Sloan is in law enforcement. After being shot in the line of duty and shocked back to life, she heads to her folks’ home to recover. Next door to her folks, Nash and his brother, Theo, have moved in to start their own business. As Sloan gets healthier, she starts researching a missing person to keep her mind occupied.

This one is high on the creep factor. The villains snatch their victims, including the woman Sloan is investigating, to hear their stories about near death experiences before sending them back to death by draining their blood and keeping it, using it occasionally in making sauces. Ew. While they are obviously insane, it’s disappointing that they are portrayed as people of faith who believe they are doing God’s work. Otherwise this is a brilliantly written story full of humor, grit, familial love, and home remodeling.

I mostly enjoyed it. Fans of the author will not be disappointed.

Not family friendly due to profanity, sex, violence, and general creepiness.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Once again, a master turns in an addicting book. Hidden Nature features Sloan Cooper, a Natural Resources Police officer in Maryland who survives a shooting, only to find herself investigating what appears to be a case of disappearing people and a serial killer.

Sloan and her partner, Joel, just took down three men who were robbing and assaulting hikers when the officers stopped at a mini-mart. Sloan went in, and came face-to-face with a robber who shot her pointblank. Joel saved her, but it was a hospital team who shocked her back to life. It as a long recovery, longer than the driven officer wants, but she finds a distraction as she recuperates at her parents’ home in the Alleghenies.

Janet Anderson disappeared Thanksgiving weekend while Sloan was laid up. She becomes fascinated by the case, and spends time researching, only to find several other people who disappeared, and were never seen again. Sloan is convinced they’re dead, but can’t find a connection between them.

By the time Sloan recovers, she’s eager to resume her job. A promotion keeps her in the area where her parents rent cabins to tourists. But, she’s ready to move on with her own life, and buys a small bungalow to rehab. She hires her parents’ new handyman, Nash Littlefield, and his brother to assist with the renovation. As she gets to know Nash, she finds an intelligent, concerned man who shares her interest in the cases of disappearing people.

Roberts’ latest novel introduces two families, the Coopers and the Littlefield brothers who share a passion for renovating houses. And, as Sloan and her sister get to know the Littlefield brothers, relationships develop. I’ll admit I appreciated the family stories and relationships, as well as the accounts of home renovations as much as I enjoyed the crime aspects. The couple behind the abductions and disappearances were creepy, a little too creepy for me, and I sometimes I skipped the sections that dealt with their relationship and their inner thoughts.

Suspense, romance, serial killers, and house renovations. Nora Roberts offers something for everyone in her latest riveting novel, Hidden Nature.

And, I'll admit this would have had 5 shars except the serial killers were a little too creepy for me.

Nora Roberts writes some great books that appeal to many. This one is both a romance and a mystery. I always enjoy picking up one of her books and getting lost in it.

Description:
Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store—and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world.

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. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance.

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.

My Thoughts:
This story took off quickly when Sloan was shot just walking into a convenience store after taking down some criminals. While she was recovering at her parents' home she got pulled into investigating a series of seemingly unrelated disappearances. She was investigating on her own online, but when she was suspicious they were related she started alerting authorities in the various areas the disappearances had occurred. Several more related cases turn up, but this is a tough investigation to tie together with no obvious motive. Still, Sloan is persistent and keeps at it.

I immediately liked Sloan as a character - she is tough, determined, and relatable. Besides the mystery of the missing persons, there are two sweet romances happening that are fun. Then there is a new opportunity that comes up for Sloan. I liked Sloan's supportive family and the warm, comfortable environment in the home of her parents. I also liked the job as a Natural Resources police officer - it seemed like a different type of police with some unique, appropriate goals. The plot moved quickly and kept me absorbed. I would recommend this book to any of my friends who enjoy a good mystery.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Sloan Cooper, recently injured Natural Resource Cop, is in the fight of her life to bring down two twisted killers. Luckily, a new man in her life also enjoys solving puzzles and is a great sounding board for Sloan.

Wrapped in a slight spicy romance, this slow burn suspense novel started a little slow, and it took me a minute to understand the change in points of view, but then ramped up fast. I had a hard time putting it down. The different points of view provide the reader with the antagonist and protagonists actions, but they are unaware of each other adding to the suspense throughout the book. The action packed plot had a lot going on, but it was combined well. January LaVoy, the narrator, did a fascinating job of narration of all the characters, including Clara, who I truly despise. I loved the completely different voice the characters were written in. This is a perfect vacation read for those that enjoy a little love with their thrillers or a little suspense with their romance!

Oh my goodness, I ripped through this, gave it 5 stars, proceeded to buy 12 Nora backlists used off eBay, and completed forgot to write my rave review.
This is Nora at her finest. I loved our main female character and her “nature police” job was super neat. I loved her family (they reminded me of the family in The Liar) and I LOVED the leading men. The mystery was creepy and VERY timely with a religious fanatic take. Just enough suspense to keep me on my toes without making me feel on edge.
Definitely recommend!

