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Cat and Mouse #0
Phantom
The married woman of the manor. The stranger outside. An intoxicating novel of dark temptation and dangerous desire by the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Cat and Mouse Duet.
November 12, 1944. This house holds on to souls for a lifetime. I thought I had given it to my husband when I vowed to love him until the end of time. I lied. Nothing could have prepared me for the day my phantom appeared outside my window. He was terrifying, yet hypnotizing, and I couldn’t deny my intrigue. I never intended to fall into a whirlwind romance with my stalker. Especially because he’s so much more than that. A criminal. A mobster. The man who offers me solace from the monster in Parsons Manor. There are many that haunt these halls, yet it’s only my husband I fear.
November 12, 1944. This house holds on to souls for a lifetime. I thought I had given it to my husband when I vowed to love him until the end of time. I lied. Nothing could have prepared me for the day my phantom appeared outside my window. He was terrifying, yet hypnotizing, and I couldn’t deny my intrigue. I never intended to fall into a whirlwind romance with my stalker. Especially because he’s so much more than that. A criminal. A mobster. The man who offers me solace from the monster in Parsons Manor. There are many that haunt these halls, yet it’s only my husband I fear.
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First published January 4, 2025
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January 16, 2025If you're expecting another Zade, stop, and turn around. Zade is Zade, and there will never be another him. One day, some of you will have to accept that I have no plans to 😂 Ronaldo is a character of his own, and truthfully, more of a mobster than a stalker.
I never ever planned to write Gigi and Ronaldo's story. When I wrote Haunting Adeline, it wasn't even in the realm of possibility because of her tragedy.
But then a publisher wanted it, and only asked for a tiny 40k novella, and well, I said why not. So then Phantom was born. Except, I wrote a book double what I was supposed to. Oops.
Let me add a huge important note: The timeline of Phantom goes off of the *updated* version of Haunting and it's journal entries. If you go off the original entries, the timeline and events in the entries will make no sense.
Annoying? Very. Trust me, no one is more irritated by that than me lmao. I cursed past, unambitious HD for about 3 days straight.
Again, I never planned on giving Gigi a story back in 2020 when I started writing Haunting, so when I wrote those journal entries, I didn't give too much thought to the unfolding of her story. But the moment I dived into Gigi's book, her REAL story quickly unfolded, and suffice to say, my old entries were just NOT going to work. If I tried, her story would've suffered greatly, and she's been handed enough injustices, I didn't want to add a story forced into a very tight box on top of it.
If I was going to write her story, I was going to write it how it needed to be. So I made the decision to adjust her old entries in HA to match. Again, annoying, but very necessary.
Anyway, my focus for this story was their love. I know my readers are used to plot heavy books with chaos at every corner, but Gigi's chaos ends in such a tragic way that I wanted to focus on the portion of her life where she experienced true love and passion. Boring? Maybe to some, but true love can be boring sometimes.
Eventually, I MAY give you all more insight into the chaos, and idk, maybe her ending won't be what it seems. But for now, you have the option to read the calm before the storm.
*Bows dramatically* enjoy, y'all. Or don't, that's an option, too. 😘
I never ever planned to write Gigi and Ronaldo's story. When I wrote Haunting Adeline, it wasn't even in the realm of possibility because of her tragedy.
But then a publisher wanted it, and only asked for a tiny 40k novella, and well, I said why not. So then Phantom was born. Except, I wrote a book double what I was supposed to. Oops.
Let me add a huge important note: The timeline of Phantom goes off of the *updated* version of Haunting and it's journal entries. If you go off the original entries, the timeline and events in the entries will make no sense.
Annoying? Very. Trust me, no one is more irritated by that than me lmao. I cursed past, unambitious HD for about 3 days straight.
Again, I never planned on giving Gigi a story back in 2020 when I started writing Haunting, so when I wrote those journal entries, I didn't give too much thought to the unfolding of her story. But the moment I dived into Gigi's book, her REAL story quickly unfolded, and suffice to say, my old entries were just NOT going to work. If I tried, her story would've suffered greatly, and she's been handed enough injustices, I didn't want to add a story forced into a very tight box on top of it.
If I was going to write her story, I was going to write it how it needed to be. So I made the decision to adjust her old entries in HA to match. Again, annoying, but very necessary.
Anyway, my focus for this story was their love. I know my readers are used to plot heavy books with chaos at every corner, but Gigi's chaos ends in such a tragic way that I wanted to focus on the portion of her life where she experienced true love and passion. Boring? Maybe to some, but true love can be boring sometimes.
