After a harrowing journey back from death Sloan is working to pull her life back together. The grueling healing process is hampered by her nightmares and lack of appetite.

Let me just say that I love the setting of this novel. It’s very close to me and just feels like home. While Nora Roberts’ imagery is always fabulous, in Hidden Nature I can picture the scenes, the trees, the hospital, the park, as if I’ve been there… Because I have. It’s just extra.

You know those times when, you know you’re pronouncing it wrong in your head, but you just can’t make your head say it correctly? I have no idea why, but I could not get Elsie’s name right. I always read it as Elise. So weird.

As for my thoughts on Hidden Nature. It was a good mystery. The plot and timeline worked in my head. I didn’t see many coincidences that didn’t feel plausible. I liked the characters and found them just right for their roles in the book. Normal was just right, the romance wasn’t too easy, and crazy wasn’t over-the-top unrealistic.

Overall, I’m so grateful to Nora Roberts for sharing her incredible imagination with us through Hidden Nature!

** this will post on my website on 5/29

In Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts we meet Sloan, a natural resources officer recovering from a shooting, returns to her parents' home for recuperation. During her recovery, a local woman vanishes from a grocery store, prompting Sloan to investigate and uncover a troubling connection to other missing persons in the area. Although the missing individuals seem unrelated, Sloan delves deeper into the mystery, ultimately finding herself entwined in the search for answers. Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review the book in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t read much Nora Roberts before this, but I’m starting to get a feel for her style. Hidden Nature really helped solidify that. It’s not in a hurry. It takes its time letting you settle into the setting, the characters, and their routines. The pacing is slow, but never boring. It’s less about racing to the next plot twist and more about immersing you in the day-to-day until the tension quietly builds.

The suspense was satisfying, but not high-octane. It reminded me of a good “case of the week” show: plenty of character work, then a quick but effective resolution. I was just as invested in the vibe of the place as I was in the central mystery.

The romance really worked for me. No third-act drama, no forced conflict, no frustrating miscommunication. Just two adults getting to know each other and falling in love at a believable pace. I appreciated how grounded it felt.

Overall, a comfortable, well-written read that delivered exactly what I was in the mood for. I’ll definitely be reaching for more from Roberts when I want something character-driven and steady with just enough intrigue to keep things moving.

I have read Nora Roberts books for at least 20 years. I just love her books. Hidden Nature does not disappoint. WOW! WOW! WOW! This story had you on the edge of your seat from the first chapter. This story was about family, romance and thrillers. What more could anyone ask for you. What .an ending that will have you on the edge of your seat again and a little emotional. Thank you to Netgalley and to Little Brown Book Group for providing me with an ARC

This book was a good mystery and a typical Nora Roberts. It did confuse me in some spots but I enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to honestly review.

I loved everything about this book. The storyline was very different than anything I had ever read, and all of the characters were great. The way this author writes, you are dropped right down into the setting, and you can sense and feel all of it.

The h is a park ranger who by accident goes into a mini mart and is the victim of a shooting. she dies , but is brought back to life, she goes home to recuperate with her family. Her family is supportive. she decides to buy a house in the same neighborhood as her family The H and his brother leave successful careers and move from New York to start a handyman business. The brothers become involved with the h and her sister. Meanwhile there is a couple who want to know what it is like to die and come back to life, so they kidnap people who have experienced this and late kill them.The h becomes interested in the murders, not knowing she is on their list.

I received an ARC from Net Galley

I really have a Nora Roberts problem. It’s an addiction. I should probably have a small amount of shame in the fact I own every single title she’s written even as JD.
Now for this story, Nora did what felt to me like a mix up of some of her old mystery/thrillers and mashed in some of her more recent home improvement obsession. Did I still enjoy the book? Of course. Is it a five star read for me? No…..but it was a great easy palate cleansing read for me on a day where we have been over 24 hour without power……due to a storm.
I had to choose a book I knew wouldn’t disappoint me.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

Nora Roberts’ stand alone novels are always feel like part of a larger series. Well fleshed out characters, witty dialogue, and a mystery are common. Hidden Nature follows Sloan, a police officer recovering from a gun shot wound to the chest, who is trying to recover when a serial killer comes to the area. Sloan must solve the mystery before she becomes the next victim as she fits the exact type of person they are killing. Add in a romance and several side characters, this suspense thriller is a great summer read.

