Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts is a mystery and thriller/romance story that stands alone. I'm a fairly new fan of Ms. Roberts, only having read some of her more recent books. I really enjoyed this one. The mystery part of the book was very good, but the family theme was most enjoyable and touching.

Sloan Cooper, a Natural Resources police officer, and her partner had just arrested three men who were preying on hikers in the Western Maryland Mountains. They stopped at a convenience store, and Sloan walked right into a robbery in progress. She was shot and her life was forever changed. She died on the operating table and was shocked back to life. She had a long recovery on the road ahead, so she moved back to her family's home in Heron's Rest. Wanting to continue law enforcement work, Sloan reads about a woman who disappeared and left her car behind in a supermarket parking lot. She searches online for similar cases, and she finds them spread across three states. What could this diverse group possibly have in common? The count of abductions grows. A new man in her life is interested and supportive of Sloan's need to solve this mystery. She willing to risk her life to put end to the reign of terror.

This was a riveting story. The serial killer angle was a bit unusual, so it made for a great mystery. This book was especially compelling when not dealing with the deadly duo who was responsible for the missing victims, but instead focused on Sloan, her recovery and family. Her family owned a mountain resort named All the Rest. It sounded like a place I'd love to visit! In the mountains by a lake, All the Rest featured camping, boating, water sports, rest and relaxation for those wanting to escape it all. Sloan had a difficult road ahead of her due to a horrific gunshot wound to the chest, and her parents' house was a peaceful place to recuperate. She didn't realize how much she needed to be with her parents, sister Drea and family dog Mop, until she was back home. The cases that involved missing persons who seemed to have disappeared without a trace gave her something to focus on beyond healing from her injuries. There were two new residents of Heron's Rest, transplants from New York: Nash Littlefield and his younger brother Theo. Nat cut ties with his estranged parents and moved to Heron's Rest to leave his established career to form a handyman business. Theo followed him, wanting to start anew also. Together they formed The FIx-It Brothers. That's where Nash's interest truly was, and Theo wanted to be with his brother and away from their terrible parents. There was a great contrast between the Cooper and Littlefield families, and the brothers were drawn into the Cooper family and welcomed. Theo quickly became entranced by younger Cooper sister Drea, while Nash became friends with Sloan, which became something more. Nash was interested with Sloan's quest to solve the disappearances, and Sloan bounced ideas off Nash, when they weren't remodeling their new homes. There are some lovely lovemaking scenes, but nothing is particularly graphic, which was a nice change of pace in a romance! We began to learn about Clara and Sam, the people behind the disappearances. What a chilling couple! The showdown between good and evil is not to be missed. Besides our leads, there were great supporting characters, such as Sloan's former partner Joel Warren and his sweet wife Siri. I loved Sloan's relationship with them. I enjoyed Sloan's family and their closeness and support for each other. Dogs Tic and Mop were adorable! And Clara and Sam's activities, habits and plans will make your flesh crawl. I hated to leave Heron's Rest and its residents behind!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

"Plans adjust. Otherwise they're rules."

I need new Nora the way I need air to breathe, and this one did not disappoint. In her timeless style, we follow a due of serial killers with a disturbing purpose that out main character falls right into perfectly. Their disturbing journey seems to be the opposite of hers, which is to heal in this new life she's been allowed to pursue. It's beautiful, and elegant, and fun, and joyful. It's the story of a woman that was meant to die, but escaped it and finally began to live. It's the story of friendship, and family, and love, and what happens when you finally open up to the right person.

It was everything I love about escaping into a Nora Roberts book, and it always will be.

Since this book is divided into three distinct parts, I’ll review it accordingly.

Part 1: I was hooked from the very beginning. As Sloan is thrust into a life or death situation, she’s forced to reevaluate everything and confront what truly matters. Her struggle to let go of her old life and fight for a new one was compelling and emotionally charged. I was fully invested in her journey and loved how the story explored the outcome of her trauma and need for survival.

Part 2: Unfortunately, this section completely lost me. While I understand that Roberts was aiming to develop Sloan’s character and provide context, the pacing slowed to a crawl. The focus on her daily walks and home renovations felt repetitive and unnecessary. It disrupted the tension and momentum built in the first part and made it hard to stay engaged.

Part 3: Wait….that’s it? After such a long build up, the confrontation with the killers felt rushed and underwhelming. I wish this part of the story had been introduced earlier and allowed to unfold with more suspense. A slower, more psychological cat and mouse game between Sloan and Clara could’ve made the ending fantastic, giving it more of a Silence of the Lambs vibe. The potential was there for a powerful clash of wills, but it didn’t fully deliver like I was expecting.

Overall, I really enjoyed the beginning and ending, but the middle dragged for me. Still, if you enjoy a slow-burn story with a dramatic, fast-paced conclusion, this might be right up your alley.