Eventually, I MAY give you all more insight into the chaos, and idk, maybe her ending won't be what it seems. But for now, you have the option to read the calm before the storm.
*Bows dramatically* enjoy, y'all. Or don't, that's an option, too. 😘
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2025
It only took me three chapters to realize I had basically paid for my disappointment 🤦🏻♀️🫸🏻
Want to read
October 19, 2024THE ONLY HISTORICAL ROMANCE I’LL WILLINGLY READ JAN 21ST WILL HATE TO SEE ME COMING
ITS A PREQUEL TO H.A. Of GIGI I CANT WAITTTTT
ITS A PREQUEL TO H.A. Of GIGI I CANT WAITTTTT
February 24, 2025
★★★★★
“𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁?”
Genevieve Matilda Parsons, a woman obsessed with gothic architecture, red lipstick, and her journal, lived peacefully with her husband, John, and their daughter, Sera. Their tranquility shattered when John began gambling, losing their money and Genevieve's trust. Each night, he'd return home drunk, full of false promises of luxury cars and a lavish life. Then, one night, he came home sober and made love to Genevieve, mistaking her for another woman. This betrayal was the final straw.
With her marriage crumbling, Gigi feels a profound emptiness. Then,The Phantom enters her life, offering a way to fill that void."
“𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀, 𝗺𝗶𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗮,” 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆. “𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗺.”
Ronaldo, a man with one eye and a heart that belonged to Genevieve, watching her from the trees bordering her husband's estate make his love for the married woman grew with each stolen glimpse. He finally ventured to the manor. The door, it seemed, was waiting for him. A love affair began with the beautiful woman who had abandoned her marital duties with John, begging the stranger for a touch. She was always ready for him, but he always fled.
She pleased him but he warned her.
Now, she was the one trapped, unable to escape him, a betrayer herself .
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿:
Gigi and John were guests at a party hosted by a powerful mob family, the Salvatores. John, deeply in debt to them, had involved his wife in his dangerous dealings. To protect Gigi from harm, Ronaldo secretly paid off John's debt. He then persuaded the boss, Angelo, to give John a job as an accountant.
𝗔𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗜’𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗜 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁.
At that party, Gigi met Ronaldo, the man known as the consigliere of the mafia boss—and faced her fate 🥵.
𝗣.𝗦
While I believe in the sanctity of marriage, I find myself captivated by this narrative. Genevieve's relationship with Ronaldo seems to awaken a part of her she'd long suppressed. The waterfall scene is particularly powerful; it's there she rediscovers a sense of freedom and embraces new possibilities with him.
𝗠𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝘃 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 when Ronaldo called Gigi ℳ𝒾𝒶 𝓇ℴ𝓈𝒶
"𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗲"
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
Stalker romance
Mafia romance
He falls first
Touch her and 🔪🔪🔪
Forbidden love 🤫
on-page rape and domestic violence (not between love interests)
“𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁?”
Genevieve Matilda Parsons, a woman obsessed with gothic architecture, red lipstick, and her journal, lived peacefully with her husband, John, and their daughter, Sera. Their tranquility shattered when John began gambling, losing their money and Genevieve's trust. Each night, he'd return home drunk, full of false promises of luxury cars and a lavish life. Then, one night, he came home sober and made love to Genevieve, mistaking her for another woman. This betrayal was the final straw.
With her marriage crumbling, Gigi feels a profound emptiness. Then,The Phantom enters her life, offering a way to fill that void."
“𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀, 𝗺𝗶𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗮,” 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆. “𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗺.”
Ronaldo, a man with one eye and a heart that belonged to Genevieve, watching her from the trees bordering her husband's estate make his love for the married woman grew with each stolen glimpse. He finally ventured to the manor. The door, it seemed, was waiting for him. A love affair began with the beautiful woman who had abandoned her marital duties with John, begging the stranger for a touch. She was always ready for him, but he always fled.
She pleased him but he warned her.
Now, she was the one trapped, unable to escape him, a betrayer herself .
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿:
Gigi and John were guests at a party hosted by a powerful mob family, the Salvatores. John, deeply in debt to them, had involved his wife in his dangerous dealings. To protect Gigi from harm, Ronaldo secretly paid off John's debt. He then persuaded the boss, Angelo, to give John a job as an accountant.
𝗔𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗜’𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗜 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁.