** spoiler alert **

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I think the moral of this story is that Nora is no longer for me 😣

I have been pretty consistently reading her recent releases, and to say I've been struggling with them would be an understatement.

Romance is definitely taking a back seat in her recent books, which I can handle, but I don't think the main storyline is taking over enough for the romance to take such a back seat. The couple here doesn't meet until about 40% of the way into it, so there isn't a lot of time for that relationship to develop. And of course they love each other by the end. HOW?

The beginning of this draaaaagged. I got swindled with this beginning; there wasn't a full third of the book with the FMC being a child, and it jumped right into some action, but then almost nothing happens for 30%. Just long, drawn out scenes of her recovering. At the very least, NR could have used that time to develop the romance of the book, because nothing was happening with the mystery except a couple of chapters from the antagonists' POV, which I could take or leave.

And I think I've finally figured out one of the reasons I just am not jiving with the writing in her newer books. The dialogue is narrative. There is a very recognizable structure to how these characters talk, and it flows very much link internal dialogue and narratives. So even when there is dialogue, I don't feel like we're getting a break from the paragraphs of information being provided.

But I feel like in some ways this one had very clear improvement from Mind Games, so I'm reluctant to throw in the towel because there is every possibility that the writing improves for me.

I guess we shall see...

Nora never misses. The romance and found family were great aspects to balance the horror. I still may sleep with the lights on.

Pub Date 5/27

#NoraRoberts
#HiddenNature
#NetGalley

Sloan and Nash! Sloan is a cop that gets shot while on duty, They have to shock her back (that plays a big part) while she is o leave to recover she fines a missing women case that won’t leave her mind. Nash move to Maryland from New York decides he wants to start a business with his brother. Nash does some work for Sloan, they fall slowly which is nice. This book is classic Nora and I loved it. The twist the turns the mystery and the f8nally is a happily ever after.

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts had me hooked from page one. It follows a wounded police officer on a mission to take down two ruthless killers, and the suspense kept me on edge the entire time. The mix of romance, cold case investigations, and even home renovations made the story so unique and engaging. The relationships felt real, the tension was high, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. If you love a gripping thriller with a perfect balance of mystery and romance, this one is definitely worth reading!

I adore the poignant writing of Nora Roberts. All of her novels have amazing depth and this was no exception.
A beautiful story of family and love that had a dark ribbon of suspense woven throughout. This one had wonderful characters that I absolutely adored. A beautiful landscape helped to create the story.
The dark characters were also well created and ingrained the sinister suspense that gave me chills. Absolutely phenomenal

I received an advance copy of this book. I really liked Sloan and her sister. Some of the plot seemed unbelievable, but not in a bad way. I appreciated that it is set in Maryland, so there was familiarity built in for me. In the end, I had become invested in the characters and I was happy with how the story wrapped up. Maybe there will be another with the same family?

I absolutely loved Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts. Natural Resources police officer Sloan Cooper had just closed a case and was off duty when her world is changed when she walks in on a robbery in progress. When she dies in the hospital, she has an out of body experience she remembers and that has her fighting to get back on track. During her recovery, a woman vanishes and she begins investigating and discovers something more sinister is happening.

When the Fix It Bros, Nash and Theo move to her town, things are about to change for more than just Sloan. I loved how strong Sloan was. She was so determined, smart and decisive. Nash was very protective, caring and determined, even as he was cautious. Ready to start fresh, he and his brother are turning a new leaf for themselves. I truly enjoyed reading this story and not just for the main characters and the suspense, but also the secondary characters and as always, the dogs that stole the show.

As Sloan investigates disappearances, she learns what they have in common and that it may put her right in the crosshairs. We get to follow her journey not only as she investigates what is going on, but as she finds herself and her future, but her time with Nash as well. This is Nora at what she does best and I devoured this over the weekend. Another must-read by this author.

