it for me. I liked it and I loved the whole mystery surrounding the family but I just couldn't connect with the characters and I didn't feel their love. I am looking forward to read the next book in the series though!

A romance lover wants to read a story that sweeps you away from your ordinary life for a few hours, one that makes you forget about the dirty dishes in the sink or loads of laundry while you dream of some handsome and wealthy hero-turned-lover that rescues the poor damsel-in-distress. I’m happy to say that Discretion, the first book in the new The Dumonts series, is exactly this kind of romance! Can you hear that sound? That’s me, loudly happy sighing.

I’ve never been a fan of the Insta-Love trope and the reason is very few (if any) authors can sell me the idea of two complete strangers falling in love, almost instantly, sometimes at first sight. Well Ms. Halle has convinced me, her writing is always phenomenal, and I bought it lock, stock and barrel! I loved how these two total strangers met by chance, from different parts of the world and entirely different socioeconomic status, and then fell in love. There’s a little intrigue and danger in the story that will keep you guessing, not knowing where it’s heading, and I’m excited there’s more to come!

Sadie Reynolds and her boyfriend of two years, Tom, had planned a three month trip backpacking through Europe on their summer vacation, before classes started. A month into their trip she found out he’d been cheating on her, almost from the very beginning, and she broke up with him. Thankfully Tom returned to Seattle, but Sadie couldn’t afford to change her plane ticket and she still has three more weeks to go before heading back home.

“We all need to feel, even the bad things. It’s what makes us human. If you stay in the void for too long, you’ll start questioning your humanity.”

When Sadie’s mugged in Nice, on the way to catch a train to Spain, she’s rescued by a handsome stranger who takes her to the hospital. Not only did she sprain her ankle but she missed her train, something she couldn’t afford to do. The stranger generously offers to take care of her, until she’s off her crutches, sparing no expense. Sadie soon finds out who he is, after she Googles him.

“You buy a Chanel to show the world you’ve made it. You buy a Dumont to show yourself you’ve made it.”

Olivier Dumont, thirty years old, is the son of Ludovic Dumont, the head of the prestigious and exclusive Dumont brand, a billion dollar company. Olivier the heir apparent is supposed to take over the company when his father retires. That was the plan until he made a huge and scandalous mistake, that was kept quiet by his uncle, ten years ago. But there was a heavy price to pay for that silence; Olivier had made a deal with the devil himself, and now the time was running out and his uncle was going to collect what was due to him.

“Oh, mon lapin, you are the only thing that’s good and pure and real in my whole life.”

Olivier had been wrestling with his options, knowing he had to make a hard decision, when he jumped in to rescue a young American woman in trouble. There was something about the American waif that he couldn't ignore. The more time Olivier spent with Sadie, the more he began to wonder who rescued who.

“I want to consume this man, and I want him to consume me. I want to feel this part of him before we say goodbye and the fairy tale ends and my old life begins again. I want Olivier before it’s too late.”

Sadie decides to take a leap of faith with Olivier. There’s a reason they met and she gives herself three weeks with him, before she goes back home.

“There’s nothing as nerve-racking as the moment before you’re about to jump, when something goes from a concept that you’ve talked about and considered to a real, actual thing. It’s scary. It doesn’t matter if it’s taking your first trip overseas or jumping into the Mediterranean Sea at night. The abstract becomes your reality, and it’s happening.”

So Karina came out swinging with this start to the new series, The Dumonts. This has her signature swoony worthy, smoking hot, can't get enough - writing. She hooked me with this book. 

Olivier and Sadie may have started out with a bang, possibly to insta for my taste, but they have some explosive chemistry. There was a bit of OTT drama, and sometimes it worked and sometimes it did not. These two little things are the only reason for my lowering the rating to 4 stars. 

I loved the adventure, the meet cute, the romance of it all. Karina has written some of my favorite books to date. I look forward to the rest of these book in this series.

Discretion is a great read for this who like suspense and mystery mixed with romance. Oliver is a powerful character and there is much to love about him. Sadie is stubborn, sweet and relatable in many ways. The setting is swoon worthy. Discretion gets this series of to a good start.

This book as many twist and turns snd covers a very wide range of issues families deal with no matter their social status. It have poverty, depression, wealth, love, scandals, traditions, crazy family members, throw in some organized crime connections for a whirlwind read. You never know what the characters will be going through as the book progresses. The love scene are steamy and making you want more, you can feel the connection when they finally open their hearts to each other with no walls or secrets. 