At that party, Gigi met Ronaldo, the man known as the consigliere of the mafia boss—and faced her fate 🥵.
𝗣.𝗦
While I believe in the sanctity of marriage, I find myself captivated by this narrative. Genevieve's relationship with Ronaldo seems to awaken a part of her she'd long suppressed. The waterfall scene is particularly powerful; it's there she rediscovers a sense of freedom and embraces new possibilities with him.
𝗠𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝘃 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 when Ronaldo called Gigi ℳ𝒾𝒶 𝓇ℴ𝓈𝒶
"𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗲"
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
Stalker romance
Mafia romance
He falls first
Touch her and 🔪🔪🔪
Forbidden love 🤫
on-page rape and domestic violence (not between love interests)
January 23, 2025
eating up every single H.D Carlton Book
November 10, 2025
I can’t imagine saying I’m in love with a dude and boning him before I wonder “gee, how DID he wind up at my house? He’s been stalking me, and now we’re in love. Sure. But how did he find me to begin with?” You let him in your house and in your pants but never asked a basic question? I suppose myself and this main character are simply built different.
Want to read
December 17, 2024THE NEW COVER IS SOOOO PRETTY AND IT'S GIVING MAJOR 19s VIBES!!
SHIT IT'S GIGI'S BOOK WTF 💀
[Adeline's grandma and her stalker]
ngl the author randomly drop books and always leave me shocked. i would've never guessed that the next book is about them 😭 besides cheating is something, we all frown upon, so let's see what excuse we'll get 😭 (sorry there's no excuse but... some leniency?) 😂
NEW HAILEY CARLTON'S BOOK!! 😩✨
SHIT IT'S GIGI'S BOOK WTF 💀
[Adeline's grandma and her stalker]
ngl the author randomly drop books and always leave me shocked. i would've never guessed that the next book is about them 😭 besides cheating is something, we all frown upon, so let's see what excuse we'll get 😭 (sorry there's no excuse but... some leniency?) 😂
NEW HAILEY CARLTON'S BOOK!! 😩✨
March 27, 2025
reading this almost felt nostalgic? it has been some time since i read the cat and mouse duet but being back in that house and in that world (albeit in a different time) felt so good. this was a super short and easy read, i loved getting the full story behind the journal pages and getting Gigi's POV.
I WILL READ ANYTHING H. D. CARLTON WRITES OK?!
I WILL READ ANYTHING H. D. CARLTON WRITES OK?!
January 18, 2025
Can't even lie guys, I was not one of the people who was wanting/begging for Gigi & Ronaldo’s story. I really didn’t care about them, I knew how their story ended and therefore didn’t really WANT to care about them
And then Hailey wrote about them, and now… NOW I CARE ABOUT THEM TOO MUCH!!!
Oh my gosh this book was so good. I love it, I love them. They are my babies 🥹🥹🥹
They had such a soft romance in my opinion. It was sweet and gentle and getting to watch them both really grow to trust and love each other was so beautiful. I thought they were so cute. Gigi learning what actual love is. Ronaldo finding THE woman he wanted to fall in love with. Both of them experiencing their first REAL love together. GOSH they were adorable to me.
It was amazing to see Gigi discover who she was and come into herself while Ronaldo supported and helped her grow. THE LAST CHAPTER?? THE WATERFALLS AND TRAVELING THE WORLD?? OH BABES!! THEY GOT ME!! MY HEART KNOWING HOW THEIR STORY ENDS 💔
They really just wanted to be with each other and LIVE. My poor babies. The plans they had, the love they wanted to cherish and share. AHHH my heart
I feel like this book had it all. Angst, heartfelt moments, character growth, and of course SPICEEEE
Would it be an H.D. Carlton book without spice hotter than fire? NO it would not 🤣
I really did not think I was going to fall in love with them!! Now look at me! I was a MESS in that little bonus chapter of them just dancing together.
OH MY GOD IM TEARING UP FROM THEIR SWEETNESS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT!!
Hailey, you have done it once again!!
And then Hailey wrote about them, and now… NOW I CARE ABOUT THEM TOO MUCH!!!
Oh my gosh this book was so good. I love it, I love them. They are my babies 🥹🥹🥹
They had such a soft romance in my opinion. It was sweet and gentle and getting to watch them both really grow to trust and love each other was so beautiful. I thought they were so cute. Gigi learning what actual love is. Ronaldo finding THE woman he wanted to fall in love with. Both of them experiencing their first REAL love together. GOSH they were adorable to me.
