Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet) Paperback – August 13, 2021

Wow. I was not expecting myself to love this book. But I did, and here we are. First off, it is non-con for about half of the book. If this is something you are not okay with, I do not recommend reading this book. I understand. We all have our limits. Just stop reading this review and find another book to read. I shall carry on in the meantime.H.D. Carlton’s WritingCarlton’s writing was addicting. The way she was able to build scenes is a craft. If anything, she’s the manipulator. In some of the more intense scenes between Addie and Zade, she built up suspense to it. She created enough suspense so I could feel Addie’s fear. I could visualize the scene in my head through her eyes. There were scenes I played over and over again in my head. I haven’t been able to do that with other authors in a while. I found myself highlighting on my Kindle lines that I thought were so well written. Carlton made Addie funny without being cringey, and the humor she used wasn’t overdone. I loved the use of the journal entries throughout the book, it added another layer of suspense and build up towards the plot. Ugh. I just loved her writing.AddieThere were some questionable moments I had with Addie. But, she was self-aware about herself and how she was feeling about Zade. Heck, she even admitted that she gets off on being scared. She was brave, strong, and was funny. She definitely had a morals battle with herself over the course of the book, but like Zade said, she didn’t really have a chance (if you read the book you’ll get what I mean). I do think she made her own choice about starting to have feelings for Zade (ones other than fear).ZadeOkay, I have to say what everyone else is saying. The conflict of Zade’s profession while he stalks and *youknowwhats* Addie. I think it’s actually passively brought up in the book at one point. Haunting Addie is a dark romance novel, so this is something you have to accept. But yeah, it’s not a good look. He is very intense with Addie, even when he professes his feelings and plans for their future with her. I’m not sure if the author made him be a vigilante to placate readers feelings, or even her own feelings, about how there is some good in Zade, to make him likable in some way. Or take for example when he k-worded Arch. Arch just happened to be a bad guy. It certainly would’ve made Zade an evil guy if he had k-worded an innocent guy. I feel like these things are to kind of justify that we still like Zade even though he does stalk and *youknowwhats* Addie. Whatever makes us feel better at the end of the day, yanno? I still enjoyed his character and his obsessed with Addie. The roses were a sweet detail.The Plot(s)*spoiler* I thought the plot was crafted extremely well. To me, I thought there were 3 plots/storylines (whatever you call it). 1) Addie and Zade’s relationship 2) the investigation of Gigi’s k-word and 3) Zade’s own investigation into the videos. They all intertwined smoothly and all felt relevant. They kept the story flowing nicely and I didn’t feel like there were any parts of the book that felt stalled.This book does end on a cliff-hanger, which I am actually okay with just because the sequel is coming out in the end of January lol. I am very interested to see what direction Carlton has taken the story in.

I enjoyed this book, although I figured out a thing or two before revelation, however the ending is a cliff hanger. Definitely recommend reading Satan’s Affair first or this book will kind of spoil that one.