Sloan Cooper ran right into trouble in a convenient store with her partner. She is shot and needs a recovery time. She returns tot he loving arms of her family who own resort cottages and cater to those who want to vacation in natural settings. During her recovery time she becomes obsessed with a disappearance of several, and her new neighbors who are quite handy with fixing and updating things. This is a story of family, romance, and a thrilling story of a strange couple who have been systematically killing those who have once cheated death. Sloan is one of those and may end up on their list. Great storytelling from one of the best, Nora Roberts. Thanks to #NetGalley#HiddenNatrue#NoraRoberts for the opportunity to read and review this book.

🌲Hidden Nature is a small-town romantic suspense from Nora Roberts, an author who truly excels in this genre. The story weaves together mystery, family, romance, and intrigue, with enough suspense to hook readers.

Sloan Cooper, a Natural Resources Officer, is unexpectedly shot in the chest during an unexpected encounter . She returns to her hometown to recover, only to find herself drawn into a missing persons investigation. As she puts herself at risk to uncover the truth, Sloan might just solve the case and find more than she bargained for.🌲

🍁 I’ve always enjoyed reading Nora Roberts, and this book had all the familiar ingredients: a strong female lead, elements of found family, and a compelling mystery. However, I was a little disappointed. The story takes a long time to gain momentum. While I usually appreciate detailed storytelling, I’ve noticed a trend in Roberts’ recent novels: a slow pace and repetitive passages that come at the expense of narrative drive. I would have preferred a tighter, more fast-paced plot.🍁

Thank you to St Martins Press for the copy.

Nora Roberts has done it again. This is a wonderful romantic suspense story about a female cop named Sloan, who gets shot when she walks in on a convenience store robbery while her and her partner are returning from a big arrest. For her recovery, she returns to her family home and is reminded of why she loves it there in the mountains by a lake. During her down time she gets caught up in the disappearance of a woman in a nearby town. When two brothers move in nearby, it becomes more interesting. If I had the free time, I would have read this straight through to find out how it all worked out.

Nora Roberts is my most read author. For so many years I’ve made sure I drop everything tho read her latest. Hidden Nature is a fine example of the author’s ability to tell a story that keeps you engaged. Between the plot, and Nora’s signature writing style, this fast paced police procedural also includes just a hint of romance, along with strong family relationships. I’m never disappointed with a Nora Roberts novel, and Hidden Nature certainly continues that trend.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors and I always look forward to her books. Natural Resources Police Officer Sloan Cooper and her partner Joel have just taken down three criminals when they stop at a convenience store. While Joel is gassing up the truck, Sloan goes inside to get Joel a soda and discovers a robbery in progress. The robber has his back to Sloan, but turns around and shoots her. One bullet lands in her chest. She is rushed to a hospital and into surgery. Her heart stops and she has to be shocked back to life. After being dismissed from the hospital, she goes back to her hometown of Heron's Rest, Maryland to recuperate in her parents' home.

While she is recuperating, two brothers, Nash and Theo Littlefield, move into a rundown house nearby with plans to renovate it and start a handyman business. They came from a privileged background and parents that demanded much from them. Leaving high profile jobs in New York City, they decided to strike out on their own and do something that they love. Sloan and her sister, Drea, become friends with the Littlefield brothers.

In the meantime, a woman from Heron's Rest disappears and this gives Sloan something to think about in her idle time. After doing some investigating, she discovers there has been some other disappearances with similar circumstances. The one thing linking them is that all the victims had been shocked back to life.

This was a suspenseful read and the villains were despicable people that you loved to hate. There was a nice element of romance and strong sense of family that added lightness to the novel.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an Advances Reader Copy (ARC) via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Nora Roberts has once again proven her exceptional skill with "Hidden Nature." As an author who has been captivating readers for many years, her talent shines brilliantly in this novel. The characters are wonderfully crafted, each with depth and authenticity that make them feel like old friends. The plot flows seamlessly, with no holes or inconsistencies, keeping me engaged from start to finish.

What sets this book apart is Roberts' signature narrative style—her dialogue and storytelling unfold like a long-running, intimate conversation, drawing readers deeply into the world she creates. The blend of romance and mystery is perfectly balanced, adding layers of intrigue without overshadowing the heartfelt connections between characters.

Moreover, the setting is nothing short of magnificent. Vivid descriptions transport you right into the heart of the story, making every scene come alive with rich detail.

"Hidden Nature" is a testament to Nora Roberts' enduring prowess as a storyteller. A must-read for fans of romance and mystery alike!

I mean .. Nora went and did her thing !!

