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Hunter’s Heart #4
Half the Summer's Night
He’s terrorized my town for as long as I can remember. So why don’t I feel terror around him?
Abi
People say my hometown of Rosado is cursed. There are too many disappearances. Too many deaths.
And they aren’t wrong. As the town’s coroner, I see those deaths first hand. But I don’t think a curse is responsible.
I think a killer is.
No one believes me. But I’m determined to get to the truth—
No matter what it takes.
Rowan
For as long as Rosado has been my hunting ground, I’ve been dreaming of Abi Snow—and leaving her little love notes in my work.
But when she starts investigating my clues, it leads her down a dangerous path. One that I didn’t intend for her to follow.
Now, she’s at risk of dying. And I can’t have that.
So I’m going to do something I’ve never done before.
I’m going to save a life instead of take it.
Half the Summer’s Night is a dark horror romance and the fourth book in the Hunter’s Heart universe, a series of interconnected standalones that are best read in order. This book contains graphic content that may be upsetting to some readers. Please review the full list of content notes on the author’s website.
Abi
People say my hometown of Rosado is cursed. There are too many disappearances. Too many deaths.
And they aren’t wrong. As the town’s coroner, I see those deaths first hand. But I don’t think a curse is responsible.
I think a killer is.
No one believes me. But I’m determined to get to the truth—
No matter what it takes.
Rowan
For as long as Rosado has been my hunting ground, I’ve been dreaming of Abi Snow—and leaving her little love notes in my work.
But when she starts investigating my clues, it leads her down a dangerous path. One that I didn’t intend for her to follow.
Now, she’s at risk of dying. And I can’t have that.
So I’m going to do something I’ve never done before.
I’m going to save a life instead of take it.
Half the Summer’s Night is a dark horror romance and the fourth book in the Hunter’s Heart universe, a series of interconnected standalones that are best read in order. This book contains graphic content that may be upsetting to some readers. Please review the full list of content notes on the author’s website.
- GenresDark Romance
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2025
8 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 19, 2025
Another amazing book by Rose Bitterly! This is by far my FAVORITE series. If you’re a fan of dark/slasher/horror romance, you NEED to read this book (you don’t have to read the rest of the series first, but I HIGHLY recommend reading them at some point).
I loved Rowan and Abi so much, they’re both very lovable characters (I also just love a cinnamon roll ser!al k!ller) ❤️ It was great that they didn’t have the ‘typical’ perfect body types you read in most books (even the MMC), so that was refreshing.
The spice was 10/10 and totally f*cked up. I can always count on Rose Bitterly to have questionable smut (in the best way). Again, if you’re into horror/slasher vibes, you’ll really enjoy this book.
There was also a lot of suspense (did NOT see that ending coming AT ALL) which made me really want to keep reading. It did take me a few days to read because of life but once I was able to sit down for awhile, I FLEW through this.
I have SO much more to say about this book I, but I’m really trying so hard to avoid spoilers 😅 Overall, I loved every second of this book…the plot, the suspense, the smut (especially the smut), the characters, everything was amazing ❤️
I loved Rowan and Abi so much, they’re both very lovable characters (I also just love a cinnamon roll ser!al k!ller) ❤️ It was great that they didn’t have the ‘typical’ perfect body types you read in most books (even the MMC), so that was refreshing.
The spice was 10/10 and totally f*cked up. I can always count on Rose Bitterly to have questionable smut (in the best way). Again, if you’re into horror/slasher vibes, you’ll really enjoy this book.
There was also a lot of suspense (did NOT see that ending coming AT ALL) which made me really want to keep reading. It did take me a few days to read because of life but once I was able to sit down for awhile, I FLEW through this.
I have SO much more to say about this book I, but I’m really trying so hard to avoid spoilers 😅 Overall, I loved every second of this book…the plot, the suspense, the smut (especially the smut), the characters, everything was amazing ❤️
October 25, 2025
I love the Hunters Heart series so much! I was super blessed to be able to arc read for this series again. Rose bitterly is one of my favourite dark horror romance authors and she ate it up again with this book. He’s a slasher / hunter who’s obsessed with a girl who owns a morgue, honestly very very fitting. And beware there’s quite a bit of what I now know is called “Erotophonophilia”, which means being aroused by death and murder. So yes there’s sex on top of dead bodies. So smutty and so iconic. He’s killing people around town and leaving notes on the dead body for her to find, talk about dedicated and romantic. But when they realise that there’s more than one killer in their small town, the stakes get upped. This plot was intense, thrilling with quite some horror aspects. I was so hooked on the plot but I think the characters carried this book. Rowan is a cute awkward guy during the day, and hot animalistic serial killer by night. My favourite line from him is “humans are for killing, except her, Abi is for protecting”. I was swooning through this entire book, because he’s been stalking her for 10 years, he’s the definition of whipped. I loved how both of them got great character development, he’s been struggling with his identity and she’s been lonely and outcasted for years. It’s truly beautiful how this story came together and I give this a 4.5/5
November 10, 2025
Yeah, so if you could inject these books directly into my veins that would be fantastic, thanks.