It was amazing to see Gigi discover who she was and come into herself while Ronaldo supported and helped her grow. THE LAST CHAPTER?? THE WATERFALLS AND TRAVELING THE WORLD?? OH BABES!! THEY GOT ME!! MY HEART KNOWING HOW THEIR STORY ENDS 💔
They really just wanted to be with each other and LIVE. My poor babies. The plans they had, the love they wanted to cherish and share. AHHH my heart
I feel like this book had it all. Angst, heartfelt moments, character growth, and of course SPICEEEE
Would it be an H.D. Carlton book without spice hotter than fire? NO it would not 🤣
I really did not think I was going to fall in love with them!! Now look at me! I was a MESS in that little bonus chapter of them just dancing together.
OH MY GOD IM TEARING UP FROM THEIR SWEETNESS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT!!
Hailey, you have done it once again!!
January 16, 2025
📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog: ╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
'P𝐇A𝐍T𝐎M' A prequel to the Cat & Mouse duet but can be read as a standalone. This is about Ronaldo and Genevieve.
Whatever this author writes, I will read, before the blurb or cover had dropped I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this, then when I learnt it was about Gigi and Roberto, my anticipation levels skyrocketed. We’d only had diary entry snippets within the Cat & Mouse duet and I wanted more of their backstory.
So once this went live, I dived in..
Though I didn’t love this as much as the duet, it still made for an enjoyable historical romance read.
We're thrust back into the 1940s, a dangerous time where everyone seemed to be looking over their shoulders with a powerful mafia family creating unrest on the streets.
We're thrown back into Parsons Manor, the dark gothic mansion where ghosts reside, the lady of the manor Genevieve is married to John, the father of her child, and the one man who holds all her firsts. In recent times John's been coming home drunk more times than not, as he gambles every penny they have, spending their life savings, and oftentimes they can't afford their mortgage or utilities let alone food and she agonises over how she'll feed her teenage daughter Sera, whom she loves dearly.
She spends her days writing in her diary, gazing out into space agonising over the fact that they could lose everything. And wonders if her husband is wrapped up with the wrong people due to his gambling and drinking and when that danger will come knocking on their door.
On such a day as she's lost in thought staring out the window she spots a man in a trenchcoat wearing a black fedora, shielding his face from view standing in the shadows who appears to be watching her. She's convinced he's here for John.
This phantom man has been visiting her for weeks, though she's unaware as he's only allowed her to catch glimpses of him a few times. Admittedly he was here for John. But now that he's caught sight of the beautiful woman behind the window he's become undeniably obsessed with her.
That obsession from afar steps into her home, like a ghost he won't speak for weeks on end, never uttering his name, and then turns around and walks back out leaving his soul behind with her..
'𝙽𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢-𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛.
𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚗.....
𝙷𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜' 💋
Losing count of the times he wantanly visits, she openly shares her past and it's not long before they embark on a forbidden passionate love affair.
'𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎, 𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎.
'𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕,
𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚐𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞.
𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚘𝚖, 𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚛.' 🎩
The love these two share is undeniable, it's heartbreaking, it's beautiful.
March 3, 2025
3.25! someone remind me to stop listening to dark romance as an audiobook … i LOVED getting gigi’s story - but i didn’t personally connect to this one much❤️🩹
January 14, 2025
It’s Basically like Haunting Adeline but if you were to buy it from shein :) Happy time wasting… I mean Happy Reading :)
January 18, 2025
4.5⭐️
HD Carlton is the only author who get me to read a historical romance and I actually enjoy every single page of it!!!!
1940s mob boss, gothic stalker romance? Ugh say no more. I’ve said it before but she really gets stalker romance done so perfectly and this delivered on so many avenues!
Getting Gigi’s story is something I’ve wondered about for 2 years since I read C&M.
Ronaldo is such a well written mafia man, the romance was so angsty, and he was the perfect obsessive, touch her and die MMC
Gigi’s abusive husband gets them into debt, and Ronaldo comes to collect what’s owed, and that’s how he crosses paths with Gigi, and the obsession begins! I ate every part of this up and honestly the bonus chapter 😮💨😮💨
I wish it was longer, I always find HD Carlton leaves me wanting more because her stories are that good ♥️
HD Carlton is the only author who get me to read a historical romance and I actually enjoy every single page of it!!!!
1940s mob boss, gothic stalker romance? Ugh say no more. I’ve said it before but she really gets stalker romance done so perfectly and this delivered on so many avenues!
