Thank you for the early copy of Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts. This one gives you both the romance and thriller aspect when reading. Whats crazy with this one is that Sloan almost gets killed when she accidentally runs across a robbery in progress and now shes trying to recover from it.
Sloan then discovers a case of a missing woman and now is invested in it and wants to be a part of it. After being on this case in her spare time she ends up discovering more of these types of missing cases among other states of all different people. But there's one crazy thing about these cases.. Each one of these victims were also "Resuscitated" just like her. How crazy is that....So whats next.. Sloan is definitely determined to find out and get these cases closed.

This started off so leisurely that I was almost bored.
BUT in true Nora Roberts fashion, she was guiding us through a romantic suspense that just got better and better until i coudlnt put the book down at the end.

I miss THIS Nora Roberts who writes us a story that just happens to be a romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.

I’ve long been a Nora Roberts fan and was honored to receive this ARC from NetGalley! There’s a cadence to any book written by Nora that lets you know you are reading one of her intricately crafted tales… this one definitely hits the mark!

Hidden Nature is a thrillingly good suspense/thriller/romance with a badass policewoman, Sloan, as the FMC. Her tenacity and grit make her the perfect person to try to catch a serial killer, once she’s healed after being shot.

The romance subplots are also written extremely well with a mostly closed door spice level. Nash Littlefield brings a steady dose of big brother energy to everyone except Sloan who is happy to look at him in every possible way! This is an over all great story for any fan of romance or suspense!

Sloan Cooper is a natural resources policewoman who is shot and critically injured when she walks in on a convenience store robbery. Doctors need to resuscitate her when her heart stops during emergency surgery. She begins a long recuperation at her parent’s home in Heron’s Nest. Topping off her bad fortune is a boyfriend who “ghosts” her while she is in the hospital.

During her slow recovery, Sloan discovers the case of a young woman from a nearby town who disappears from a supermarket parking lot without a trace. Curious, Sloan researches other, similar disappearances and finds several, but with no obvious ties to each other. Also while recovering, Sloan’s mentor visits her and offers her an opportunity to interview for a NRP promotion in her home area. With that promotion, she would have an opportunity to work on these disappearances with the police.

Sloan is offered the job and decides to stay in Heron’s Nest permanently. She hires Nash, a new-to-the-area building contractor to work on the dilapidated house she purchases. Nash shares her curiosity for the crimes and becomes her sounding board - and more - while she digs into the cases. Terrifyingly, when Sloan discovers what the victims in each disappearance have in common, she realizes she could also be a potential victim.

I enjoyed this book!

FINAL DECISION: HIDDEN NATURE has a strong second half and an intriguing premise, but its slow, detail-heavy first half drains momentum, keeping it from reaching its full potential as a thriller.

THE STORY: Natural Resources police officer Sloan Cooper's life changes drastically when she walks into a convenience store robbery and is shot. After being revived on the operating table, she moves back to her parents' home in Heron's Rest to recover. While healing both physically and emotionally from being dumped by her boyfriend via text during her hospital stay, Sloan becomes intrigued by the case of a woman who disappeared, leaving her car in a supermarket parking lot. As she searches online, she discovers similar disappearances across three states with seemingly unrelated victims. With the support of Nash, a new man in her life who shares her investigative passion, Sloan digs deeper into the mysterious abductions. She soon realizes the victims share one critical factor—they've all been resuscitated after near-death experiences, just like her. As the pattern becomes clearer, Sloan must use all her skills and determination to stop a killer before she becomes the next target.

OPINION: Roberts once again proves her storytelling prowess with a thriller that balances suspense, recovery, and romance. Sloan Cooper is a particularly strong protagonist whose journey from trauma to renewed purpose forms the emotional core of the novel. Her determination to solve the mystery despite her physical limitations makes her instantly relatable, and her growing relationship with Nash develops naturally amidst the chaos.

The supporting cast is equally well-drawn, particularly Sloan's parents, whose warmth and support provide a comforting backdrop to the increasingly disturbing investigation. The brothers who move to town to start a contracting business integrate seamlessly into the close-knit community, and their interactions with the main characters add depth to the overall narrative.

