With its mix of recovery, romance, and investigation, Hidden Nature is definitely a jam-packed novel, filled with drama and suspense. But the thrills get lost in the family drama—and the lengthy buildup and the unbalanced storytelling can make for a frustrating read.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

I absolutely loved this book! It catches you from the first page when the main character Sloan sustains gunshot wounds and is in the hospital. There are plenty of twists of twists and turns, mystery and intrigued a bit of romance neatly wrapped up in this book. This book will will hold your attention and turning the pages straight through toto the end to see how things evolve and resolve.This book is a winner in my opinion. Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Nora Roberts does romantic suspense so well. Sloan is on leave after being shot in a convenience store robbery, but her investigative nature won't let her rest. When a woman goes missing, Sloan finds out she's not the first and starts looking into all the disappearances. Noah is new to town and the perfect romantic interest for Sloan. As readers, we get a behind-the-scenes look into the reasons behind the disappearances and who is responsible. That lends suspense to the story as Sloan gets closer to uncovering the reason for the kidnappings.

Note about the narration: January LaVoy is one of the best narrators in the business and this was no exception.

Sloan Cooper is a Natural Resources police officer who is shot during a convenience store robbery. She moves to her hometown of Heron’s Rest to recover. When a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds a kidnapping trend but no common denominator. Her contractor/boyfriend helps her with the mysterious and bizarre case. Can she stop the criminals before she is the next victim?

Oh my what a twisted sense of "helping" that the bad guys had in this story! I was sucked into the story from the beginning, and really invested in the story, but when I found out more and more about Clara and Sam I was horrified but I also had to keep reading to find out more and to learn how Sloan recovers and puts a stop to their spree. I really appreciated the way it happened, and not to add spoilers, but it happened in a way that didn't compound trauma on a heroine just to add trauma. Sometimes we get heroines that are put through the wringer over and over, and I was dreading it but this felt good.

Nash and Theo were a great set of characters to add to the story and I enjoyed getting to know them and imagining the houses they were refurbishing. I really enjoyed the story and imagining the natural beauty of the area. Sounds like a great place to visit!

WOW This book was not really what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it. There were parts that were a little hard to read as I am not 100% into the medical world and blood and procedures, it was limited so I was ok.

The story of a recovering law enforcement officer, finding love in an unexpected way, while recovering in her hometown. A small hometown with not much going on, but there is always something going on...... There were some missing people in the larger area and things were not adding up for her. She started asking questions to have something to do while she was trying to follow Dr's orders from her work injury. She was not really looking for love, but love found her in a way that turned her life upside down. In the process of following a case, she found herself in the middle of it. A life changing interaction.

This books has some twists and turns, was a fun read and easy listen as I did both. I would recommend this.

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts is a suspenseful romantic suspense novel featuring Natural Resources police officer Sloan Cooper. Sloan returns home to recover from being shot when she walks in on a robbery in progress.

Sloan has great observations skills & loves her job, so it's hard for her to slowdown while recovering. Noah and his brother move to town as both are looking for a more satisfying life. While he is good at his investment job, he's not happy. He purchased a fixer upper and started a handyman business.

Even though readers know the antagonists the storyline keeps readers engaged. The author does a great job developing the characters, including the antagonists, who were well-developed. It was chilling to get their point of view throughout the novel.

This a well-written, intriguing novel with plenty of action and well-developed and compelling characters.

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

I’m not a big fan of romance books, but this doesn’t feel like a typical romance story. It has suspense, mystery, lots of character, & romance, all blended into a interesting, can’t put it down story. It flows smoothly & every component fits. Very well done! #HiddenNature #NetGalley

4.5 ⭐️

I will read anything that Nora Roberts writes because her books are so full of suspense and she mixes some romance in and I just devour them.

This one was no different. Honestly I think that Nash belongs on my book boyfriend list. I loved Sloane. She is such a strong character and was able to overcome literally everything that was thrown at her. The two as a couple was the icing on top of the cake.

The suspense aspect was so good! It kept me turning the pages because I had to know what was going to happen. I liked that we got chapters from the suspects POV because it definitely allowed the reader to get into their heads.

New York Times #1 bestselling author Nora Roberts presents the story of iNatural Resources police officer Sloan Cooper who returns to her childhood home in Heron’s Rest to recover from a near-fatal gunshot wound. After being shocked back to life three times, Sloan has a tough recovery ahead of her.

When a woman disappears from a grocery store parking lot the day before Thanksgiving, Sloan is captivated by the circumstances of her disappearance. Searching for similar cases online, she realizes that there are other missing persons who have similar characteristics.. She finds them, spread across three states. Men and women, old and young―the missing seem to have nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening.

Luckily, the new man in her life, fix-it brother Nash Cooper, shares her passion for solving this mystery. Determined to put an end to the abductions and stop these evil-minded killers, will Sloan do whatever it takes, even if it means putting her life on the line?

Not too many books start off like this one… with a bang! Literally. Great characters, great pace, and a twisting narrative. Started reading this from NetGalley and finished it on audio from the library. I would recommend either one.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nora Roberts does a great job of writing suspense and captivating the reader. The characters in this story are so relatable, especially Sloane, who is an officer for the DNR. The villain and motive was different in this story. I liked how Sloane was involved and how she helped investigate the missing persons.
I enjoyed all the characters and the house renovations that happened in this one.
Overall, this tale was well done, but maybe just a touch too predictable for my liking.

