Haunting Adeline (H. D. Carlton)

Description

Haunting Adeline

by H.D. Carlton is a provocative and chilling dark romance that delves into the shadows of obsession, power, trauma, and forbidden desire. With its intense psychological twists and unapologetically dark themes, the novel invites readers into a world where danger and desire dance dangerously close, challenging the very boundaries of morality, love, and control.

The story follows Adeline Reilly, a successful author known for her gothic novels, who inherits her grandmother’s eerie, old estate—Parsons Manor—after her death. Isolated on a cliffside and soaked in mystery, the house feels like a character of its own. As Adeline settles in, she begins to uncover long-buried secrets about her family’s past, including her great-grandmother’s mysterious disappearance. The manor whispers of unfinished business, shadowed corners, and an unsettling presence that seems to watch her every move.

But the past is not the only thing haunting Adeline.

Enter Zade Meadows, a dark, enigmatic man who operates outside the bounds of law and society. He is a vigilante hacker running an underground organization that rescues trafficked women, but Zade is not a conventional hero. From the moment he lays eyes on Adeline, he becomes consumed by her. His obsession is overwhelming, invasive, and terrifyingly methodical. He watches her. Follows her. Inserts himself into her life without consent. And yet, beneath the fear and fury, there’s a pull that Adeline cannot deny.

Zade’s pursuit is relentless—calculated yet unhinged. He believes that what he feels for Adeline is love, though his methods are twisted and disturbing. For Adeline, fear and fascination intertwine as she confronts the terrifying reality of being stalked by someone she both hates and is inexplicably drawn to. As she descends into a psychological labyrinth of desire and confusion, her own dark past begins to surface—one filled with buried trauma and unspoken pain. She realizes that the monsters of her past and the one staring at her through the glass may not be so different.

The relationship between Adeline and Zade is central to the novel and drives its disturbing yet compelling narrative. It is not a love story in the traditional sense—it is violent, manipulative, toxic, and raw. H.D. Carlton does not shy away from depicting scenes of psychological manipulation, coercion, and non-consensual behavior, making this a novel for mature audiences who are prepared for emotionally triggering content. The novel blurs the lines between right and wrong, pleasure and pain, and safety and captivity.

Despite the darkness, Haunting Adeline is also a story of power—how it’s taken, how it’s reclaimed, and how it’s wielded. Adeline, though victimized and controlled, is not passive. She fights back. She questions her feelings. She faces her trauma. And most importantly, she begins to reclaim her narrative. Her arc from vulnerability to strength adds a layer of emotional depth and psychological complexity to a story already brimming with suspense and erotic tension.

H.D. Carlton’s writing is atmospheric, poetic, and often disjointed in a way that mirrors Adeline’s unraveling mental state. The story is told from dual perspectives—Adeline’s and Zade’s—giving readers intimate access to both the prey and the predator. This narrative structure intensifies the tension and reveals the obsessive motivations driving each character. The prose is both lyrical and gritty, enhancing the eerie gothic tone while plunging the reader deep into the twisted psychology of its characters.

Haunting Adeline is not for the faint of heart. It challenges, disturbs, and provokes. It’s a book that many will love and many will hate, but few will forget. For readers who enjoy dark romance, psychological thrillers, and morally gray characters, this book is a gripping, unforgettable ride into the dangerous edges of passion and control. It is the first installment in the Cat and Mouse Duet, leaving readers on a cliffhanger that promises even more darkness—and revelations—in the sequel, Hunting Adeline.