*Thank you to Nora Roberts, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Oh man, I really loved this one and it was a fast read. The pacing was great and I really loved the relationship between Sloan and her family and between brothers Nash and Theo. I love how she entwined the three narratives of Sloan, Nash and the killers and how we kept getting more clues as we went to who they were and how close Sloan was getting to figuring everything out. I loved the ending it was so good and tied everything up nicely. Nora never disappoints when writing a good mystery and this one was no exception.
Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Both the characters and the storyline in this book were captivating. The romance between two very likeable characters, Sloan and Nash, was endearing. And then the murders/mystery crashed into their story and puts the reader on watch for how that is going to affect this couple. As a Natural Resources police officer just returning from leave after being shot, Sloan's determination to move forward doesn't initially include romance, but then Nash happens. Sloan's family ties also play a very important part in this book - and I have to say I really enjoyed their interplay, as well as all the decorating and landscaping ideas as Sloan and Nash each "save" old houses to become their homes. While there is much going on outside of solving the murders, Roberts has a way of bringing each crime into focus all on its own without making it or the normalcy of day-to-day living for Sloan and Nash appear as an afterthought to the other. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #HiddenNature

Sloan Cooper, a cop, is shot when she accidentally walks into a robbery. Flatlining, she is shocked back to life and recovers, but finds the road to recovery is a long and difficult one full of setbacks and hard lessons. Needing help in her recovery process, she moves back home and discovers that her planned life might not be the right path for her to take after all.

Hidden Nature, is Nora Roberts at her absolute best! The story is a thriller and a romance in one! It has a lovable cast of characters you can’t help but root for, and a villain team that is written with such detail that you can’t help but feel some empathy for them as well.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fast paced thriller, with a whole lot of romance mixed in, and some great family dynamics.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Nora Roberts for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ love Nora Robert’s romantic suspense books. This one was interesting as there are similarities with some of her other novels and series. Specifically it reminds me of the Inn of Boonsboro with Brothers owning a renovating business. Also, Sloan is like a modern day Eve with similarities in speaking style and being proud of bench pressing more than her weight. I also loved Theo and Dana’s relationship and the contrast with Sloan and Nash.

The two things I wasn’t crazy about were the villains POV was ick. I cringed when reading. Also, as with her more recent suspense novels, the relationship takes place over many months, so we don’t get to witness the relationship develop in a somewhat normal time span. I do wish she’d go back to having the relationship follow a closer timeline so we can see it develop vs. jumping all over.

That being said, I did really enjoy the story and finished in less than 24 hrs.

This was a good book with some romance and mystery. I would love to check out Heron's Rest in real life; it sounds so beautiful. Sloan is one brave and relentless woman. The book is set in three parts, and all are fun to read. Pick this book up if you want a mystery and some romance.

Nora has a way of creating bad ass and straight forward female characters. Sloan is no joke, she gets shot, almost dies, and while she is recovering people are going missing, she thinks they are all connected, and she’s right. But little does she know that she might also be connected to the madness. This book was typical Nora Roberts, and I was hooked, we can’t leave behind the romance.

I love a book that features a strong, independent woman. Hidden Nature is just that. Sloan Cooper was in the wrong place at the wrong time. After she is shot during a robbery in progress, she nearly loses her life and has to be brought back multiple times. She does survive and heads home to recouperate. While staying with her parents, she gets to know Nash Littlefield, the new neighbor. She also learns what it truly means to be down and out. I loved watching Sloan fight back to her full capabilities. Her recovery process was inspiring and felt so real. Her family is wonderfully supportive, and the setting in Heron's Rest was rejuvenating.

While at home, Sloan notices a pattern of missing people and cannot help but investigate. Nash also joins in with the intrigue and theories. The juxtaposition of the quiet life Sloan was working towards and the suspense interwoven was great. The villains in this story are super creepy and will have you looking forward to their eventual demise. While Sloan is the definite focus of the story, I really enjoyed all the other characters. They really added to the vibes for this book. Since finishing, I keep finding myself thinking I wish there was more to read. I really enjoyed it.

This is a review of the audiobook.

This book was painfully boring; especially for a romantic suspense. There was much more focus on home renovations and long walks than on unresolved murders/disappearances. I don't mind a slow buildup or background information, but there was too much needless filler. Honestly, if this had not been a review copy, I would have not have finished it.

Nora has been one of my go to favs for years, and her RS of the 2010s rank among some of my favs. Sadly, this will be my last new RS from her for the foreseeable future. As I looked back, every RS she has written since 2019 I have ranked 2 to 2.5 STARS.

Natural Resources officer, Sloan Cooper, is recovering at her parents’ home after getting shot in conjunction with her job. While recovering from her injury, Sloan learns that people in her area are disappearing. She starts looking into similar disappearances in the surrounding area and begins putting together pieces that local law enforcement has missed.

With drama, suspense, and a steamy romance, this is quintessential Roberts. With flavors of an Eve Dallas police procedural, a riveting storyline, and a satisfying romance, this one is sure to please any reader.

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts is an incredible romantic suspense I loved.
Such a great murder mystery!

This is an engaging murder mystery. Characters are well developed and realistic. There were some unexpected twists, which I appreciated. Sloan is easy to root for, intelligent, and independent. There is a romance angle, but, thankfully, it's not overpowering.