There is nothing better than getting lost in a Nora Roberts book, genuinely. I got lost in this one, in Sloan’s healing, in Sloan’s occupation, in the remodel of her house, in her family & in these villains?! Such unhinged antagonists, wow.

I’ve found that since my very first Nora, she’s written pieces of myself into her books and into her fmcs - she doesn’t even know me but somehow she knows me?? This book was no exception, all the way down to Sloan’s blue house and her serial killer basement.

I absolutely loved the Cooper family, Dean’s relationship with his daughters and the way they folded Theo and Nash into their tree like they’ve always had a branch. Theo and Nash 🥹 - what precious men. Theo is JJ Maybank in a different font and you can’t convince me otherwise. The Fix-It bros have such a sad story they overcame but they did it together.

THE DOGS. Omg the dogs, there is nothing I love more than a Nora Roberts fictional dog and this book has TWO precious boys.

There are so many pieces of this book I loved and could go on and on about but above all I’ll never get over the fact that I’m allowed to read Nora’s early 🩷🩷

Before getting into the meat of this review, I want to state that there are no spoilers. Reading a review of a mystery/thriller should leave the reader curious and anxious to find out more. That being said, I have attempted to give readers just enough detail to generate interest. There is nothing worse than reading a review and already knowing what to expect in the book. I have left out some details that left me reacting with surprise as I read this romantic/mystery. I hope you will also find those moments as you delve into Hidden Nature.

Nora Roberts has done it again. Her latest release, Hidden Nature, takes the elements of suspense and adds a dash of romance to create a romantic thriller just in time for beach readers, travelers, and anyone looking for a captivating read this summer.

Sloan Cooper is an officer in the Natural Resources Police in Maryland, where she is accustomed to enforcing laws related to hunting, fishing, boating, wildlife, and environmental regulations. When a trip to a convenience store on the way back from a call has her walking in on a robbery in progress, it results in life-threatening injuries. Sloan, knowing she has a long recovery ahead, decides to move back home to her parents' house in Heron’s Rest, where the family vacation rental business, All The Rest is located.

Sloan’s road to recovery is anything but boring, however. Nash, a handsome New Yorker, buys the neighboring property with plans to fix it up. In addition, a woman goes missing from a grocery store parking lot the day before Thanksgiving. Sloan, with plenty of time on her hands, gets to know her neighbor, who also likes solving puzzles, and begins to do some online sleuthing in search of leads and similar cases. What she finds is evidence of a deeper, darker mystery than that of one, seemingly random, abduction. Each page pulls the reader deeper into the mystery as Sloan and her handsome neighbor work to crack the case.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Nora Roberts for this ARC. Planned publication date is 27 May 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store—and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world.

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. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance.

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.
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I don't know that there is another writer out there that can do romantic suspense as well as Nora Roberts; she is truly a master at her craft. For the past several years, she has put out novels that have been among my favorite reads of the late spring season - Mind Games, Identity, Shelter in Place - and I expected Hidden Nature to be no different. While this was not my favorite of her offerings, I am happy to report that this is another solid suspense novel with a sweet love story and a fast-paced mystery that kept me engaged from the first page to the last.

Squeamish readers might find parts of this book a little unsettling...I myself am pretty hardy, and even I thought parts of it were pretty difficult to wrap my head around. The bad guys in this one were bad guys in a new-to-me way that was especially disturbing. However, that made it all the more satisfying when they got what was coming to them. This was nicely tempered by the lighter side of the story, which had Roberts's trademark tale of a romance (or two), a picturesque setting, and a vibrant cast of characters who it is a pleasure to come to know.

I received this book as an ARC thanks to St Martin's Press and Netgalley, but this review represents my honest opinion.

Hidden Nature is a wonderful romance and procedural. It is a realistic and mature romance, where your characters aren't particularly happy about their inconvenient feelings at first but work it out without unnecessary drama. The mystery itself feels timely, with people putting their faith above the needs of the public with disastrous results. And like with all Nora Roberts books, there is an acknowledgement that a good family is an amazing source of support and love, but not all families are good. I very much liked the ending of the book because that felt real to me too.

Honestly, if you like romantic suspense, this is for you. If you like psychological triggers, medical thrillers, detective thrillers, this is for you. And if you like HGTV, there's something in here for you too. For me- I've said it before, but Nora Roberts makes me feel what her characters feel like few other authors can achieve.

They got a second chance at life...

...but someone is determined to take it away.