I love that each book in this series has a very different feel to it than the last. You think that the character dynamics are going to start to feel repetitive, but they never do.
I loved Rowan and Abi and how they communicated through the bodies he sent to her morgue. Every time Abi would interact with Rowan and then her nameless killer not knowing they were one and the same had me on the edge of my goddamn seat. I just love how gloriously fucked up these little weirdos are.
And the set up for Chloe’s book? I’m gonna need that right now, please.
I love that each book in this series has a very different feel to it than the last. You think that the character dynamics are going to start to feel repetitive, but they never do.
I loved Rowan and Abi and how they communicated through the bodies he sent to her morgue. Every time Abi would interact with Rowan and then her nameless killer not knowing they were one and the same had me on the edge of my goddamn seat. I just love how gloriously fucked up these little weirdos are.
And the set up for Chloe’s book? I’m gonna need that right now, please.
October 13, 2025
A Killer Obsession Worth Loving
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance/Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Back with my fifth ARC for Rose Bitterly, and honestly, I still can’t get enough of her writing. Half the Summer’s Night marks the fourth installment in her Hunter’s Heart Series, and at this point, I’m fully invested in the dark, dangerous, and strangely tender world she’s built.
We meet Rowan, our MMC, first—and from the start, I just wanted to give this poor man a hug. There’s a quiet awkwardness about him, a discomfort that makes your heart ache once you learn about the life he’s endured under his uncle’s control. Through Rowan’s eyes, we briefly meet Abi, our FMC, and while it’s a fleeting interaction, it’s enough to plant the seed for what comes ten years later.
Fast-forward a decade, and Abi is now the town coroner, while Rowan owns a hotel—thanks to his uncle’s “untimely” death. Abi’s been tracking a killer’s pattern, unaware that the very man she’s drawn to is the one leaving the trail. Rowan’s obsession with her could almost be sweet if, you know, he weren’t a murderer. His little “letters” to her—literal letters of the alphabet—are clever and chilling, a signature within a signature that’s pure Bitterly brilliance.
What I love most is the duality of Rowan—the gentle, well-spoken man versus the killer who sees his crimes as a “conversation” with Abi. Their twisted connection blurs morality in the most captivating way. Abi’s pull toward his darker persona and Rowan’s recognition of her own hidden darkness make for an intoxicating dynamic. Even in his most violent moments, Rowan remains oddly gentlemanly—proof that Bitterly knows how to write complexity with heart.
As the mystery deepens and another killer enters the mix, the tension rises. The plot twist genuinely surprised me, and I was thrilled to see a cameo from a past book, a familiar face who helps Rowan finally understand what he truly is.
The spice in this one is a mid-burn, with real heat building later in the story—but every touch and look before that is electric. The intimacy feels earned, their passion believable and beautifully detailed.
If I had one wish, it’s that the climax and ending had a bit more room to breathe; it felt quick compared to the slow build before it. Still, the emotional payoff was worth it—both Rowan and Abi end unmasked, literally and metaphorically, and it’s deeply satisfying.
While this might not be the strongest entry in the Hunter’s Heart series, it’s still a darkly romantic, hauntingly tender story worth diving into. Thank you, Ms. Bitterly, for another addictive ride through the shadows. I’ll always be here for the next one.
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance/Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Back with my fifth ARC for Rose Bitterly, and honestly, I still can’t get enough of her writing. Half the Summer’s Night marks the fourth installment in her Hunter’s Heart Series, and at this point, I’m fully invested in the dark, dangerous, and strangely tender world she’s built.
We meet Rowan, our MMC, first—and from the start, I just wanted to give this poor man a hug. There’s a quiet awkwardness about him, a discomfort that makes your heart ache once you learn about the life he’s endured under his uncle’s control. Through Rowan’s eyes, we briefly meet Abi, our FMC, and while it’s a fleeting interaction, it’s enough to plant the seed for what comes ten years later.
Fast-forward a decade, and Abi is now the town coroner, while Rowan owns a hotel—thanks to his uncle’s “untimely” death. Abi’s been tracking a killer’s pattern, unaware that the very man she’s drawn to is the one leaving the trail. Rowan’s obsession with her could almost be sweet if, you know, he weren’t a murderer. His little “letters” to her—literal letters of the alphabet—are clever and chilling, a signature within a signature that’s pure Bitterly brilliance.
What I love most is the duality of Rowan—the gentle, well-spoken man versus the killer who sees his crimes as a “conversation” with Abi. Their twisted connection blurs morality in the most captivating way. Abi’s pull toward his darker persona and Rowan’s recognition of her own hidden darkness make for an intoxicating dynamic. Even in his most violent moments, Rowan remains oddly gentlemanly—proof that Bitterly knows how to write complexity with heart.
As the mystery deepens and another killer enters the mix, the tension rises. The plot twist genuinely surprised me, and I was thrilled to see a cameo from a past book, a familiar face who helps Rowan finally understand what he truly is.
