This story mixes a lot of what I love by this author. The suspense, drama and great storytelling all in one. Throw in some romance and second chances, and you have a story you will want to grab and read. I do have mixed feelings about parts of the story and pace, but overall it is one I will recommend to others. Click this one!!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc of this book. I love books by Nora Roberts and this is my favorite so far. The female main character is strong, flawed, determined and relatable. From the first chapter of this book I was invested. The plot of strong and the characters are intriguing. This book has romance, family, love, mystery and suspense. I absolutely loved this book. From the start I did not want to put this book down. I highly recommend this book if you like suspense and romance.

I was thrilled to be able to read Nora Roberts new book for NetGalley. It started out with a bang but then seemed to get bogged down with home renovating details and a slow moving story. Eventually it picks up and we get to the suspense part that NR does so well. Overall not one of my favorites, but still a good solid read. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

For the most part I liked all the characters and the concept of the plot. I don’t think she quite pulled it off though. I thought the pacing of this book was horrible. Starts off with a bang, then slows to a crawl during her recovery (understandable) and while we’re meeting the rest of the cast of characters…then we start jumping forward in time not making much time for any kind of character development or romantic spark but regardless Sloan and Nash get together (I liked him but I never felt the two of them connect) while we meander through Sam and Clara’s weirdly vague relationship and mutual sense of doing God’s work…then in the last 10% we get the climax….it took so long I started thinking it was going to end in a cliffhanger but instead it was just rushed through…the end. I expected more. More detail, more explanation and more connection. Instead I feel like I got a half hearted attempt at a thriller with an editor too afraid to tell such a prolific writer to go back and rework it. All the pieces were there but they needed to be rearranged and filled out. She also should have been redlined on 99% of the “doll” and “babe” that were used between Clara and Sam. By the end of the book it had me twitching in disgust as much as the word “moist” does when not directly related to baked goods.

I love Nora Roberts books. I was especially excited that the story was in western Maryland, where I live. Good story!

Nora Roberts crafts another engaging tale that blends romance, suspense, and beautifully described landscapes. Set in the picturesque tri-state area of WV, PA, and MD, the novel immerses readers in the natural beauty of the mountains while delivering a gripping story.

The characters are compelling and easy to connect with, making the unfolding drama all the more impactful. Roberts masterfully evokes a range of emotions, capturing the complexities of love, family, and the darker sides of human nature.

Though the pacing slows a bit in the middle, as the story builds, it remains an enjoyable read with just the right mix of tension and heart. Fans of Roberts and newcomers alike will appreciate this well-rounded story that showcases her skill at blending warmth with suspense.

Can a NR thriller be a comfort read? Because that’s what her books have become to me. I know what I’m getting in the level of ick, of spice, of family togetherness. Call it formulaic, but I know I’m going to enjoy it. Thanks to St. Martin’s for the ARC.

I could describe Hidden Nature as equal parts romance, mystery, and home fix-up with interesting details of the function of the Natural Resource Police activities. It was emotional, intense, a bit creepy and difficult to read at times, and overall a complex, compelling, and gripping story. I was hooked from the beginning, really liked Sloan and Nash and their chemistry, as well as Drea and Theo, Dean and Elsie, and of course the dogs, Tic and Mop. The book is long, but moved steadily and I loved it!

Great read! I will still buy the Kindle version because this one is worth reading again! Good storyline and one she hasn't used before.

Natural Resources Police Officer Sloan Cooper is facing a long recovery after being shot when she walked into a convenience store robbery in progress and moves
back in to her parent’s home in the Appalachians. She’s still trying to cope with her nightmare dreams from her near death experience when she needed to be shocked back during her surgery. Deciding to move back to Haven’s Rest and buy a small house to renovate, she goes back to work only to learn that several people in the area have just gone missing for no apparent reason. Can she put aside her fears and find the connection before it’s too late?

As always, NR includes some home renovation and decorating, as well as lots of food, family and friends in the story, but this is a little darker than most.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Nora Roberts will always be a must read author for me. Her latest , Hidden Nature was a five star read!

After Officer Sloan Cooper is shot she comes back to her family home to recuperate. Nash and his brother Theo have just moved into town and have formed a new business called The Fix-it Brothers. Both boys are falling for Sloan and her sister so some romance but thrown into the mix are a pair of creepy killers. And boy are they the creepiest. I enjoyed the mystery and the romance. There was a bit too much about home remodeling for me. But overall another great read from Nora Roberts.

Sloan Cooper is a Natural Resources Police Officer and she is from Maryland but lives in Annapolis. After taking down three men, her and her partner Joel stop at a convenience store. Sloan walks right into the middle of a robbery and is shot twice. Sloan is shocked back to life and has to stay with her parents until she heals. Nash worked on Wall Street until he quit and moved to the little town of Heron’s Rest. He buys a house and he and his brother Theo start their own fix it business. A woman vanishes while she’s laid up and she can’t get it out of her head. She starts investigating and finds more people have gone missing that she believes are all connected. Can she figure out the culprits before she becomes a victim herself?
Plenty of heart pounding suspense. A little steamy. You won’t be able to put this book down.

* VOLUNTARILY READ AND REVIEWED FOR NETGALLEY *

I enjoy Nora Roberts’ books and for the most part, this was no exception. I enjoyed the siblings’ stories: sisters, Sloan and Drea, and brothers, Nash and Theo. As a police officer, Sloan went through a difficult recovery after being shot in a mini mart. She went home to recuperate with family. During her recovery, a woman went missing. Sloan felt helpless which only intensified her desire to discover what happened to the missing woman. When two more people go missing, she struggles to figure out the connection, having a gut feeling there was one.

