Hunting Adeline completely wrecked me. If I thought Haunting Adeline was dark, I was not prepared for this book. The second half of the duet takes everything to another level—more intense, more brutal, more emotional and somehow even more addictive.

Adeline’s journey is heartbreaking and horrifying, but watching her fight to survive and find her strength made her such a powerful character. Meanwhile, Zade is still Zade—morally questionable, obsessive and completely unhinged, but somehow you can’t look away from him.

This book is definitely not for everyone. It deals with extremely dark and confronting themes, and there were moments where I genuinely had to put the book down. But despite how difficult some scenes were, I was completely invested in the story and desperate to know what would happen next.

The emotional intensity, the obsession, the revenge and the twisted romance kept me turning the pages. I went through every possible emotion reading this—anger, sadness, shock, anxiety and occasionally what the actual hell am I reading?! 😂

It’s disturbing, addictive and definitely a book that stays in your head long after you finish it.

If you’re looking for a dark romance that pushes the limits, this duet will absolutely do that.

⚠️ Check the trigger warnings before reading. This is an extremely dark romance.

Adeline's trauma in this book was extremely confronting and difficult to read. It felt like I was watching from the sidelines, and it was sickening and heart-wrenching, but I was so captivated by the narrative. This book is considerably darker than the first, and although the first half of this book was a hard pill to swallow, it made the second half so much more rewarding. Adeline's strength was out of this world, amazing. She was incredibly brave and courageous. A fighter through and through. Although at times her smart mouth and desire to protect others were infuriating because of the consequences she faced. Zade's perseverance to find Adeline was admirable. His unwavering support, heart-warming. I loved Sibby's character so much. She was hilarious and really brought a light to the darkness. The girl power was immaculate! I could not stop reading either of these books. They hook you in, and even though some messed up stuff happens, you can't look away. Zade is the ultimate, top-tier morally grey character. Zade and Adeline are perfectly imperfect yet a complimentary match. I highly recommend this duet!

{ This duet is not for the faint of heart but is a great read. Please take the trigger warnings seriously. }

Hunting Adeline, the second book in H.D. Carlton’s Cat and Mouse duet, picks up right where the first book’s cliffhanger left off and it wastes no time dragging you back into the darkness. This book is raw, harrowing, and emotional, taking Adeline and Zade’s story to a whole new level of intensity and vulnerability.

Adeline’s journey in this sequel is both painful and empowering. After being taken and trapped in a world filled with monsters, she endures unimaginable horrors but she refuses to stay broken. Watching her claw her way back from that darkness, piece by piece, is heartbreaking and inspiring. She is no longer just the haunted writer from book one, she becomes a survivor, a fighter, and eventually, an avenger. Her transformation into the “angel of death” is one of the most powerful arcs I have ever read in a dark romance.

Zade, meanwhile, becomes an unstoppable force. The moment Adeline is taken, the “Hunter” in him awakens, and he will burn the world down to get her back. His love is primal, obsessive, and consuming, but beneath that darkness is a fierce loyalty and tenderness that makes him impossible not to love. When they finally reunite, it is not just about passion, it is about healing. Zade’s patience, devotion, and quiet strength help Adeline rediscover herself after everything she’s endured. Their bond deepens beyond the obsession of book one into something raw, broken, and real.

The chemistry between Adeline and Zade is explosive, filled with pain, longing, and redemption. Carlton does not shy away from showing how love can both wound and heal, and that’s what makes this story unforgettable. Their reunion is not a fairytale; it is messy, emotional, and deeply human.

The authors writing is haunting balancing brutality with beauty. She captures trauma and love with honesty and depth, never sugarcoating the darkness but still finding light within it. This book made me cry, flinch, and ultimately smile through tears.

If Haunting Adeline left you heartbroken, Hunting Adeline will help you heal, though not in a flawless way, but with resilience and honesty. This dark, emotional journey delivers the conclusion that Adeline and Zade truly deserve: it’s not easy or pretty, but it’s undeniably powerful and unforgettable.

The audiobook version once again shines, bringing the story to life in a brilliant way. The narration enhances the emotional depth, making the experience even more impactful for listeners.

3.5 ⭐️

This is my 2nd attempt at this book.

I'd give it 4⭐️ for Part 1 and 3⭐️ for Part 2.

I really enjoyed Part 1 (well enjoyed isn't the right word 🤣) but it kept me interested and I flew through it. Part 2 really dragged for me and I struggled to get through it. I just wanted to get through it so I could start on my next read.

Also, why does everyone book end with a ring?!! It really annoys me.

I want to start by commending the author on their effort. The book is undeniably well-written, and the story is well-structured. It's clear that a great deal of work went into crafting this book, and for that reason, I am giving it five stars. I don’t believe in deducting stars for a book that is well-developed and executed, even if it wasn’t to my personal taste.

That said, while I appreciated the technical aspects of the book, I found it incredibly difficult to finish, and I know I’ll never revisit it. The main issue for me was the male lead, Zade. I enjoy anti-villain bad guys, but Zade felt like he was trying way too hard to embody that persona. His behavior and dialogue often came across as over-the-top and unnatural—almost like he was performing for the reader. Every time he spoke, I could practically hear him saying, “Look at me, I’m the big bad guy!” It pulled me out of the story and made it hard to connect with or even tolerate his character.

