Disavow 

(The Dumonts#3)

Karina Halle

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Release Date February 25, 2020

From New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes a seductive novel of riches, romance, and redemption.

In the Dumont fashion empire, no heir has a reputation as decadent, arrogant, and ruthless as that of Pascal Dumont. Every transgression, an indecent pleasure. Every woman, a conquest. And none is more challenging than his new personal assistant, Gabrielle Caron. She’s defiant, alluring, and a mystery Pascal can’t wait to solve.

A former family servant and daughter of the head maid, Gabrielle’s returned as suddenly as she left eight years ago. No longer an awkward teen, the ethereal young beauty has amassed a wealth of resolve. She’ll need it. In hire to the devilishly charming scion, she’s come back for one reason only. And she dare not whisper why.

But as the nights grow more intimate at the Dumont maison, Gabrielle realizes that the last man she believed in is the one man she can trust with her secrets. For Pascal, falling in love means more than his own redemption. It could mean saving Gabrielle’s very life as they confront a dark and scandalous past…together.

Pascal Dumont has been a villain throughout this series only second to his monster of a father. He has been described as arrogant, ruthless, cold, greedy, and even "slightly off." He is a womanizer and does not value relationships. He has even hurt and forsaken many of his own family in his quest to be the best and impress his father. 

Gabrielle Caron has seen the horrors of the Dumonts up close since her mother has been a long time employee and so was she when she was younger...until she escaped. But now she is back and feels the need to be near her mother. She is feisty, stubborn, and outspoken. And she has garnered the attention of Pascal who strikes a deal with her. 

There are secrets, lies, and dirty deeds in the history surrounding this house. And there are threats coming from both outside it and in it. Pascal is hunting his own answers while Gabrielle might just have her own hidden agenda. Despite Pascal being dangerous in his own right, she finds him preferable to his horrible father so she is glad to have him as a quasi shield...and an unlikely friend.

Pascal essentially has had no allies and is not used to having someone to confide in or to connect with on another level. It is foreign to him, but also has him taking a look at the man he is and the man he wants to be. They share some secrets, but some might be too damning.

Who can be trusted? Who is out for revenge? And when all is said and done, who will be friend or foe...or even still standing?

I love a good redemption story and based on his previous actions, I figured it was going to be hard to warm up to him. But I think just getting in his own head helped a lot. And Gabrielle was a catalyst for him to think outside the box. Their rapport and chemistry were great, and his acceptance of her issues while recognizing he had his own made him more human. Both of these characters were broken and stuck until they became vulnerable and supportive of the other. But the situation was complicated and messy and ramped up to one helluva climax. But Pascal won my heart and I loved these two together. They both showed growth and were good for each other. And their actions affect others in their family as well. I was so glad to get an epilogue and see progression with the other couples too.