Unfortunately, the book takes far too long to find its footing. The first half is bogged down with excessive detail about home renovations and day-to-day activities that, while creating a rich sense of place, fail to engage with the urgency a thriller requires. I struggled to stay interested until the investigation finally gained momentum in the second half.

When the mystery does take center stage, the concept of targeting people who have been resuscitated is genuinely chilling and original, creating a unique vulnerability for the protagonist that raises the stakes effectively. The second half delivers on the promise of suspense, with tension building masterfully toward a satisfying conclusion. However, this strong finish can't fully compensate for the sluggish beginning.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book is a mystery/thriller but takes a while to get into that plot.

CONNECTED BOOKS: HIDDEN NATURE is a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley which I used to prepare this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

DNF @ 56%

this is by far the most boring "thriller" I have ever read, to a point that I actually had to doublecheck that it was supposed to be a thriller. the cover certainly makes it look like one!!!

it's incredibly slow — the entire first 30% is about the FMC (Sloane) recovering from an injury. so much time and detail goes into Sloan's recovery, then renovating her house and spending time with her family. If I had to read about her taking one more nap, or just one more bite of food, I thought I might shoot myself. It was unbelievably repetitive. At several points, the exact same thing is repeated 3 or 4 times. I get it. Once is enough.

At 56%, Sloan (A sergeant officer) doesn’t even know that there are killers yet, and honestly at multiple points i had forgotten that there are killers involved because so little of the story up until this point has been about the crimes. At more than halfway through the book, Sloan is looking into missing people and thinks these three cases are connected but hasn’t figured out how yet, and truly at this pace I doubt she'll ever solve it.

The dialogue is also so confusing for the timeline. Based on context clues, it sounds like they’re in what is modern day Maryland. Two of the characters are supposed to be transplants from NYC (a lawyer and a finance bro) and neither of them talk or act like it. A huge majority of the dialogue is incomplete or super short sentences, but then followed by paragraphs upon paragraphs of detailed descriptions — most often about the types of renovations going on at the house or what someone is wearing or Sloan's recovery process, or some other incredibly mundane thing and NOT the crime!

The murders/killers are a subplot in this "thriller" and I am bored out of my goddamn mind. I seriously tried to push through this but cannot find the strength or motivation to go on, I am so sorry.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC in exchange for my honest review.

Hidden Nature is an interesting mix of romance and a thriller novel, leaning more towards thriller. I was fascinated by Sloan's way of investigating and loved that the main investigation of the book wasn't even her case. It gave it a different take since she investigated on her own. Her character was very direct, almost too direct at times. I kept thinking people would get insulted by that, but it's as if the other characters just knew it was just how she was. I felt like the romance of the story was more her sister's romance. We saw more of her relationship than we did Sloans. Not that it's bad, it just threw me the way this book was approached with not only the romance but the main thriller plot. There is a lot of design and home improvement in this book, which I absolutely loved because that's my thing. I could see where that may slow things down for readers who don't care about it. Overall though, this was a unique read and I enjoyed it.

Natural Resources Officer Sloan Cooper's life changes when she interrupts a robbery in progress. After being brought back on the operating table and in need of recuperation, she heads to her parent's house to regain her strength. To keep her mind occupied, Sloan investigates a missing person's case. She finds similar cases with horrifying connections and realizes she is part of that connection.
Not only is there top-notch suspense, but Roberts provides the reader with a tender romance or two along with interesting characters.
I will be recommending this book.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Nora Roberts and NetGalley for this ARC.

Get ready for a rollercoaster coaster ride. It’ll have you falling in love. To being on the edge of your seat. Seeking to see what happens next.

I always love a good Nora Roberts' book and this doesn't disappoint. A suspenseful story about Sloane Cooper and her job with the NRP, kept you totally engaged. Starting off with Sloane's injury, the story is one of family, love and finding the right person while hunting down a serial killer. A great classic read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Sloane Cooper, Natural Resources Police office, walks into a convenience store robbery in progress and the course of her life changes drastically.