As for the “spicy” scenes, they weren’t my cup of tea either. The extreme violence and use of weapons as part of the intimacy felt less like BDSM and more like outright brutality. Coupled with the context—that these scenes happen after the female lead has been kidnapped and assaulted for months—it was simply too gruesome for me. I found myself skimming through these chapters because they were so far outside of what I find enjoyable or even palatable in a dark romance—a genre I usually enjoy.

Speaking of the female lead, I’m struggling to even remember her name, which says a lot about her character. If it wasn't on the cover, I'd be stumped. She came across as shallow and forgettable, leaving no real impression on me. On the other hand, the side character Sibby was a standout. She was hilarious, memorable, and far more engaging than either of the leads. I actually found myself enjoying her scenes the most.

Overall, this is a book I’d categorize as “read once and move on.” It’s well-crafted, but the characters and the tone just didn’t work for me. Hopefully, my thoughts are helpful for anyone considering this book.

I went straight into ‘Hunting Adeline’ after reading the cliffhanger from ‘Haunting Adeline’ and I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I would go as far as to say that ‘Haunting’ sets up the world and characters for ‘Hunting’ to reveal the true story.

It won’t be a surprise to anyone who’s read the first book that this one starts with Adeline in a less the ideal situation, and it only gets worse. Props to H. D. Carlton for creating a world of violence and assault with just enough detail to hit home how bad things are without being outright descriptive and disturbing. Some events are even skipped over in favour of learning about them through Adeline’s diary entries (a worthy replacement for Gigi’s diaries entries in the first book).

I also appreciated how Adeline is given time to heal both mental and physically afterwards before progressing her relationship with Zade.

I will say that I left this book with a few unanswered questions (especially if Adeline and Zade eventually adopted little Sarah) but I have hope that we’ll learn more at a later date from the prospective of other characters.

Overall a moving, dark and highly emotional story. Well worth the read.

I loved this story about Adeline Reilly ( The Manipulator) and Zade Meadows (The Shadow). I loved their journey to them finding their happy ever after.

I get it, I get the hype, and this duet is one hundred percent worth it ♡ Can we just take a moment for Sibby 🫠 I couldn't get enough of her man she stole a lot of the show for me with her henchmen and their apparent orgi3s. This book will rip your heart and soul out, break it to pieces, and piece it back together slowly and painfully. Just the way Zaddy likes it. I loved seeing the softer side of Zade with Addie. He was patient when needed and firm when she was spiraling. I can definitely see why if people didn't read the full duet, they wouldn't like it. You have to read both to really understand Zade and Addie's relationship.

As with book 1, check your TWs. This book is much darker and more confronting in a lot of aspects.

When Addie is taken by the world, Zade fought to keep her from both their worlds are turned upside down. Zade has seen this vile world for many years and the thought of his little mouse suffering such unspeakable evil crushes his soul in an entirely new way 💔 Addie is kept off grid making it even harder to track her down, like so many before her sold into the skin trade she disappears without a trace.

When Addie wakes up to the world she now finds herself in, nothing could prepare her for the horrors she'll endure that will leave her as a shell of her former self. Zade works around the clock to right his wrong and get Addie. He quite literally burnt the world down to get her, but not before a little tortur3. But Addie is not the same afterwards. How could she be. What she endured haunts her every waking and sleeping moment, and despite his patience, she doesn't believe Zade and her will ever have what they once did. Zade is patient, and eventually, he helps her regain her power. He gives her all the power, sitting at her feet like the queen she is. He'll never let her go, and for once, she's finally thankful not to be treated like fragile glass. Addie takes back her power in a very blo0dy way, but it's what helps her never forget but move forward out of the darkness holding her captive.

Definitely Recommend Reading 📚

j’ai adoré je recommande cette histoire

I’ve been waiting for this book for months and no amount of expectation could’ve prepared me for *how amazingly fantastic this book was*. The pacing of the story and the development of the plot was everything I had hoped for and more. The way that Zade dealt with the trauma that was inflicted on Addie was utterly sensitive and so gentle I lost the account of times I cried.

If you’re hoping to read a book that has every single element of it perfectly done *THAT’S THE BOOK YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR*.

The dinamic between Zade, Addie, Jay, Daya and Sibby was my favorite thing in the book so far (I also lost the account of times I laughed with them). The interactions between the characters were absolutely perfect and the measure of light and shadow in H. D. Carlton paragraphs was so beautifully executed.

No amount of warning could prevent me from falling ardently in love with Zade. If he wasn’t already, after this book Zade is definitely my number 1 book boyfriend. Who couldn’t love a man that knows how to braid your hair and who is a Virgo?

Don’t forget to check the content warnings, because some parts of this book were very dark.

I believe the Cat and Mouse Duet will haunt me forever and I’m not complaining. And, yes, I swooned every single time Zade called Addie “his girl”. And, yes, so will you.

im sooSOO happy i bought this book from here, this is my first amazon purchase and honestly i bought a lot more books i wasnt too sure how it wld be like buying from amazon or if the book condition wld be good and real because i had the fake photocopied ver of this book from elsewhere. BUT OH MY GOSH everyt is real, condition is amazing and delivery was so fast im super happy and satisfiedd ! love this book series tooo tysm !!

Daughter really happy!

Llego en perfectas condiciones y rapido me encanto como empaquetaron el libro y el libro es muy muy bien me esta gusta pero si digo que no es para todos es un libro bastante oscuro.