Getting Gigi’s story is something I’ve wondered about for 2 years since I read C&M.
Ronaldo is such a well written mafia man, the romance was so angsty, and he was the perfect obsessive, touch her and die MMC
Gigi’s abusive husband gets them into debt, and Ronaldo comes to collect what’s owed, and that’s how he crosses paths with Gigi, and the obsession begins! I ate every part of this up and honestly the bonus chapter 😮💨😮💨
I wish it was longer, I always find HD Carlton leaves me wanting more because her stories are that good ♥️
January 25, 2025
“If Genevieve is my end, then I open the door to death with no hesitation.”
audio: 5 stars
plot: 3 stars
overall: 3.5 stars
I didn't have super high expectations for this book, but seeing as I liked the cat and mouse duet, I was interested in Gigi's story.
I would categorize this book as "just okay". It isn't bad, but it didn't blow me away either. The audiobook is really well done, and Ronaldo was SOOO SWOONY. The sheer poetry of this man's words.. damn🥵 I liked how Gigi's confidence grew throughout the story.. I mean the scene where SHE made him beg??? “Good boy. You sound so pretty when you beg.” Ok Gigi queen I see you😂
“I call you my rose because for you, I would take all your pain so you would suffer none,” I tell her softly. “I would go through hell for you. Die for you. Do anything you asked. I love you, mia rosa. More than you will ever know.”
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to only love you in the dark when you deserve to be loved in the light?”
“Nothing could compare to the likes of you, my love. You are the most beautiful flower and the rarest gem, more breathtaking than any of earth’s wonders.”
“There will never be another, nor will I live a life without you. Death awaits us all, Genevieve. Even still, it will not keep me from you.”
“You’ve lost your mind,” I breathe. “Since the moment I saw you,” he confirms.”
The man undoubtedly had a way with words 😮💨
My dislikes:
While their love was romantic, it was kind of shallow to me.. almost lust-based. I know this is a stalker romance, but something was just missing for me.. I wanted more depth for their relationship. I still enjoyed this but it was kind of a forgettable enjoyment and not a lasting one😅
the spice was good, but it got a little bit boring towards the end there for me.
If you've read the cat and mouse duet, you know that Gigi meets a tragic end, and this book does end on a happy for now note, but the bonus chapter from Addie's pov helped with rounding out her story with Ronaldo.
Overall, if you read and liked the cat and mouse duet, I think you would enjoy this, but it isn't a book I will be thinking about anytime soon😅
audio: 5 stars
plot: 3 stars
overall: 3.5 stars
I didn't have super high expectations for this book, but seeing as I liked the cat and mouse duet, I was interested in Gigi's story.
I would categorize this book as "just okay". It isn't bad, but it didn't blow me away either. The audiobook is really well done, and Ronaldo was SOOO SWOONY. The sheer poetry of this man's words.. damn🥵 I liked how Gigi's confidence grew throughout the story.. I mean the scene where SHE made him beg??? “Good boy. You sound so pretty when you beg.” Ok Gigi queen I see you😂
“I call you my rose because for you, I would take all your pain so you would suffer none,” I tell her softly. “I would go through hell for you. Die for you. Do anything you asked. I love you, mia rosa. More than you will ever know.”
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to only love you in the dark when you deserve to be loved in the light?”
“Nothing could compare to the likes of you, my love. You are the most beautiful flower and the rarest gem, more breathtaking than any of earth’s wonders.”
“There will never be another, nor will I live a life without you. Death awaits us all, Genevieve. Even still, it will not keep me from you.”
“You’ve lost your mind,” I breathe. “Since the moment I saw you,” he confirms.”
The man undoubtedly had a way with words 😮💨
My dislikes:
While their love was romantic, it was kind of shallow to me.. almost lust-based. I know this is a stalker romance, but something was just missing for me.. I wanted more depth for their relationship. I still enjoyed this but it was kind of a forgettable enjoyment and not a lasting one😅
the spice was good, but it got a little bit boring towards the end there for me.
If you've read the cat and mouse duet, you know that Gigi meets a tragic end, and this book does end on a happy for now note, but the bonus chapter from Addie's pov helped with rounding out her story with Ronaldo.
Overall, if you read and liked the cat and mouse duet, I think you would enjoy this, but it isn't a book I will be thinking about anytime soon😅
February 16, 2025
3 stars
Short, entertaining, and I really enjoyed the little Easter eggs like the rose for Addie and Zade! I think I did myself a disservice by not going back and re-reading Haunting and Hunting because I totally forgot how Gigi and Ronaldo’s story ends, so I was a bit confused at the end and was just sitting here like… that’s it? But, that’s on me.
Short, entertaining, and I really enjoyed the little Easter eggs like the rose for Addie and Zade! I think I did myself a disservice by not going back and re-reading Haunting and Hunting because I totally forgot how Gigi and Ronaldo’s story ends, so I was a bit confused at the end and was just sitting here like… that’s it? But, that’s on me.
January 16, 2025
Okkkkkk what the actual fuck. I am a cat & mouse stan. I am a Where’s Molly stan. I was so fucking excited for this book. The story behind Gigi and Ronaldo. More in depth about John being a POS and Frank being in love with his best friend’s wife to the point of killing her…welp we got NONE of that. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Nothingggggg. Every single thing in that book we already knew from the duet and to be honest you know more from the duet because you actually know her affair is discovered by at least Frank and he kills her!!! This just ends with them on a little road trip and happy. Then the last journal entry that again- we’ve already seen. Sooooo I’m confused. What was the point of this? I cannot for the life of me find one minus the fact that we got to experience the many spicy scenes off the pages of her journal. Everything else- you guessed it, we already knew. And, yes, the spice was spicin’ and earned this an extra star.
All this to say- I’m extremely underwhelmed and beyond disappointed.
All this to say- I’m extremely underwhelmed and beyond disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2025
the story is in black & white but the smut is in color
January 14, 2025
this was so unique - i went into it blind outside of my vague recollection of gigi and ronaldo from HA and i’m glad i did because what a ride!
this was a super angsty love story between a mafia consigliere and the object of his deep obsession, a woman trapped in a marriage to a man who’s now a target of the crime family due to the debt he’s racked up.
it’s an HD book so you know it’s hot as all get out. they were electric, truly, and gigi matched his energy tenfold. she was such a surprise minx and i loved it. their story is messy, difficult, and really real but it’s a really captivating story about a woman stuck between a union she wants no one part of anymore but can’t leave and a man who presents danger in other ways but makes her come alive.
i do wish the first chunk of it had been just gigi’s pov or had some element of mystery so we could see her unhappiness build outside of ronaldo’s appearances because at the start, it felt like i was dropped into a story that had already begun but i still thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down.
this was a super angsty love story between a mafia consigliere and the object of his deep obsession, a woman trapped in a marriage to a man who’s now a target of the crime family due to the debt he’s racked up.
it’s an HD book so you know it’s hot as all get out. they were electric, truly, and gigi matched his energy tenfold. she was such a surprise minx and i loved it. their story is messy, difficult, and really real but it’s a really captivating story about a woman stuck between a union she wants no one part of anymore but can’t leave and a man who presents danger in other ways but makes her come alive.
i do wish the first chunk of it had been just gigi’s pov or had some element of mystery so we could see her unhappiness build outside of ronaldo’s appearances because at the start, it felt like i was dropped into a story that had already begun but i still thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down.
Want to read
October 20, 2024Gigi and Ronaldo 🥺 Come on January 21st, I'm ready 🤭
January 23, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
This was a short story about Gigi and Ronaldo if you read the Cat and Mouse duet than you are familiar with Gigi’s diary and her full story. Unlike in the Cat and Mouse duet, here we don’t see the end of their story. HD Carlton finished this so sweetly and I liked it. I would’ve actually be a 5 ⭐️ for me if the book contained the full story…. Good spice though
The Addie and Zade bonus chapter is also sweet. 🖤
This was a short story about Gigi and Ronaldo if you read the Cat and Mouse duet than you are familiar with Gigi’s diary and her full story. Unlike in the Cat and Mouse duet, here we don’t see the end of their story. HD Carlton finished this so sweetly and I liked it. I would’ve actually be a 5 ⭐️ for me if the book contained the full story…. Good spice though
The Addie and Zade bonus chapter is also sweet. 🖤
June 18, 2025
Y’all hear that? That’s the sound of my standards getting recalibrated by a knife-wielding stalker who talks dirty and rearranges furniture.
Phantom is pure gothic chaos in the sexiest possible way. Ronnie is obsessive, possessive, and somehow makes stalking feel like foreplay. Gigi? I saw myself in her so hard it was scary. Her love of dark architecture and literature? Same. Her journaling every day just to stay sane? Also same. Their love felt so real, I was about to start journaling about it like it was my own.