The spice in this one is a mid-burn, with real heat building later in the story—but every touch and look before that is electric. The intimacy feels earned, their passion believable and beautifully detailed.
If I had one wish, it’s that the climax and ending had a bit more room to breathe; it felt quick compared to the slow build before it. Still, the emotional payoff was worth it—both Rowan and Abi end unmasked, literally and metaphorically, and it’s deeply satisfying.
While this might not be the strongest entry in the Hunter’s Heart series, it’s still a darkly romantic, hauntingly tender story worth diving into. Thank you, Ms. Bitterly, for another addictive ride through the shadows. I’ll always be here for the next one.
October 18, 2025
It takes a killer, to know a killer. This book happens to be filled with more than one serial killer. Also, the killers motives for killing are different. Abi is the coroner for Rosado, a beach town. Rowan owns a hotel. Both parties inherited businesses from their deceased uncle's. Rowan isn't what he seems. There are killings that relate to Abi's past. Rowan's senses are like no one else's. Rowan's character is very Dexter like. Rowan just has this intuition that helps him. One killer is sending Abi a message. And the other killer? Just wants to kill Abi. I forgot the term "Hunter" from the other books. The only thing I didn’t like in this book is the nickname, Nameless.
"I may be a killer, but I saved her life. And that’s a treasure no one can ever take from me."
I received an ARC copy and voluntarily left this review.
"I may be a killer, but I saved her life. And that’s a treasure no one can ever take from me."
I received an ARC copy and voluntarily left this review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2025
Half the Summers Night has us meeting Rowan (mmc) and Abi (fmc). The Hotelier and the Town Coroner, what a match made in slasher heaven! Unbeknown to him, Rowan is a hunter, like his half-sister Charlotte (bk 2, The Fire Went Wild), and has been drawn to Abi for years, stalking her from afar. When her past comes back to haunt her, guess who steps in to save the day!
Another fantastic slasher romance by Rose! I have absolutely loved this series (I do suggest you read them in order), and to receive this as an ARC was fantastic! Read in less than 4hrs.
Another fantastic slasher romance by Rose! I have absolutely loved this series (I do suggest you read them in order), and to receive this as an ARC was fantastic! Read in less than 4hrs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2025
Rose Bitterly does it once again!
I'm so happy that this series has continued!
This book follows Rowan and Abi.
Rowan is a killer that had been under his uncle's watch for several years. He taught him everything that he knows.
Abi is the towns coroner and she has noticed a bit of a pattern on some accidental deaths in town.
Is it murder? Or is it a dark accident?
Please read and see for yourself!
I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!
I'm so happy that this series has continued!
This book follows Rowan and Abi.
Rowan is a killer that had been under his uncle's watch for several years. He taught him everything that he knows.
Abi is the towns coroner and she has noticed a bit of a pattern on some accidental deaths in town.
Is it murder? Or is it a dark accident?
Please read and see for yourself!
I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!
December 13, 2025
I received this book as an ARC and am grateful to the author for gifting it to me.
This story was great, I love love LOVE this series! Rowan was an awesome mmc and it was cool to see him discover what he truly was on his own, something we only kind of saw in Charlotte and Jaxon's book. Abi was a great fmc, and I thought It would be revealed that she was a Hunter too but she's only human
Can't wait to read more of this series!!
This story was great, I love love LOVE this series! Rowan was an awesome mmc and it was cool to see him discover what he truly was on his own, something we only kind of saw in Charlotte and Jaxon's book. Abi was a great fmc, and I thought It would be revealed that she was a Hunter too but she's only human
Can't wait to read more of this series!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this.
I really liked the coroner and killer aspect the story keeps you on your toes when a new killer enters the mix.
The characters and plot was interesting, and kept me engaged, I did feel once the hidden identity was revealed it did end quickly but I still enjoy the story.
Half the Summer’s Night is part of the Hunters Heart interconnected standalone series
I really liked the coroner and killer aspect the story keeps you on your toes when a new killer enters the mix.
The characters and plot was interesting, and kept me engaged, I did feel once the hidden identity was revealed it did end quickly but I still enjoy the story.
Half the Summer’s Night is part of the Hunters Heart interconnected standalone series
October 12, 2025
OMG I've been waiting for this since I learned it was coming out! I made sure I was signed up to ARC and Rose once again didn't disappoint! Rowan is now tied with Jaxon on my favorite Hunter and I just can't believe what the sweet boi went through.
October 21, 2025
Rose has done it again!! It was hard for me to put this book down once I started. There are so many twists and turns that it's it hard to know exactly which way the story will go next. I absolutely love this book and can't wait for the next one! 💜
October 15, 2025
**ARC Review**
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Read this book if: you are a lover of horror, masked men, a little bit of mystery, blood, gore, and amazing writing by a great author.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Read this book if: you are a lover of horror, masked men, a little bit of mystery, blood, gore, and amazing writing by a great author.
December 18, 2025
OMG I just saw she is writing another book for Hunter's Heart! I thought this series was done. Yay!!
🥳🙌🏻
🥳🙌🏻
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews