From New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes a delicious saga of wealth, luxury, and scandal—and the wicked secrets of success behind an envied family dynasty.The Riviera means indulgence—if you’ve got money. For Sadie Reynolds, a down-on-her-luck student, the Riviera means dingy hostels and back streets. When a wrong turn puts her in jeopardy, the last thing she expects is to be … she expects is to be saved by the most handsome stranger she’s ever locked eyes with. When she later wakes up in a luxury suite with a Mediterranean view, she’s in the tender care of her rescuer: Olivier Dumont, France’s most eligible bachelor, billionaire hotelier, and heir to the Dumont fashion fortune.
Olivier also owns his reputation for scandal. But Sadie is unlike any woman he’s ever met. Her humble persona and wild innocence promise real passion. He’s promising Sadie something too: anything she wants. From Bordeaux to Cannes to Paris, Sadie’s past in America is swept away and replaced with a fantasy too good to be true.
Pulled into Olivier’s orbit of wealth, glamour, and excess, Sadie discovers that the Dumont dynasty comes with a legacy of wicked secrets. And Olivier’s secrets may be the most damning of all…
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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.-
What a great start to what is sure to be an unforgettable series! I LOVED Oliver and Sadie’s book! Two of the most unlikely people to ever get together…did. And boy are they HOT together!! Add in some intrigue, murder(?!?!), and a family of backstabbing and you’ve got this series! I was glued to this book from the first page. I can not WAIT for the next book to see what is in store for the Dumont family!
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 was suspenseful which I loved, I am usually not a fan of insta love, but I did not mind it so much with Oliver and Sadie. The location of this book just screams for sexy times…this was a bit of a slow read for me, but I did however still enjoy the classic Karina Halle staples. It’s nice to see how the other half lives.
4 stars
A story of sex, intrigue, scandal and family secrets. How could I not like this book? And set in France? Bonus. It had all the good bones of a story that would capture so much of what I enjoy and in a setting that is rich and full of history.
The story starts with a prologue that sheds a little light on Olivier in his past. Just a small clue of what’s to come with the Dumont family and I was interested.
“Because a man who breaks the bonds of his family should amount to nothing.”
Then it’s about Olivier and Sadie. These two characters meet under some bad circumstances, but we get a feel for who Olivier is and what he stands for right from the beginning. And Sadie? She’s a backpacking American girl traveling through Europe. I could’ve been her (20 plus years ago and minus the rich Frenchman 😉 ). Obviously they were two different people from two entirely different worlds. How would their story fit in with the Dumont life we already got a taste of?
I liked the premise and where it started. I loved the setting in France (I’ve been to most of the places mentioned, so it was like I got to return there…Antibes!). But then I felt like the story got lost a little in the sex and romance. Don’t get me wrong. Sadie and Olivier had some chemistry and I liked their romantic scenes, I just wanted more of the mystery surrounding the Dumont family at the beginning half. I wanted more of the secrets and lies and how that played all into Olivier and his history with his family. We got that, but it almost seemed anticlimatic. Plus, it wasn’t until the last quarter of the story. AND call me a glutton for punishment, but I wanted more of the mystery. More of the suspense. Just something MORE. It seems like we got a taste of it in book one and we will get more in the next books. I can only hope for that.
As for the characters, Olivier and Sadie have an instant chemistry and are hot almost from the get go. They just fit in a way that is comfortable. It was an automatic feeling for both of them and not sure what exactly set those feelings aflame, but it was fun watching it grow. Then there is his family. They already have given us a taste of their lives and I can’t wait to hear more from them. The men/his cousins and uncle, along with his sister are absolutely intriguing. I don’t know how to feel about any of them right now, but THAT is what is going to set this series on fire if we can get more of them and more danger (ahem, that car chase) and mystery.
We got a taste of mystery and intrigue and I hope we get more in the books that follow. The story still left a good beginning for a series and I really enjoyed watching Olivier and Sadie set the ground for more. They were hot and sexy and I loved being brought back to France. A well told story with characters that have a history and are fleshed out just enough to get us set for more in this world. I can’t wait!
“Good side, bad side. Sooner or later we’re all going to bleed into each other. And who knows what side will remain.”
What a way to start a series!! Olivier and Sadie met when he came to her rescue one night. She had no idea who he was and he liked it. When she found out who he was she didn’t care; she liked him for who he was not his bank account. Olivier came from one of the richest families in France along with lots of drama. He and Sadie fell into their own bubble but danger was always lurking. There was suspense, romance and angst in this story that made it very good. Olivier was very Alpha and protective of Sadie. Sadie was very genuine and has a heart of gold. On paper they were completely different but together they were perfect.
Oh La La! This book was a romance that is set in France, mostly in Paris, and it feels as if the locales are a main character because of Karina Halle’s fantastic writing.
Olivier comes from a wealthy family and is known to spend his time with models. His family name is synonymous with Chanel. He’s also hot as hell and so swoony I don’t even have the right words to describe him!
