Karina Halle's Discretion ARC Review

Thank you to Karina Halle and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of the first book in The Dumonts series, Discretion.

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.

Check out the Goodreads blurb…

“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…”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

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.