I absolutely love and adore Nora Roberts stories....usually. This one did not WOW me. Part of it was the cringing I felt myself doing every time Sam and Clara were on the page. Seriously disturbed people obviously but every time she called him "doll", I nearly lost my mind. The story was good overall but I think the dialogue just sat weird for me and I felt like I was reading this book forever and it just wasn't ending. I loved the brothers and the strong Cooper family ties. Also, I want to spend a week at All the Rest (less the serial killers of course). 3.5 stars

Really good!

I enjoyed this stand-alone book by Nora Roberts. I'm glad to find one where she has moved away from the sci-fi/romantasy genre and back to romantic suspense. I loved the Heron's Rest setting, sounds like a small town I'd love to visit on vacation. I would definitely want to stay at Sloan's family's resort, sounds perfect!

I liked the way that Sloan and Nash's relationship grew slowly. Sloan is a very strong female main character, and even when she was hurt on the job as a Natural Resources Police officer, she gritted through it and came out stronger for it. She's a good detective, and skilled at putting together the clues to help the team discover who is abducting strangers who have only 1 link in common - being revived after losing their lives.

Good mystery, good characters. Strong family ties. Small town. Recommend!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

HIDDEN NATURE - Nora Roberts

SUSPENSE TO THE MAX! - 5 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, walked into a robbery in progress and found her world changing with a serious injury. After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. She may be down, but she’s not out. So when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. 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 shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case—and she's willing to risk her life again if that's what it takes to stop the horror.

Writing - 5 stars - Roberts has the ability to capture my attention right from the first page, keeping me captivated throughout.

Characters - 5 stars - This is where the story shone for me. Sloan Cooper is a Natural Resources Police officer, which is something I knew little about, and I enjoyed learning more. She is strong, determined, and part of a loving family. Nash is one of two tall, dark, and handsome brothers who has moved into a neighboring house and are rehabbing it while starting to build a Fix-It Brothers business. He is also organized and interested, plus he fits in with the Cooper strong-willed philosophy. They make a cute couple, with plenty of witty banter and sweet kindnesses. Secondary characters of sister Drea and brother Theo, as well as parents Elsie and Dean, all add depth to the family (and thus the story). We also learn a lot about the bad guys, seeing much of the story from their point of view. This was intriguing and added a whole other level of awareness and suspense.

Title - 5 stars - I like how the title plays on the word "nature" since it refers to both human nature and the actual world of nature that Sloan loves.

Cover - 4.5 stars - The dark cove, with a spider's web, is intriguing and sets the tone for the story, but it is not striking in any way. I've seen the audio cover featuring woods and a reflective lake that was much more eye-catching, in my opinion.

Overall - 5 stars - As always, Roberts captured my attention right from the first page and kept me captivated until the end. The characters are wonderful, and I was rooting for them all the way. Sloan is a Natural Resources Police officer--I didn't really know what that was, so it was interesting to learn more about it. When she is shot in the line of duty, we struggle with her through her slow progress and her reintegration into her strong family unit. Loved her sister Drea, as well as parents Elsie and Dean--all strong people with hearts of gold. Hard workers, caring, but with a deep understanding of each other. Enter the Littlefield brothers, guys who bought a neighboring house and are rehabbing it, along with starting a Fix-It Brothers business. They are tall, dark, and handsome (of course), but they are also dependable and sweet, and they fit right in with the Cooper family. The bad guys are horrible, but on the outside they seem normal, which makes them even more terrifying. The mystery built up little by little until I had to keep taking breaks at the end because the suspense was at a fever pitch for me. With this being a standalone book, all characters were susceptible to disaster, unlike a series book where the main characters usually return in the next book. Very exciting until the very end, with plenty of witty banter and warm conversations throughout. Another winner from Roberts!

Nora Roberts is my automatic buy read author!!
This one delivers with suspense, a bit of romance, and kept me feverishly turning the pages while cautioning myself to slooooow down my reading because there’s only so many NR books a year!!
I didn’t listen to myself and tore through this one!!

This book moved really slow for me. I liked the creepiness/mystery and romance of this book, just wished it moved faster.

There’s just something about the comfort of reading one of Nora Roberts romantic suspense novels. Her pacing is steady, allowing her to build the characters back stories and allow the reader the time to really connect with and care for the characters, but she also develops the romance at that same pace. The two plots don’t outdo each other but rather complement each other so that moving from the romance to the mystery doesn’t distract from the other but rather adds to it. I loved that especially about Hidden Nature.

Sloan’s rehab from her wounds gives the reader a great gage of her head space. She’s exhausted, then frustrated, then angry, then resolved and we’re along for the ride with each of those feelings. When she’s finally ready to embrace those romantic feelings for Nash the reader is brought along seemlessly into those new emotions and is ready for Sloan to feel better, so begins to root for their romance and for Nash to jump on the we love Sloan bandwagon. Of course, he does, and that part of the story feels very natural.

The hardest part for me to read was from the killer’s point of view. Of course, it’s natural to feel uncomfortable, but I kind of wished for a little less of them and more of Sloan and Nash. That’s my only criticism of a really solid novel.