I really enjoyed this story, like the majority of the stories by Nora Roberts. The main charachters Sloan and Nash are very enjoyable, and relatable. They both have histories that have shapped them into who they are today. Along with plenty of trauma that they have and are working through. I liked that they build up to their relationship was not a quick one but grew as they actually got to know eachother. That was nice to see, and also they are both really nice people who care for and show thier love to their family.

The mystery in this story doesnt really come into the last half of the story, thoguht you do see peaks of it early on in the story. The mystery is one that is the disapperance of seemingly random people with initially no connection to one another. But Sloan being who she is pulls it all together.

The ending of the story, did seemed to be a bit rushed to me. But that could also be beacuas of the long lead up to Sloan and Nashs relationship. And all the amazing supporting charachters who showed up. This is the only downside to the story for me, and its really not a big one. The ending wrapped up the story very nicely.

If you enjoy Nora Roberts books, you will like this one for sure.
The narrator ,  January LaVoy, for the audiobook is one that is easy to listen to and did a great jon with the differences between Sloan and Nashs viewpoints

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook.

I absolutely loved this book. I can't wait until I can read the next book by Nora Roberts. Five out of five stars from me and would be more if I could.

I very much enjoyed the story. A cozy mystery with romance mixed in. I really enjoyed the main characters their story line and development, some of the periphery characters lacked depth and the antagonist reminded me of a child’s mentality to some degree. I also want to add that sisters marrying brothers isn’t my favorite trope but didn’t really detract from the story for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan audio for the advance copy. I will post review on GoodReads upon release date.

Hidden Nature began with a bang and kept the intensity going for the entire novel. For Sloan Cooper this is a story of second chances and she’s happy for the opportunity. She welcomes the chance to recover from her injuries surrounded by family. I loved the inner strength she relied on and it’s apparent where she came by it – her family.

Once Sloan is ready to go back to work she is offered a new position that she happily accepts. It will keep her close to home and now is the time for that. She also meets a new man who lives not far from her. He’s a contractor and it just happens that her family’s resort business needs a new contractor. If you’ve read a Nora Roberts novel chances are it included heavy doses of home renovation projects. I’m a fan of all that. But, the focus of the novel is Sloan making a connection with a rash of unexplained disappearances of people in a tristate area. Roberts reveals to the reader the gruesome details and POV of two serial killers and their deluded, righteous motivation. I found that very creepy. If you can get past that you will probably find Hidden Nature as hard to put down as I did. It’s a good Romantic Suspense novel.

Narration: January LaVoy's narration was really good. There are a lot of characters to voice and I thought she did a fantastic job. Her performance enhanced my experience with the book.

Nora Roberts' "Hidden Nature" blends romantic suspense with a compelling mystery. The story centers on Sloan Cooper, a Natural Resources Police officer, whose life takes a dramatic turn after a shooting. During her recovery, Sloan becomes engrossed in a series of disappearances, uncovering a twisted case that spans several states.

Roberts skillfully balances the suspense of the investigation with Sloan's personal journey, including her burgeoning relationship with Nash. The novel is set in the familiar, comforting small-town atmosphere that Roberts is known for, adding a layer of warmth to the gripping plot.

What I Liked:

Strong Protagonist: Sloan is a resilient and relatable character. Her determination to solve the mystery, even while recovering from a traumatic experience, makes her compelling.

Intriguing Mystery: The disappearances are mysterious and unsettling, with Roberts doling out clues at a satisfying pace.

Dual storylines: The book effectively alternates between the perspectives of Sloan and the killers, increasing the suspense.

Romantic Element: The romance between Sloan and Nash adds a pleasant dynamic to the story without overshadowing the central mystery.

Pacing: The book has a good pace, with a mix of action and slower character development.

