Friday, August 23, 2019

REVIEW: Discretion by Karina Halle


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… 

OUR REVIEW: 

Shel: Discretion is everything the blurb promises it will be: a fun, angsty, soap opera-ish escape. This fast paced novel features the perfect concoction of love and sex and intrigue--there are good guys and bad guys and a promise of several more book that will explore who is guilty of what. In this first stand alone novel we meet Sadie and Olivier--a couple whose story seems part fairy tale and part nightmare. Court: Yes, this is legit what I hope it a lot of people's dream fantasy...world travel = enough said, BUT this was a delight with all of the extra things we get as they get to know each other in all the ways. And...also, Karina Halle's writing, y'all...superb as always! 

Shel: Sadie is the doing what many college kids dream about doing--backpacking through Europe--when a series of unfortunate events puts her in the path of Olivier. Olivier is living what to the outside world appears to be his best life when he happens upon Sadie...and thank goodness for him showing up right when she needed him. He saves her from a very bad situation and from that point on, their love story begins. It's a love story that's fast and feisty and filled with a lot of swoony romance from Olivier and sass from Sadie (I really liked her) and lots of mysterious and nefarious happenings with his sketchy family.  France is our backdrop which just seems to elevate the mystery and romance of it all...and man does Karina Halle have a way with describing places she obviously loves--she makes me want to visit every place she writes about. Court: I agree. I've probably said it too much at this point, but when an author is able to bring in the setting in such a low key but prominent way...I appreciate that more than I can say. I always want to feel enveloped in the story and picture what is happening...it just helps make the movie more clear in my mind, and Karina does have a special way with this technique. The setting is important and what happens with the characters is important. 

Shel: I devoured this novel and am so very eager for the next book in the series; it looks to be equally fun, sexy, and will give us more clues as to what in the actual world is going on in the Dumont family. Pick up Discretion for a fun escape from the dog days of summer; we don't think you'll regret it (except that you'll want the next novel in your hands immediately). Court: NO JOKE! I do want it immediately. We got so much with this story, but we did get a lot of questions...the secondary characters are delish as well, and I could not get enough. I have to know more. And I have to believe that we'll get what we want by the end! HAVE TO! Killed me, in the best way, but read this asap.

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