Sadie is a college student who started out backpacking across Europe with her boyfriend. When said boyfriend ditches her all by herself, she gets by staying in cheap hostels and trying to make the best of an unexpected situation.
When Olivier and Sadie’s worlds collide, it is like fate. Sadie has no idea who Olivier is when they meet and if he had his way, she wouldn’t find out. His name comes with complications and even at the beginning, he knew she needed to be protected.
I loved their first meeting. I loved EVERYTHING about Olivier. I loved EVERYTHING about Sadie as well. They were both mature, didn’t play games, and there was very little drama that was caused by the two of them, which was nice. It really felt like they were there for each other and it was them against the world.
There was also some action in this book, which was surprising and took me back to the days of the Sins & Needles days. (More of that, please.)
Overall I really liked this book, I liked the story and the romance of it all, and the drama and action as well. It was interesting to read about an average girl getting to go inside this world of this wealthy family and what that was like for her. I will definitely be continuing this series and can’t wait to read about more of the Dumont family!
I have mixed feelings about this one. When Karina Halle announced the series, I was so excited. As I read along, it was as it should be, with the glamour of the rich, the mystique, the air of beautiful, gorgeous people, erring and loving.
Yet, without being able to pinpoint it specifically, some things felt forced and over-the-top. The level of drama didn’t match the outcome. I believed in the instant connection between Olivier and Sadie however their communication was a rollercoaster. Things left unsaid were puzzling at certain times. This felt soap opera-ish and maybe I wasn’t in the mood for such stuff.
The positive- The crumbs left for the next book, which is about Seraphine, Olivier’s sister, and her cousin-in-name, Blaise, sounds delish.
I’m somewhat unsatisfied at the end because this is Karina Halle and I LOVE her writing. I will not lower my expectations because I know what she is capable of.
“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.
Where to begin? There’s so many things I like about this book.
There’s travelling, there’s a little age difference, there’s a hot French guy(!),there’s drama and suspense.
But still I felt there was something lacking, with the family drama, I wish there were even more drama and suspense. Can’t say so much without spoiling too much.
All in all, another good book from Karina and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
4.5 stars
One of the things that I love the most about this author is her ability to suck her audience into not only the story but into the actual characters themselves. There is always a certain dynamic to her characters that are completely hers. I am not sure how she does it but there is never any doubt that I will fall for them every time. Granted, the main character, Oliver, was French. Et Mon Dieu, j’aime les hommes français! I am really hoping DuoLingo is actually teaching me French and that I didn’t butcher the fact that I love French men.
This story had me sucked in from the very beginning of the first chapter. I wanted and needed to know what going to happen. The anticipation had me on edge almost the entire time as I tried to understand what was going on. Sadie. Oh, how I wanted to be her and be swept off my feet by this amazing French man. The steamy times were delicious especially when the setting was factored in. There is definitely more to this story. I at first thought that this book was going to end on a cliffhanger because it was apparent that it was not going to be finished by the end of the book. However, I can now see that that issue will be carried over in the next book of a separate character. That works for me because this book did give me the ending that I needed from these two characters. I am sure they will be involved in the future.
I am looking forward to where this story goes in the future. I will always devour anything this author writes. Plus, I need to know how this whole situation turns out.
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.
Pure passion. This novel feels like a summer dream complete with leisurely breakfasts in bed, swoony hero, Parisian romance and endless nights of luxuriant lovemaking.
I loved this story. It’s light and heavy at the same time. Like a rollercoaster of unbridled lust and holidays in Europe under the Mediterranean sun. Soon followed by a twisted family feud of greed, sin, power and betrayal.
It reminds me of this old TV soap operas depicting ambitious tycoons, luxurious lifestyle, brandnames rife with obscure secrets and envious siblings.
I really liked the main characters. Olivier is the perfect French hottie, elegant and intense, but never a player. Sadie is outspoken, honest, but also keenly aware of her humble persona. They start this summer fling born of a heroic rescue that sparks all kinds of hungry and very eloquent intimacy in stunning backgrounds. At first, I thought it was all about the physical side of the relationship, but then the plot takes a dramatic turn and the Dumont family is shaken in violent ways. That’s when the bond this couple shares becomes as strong as it was growing to be. I relished that part and how it all led to it.
The thrills kept mounting up as well as the interesting traits about the Dumont cousins. I enjoyed the fast-paced ending full of sacrifice, fury and life-chancing decisions. It’s not totallly orthodox because it’s the precursor to the arc of more books to come. Will they be about Blaise, Renauld or Pascal? I think I’m biased towards evil Pascal. He promises to be a real challenge 😀
A really hot, dashing entertainment. I’m in with this series!
From New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes a delicious saga of wealth, luxury, and scandal—and the wicked secrets of success behind an envied family dynasty.
The Riviera means indulgence—if you’ve got money. For Sadie Reynolds, a down-on-her-luck student, the Riviera means dingy hostels and back streets. When a wrong turn puts her in jeopardy, the last thing she expects is to be saved by the most handsome stranger she’s ever locked eyes with. When she later wakes up in a luxury suite with a Mediterranean view, she’s in the tender care of her rescuer: Olivier Dumont, France’s most eligible bachelor, billionaire hotelier, and heir to the Dumont fashion fortune.