I really enjoyed this book!
I have never read a Nora Roberts book before but it has been on my very long list! She really pulled me in with this story holding the suspenseful true crime feel but with a strangers to lovers situationship thrown in.
The narrator for the audiobook also did a great job with the character differentiation!
4/5 for me

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job. She kept me listening to the story and grateful to have a long road trip. The beginning provides background on Sloan and why she is back home in Heron's Rest with her family. A near fatal gunshot wound has her pondering her life and the direction she wants to go. When offered a job to stay and work there, she decides she wants to be by family and take the new position. She buys a fixer upper and uses the services of a new business in town run by brothers Nash and Theo. They have moved to town after deciding they didn't want the lives their parents pushed them into and wanted a career they chose. Sloan and Nash find themselves attracted to each other but fight it at first since their siblings Drea and Theo are dating. Nash's quiet and thoughtful character is the perfect match for Sloan's driven nature especially once she has figured out their is a serial killer in town. The justification for the killing is very bizarre and can be uncomfortable at times. The heaviness of the killings is balanced by the theme of family and that family can be born or chosen. As Sloan starts figuring out more about the killings, the more worried Nash becomes. The story is a good mix of romance, mystery and suspense.

This one was a bit of a slow burn for me. There was a lot of minute detail about Sloan's recovery during the first half of the book, which didn't feel entirely necessary to character development or plot. The romance piece was nicely done, as always. The serial killer couple were seriously creepy, which was interesting, but I never quite understood their motivation. The narrator of the audio version did an excellent job differentiating the voices of all the different characters, so I would highly recommend the audio on this one.

First off, I want to say how much I loved this book. Secondly, you should listen to the audiobook. January LaVoy knocks it out of the park with the narration. This is one of Nora Roberts' stand-alone thrillers. I don't know how she keeps coming up with unique and interesting books, but she does.

Sloan Cooper interrupts a robbery and, in the process, gets shot. She dies on the table but gets shocked back to life. It's a long road back to recovery, and she's moved home to do it. When a young girl disappears, she discovers she has things in common with her. She's determined to find out what happened to her. The more she looks into the disappearance, the more she's sure she has a serial killer on her hands. She must stop them before she becomes their next target.

This was my first foray into Nora Roberts’s work, and I was genuinely excited to dive in after hearing so much acclaim surrounding her name. The audiobook started strong—action, suspense, and full of promise. I was hooked, ready for the twisty, genre-blending ride. But somewhere along the way, the tension gave way to tile samples.

The plot lost its urgency and instead settled into a strangely detailed focus on home renovations. Kitchens, flooring, paint colors—great if I were redecorating, not so much for a novel that teased a chilling thriller. By the halfway mark, it felt like the real story had taken a backseat.
Then came the portrayal of the serial killers—as devout Christians. It didn’t sit right with me. Not because villains can’t be religious, but because it felt like their faith was weaponized as a narrative device, and not in a way that added depth or nuance. It felt like a sweeping judgment that could have been handled more thoughtfully.

And genre-wise? The book couldn’t seem to make up its mind. One moment it was veering into romantic tension, the next it was dipping into psychological horror, and then it was back to countertops and trim work. The inconsistency made it hard to stay invested.
That said, the narrator deserves serious praise. She managed an entire cast of characters with distinct, believable voices, and her performance is the main reason I made it to the end. If I had been reading a physical copy, I likely would’ve DNF’d.

In the end, this book had all the ingredients—mystery, romance, dark intrigue—but the execution left me underwhelmed. I can see why Nora Roberts has fans, but this one wasn’t the right entry point for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts. I have only recently started reading Nora's books. This one was pretty heavy.

At this time, I don't want to ruin what or why the people start to go missing. Sometimes I feel like I just pick a book to read because it is an author I like. But sometimes I should do more research into what I am getting myself in to. This book definitely had a creepy vibe. Times I just wanted to skip by some things. I am glad I stuck through it. I will update my review more once it has been released.

I did appreciate the strong female lead character. Loved the animals in the book Tic and Mop. Kind of a cheesy romance but I enjoyed it.

Hidden Nature is a standalone mystery by Nora Roberts. I think this is the first book I’ve read by the author (which I feel is kind of surprising considering how well known she is) and I really enjoyed it! I will definitely be reading more of her books!

Wow!!!! I loved this book!!!! There was just so much good in this book, I don’t even know where to start! Sloan is absolutely incredible! Strong and determined, and an absolute powerhouse in restarting her life after a near-death experience. I loved her family too!

The story was so intense! I was rooting for Sloan and was confident she would figure out the clues! So good!!!!