HIDDEN NATURE was another excellent romantic suspense novel from Nora Roberts. Sloan Cooper is a Natural Resources police officer who is shot when she enters a convenience store where a robbery is happening. Her heart stops and she's clinically dead for some minutes while her chest is being operated on. Faced with a long, difficult rehabilitation, Sloan returns to her parents' home in Heron's Rest.

Also landing in Heron's Rest is Nash Littlefield. After a career in finance that he was good at but which made him unhappy, Nash has purchased a fixer-upper in Heron's Rest and is planning to open business as a handyman. He's joined by his younger brother Theo who is a lawyer due to parental pressure but wants to work with Nash.

Sloan is busy with her physical therapy, but it doesn't meet her need for mental stimulation. When she learns that a young newlywed has disappeared outside the local grocery store leaving her car and family behind, Sloan decides to look into the case. She soon learns that there have been other similar cases in the larger area. The victims don't seem to have anything in common as they vary in age, occupation, and sex. However, Sloan learns that they were all revived after being clinically dead.

We learn that the villains are religious fanatics determined to return those who have been revived to their destined afterlife. The scenes from the villains' point of view were really creepy.

I liked the romance. I also liked the way family was central to the story. The contrast between Sloan's family and Nash and Theo's family was striking. I liked reading about the way both Nash and Sloan were rehabbing their two homes while growing their relationship.

This was an engaging story.

A corporal with the Natural Resources Police Special Opps division, Sloan Cooper is an analytical, determined, strong, capable, and caring female main character with a family that will wrap you in a warm hug to keep you safe. On her way home with her partner from a finished op, they stop at a gas station, inadvertently walking into a robbery in progress that sees her at death’s door. Fast forward and Sloan’s recovery takes her to family at Heron’s Rest where she begins digging into a missing person’s case.

Roberts’ descriptions of setting and character bring the details of Sloan’s world to life. Told largely through Sloan’s point of view, parts of the novel are narrated by the perpetrator. I wasn’t as keen on the second perspective, as I found this character to be sugary sweet and delusional, which of course, is as it should have been and fit right in with the narrative. Part psychological thriller, part romance, part police procedural, I devoured “Hidden Nature” in a few short days. Sloan’s investigative mind fascinated me and I’d love to see her a recurring character in other books.

I loved the dual romances which developed throughout the narrative, the family and friends connections (who feel like real life people you want to spend time with), the descriptions of the setting, and the pacing of Roberts’ writing. If you’ve been following for a while you know that I love a good Nora Roberts’ book. Her suspense/thriller books with a side of romance are the perfect combination.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for the complimentary advance audio and ebooks on @netgalley which I absolutely tore through. I primarily listened to the audiobook narrated by the uber talented January Lavoy. Available May 27, 2025.

#mysteryandthrillers #suspensenovels #noraroberts #norarobertshiddennature #hiddennature #netgalley #macmillanaudio #stmartinspress #fyp #readingismyfavourite #sunshinereader #januarylavoy @norarobertsauthor @januarylavoy

I love Nora Roberts suspense romances. Sloan Cooper is a Natural Resource Officer (in my state called a Game Warden) and is shot when she walks into a convenience store robbery. She returns to her small hometown and her welcoming family to recover. She gets interested in a case of a missing woman and with permission digs further. She starts to see a pattern with a few other people that have gone missing without leaving clues and investigates further.

Sloan meets Nash Littlefield when she needs some work on her fixer upper house. He and his brother have recently moved from NYC and started a home repair business. Nash is smart and a good sounding board to her thoughts on the case. I love the flow of Robert’s dialogue between love interests. The mystery is good too. The story includes chapters from the killer's POV which can be a little disturbing.

The story takes a little to get going. Meeting her family and figuring out everyone. But by half way when she meets Nash and is interested in the case I couldn’t stop reading. I thought it was a nice bonus to get a double romance as Sloan's sister starts dating Nash’s brother before they meet and get together. I like this book and it will please Robert’s fans and romance suspense readers. (4.5 Stars)

Normally, I don't read much Nora Roberts because I am not much of a romance reader. I did find this one interesting and think the characters were well-written. The suspense kept me reading, so while I won't be seeking out her romances, I will keep an eye out for this type of book from her again.