Do I know what just happened? Emotionally? Physically? Architecturally? No.
Did I love every second of it? Yes. Yes, I did.
Phantom is pure gothic chaos in the sexiest possible way. Ronnie is obsessive, possessive, and somehow makes stalking feel like foreplay. Gigi? I saw myself in her so hard it was scary. Her love of dark architecture and literature? Same. Her journaling every day just to stay sane? Also same. Their love felt so real, I was about to start journaling about it like it was my own.
Do I know what just happened? Emotionally? Physically? Architecturally? No.
Did I love every second of it? Yes. Yes, I did.
November 9, 2025
Oh, Ok…
This book is the equivalent of a piece of sopping wet bread at the bottom of a dumpster, but like with mafia stuff thrown in. I want to sock this book in the kisser for making a bird like me have to suffer through such gobbledegook. To the hoosegow for you!
This book is the equivalent of a piece of sopping wet bread at the bottom of a dumpster, but like with mafia stuff thrown in. I want to sock this book in the kisser for making a bird like me have to suffer through such gobbledegook. To the hoosegow for you!
March 25, 2025
h.d carlton i am in your walls. this was honestly EVERYTHING!!! 😩 This delivered everything I thought it was going to and more. I love Gigi so much and getting to see her and Ronaldo's story gave me so much closure and OMG THAT EPILOGUE 😭😭😭. I'm not okay. I love this universe so much.
4.5⭐️ nd 3.5🌶️ because I'm writing this review 2 months later and I still can't get those spicy scenes out of my head! enjoy my thoughts while reading:
- tropes: dark romance, stalker, crawling,
- it’s giving me the vibesss 😩 (just wanna reread haunting adeline again)
- MY ROSE OMG 😩😩😩🙌🏼🙌🏼🌹
- the rose parallels i’m 😭😭😭😭🌹
- that spicy scene oh my GOD 🔥👏🏻
- “whatever gave you the impression that i was a scared little mouse” IM SCREAMING THIS IS EVERYTHINGGGGGGG
- ZADE AND ADDIE BONUS CHAPTER IM SO HEREEEEEE 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼😭😭😭😭😭
- crying. just ugly, ugly, crying
4.5⭐️ nd 3.5🌶️ because I'm writing this review 2 months later and I still can't get those spicy scenes out of my head! enjoy my thoughts while reading:
- tropes: dark romance, stalker, crawling,
- it’s giving me the vibesss 😩 (just wanna reread haunting adeline again)
- MY ROSE OMG 😩😩😩🙌🏼🙌🏼🌹
- the rose parallels i’m 😭😭😭😭🌹
- that spicy scene oh my GOD 🔥👏🏻
- “whatever gave you the impression that i was a scared little mouse” IM SCREAMING THIS IS EVERYTHINGGGGGGG
- ZADE AND ADDIE BONUS CHAPTER IM SO HEREEEEEE 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼😭😭😭😭😭
- crying. just ugly, ugly, crying
January 19, 2025
2.5 Mehhh. As always, the spice was great. We already knew that all this went down between Ronaldo and Genieve, so the story felt pointless plot wise. It also ended quite abruptly. Oh, well. You love some books more than others.
February 19, 2025
3.45 stars!
Well, I want to start by saying that I read the Cat and Mouse duet after discovering it on Bookstagram, and 😃 it was my first read from “Bookstagram” or “Booktok.” I thought it was going to be a horror story like The Conjuring. But, the trauma I experienced was intense! 😭😭 dayumm…
I personally don’t like Zade Meadows much(I deeply apologize for that). 😭🫂
Tbh, I was a lil hesitant to read this book, but my bestie @Rory recommended it to me (thank you so much for the recommendation, love 🫶). I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did because this book is much better than the Cat and Mouse duet. Ronaldo (I can’t help but cringe at the name 😭Ronnie is better) is a great character, and of course, Gigi 🤭🤭.