There's a reason I don't read incomplete duets or series because then I'm sad when I can't read the next book. I went against my better judgment with this book and I have no regrets (okay I have some because I hated waiting for book two) because I loved this story. The great news is the second book is out now, so you don't have to wait if you're reading this review!I've never read anything remotely similar to this book and I don't know that I ever will. This was my first time reading something truly as dark as this. I've read other books with heavy triggers, but this book was different. I read Satan's Affair beforehand (highly recommend reading that first) and I wasn't entirely sure what this book was going to be about. I knew a past murder, stalking, and love were involved, but that was it. If you had told me one of my top reads from 2021 would've been a stalker romance, I would've laughed in your face. Not only is the romance good, and the spice is off the charts hot, but the overarching story is just so good.Adeline is an author who moves into her grandmother's old home after she passes away. Adeline was close to her grandmother and felt a pull to come back to the home that always fascinated her. While living in the house, she discovers family secrets that have been buried for a long time, secrets involving her great grandmother. Her great grandmother was stalked, but here's the kicker? Her great grandmother had a spicy affair with her stalker! Adeline's great grandmother was murdered and she works with her best friend to figure out who did it. While trying to solve this mystery, Adeline finds herself in the same place as her great grandmother did with a hot stalker.Zade is a leader of a vigilante group that's only mission is to bring down trafficking rings and the horrible people that run them. And not just any type of trafficking rings. Rings that are linked to very powerful people in the country and the world. Zade is determined to get as many women and children to safety as he can. He puts himself in the line of fire to save the lives of the innocent people taken by these rings. He sounds like an ideal guy right? Well, did I mention he's also Adeline's stalker? Zade stumbles across Adeline by accident and it's a wrap for him. He wants to make her his and there's nothing that's going to stop him. Now I'm not saying he's still not an ideal guy (I do love him), but let's just say these are two VERY opposite qualities. On one hand, you have this man trying to save women and child, but on the other hand he's stalking a woman. Many would argue he can't be both a good and terrible guy at the same time, but I think this book begs to differ.I personally loved Adeline and thought she was a dynamic heroine. She was sassy, fun, and radiated fierceness. She does stand up for herself throughout the book, even to Zade, although standing up to him doesn't do much. I liked that we get her inner thoughts on Zade as their relationship plays out. I like watching her slowly open up to him and trust that he'll protect her, which seems like the opposite thing a stalker would do. One of my favorite things was when Adeline told her friend about one of her spicy encounters with Zade and that he "took her soul". I couldn't be more jealous of her, trust me. Based on the cliffhanger, book two isn't going to be an easy ride for Adeline, but I know she's going to be okay. Someone as fierce as her work her way through any situation, even if it takes some time.I cannot explain how much I love Zade. I know, I know, he's a stalker. Here's the thing: I just don't care. He really had me contemplating if getting stalked is that bad (it is, but let's ignore that). I loved how he was written to be so multilayered. H.D. Carlton knew what she was doing when she wrote him this way. He's meant to challenge everything you know and make you wonder if he's really all that bad. His qualities are so opposite of each other that he left me spinning so much throughout this book. I would take pauses while reading and say out loud, "Am I actually into this man?" or "I'm in love with this unhinged man. Am I good?" I laughed way too many times when doing this because I just know how people would react in my life if I told them how much I love Zade. The mouth on Zade is UNMATCHED. God, that man says the wildest stuff, but it's so unbelievably hot. And the things he does with his hands to Adeline? Where do I sign up??? I love his love for Adeline and I can't wait to see what he does in book two knowing how this book ended.The writing in this book is beautiful and so good. H.D. Carlton is talented and it shows in this book. I enjoyed the different storylines taking place and how they all connected to one another. I thought it was interesting to see Adeline live a similar life to her great grandmother. I think getting to read her great grandmother's thoughts on her own personal stalked helped Adeline in her own way. This book is just so so so good! I cannot recommend it enough. I do STRONGLY encourage everyone consider the triggers before reading. I look forward to book two!

This book is good. It has back stories and intricate details that relate the characters together. Throughout the book, I wasn't sure if I should have been sickned by the words on the page, but none the less I was intrigued. The term "enemies" to lovers takes a whole new turn thru this series. It's captivating and leaved me wanting more. The "love" between adeline and zade is not the conventional kind, but it is all encapsulating regardless. And if you're reading the book, you're clearly a fan of smut, and this book is spicy.

i own the book and the audiobook and im just not sure this was for me.the style of writing reminded me a lot of certain kinds of contemporary writing and fanfiction. i prefer a little more exposition and a little more feelings of place.i gave this book three stars because the underlying story/plot was interesting to me and i would have probably continued on to read book two, but the FMC was so pliant and felt so hollow to me. it was mentally difficult to get through for me.i'm very aware that some people use this kind of media as healing for their own experiences with SA and i have so much respect for that, but if that's not you, this might feel like a lot of grape where the FMC ends up with Stockholm syndrome.it wasn't for me, but maybe it's for you!