In the meantime, the two brothers move to the area to start their own business, the Fix-It Brothers. They start by renovating a dilapidated house which Nash bought on the lake near Sloan’s and Drea’s parents’ house.

The mystery was good and I enjoyed the chemistry between the women and men. This book is definitely in the realm of a horror/thriller. I found the bad guys to be more gruesome than I like to read although the premise for the mystery was good. If you enjoy horror and gruesome mysteries, you’ll enjoy this one.

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts is a captivating blend of small-town charm, suspense, and well-drawn characters that keep you invested from start to finish. The story follows Sloan Cooper, a dedicated officer recovering from a life-threatening injury, as she settles back into her family’s picturesque home in Heron’s Rest, Maryland. While trying to heal, Sloan becomes captivated by the disappearance of a local woman, and her investigation leads her to uncover a series of unsettling cases—all linked by a common thread: abandoned cars.

The novel excels in its character development. Sloan is a strong, relatable heroine, and watching her navigate her recovery adds a layer of depth to her character. The relationships between the characters, especially the family dynamics, feel genuine and grounded. Sloan’s interactions with her close-knit family are refreshingly mature—there’s no unnecessary drama, just honest communication. This extends to her budding relationship with Nash Littlefield, a contractor new to town, who she develops a slow-burn romance with. The romance here doesn’t overshadow the main mystery but complements it nicely, with both Sloan and Nash growing as individuals and partners.

The town of Heron’s Rest itself is brought to life beautifully. From the family-run vacation rental business to the renovations being done by Nash and his brother Theo, the setting feels cozy and inviting, with just enough local intrigue to keep things interesting. Roberts has a knack for making even the smallest details, like family dinners and home improvements, feel integral to the story, though some readers may find the renovation talk a bit excessive.

The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with the tension building as Sloan digs deeper into the case. The inclusion of brief snippets from the antagonist's point of view adds some suspense, but by the time the investigation reaches its climax, the resolution feels a bit rushed. After such a carefully crafted buildup, the quick wrap-up is jarring, leaving some of the tension unresolved too abruptly.

Despite this, Hidden Nature is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It strikes a balance between suspense and comfort, with well-rounded characters, a gripping mystery, and a setting that feels almost like another character in the story. Fans of Nora Roberts’ style will appreciate her familiar storytelling—though newcomers may find it an excellent introduction to her work. Overall, it’s a solid read with a satisfying emotional core, even if the final moments could have used a bit more depth.

You pretty much know what to expect when you read a Nora Roberts novel, but sometimes you just need that in your life. This was a little heavy on the home renovation aspect, but I liked the story overall.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutey loved it!!! i have loved everything Nora Roberts had written but this is one of her best books so far!

Sloan Cooper, an officer of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, walked into a mini-mart to take a bathroom break and almost died during an armed robbery. Not happy to be living with her parents in rural Maryland in order to recover, Netflix-and-chill is another dull option for her. So she starts a spreadsheet of her exercise and eating habits and takes up crocheting (uh, yes, that sounds much duller). But she needs time to physically heal before she can resume her job. Her perky sister, Drea, is there to assist as well. The biggest local news is that two city slicker brothers, Nash and Theo Littlefield, have ditched their NYC financier and lawyer jobs to become contractors and fix up the old Parker place next door and they can also assist Sloan’s dad, who manages seasonal cabins.

The scene is fairly small-town idyllic, but there was some nearby news about Janet Anderson, a young wife who went to buy butter at the store at Thanksgiving, and vanished, which piqued Sloan’s interest.

There are two slowly moving stories here. Sloan’s recovery and return to work, while the Littlefields start contracting work around town including her new place. Of course, the Cooper sisters and the Littlefield brothers are feeling sparks. And we then have Clara and Sam, naive religiously inspired serial killers, who are trying to “free” people who were declared dead and resuscitated (apparently an unholy state of being according to them, they should have stayed dead).

Nora Roberts writes comfort books with a bit of romance and some suspense (e Ben some of it a little gory), and if you’re used to her writing, this will be a cozy-ish story (not totally, crazed lunatics abound, and not just the puppy named “LunaTIC”). The author always includes cute dogs (“Mop” is the floofy family dog). There are always mentions of ice-cold Cokes, too, and this time a few Pepsi’s and a Mountain Dew have infiltrated the story. There are many, many meals and family dinners.

Since Sloan was resuscitated three times after being shot, of course we are anticipating the two storylines to eventually cross as she investigates. Even though I thought this book was a tad drawn out, I love Roberts’ writing and the dialogue she creates between characters is always so natural. If you’re a longtime fan, you won’t be disappointed. 4 stars.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Sloan has large, almond shaped green eyes; Sloan’s father and Sergeant O’Hara also have green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Nothing out of place for western Maryland. Chrysanthemums are blooming in autumn and daffodils in spring.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

This was my first Nora Roberts book, and I absolutely loved it! The suspense and writing were wonderful, and I definitely was left constantly guessing! I would definitely recommend this book to fans of mystery and thrillers.

Okay, so this book totally grabbed me from the start! Sloan, a cop recovering from a near-death experience, gets wrapped up in a creepy missing person case that takes her way outside her comfort zone. There’s a dark, twisty mystery that kept me hooked, and I loved how it all unfolded. The suspense? Ugh, it’s everything. 😬

The romance with Nash is cute, but the real star here is the suspense and the eerie vibe of the whole story. I couldn’t put it down! The writing was totally immersive, and Sloan’s determination made her such a compelling character. The story is gritty, and even though the book has a lot of, like, family drama and home-reno vibes (thanks to Nash and his brother), I was just so in it for the creepy, twisted stuff.

I do wish the ending wrapped up a little slower, though, because it felt a bit rushed after all the tension. But, like, if you're into dark thrillers that don’t hold back? This one’s a must-read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! 💖