The reason I’m giving it 3.45 stars is because of the scenes of lust toward the end. I have to admit, I skimmed over those parts, especially in the climax. There was also a bonus scene with Zade and Adeline at the end. So, if you enjoyed the Cat and Mouse duet, this book is definitely worth a try.🫡
Overall, I liked the book; I didn’t hate it. It was a good, quick read and much better than HA. 🫶🫶🫶
Well, I want to start by saying that I read the Cat and Mouse duet after discovering it on Bookstagram, and 😃 it was my first read from “Bookstagram” or “Booktok.” I thought it was going to be a horror story like The Conjuring. But, the trauma I experienced was intense! 😭😭 dayumm…
I personally don’t like Zade Meadows much(I deeply apologize for that). 😭🫂
Tbh, I was a lil hesitant to read this book, but my bestie @Rory recommended it to me (thank you so much for the recommendation, love 🫶). I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did because this book is much better than the Cat and Mouse duet. Ronaldo (I can’t help but cringe at the name 😭Ronnie is better) is a great character, and of course, Gigi 🤭🤭.
The reason I’m giving it 3.45 stars is because of the scenes of lust toward the end. I have to admit, I skimmed over those parts, especially in the climax. There was also a bonus scene with Zade and Adeline at the end. So, if you enjoyed the Cat and Mouse duet, this book is definitely worth a try.🫡
Overall, I liked the book; I didn’t hate it. It was a good, quick read and much better than HA. 🫶🫶🫶
February 2, 2025
PERFECTION.
my god this was SO cute 😭
genuinely the loveliest dark romance i’ve read so far.
i’m glad this was short and the author didn’t drag it. otherwise i would probably be bored and wouldn’t have given it 5 ⭐️
i LOVED ronaldo sm and gigi was an absolute badass i ADORE her. they’re so perfect for each other.
also the BONUS CHAPTER?? had me tearing up fr 🥲
quotes:
”If Genevieve is my end, then I open the door to death with no hesitation.”
”I want you so badly, it hurts to breathe without you near.”
”I call you my rose because for you, I would take all your pain so you would suffer none.”
”Love cannot define what I feel for you. But I will settle for it with my words and show you what I truly feel with my actions.”
”I want this man to bow at my feet and serve me.”
MY QUEEN.
”It’s been a decade since their passing, yet still they remain together in the afterlife. Even death could not tear them apart, their love surpassing the inevitability of their morality.”
I CANT 😭😭😭
there are SO many other quotes i want to add. i love them sm ✋🏼
lord when is it my turn.
my god this was SO cute 😭
genuinely the loveliest dark romance i’ve read so far.
i’m glad this was short and the author didn’t drag it. otherwise i would probably be bored and wouldn’t have given it 5 ⭐️
i LOVED ronaldo sm and gigi was an absolute badass i ADORE her. they’re so perfect for each other.
also the BONUS CHAPTER?? had me tearing up fr 🥲
quotes:
”If Genevieve is my end, then I open the door to death with no hesitation.”
”I want you so badly, it hurts to breathe without you near.”
”I call you my rose because for you, I would take all your pain so you would suffer none.”
”Love cannot define what I feel for you. But I will settle for it with my words and show you what I truly feel with my actions.”
”I want this man to bow at my feet and serve me.”
MY QUEEN.
”It’s been a decade since their passing, yet still they remain together in the afterlife. Even death could not tear them apart, their love surpassing the inevitability of their morality.”
I CANT 😭😭😭
there are SO many other quotes i want to add. i love them sm ✋🏼
lord when is it my turn.
dnf
January 15, 2025im sick of H.D. Carlton writing stalker romances where the hero barely bats an eyelid at the heroine and immediately is gagging to live inside her 24/7.
the heroine being objectively pretty isn’t an interesting enough basis for a stalking obsession !! like at least make her have a personality xx
the heroine being objectively pretty isn’t an interesting enough basis for a stalking obsession !! like at least make her have a personality xx
Read
January 6, 2025I REAS THIS SUPER EARLY BUT OMG ITS AMAZING!!!!
**beta read**
**beta read**
January 17, 2025
The only thing Ronaldo loved about Gigi is her pussy👎☠️. This is not a love story, the only thing you're going to find here is sex. The plot is so weak that it is only sustained by the excessive amount of sexual scenes. The characters lack depth and intelligence, it seems as if neither of them have a functional brain. The supposed love they feel for each other IS NOT CREDIBLE .
I was expecting the beautiful dark love story, but all I found was lust.
These are the kind of books that ruin dark romance. There isn't even a hint of romance here, it's just another romanticized stalker who would be reported if only the protagonist had a brain.
This book proves once again that this author does not know how to write love stories...
I was expecting the beautiful dark love story, but all I found was lust.
These are the kind of books that ruin dark romance. There isn't even a hint of romance here, it's just another romanticized stalker who would be reported if only the protagonist had a brain.
This book proves once again that this author does not know how to write love stories...
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