This was a very busy book with multiple story lines going at one time. I knew that they would all intersect and make sense at some point - - it just took a bit. That said, I still enjoyed the story and the way it was woven together. Ms. Roberts never fails to deliver an entertaining story, and I'm always pleased at the variety of stories that she writes.

This book revolves around main character, Sloan who gained a second chance at life and is determined not to waste it. But her goals may interfere with the goals of others and that may just put her in the crosshairs yet again. Along the way, we blend in a little romance too - - naturally.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The narration worked well for me. I always enjoy being able to rotate between an ebook and audiobook because I can stay immersed in the story that way. The character portrayal in this audio was done well. 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press and the author for the gifted copy!

This is just a classic Nora Roberts experience! It's a mash-up of romance, mystery & crime suspense. The main characters were great … just the sweetest family. Sloan, her sister, their parents & even Sloan’s coworkers/friends drew me right into their tight-knit world & I loved spending time with them & rooting for them as they navigated thru life.

The romance is a slow burn, found family journey & I enjoyed watching that play out, too.

But guys. The mystery part of this story was the wild part. The villains were total wackjobs. Unstable, unhinged & sooo creepy. The chill & suspense factor was on full blast & I couldn't wait to see how that unfolded! Yikes. It did not disappoint!

Overall, this stand-alone romantic thriller was quite the page turner & very entertaining!

I always enjoy reading a thriller where we know who did it from the beginning and we are hanging around for the how and the why. Roberts did a fantastic job weaving in Sloan's recovery and return to her hometown in with the killings and figuring out the method behind the madness. I appreciated the slow burn between Sloan and Nash, which was complemented nicely with their siblings fast burn secondary side romance. As always Roberts manages to pull in plenty of feelings and thrills.

I am continually amazed at the variety of storylines that Nora Roberts comes up with, even after 200+ books. This was another one with a very unique plot, yet it still contains the likeable characters and cozy settings that I've become accustomed to in her books. I gave this one 4 stars instead of 5, only because the ick factor in what the killers were doing was pretty high for me (I actually had to take a break from reading for a short time due to that), but I still really loved it. I think that some might feel dissatisfied with the ending, but I thought it was fitting to the characters and story. And as always, I can't wait to read her next book! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy!

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Nora Roberts book so it was wonderful to experience her stellar writing and storytelling. This book starts off with a bang and I was instantly captivated. Sloan’s life is forever changed the day she walks into a robbery in progress after arresting three suspects that have been terrorizing hikers in area surrounding western Maryland.

When Sloan moves back home to Heron’s Rest to recuperate from being shot and literally shocked back to life, she’s ready to rest and recuperate. That changes though when she hears about a woman being kidnapped and there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason. So being the Natural Resource Police Officer that she is, she starts researching and finds similar cases with no one knowing why or how this is happening. Add in Nash and Theo Littlefield who have moved to town and are renovating Nash’s house, things get very interesting. Nash is a fan solving mysteries so as he and Sloan grow closer together, they’re both trying to figure out what’s happening.

One of the most fascinating things about this book is that we as the reader know “who did it!” We get their POV throughout the book and I have to say while I was a little concerned this would spoil the story for me, it absolutely didn’t. It was an aspect that brought just that much more to Sloan and Nash trying to solve the crimes. And when it’s revealed why this is happening, I was on the edge of my seat until the very last page!

This book reinvigorated my love for Ms. Roberts’ writing and I’ll definitely be reading more of her this year.

This was an intriguing suspenseful mystery that keeps you turning pages. Sloan is a Natural Resources Police Officer (I've never even heard of this!) and she has a knack for solving mysteries. We dive into her getting shot at a gas station while off duty, and to recover she goes to stay with her family. They are a delightful cast of characters that have you wanting to be a part of the group. We also get some charming neighbors who are new in town. In a twist from most mysteries, we know who the serial killers are; it's a matter of when do they slip up and get caught. They're a level of creepy that will have you second-guess trusting professionals you normally wouldn't think twice about. It has been a long time since I've read anything by this author, but I would continue with this series to see what else Sloan and her pals get up to. The dash of romance will have you falling in love with the characters.

I am leaving my honest opinion voluntarily.

Sloan Cooper was shot during a visit to a random convenience store that was being robbed. She dies on the operating table, watches herself getting worked on, and decides to return to her body. It's a long road to recovery with a few minor setbacks, but her eagerness to get back on her feet and return to her job as a natural resources officer is unwavering. During her recovery time, we became acquainted with Sloan and her determination to be self-sufficient again, her strong work ethic, and her mental resilience. She hears about a recent murder that ties into several cold cases, and the story unfolds from there.

This is my second book by Nora Roberts that I have read, and I was not disappointed. Ms. Roberts has a way of writing that draws you into the story's landscape. Beautiful attention is paid to detail in the creation of the characters and the worldbuilding. She writes in such a way that the environment is a character in the story, helping to convey the severity of the emotion of the moment.

The antagonist in this book gave me Stephen King's "Holly" and Brynn Weaver's "Butcher and Blackbird" vibes, which are successfully creepy!

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Nora Roberts for the advanced readers copy of this fantastic read!

Nora Roberts will forever remain a master artist in the romantic suspense genre. I've always steered myself away from romance books..look don't come for me for thus because yes I read romantasy just fine thank you. But like straight romance has always been a snooze for me. However, Nora Roberts has ALWAYS been my exception. My grandpa introduced me to her with the book true betrayls and I will continue to read every new book she puts out. She knows how to suck the reader into her pages and keep them wanting to turn each page.
I absolutely love this book and know that I'm going to have to read it again.
Also can we talk about the cover? Because yes I'll judge a book there too..