An intricate mystery that is masterfully written as always by Nora Roberts. Characters that are complex and extremely likable, except of course, the ones the reader is not supposed to like. A plot that gradually builds to the very dramatic ending. A definite page turner that I whole-heartedly recommend to all mystery readers.

Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors. I think I have read everyone of her Romantic suspense books and I'm coming around again the second time!! She is one of the best storytellers of her time. She doesn't just write romance with great suspense, she tells a great story with it so you get to know the characters in detail. In her book Hidden Nature, one of the main characters Sloan is a Natural Resources Police Officer and in the first chapter she walks into a convenience store and gets shot immediately! Her recovery in very rough and she has to move back home to her family ,where her parents and sister lives She is struggling every day to regain her strength, while at home she hears about a woman who disappeared from the grocery store in her hometown of Herons Rest, on Thanksgiving eve. She was just gone, her car still there so she decides to look into it and she discovers it is much bigger than it seems. Of course during all this there is actually a double love story and you will also meet her family individually along with the Littlefields, two brothers from New York city. Nash a former stock broker turned contractor/ furniture maker and his brother Theo .Nash helps Sloan with the missing persons case. She discovers similar cases through all ages and walks of life have been happening throughout the tri state area. Of course she's back to work but she still has to solve this case while trying not to become a victim herself. No one writes romantic thriller quite as well as Nora Roberts. I loved the resilience and drive of Sloan to get back and even better than she was before the shooting. I also loved the way Sloanes family welcomed the Littlefield brothers into there home as family which was something they never had growing up. Her characters in this book were very well developed throughout and she expertly balances the tension of the mystery with the warmth of the small town and the budding romances. This story is about new beginnings, love and passion,strength and intrigue, like all Nora Roberts books this is another 5 star winner I thoroughly enjoyed!! I want to thank Nora Roberts and Netgalley , also the publisher St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy of Hidden Nature.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Sloan is a Natural Resource police officer who winds up walking into a robbery in progress in a convenience store, and is shot during that encounter. Her recovery is rougher - physically she has a hard time, and emotionally she struggles when her boyfriend breaks up with her. So, she moves back in with her parents. While recuperating, she decides to look into a case where a woman vanishes, but leaves her car behind in a store lot. Her research into the case leads her to learn that similar cases among all walks of life have been happening throughout three states. Naturally, she must solve this case, and gets a helping hand in the process.

This story certainly is propelling, but beware it is about serial killers. If you are a mood reader, this is a good book for a cold and dark fall day. This is a great book if you are looking for something immersive in the descriptions. That is always something this author excels at.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of Nora Roberts. I've even read a few of her books several times. While Hidden Nature was unobjectionable, the novel was ultimately not a winner for me. The plot felt a bit contrived, and the characters were not as fully developed as they usually are in Robert's novels.

This book captivated me from the start. It opens with an intense scene, and the way the tension ebbs and flows throughout the story was excellent. I particularly enjoyed Sloan's character development. Usually, we see a strong female character presented at the beginning with no apparent flaws. Then, a tragedy strikes, and we witness their struggle to overcome it and emerge stronger. However, this time, seeing Sloan experience her tragedy right at the outset and watching her develop and grow from that point was a refreshing and well-executed storytelling approach.
The way the two stories were told in parallel was enjoyable, giving the narrative a feeling similar to a tv police procedural. It made for a very enjoyable read.

