Phantom - H.D. Carlton

Books set in the past sometimes give me pause, so seeing this one start in 1944 almost made me turn away — but I’m so glad I didn’t.

From the first chapter, I immediately felt for Gigi. She’s a miserable housewife, stuck in the same dull routine with a husband who seems far more interested in his liquor than in her. When a mysterious man begins watching her, it sparks something new — something dangerous and thrilling.

Watching Ronaldo slowly creep into Gigi’s life was the slowest burn ever, and I loved every second of it. His quiet obsession, the way he inches closer to her physically and emotionally, built this delicious anticipation that had me hooked. He falls hard for Gigi, completely undone by her — every glance, every word she speaks sets him on fire.

Gigi and Ronaldo together are pure magic. The 1940s setting somehow makes everything even hotter — the formality, the tension, the way every touch feels like a sin. Gigi’s awakening is incredible to watch; she finds passion, freedom, and a side of herself she never knew existed. The slow build of spice is perfection, and by the end, it’s absolutely scorching.

I read this after Haunting and Hunting Adeline. Realizing how the journal connects the stories gave me chills — it made every moment between Gigi and Ronaldo feel even more haunting and unforgettable.

I want you so badly, it hurts to breath without you near.