Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet) Paperback – January 25, 2022

Okaaayy so.... WHATTT?I’m giving it a full 10 stars because it was everything I hoped for and more. This sequel is just as dark, intense, and addictive as the first book, and it kept me hooked from start to finish. The suspense ramps up big time, and the emotional rollercoaster had me all kinds of invested in the characters and their twisted, complicated world.What I loved most was how the story dives deeper into the characters’ minds and their tangled relationships. The tension is still thick, the mystery still keeps you guessing, and the chemistry? Off the charts. It’s messy, raw, and perfectly imperfect, which made the whole read feel super real and intense, I did feel so bad for Adeline though and everything she went through..

Whoah!!! A great conclusion to an insane story. I have read dark books, but this is the darkest book so far. Not so much with the torture of bad guys, but the trauma that Addie experiences while being held captive ready to be auctioned off. Parts were uncomfortable to read, but I think that’s a testament to the great writing. Zade really burned the world down to get Addie and get his revenge. I loved how Addie then used her trauma to strengthen herself and she became a bad ass getting revenge alongside Zade. It was a good break from the typical damsel in destress that happens in dark romance books. I feel like there were some unresolved story lines, and I would love more from the characters in the future…but overall this duet was a great read and really captivated me!

Spoilers Below!Hunting Adeline was a gripping, emotional and harrowing story that will absolutely stay with you forever.I absolutely loved this book as it not only destroyed me but also put me back together. There were moments I cried, felt disgusted, screamed, laughed, smiled and blushed. Definitely not an easy read but one that I absolutely could not put down.This is the final installment to the Cat and Mouse duet, so definitely read the first book before starting this one.This book also may not be for everybody as the story has some very very dark, graphic, explicit and triggering content. So please absolutely check the trigger warnings before reading.The overall plot and storyline were beautifully written and captivating even with the dark content throughout the story. I will say that Part 1 of this book was extremely difficult to read but the author was able to write such a raw and realistic story in a way that still gave me hope.Adeline’s journey was dark, heartbreaking, honest, empowering and just beautiful. While, painful to read at times her storyline and character development was just fantastic. Her healing and recovery was a bit unconventional at times but exactly what she needed for herself and for her relationship with Zade.Zade, I just have no words for how incredible this man was. His love, devotion, commitment, and obsession with Adeline was just so god damn beautiful. He definitely was exactly what she needed and their relationship was one of the best I have ever read. Zade honestly is just one of my top favorite book boyfriends ever.The spice in this book was also just fantastic. It’s dark, kinky and intense, and while it doesn’t occur until about 65% into the book it’s definitely worth it after all Adeline and Zade went through.While, there were a lot of side characters throughout this book that I liked, Sibby was by far my favorite. I absolutely loved how funny, crazy, charming and dramatic she was. She also provided that comedic relief that was needed in the story.Another side character that I liked but still have a few mixed feelings about was Rio. I would definitely love a book about him as he was not your typical morally gray character.I will say that the revenge aspect of this story was fantastic but a bit too rushed. I just would have liked for the torture and pain to have been more, especially after what they all did to Adeline.The conclusion and epilogue was absolutely perfect and definitely worth all that heartache. Zade and Adeline’s unconventional love story is one for the ages. Overall, just a heartbreakingly beautiful read and ending to the Cat and Mouse duet.Detailed chapter spoilers!•Chapter 8 – R & SA Explicitly Detailed.•Chapter 12 – R & SA Explicitly Detailed.•Chapter 14 – R & SA Mentioned/Talked About.•Chapter 17 – Torture and Aftermath Mentioned.•Chapter 18 – R, SA and Torture Explicitly Detailed.•Chapter 22 – Zade finds Adeline after 2 and a half months of being kidnapped. The end of Part 1 as well.•Chapter 24 – R & SA Mentioned/Remembered.•Chapter 31 – R & SA Mentioned/Remembered. Some spicy and kinky scenes also occur between Zade and Adeline. Months have passed since her rescue but she’s still recovering and dealing with PTSD.•Chapter 32 – R & SA Mentioned/Remembered.•Chapter 33 – Full on smut/spice occurs between Zade and Adeline.

Just as the first book had a hard time putting this one down and finished within a few days. I love that the story continued and it tied together nicely.For me this book did not seem as graphic as the first one, which was ok because the story was able to continue. Really hoping for a 3 book as I really want to know what happened to Sibby and is there a baby on the way.

I wanted to give this book more stars because I liked the underlying story. I could have definitely done without A LOT of the so called consensual scenes. YES, I get that this is dark...but I'm sorry...you have to be pretty sick to like some of the stuff that Zade does to Addie. I did like the tender scenes right after she is saved and how he tries to help her through her trauma...BUT, OMG...what is with the whole idea that he feels the need to destroy her and hurt her. I know that there are times that he says this just to get a rise out of her because he knows that this is what turns her on...being that she gets off on fear and adrenaline...but the book honestly could have ended with her rescue and the part where he is able to finally get through to her and get her to where she is comfortable with his touch again. Oh and after they dealt with all the ones who hurt her...I could have done without all of his punishments. And what with the belt around the neck!!???? Honestly...as a survivor of multiple forms of abuse...THERE IS NO WAY I would let a man or anyone treat me that way and consider it love!!!!I get that there will be those who will like this book...and as I said...I liked about 50% of it...could have done without the cringey demented parts. This is a woman who has been through multiple R@pes and has been trafficked!!! I would think he would treat her differently after and also considering that this man cringes at the sight of others being treated the way he actually treats her. Make it Make sense!!!! I know this is a dark fantasy...but I guess I just got tired of it by the end. Got tired of flipping past those parts to get to the actual story.