The narration by January LaVoy was wonderful! I loved how she brought the book to life!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts
Narrated by January LaVoy
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Women's Fiction
Expected Publication Date: May 27, 2025

Hidden Nature delivers exactly what I expect from Nora Roberts—a compelling mix of mystery, romance, and vivid atmosphere. The characters were well-drawn, especially the strong, capable lead, and the setting added a lush, almost haunting backdrop to the story. The pacing kept me hooked, and the slow burn romance felt authentic. I’m giving it 4 stars because a few plot points felt a little predictable, but overall, it was an immersive and satisfying read. A solid pick for fans of romantic suspense!

i tired so hard to listen to this but just couldn't push myself to suffer through this.

thankful i got the audio arc

I got an advanced audio copy of this book thanks to the publisher, NetGalley, and Macmillan audio, and this review is my own, honest review.

Sloan Cooper, the main character, was immediately likable as an honest, strong, leading woman. It was refreshing to read about healthy family dynamics, and the whole story had a lovely small town vibe. It had been years and years since I read a Nora Roberts book, and I’m almost disappointed in myself for not falling in love with the story! I think the main characters have huge potential to continue on in a sequel, and I would definitely give them another shot!

My main issue with the storyline is that the bad guys and the good guys never really intersected until the very tail end of the book. There were no surprise twists for the reader, and I felt like a casual observer of a storyline, waiting for a non-suspenseful climax to fall into place. I prefer to feel more invested in the outcome of the book and experience strong emotions when following along.

The narrator of this book was the highlight! She expertly voiced all the characters, and it was such a smooth transition among them that I checked the listing more than once to confirm it was just one narrator for the whole book!

I loved this book. I loved Sloan as the main character. All characters were well developed. Told from multiple points of view, even the bad guys. It all comes together at the end. You have some mystery and thriller, a bit of romance thrown in and a lovely setting.
Really great book that kept my interest and I couldn’t stop listening.

First, the bad: At times, this audiobook felt like a home improvement show because of all the details about the renovations to multiple properties! I had to skip ahead sometimes because it was so tedious to hear about the tiles and the plans for the new furniture.

Otherwise, this book was a decent mystery, and the environment of Heron's Rest and Sloan's family were interesting. I come from the region where the book is set, and it often felt quite realistic, which was a plus. The villains felt a little cartoonish, though I'm not sure if that was more because of the writing or because of the narration -- the voice of the female villain was so chirpy that it was creepy and a little annoying. I didn't feel like the love story of Sloan and Nash was very well developed, but I didn't mind that. The serial killer aspect was the more intriguing part of this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the chance to review this ALC and provide an honest review!

As a huge Nora Roberts fan, I always look forward to her next release with high expectations—and Hidden Nature absolutely delivered. What I love most about Nora’s writing is how she balances the strong emotions of a good suspense, and Hidden Nature is no exception. The romance felt authentic and well-paced, and the underlying mystery kept me turning pages long into the night.
If you a long fan of Nora, you'll love this story. If you are new to Nora Roberts this is a great one to try.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan audio for this audio ARC. #Macmillian #Netgalley #Noraroberts #Hiddennature

Another gem by my very favorite author, Nora Roberts!
Hidden Nature is the story of Sloan Cooper, a Natural Resources police officer (an agency that was new to me). Sloan is severely injured and returns home to Heron’s Rest to recover. While recovering, Sloan starts investigating a series of seemingly unrelated missing persons cases in the area, and it becomes a race of the clock to find and stop the serial killers!
Nora does a masterful job, as always, in her character and plot development- we get to know and love Sloane’s family and her romantic interest, Nash Littlefield, and his brother Theo. My one hesitation was that I felt the serial killers in this one were a little belabored and unlikable (more than usual)- but I really enjoyed the small town setting, home remodels, and delightful dogs in the mix! Highly recommend! I will continue to auto buy anything Nora writes - she’s the best!!
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy.

just finished the audio version of Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts and really enjoyed it. As a longtime fan, I thought this one was solid—Sloane stood out as a character. I liked her drive and sharp instincts as a natural resource officer, and the moments with her family added a nice emotional balance.
The mystery moved along well and kept my interest, and the setting added to the overall mood. I also have to say, January LaVoy did a great job with the narration—she’s one of my favorites, and she really brought the characters to life.