Haunting Adeline by H.D Carlton

Why Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton Will Ruin You for All Other Book Boyfriends

 

 

“I love that I scare you. I love that you try to run from me... The cat and mouse game. I fucking love it. And I think a part of you does, too.”

 

If you’re looking for a sweet love story with flowers, kisses, and cozy vibes… this ain’t it.

Let me be clear: Haunting Adeline is not for the faint of heart.

This book is dark—dark dark—and absolutely unhinged in the best way.

It’s packed with gore, violence, and smut so scorching it should come with a warning label (oh wait—it does). 

Here’s what I have to say.

 

Genre: Dark romance with heavy psychological thriller elements.

Meet Adeline: The Reluctant Heroine Caught in Shadows

Adeline is a beautiful author whose life takes a chilling turn when she inherits her late grandmother’s mansion.

She’s independent, curious, and enjoys living in a house that seems haunted.

When Addie discovers her grandmother’s diary and finds out that her grandmother was murdered, it shakes her world but it also draws her deeper into the house’s mysteries.

 As she settles into her new life, Addie starts realizing that someone has been watching her—and that her feelings of being haunted are more than just ghosts.

 

 

 

Adeline isn’t a deeply complex character, and that’s part of her charm. 

She’s not badly written; she’s simply a woman caught in the crosshairs of a brilliant, terrifying stalker who will stop at nothing to claim her.

 

Zade Meadows: Stalker, Villain…Savior?

Zade. Let’s talk about Zade.

Zade Meadows grew up in a loving home with two wonderful parents, but there was always a darkness inside him—a darkness he embraces because, let’s be honest, he wants to. 

Zade is a vigilante, a genius who runs a deeply secret private organization that targets powerful people behind illegal human trafficking, saving countless lives in his own morally grey way.

Yet don’t mistake him for a saint.

Zade enjoys torturing his enemies in graphic, inventive ways.

 

“All I want to do is break her. Shatter her into pieces. And then arrange those pieces to fit against my own. I don’t care if they don’t fit—I’ll fucking make them.”

 

He’s a textbook “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” character—doing what needs to be done, no matter how extreme, because the world is a cruel place and someone has to take control.

Zade meets Addie at a book signing, and in that instant, it’s over.

She’s his.

No games, no hesitation—done.

Obsessed, protective, and dangerously intelligent, Zade’s fixation on Addie drives the tension and the thrill of the story.

He’s dark, he’s intense, and he’s impossible not to be captivated by.

H.D. Carlton somehow created a character who you shouldn’t like, but instead, you’re saying “ruin me” by chapter ten.

I know, I need help.

 

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Let’s Talk Spice

You already know that dark romance comes with a lot of smut—and this book does not hold back.

The scenes are filthy, intense, and unapologetically explicit, hitting again and again throughout the story.

It’s the kind of smut that makes your heart race, your palms sweat, and leaves you a little breathless.

 

“Let me know which stars you prefer. The ones above you, or the ones I make you see.”

 

The intimacy in this book is tied to obsession, power, and the twisted dynamic between Addie and Zade.

Every scene pushes boundaries, reminding you that this isn’t a light romance—this is dark, daring, and wicked. 

By the time you finish, you’ll be fully immersed in their dangerous, heated connection, and maybe lowkey wishing you were in Addie’s shoes.

 

Crossing Lines: The Darker Side of Haunting Adeline

I want to be upfront—Haunting Adeline is not without its issues.

While I liked the book overall, there are moments that made me pause and have reservations.

Zade is obsessed with Addie, and his actions are extreme and at times, cross the line in ways that are deeply problematic.

He rapes Addie multiple times until she eventually gives in to the pleasure and comes to him willingly.

That doesn’t make it okay, and it’s important to acknowledge that.

 

 

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That said, this is a dark romance, and part of the genre is that boundaries are pushed and lines are erased.

Zade’s behavior is disturbing, yet it’s written to reflect his obsession and his twisted moral code.

I did find his character inconsistent—he saves young women from sex trafficking and helps them recover, yet subjects Addie to the same kind of treatment, believing she is “his” and must submit.

There’s no explanation given for this duality, which made me pause, but it also adds to the realism of his dangerous, unpredictable nature.

This book isn’t for everyone, and I think it’s important to recognize the darker elements and the moral ambiguity.

But for readers who enjoy dark romance, twisted obsession, and morally grey heroes, these lines are part of what makes Zade such a terrifying—and captivating —character.

 

Final Thoughts

Haunting Adeline is a psychological tug-of-war, a morally twisted journey, and a character study of obsession and control.

It’s not for everyone—but if you’re into toxic men, dark plots, and some of the wildest smut you’ve ever read, this book is the ride.

Oh, and did I mention it ends on a brutal cliffhanger?

Book two is coming. And yes, I’ll be reviewing Hunting Adeline next—because I need to know what happens.

Read this for fun. Read it to escape. Read it for Zade. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Until my next read,

Marianna ♥

 

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