I was swept up in this story. Nora Roberts is a writer like no other and while I prefer her J.D. Robb books, this one is every bit as good. When I first opened the book, I noticed it was a bit lengthy and pondered that for a bit wondering if the book would hold my interest. The answer is a resounding YES, it held my interest and had me turning pages quickly with no thought to anything but what happened next. We meet Sloan first and her experience is unique. First because I never really read about the light or what is next but also and more importantly because she come back for family. And what a family, the Coopers are. They are a unit with parents who love their daughters and must fight the urge to be overprotective. The family actually reminds me of my own and I could easily picture my people rallying around me as Elsie ,Dean, and Drea rallied around Sloan. The characters were amazing and well rounded with flaws which the author does not shy from including. Sloan's recovery is shared with the readers not simply glossed over. The beauty of her recovery is we are invited to share all her milestones and stumbles as the pages roll by. If I had one complaint it is the Sloan does not meet Nash until more than 1/4 of the book is done. When she does, you can tell they are well matched. He has the same strength of character of her father and isn't there a saying that we marry men like our fathers. While it takes Sloan a bit of time to meet Nash, they are not the only love story in the book Even the killers have love and holidays and a "normal"ish live.
The mystery is unique especially since we got a look at the motivation of the killers. Those killers also bring Sloan an opportunity because she can't stop being a cop.
All this happens set against a beautiful background of a small town full of nature's majesty. It feels like you are on a journey as the crisp air and beautiful scenes are painted on the page for us. I have to give bonus points for the book including a dog because I think our four footed friends add to our lives and to this book. While I love the pop culture references to Marvel, I don't love the family being Ravens fans. I am a Pittsburgh girl and we hate the Ravens by default. However, this tiny flaw in football is not enough to detract from my enjoyment of this book. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good romantic suspense with characters you will come to feel like you know.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Wow wow wow! Nora Roberts made my heart go wild with suspense and with the sweet love story of Sloan and Nash. The suspense was tough at times with a scary scenario but a good one too. Thank you NetGalley for the arc. Get this one as soon as it comes out in May

Nora Robert's upcoming novel, Hidden Nature, set to release on May 27, 2025, is a gripping blend of suspense, romance, and resilience. The story introduces Sloan Cooper, a corporal with Maryland's Natural Resource Police, whose life takes a dramatic turn after a convenience store robbery leaves her critically injured, Her recovery journey leads her back to her family home in the serene town of Heron's Rest, where she begins to rebuild her life.

As Sloan adjusts to her new reality, she becomes intrigued by a series of mysterious disappearances in the region. With the help of Nash Littlefield, a former New York City stockbroker turned contractor, Sloan embarks on an off-the-books investigation. Together, they uncover chilling connections between the cases, leading to a high-stakes pursuit of a serial predator.

Roberts masterfully balances the tension of the mystery with the warmth of small-town life and the budding romance between Sloan and Nash. The novel explores themes of strength, community, and the enduring human spirit, making it a compelling read for fans of romantic suspense.

Hidden Nature promises to ne another standout in Nora Robert's extensive bibliography, offering readers a tale of courage and determination against the backdrop of a captivating mystery.

Thank you St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an ARC of Hidden Nature in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely love Nora Roberts. She’s such a versatile author and almost always is a guaranteed 24 hour read and a 5 star.

This book was a great but it fell just short of amazing for me. Great and interesting storyline. Loved the characters. It was just a little drawn out for me.

Sloan is a police officer who goes through a very traumatic experience. She goes back home to her parents to recover. While there, someone is going around killing people in neighboring towns. Sloan notices a pattern and brings the information to the to the police in charge. Also noticing that she fits the motive.

I’m not exactly sure what genre I would put Hidden Nature in. It opens as a crime thriller, but then feels like a romance for most of the rest of it with some lunatic serial killers sprinkled in. I was rooting for Sloan during her recovery and personal ventures, but the story felt like a cross between a Hallmark and Lifetime movie. The contractors finish almost an entire house as well as the townspeople’s home repairs in record time. I would like to hire them for my basement. Some of the repeat dialogue bothered me and made me cringe. For example, Joel referring to Sloan as “sis,” her dad constantly calling her “baby,” and any time that we got to see what was going on with the local insane hillbilly couple. I enjoy a twist and with their perspective always there, there really wasn’t any twist. In fact, their paths didn’t even cross with MC’s until about the last 90% of the book. I have heard such great things about this author and enjoyed that it took place somewhat around my hometown in Maryland, but it wasn’t my fav. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.