Sloan Cooper is a good cop and investigator. After a chance encounter with a robbery in progress left her with serious injuries and a long recovery, the usually strong and active woman had to take things slow and easy (which drove her crazy) at her parents' home in Heron's Rest. The unexplained disappearance of a local woman gives her something she can use her professional instincts to look into online, which suits her more than crocheting (although she's doing that too). Meanwhile Nash Littlefield, a successful New York financier, has bought a house in Heron's Rest that needs a lot of work...which suits him just fine, because working with his hands is what he actually likes to do. His demanding parents had pushed him into the finance world, but he has finally broken free of their control....he is ready to start leading the life he wants. Turns out his younger brother Theo wants out of the mold their parents forced him into (law) too, and wants to join his brother in starting up a fix-it business. Sloan's informal digging into the missing woman's case unearths something eerie....there are several other cases in the surrounding areas that have some commonalities with that one, and the only thing the missing people have in common is that at some point in the recent past they were clinically dead but brought back to life by medical professionals. Who could want to punish people who have been gifted with a second chance at life? Sloan herself was dead for a few minutes after the incident that left her in bad shape; is she in danger too? As Nash and Sloan slowly draw closer, there is danger lurking closer than either suspects.
When a reader picks up a Nora Roberts book, they can be sure that the female protagonist will be pretty, strong and independent, and the man in her life will be much the same (just in masculine terms), and in Sloan and Nash that's exactly what they'll find. One little quirk in this book is that the two don't officially meet one another until almost halfway through the book; prior to that, the backstories of Sloan and her family, Sloan's injury and recuperation, Nash and Theo's backstory and that of the couple behind the disappearances of area people are rolled out. I knew that their coming together was going to happen, it was just odd for it to take so long to actually begin. That aside, the characters main and secondary are fun to get to know, the town of Heron's Rest is charming, and the relationships within and between the two families is great. Clara and Sam, the villains of the piece, are both weird and annoying to be honest...deadly, of course, but in a dull sort of way. A fun, light, quick read, maybe not my favorite of Ms Roberts' stories but enjoyable nonetheless. Her legion of fans will read it and love it, and readers of Sandra Brown, Catherine Coulter and Iris Johansen should enjoy it too. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me access to this romantic thriller that weaves together a crime novel, a family saga, and a double dose of romance in exchange for my honest review.

This was really scary, and I wish I read the description before I read it. If you like books like Stephen King's Holly then this will be right up your alley. This story is a page turner and it kept me at the edge of my sit through the whole book. Don't read this before bedtime or at night, if you want to sleep. The story has a satisfying ending and the plot is excellent. I love all the non-psycho characters and I am glad that Sloan knew how to protect herself and that she found someone who she could share her life with and that gets her..

I wished I liked these types of stories but they're to much like real life psychos.

I want to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of a book that gave me nightmares

Hidden Nature was an entertaining read. I enjoyed getting to know the main character, Sloan Cooper. as she recuperates from a near-death injury. Her parents and her sister, Drea, help her in her recovery. (This part of the book could actually stand alone as a women's fiction book of someone overcoming adversity while reconnecting with her roots with the help of family) At the same time, there is a parallel story about two brothers who are tired of the rat race of stressful jobs. They work together to fix up an old house and start a handyman business together. Sloan and Nash inevitably meet and eventually sparks fly.

The pace of this book is better suited for a romance novel, but moves a little slowly for a romantic suspense novel. I enjoyed the procedural aspects when we see Sloan on the job, but I didn't like the serial killer storyline at all. It felt realistic that Sloan would begin looking into this case of missing people while restless on her medical leave, but the whole premise was creepy. The villains of the story were weird and over-the-top and I didn't care for the chapters told from their points-of-view.

Some of the ending was predictable but the showdown with the killer had some surprises. Although this wasn't my favorite by Nora Roberts, there were parts of the book I really liked, so I'm glad I read it.

I received an advance review copy of this ebook from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

This story follows Natural Resources police officer Sloan Cooper from a terrifying gunshot wound and recovery to a fresh start on life when she buys a house in her hometown, finds companionship with a neighbor who is helping with some remodeling, and gets pulled into some mysterious cases of people who have seemingly disappeared into thin air. Sloan digs in and is determined to find any connection between the bizarre happenings.

Sloane Cooper is a detective and an intuitive woman who serves her profession well. When she is shot on duty, she ends up returning to her hometown of Heron’s Rest to recover and then takes a job there. Sloan’s independence and desire to do the best job possible made her relatable and realistic. The plot was moderately paced until near the end when the villains ramp up the action and their plans, so the action centered around Sloan picks up the pace, too. The plot is original but not very complicated. Sloane and her family interact well together, with compassion and understanding. When two newcomers arrive in town and end up being contractors, the romance begins and continues throughout the story. I enjoyed the way the romance unraveled slowly just at the suspense did. I must confess that I figured out what was going to happen after reading about a third of the book, so I was not surprised by the events that unfolded. Nevertheless, I liked how the author methodically set the stage for these events and carried them out flawlessly. I have read most of Nora Roberts’ books and was expecting a twist, but it was okay that it didn’t really happen for me since the plot itself was a compelling one that moved along well. With personable characters and an engaging plot, this is a book not to be missed by a master of the genre.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.