You go a journey with Sadie as she starts her backpacking trip through Europe with her college boyfriend, who she dumps during the trip.. She continues are travels alone staying at hostels and learning to be alone and surviving for the reminder of her trip on a very limited budget. She falls literally into the path of Oliver Dumont (she has no clue who he is), he rescues her in many ways and in the many ways she resuced him right back. They have trust issues, which with their past is understandable and time is not always on their sides. Their connection is beyond words, they have this feeling of being long lost lovers almost, like destiny put them on this path to find each other. They don't have the easy path ahead but that doesn't seem to stop their love. 

This is the first on the Dumont series, I can't wait to see what Karina has in store for the next one. I can only hope for a good girl bad boy love story. We will have to wait and see.

One can never go wrong with a a Karina Halle book.
I really enjoyed Discretion. I mean, what's not there to enjoy it? A whirlwind romance that is sweet, steamy and oh so dreamy!

When someone utters the word France, I get giddy with excitement.When I read that Oliver and Sadie's story was going to be set in the beautiful Côte d'Azur and the most romantic place on earth Paris, I knew this book had romance written all over it!

I really enjoyed this book. The secondary characters also really piqued my interest so I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this series.

Grab this book and let Oliver sweep you off your feet!

I enjoyed Discretion right off the bat, but I didn't really FEEL Karina in this book, if that makes any sense. 

Sadie and Olivier had a whirlwind romance, that I'm sure many of us have dreamed of. I mean, who wouldn't want a handsome, rich French man to sweep you off your feet? Even though it felt a little rushed where their relationship was concerned, I really liked Sadie and Olivier. Their chemistry was pretty steaming too!! I would've liked if there were more moments of them getting to know each other better and me falling in love with them even MORE. 

Those two were pretty much the only likable/redeemable characters I thought. I wanted to see some of the "bad guys" get what was coming to them. Maybe it'll happen in the future books? Here's hoping!!! 

Even though Discretion ended with a lot of my questions and wonders unanswered, I'm still anxious to see how the rest of the books will play out!!!

I ADORE Karina Halle. Her stories are always so swoony and the settings never fail to be anything but perfect. That is no less true with this story! How can you NOT fall in love when you're in the Riviera?
Oliver is a perfect book boyfriend, despite his secrets and past. Maybe because of them? Is that what makes them so lovable sometimes? Probably. Sadie is having a really rough time and has been backpacking around Europe. Oliver ends up as her White Knight because of some circumstances in her travels. Enter DRAMA, adventure, more drama and intrigue with a side of steamy love scenes and heavy romance.
As always, I enjoyed the ride! Recommend!

2,5-3 stars


Im sorry to report that I could not get into thi story, something was constantly missing for me. Still,Im looking forward to the next book in the series, but this one was not my cup of tea

Another fantastic Karina Halle read! Oliver and Sadie were awesome together despite their obvious differences. The bit of suspense in here was just the right touch!

I can't wait for more in this series :)

4.5 Stars ⭐️ 

Discretion was such a romantic story. No matter the family drama build up there was or threats they faced  the love and passion that quickly and so easily formed between Olivier and Sadie never wavered. And with a backdrop like France? How more romantic could it get?? 🥰

Olivier Dumont is from a well known family in France.  Producing products along the lines of Chanel and the like, they are highly respected and their products sought after. But behind the scenes the family has had a serious rival for years.  His family is close and loving and kind.  His uncle and cousins...not so much.

When he meets Sadie his instantly drawn to the American girl that has no idea who he is. She humble and kind and breathes a little life into him. With her he doesn’t have to worry about all his responsibilities or what’s going on with the family.  She becomes his escape.  Their connection sparks a whirlwind romance in one of the most romantic cities in the world and it was oh so dreamy!!

I was sucked in from the very moment I began reading and found it extremely hard to put it down to handle that stuff called - life. 

Discretion was an incredible start to this suspenseful series and I look forward to so much more.

I absolutely loved Discretion by Karina Halle.  The story is romantic, witty and very unique and I absolutely adored Sadie and Olivier.  There is also some family drama with Olivier's family that looks like will carry on through  the series.  Ms Halle sets ups this world brilliantly and I can not wait for book 2 and Seraphina`s story.

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.