Olivier also owns his reputation for scandal. But Sadie is unlike any woman he’s ever met. Her humble persona and wild innocence promise real passion. He’s promising Sadie something too: anything she wants. From Bordeaux to Cannes to Paris, Sadie’s past in America is swept away and replaced with a fantasy too good to be true.
Pulled into Olivier’s orbit of wealth, glamour, and excess, Sadie discovers that the Dumont dynasty comes with a legacy of wicked secrets. And Olivier’s secrets may be the most damning of all…
Holy heck! I loved Olivier’s and Sadie’s story. Flawlessly written! Their chemistry was off the charts hot. Their story wasn’t an easy one and there were a few twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Great summer read.
3.5 ‘Mon lapin’ Stars!
ARC provided by the publisher via via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Karina Halle, as many of you already know, is one of my favorite authors, especially when it comes to a deliciously sexy contemporary romance. Now, she comes with a new series which happens to focus a bit more on the suspense inside of a very wealthy and very famous French family. The theme surely intrigued me and I dived right in!
So, Discretion is the first installment in Karina’s The Dummonts series and it’s the love story between Olivier Dummont and Sadie Reynolds. These two meet when Oliver saves Sadie from a pretty dangerous situation and their lust for each other is instant after that. They start a very intense affair that happens to be explosive, in secret and with lots of secrets mixed in it. These two people are from very different worlds. Will Olivier and Sadie’s relationship survive it all? Find out reading Discretion!
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.
One thing I am always happy about when it comes to Karina’s books is that they are oh-so-freaking-sexy! I mean, Olivier and Sadie connect almost instantly and their chemistry is smoking hawt. I enjoyed reading how France’s most eligible bachelor falls in love with a poor American college student who is backpacking through Europe. These two fall in love pretty quickly (maybe too quickly for my taste..) but not everything is hearts and flowers. One side of Olivier’s family is decided to make him pay for his past and that is when drama appears. If that interests you, I am sure you will enjoy this novel quite a lot!
I love her, and that has changed my whole world at a time when my whole world has just changed.
It makes me realize the lengths I will go to protect us, to keep her safe.
Therefore, my rating for Discretion is 3.5 STARS because I found it to be a good introduction to Karina’s new series that I am sure will be full of scandal, suspense and sexiness! Yes, I do have to say this is not my favorite novel from hers (it took me a while to connect with the couple and the whole storyline) but her writing is always amazing, the chemistry between the couple was mind-blowing and I am definitely curious to read the next book after all that teasing about the next couple!
“Our lives are made up of nothing but moments. But I want to live in every moment with her.”
Karina Halle is my most read author with a total of 35 books. So it is obvious that I am a big fan of her writing. I was pretty excited about Discretion, because I love romance books that focus on family dynasties. There is just something about the intriguing family dynamics plus all the secrets and scandals. I had very high expectations and loved how Olivier and Sadie met. It was during a very scary and horrible incident and thankfully Olivier was at the right place at the right time. He was a gentleman and did all the right things. Sadie is very self-aware and has a great head on her shoulders. She is very practical and I really liked her.
However, the story just didn’t pick up and I just couldn’t fully connect to the characters. I also didn’t think Sadie and Olivier spent enough time to grow a strong bond as a couple. There was a lot of very hot and steamy sex that I loved. But I wanted more from the plot and more focus on the secrets/scandals. I just had a very hard time believing in this couple’s relationship. Towards the end I ended up liking Olivier less because of some of the decisions he made. He wasn’t a go-getter as I expected and him giving up on certain things disappointed me. The suspense towards the end was refreshing and I enjoyed it a lot. I think it was a great addition to the story, and I can’t wait to see how it will continue on into the next book. I hope it will focus on Olivier’s sister Seraphine, because I really loved her. She is very strong and dedicated and I want to know what is going to happen next in regards to the Dumont Dynasty.
Even though this wasn’t my favorite KH book, I think this series still has a lot of potential and I look forward to the next book.
Can I start off with saying THIS COVER! Gah! I absolutely love it. Definitely needing a paperback to join my collection.
Olivier and Sadie’s story starts off when he literally saves her in France. Their connection is fast and furious – the speed at which they connect is like a BOOM! But I will say there’s more to the story tha that – SO MUCH MORE – suspense, intrigue, lies – this one’s got it all. The chemistry between the two is OFF THE CHARTS and I really enjoyed their banter too. This was a great read.
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.
Discretion by Karina Halle is the First book in The Dumonts Series. This is the story of Olivier Dumont and Sadie Reynolds.
Sadie is backpack through Europe when she is almost robbed along with something worse. Olivier is the one to help her although he shouldn’t be helping her due to his family and things he has to keep to himself. Oliver just can’t let her go along with the feeling he is having for her. But there is more going on in this book than just their feelings. This book brings with it some drama that adds to the story line.