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.

This romance/mystery started off slowly. That is the only reason I gave it 4 stars. Sloan, a Natural resources police officer was shot, died and was brought back to life. She goes home to recover in the beautiful Western Maryland mountains , at her family's home. While recovering she gets more than her recovery: romance, a new job and a serial killer couple.
This book shows us why Nora Roberts has such a large following.
Thank you net galley for letting me read this book

I have read Nora Roberts for years. She is one of those authors that I don't read for a while, then pick up one of her books again, and wonder why I ever stopped. Such is the case with Hidden Nature. If you are a fan of old-school Nora Roberts, I know this one is for you! Lots of suspense, a little romance and a nice serial killer thrown in! What more could you want? Now, it does start a bit slow as we get to know the characters, but it picks up quickly. Sloan is injured in the line of duty and recovering. She stumbles on a missing person case and does some online investigation. Turns out there are others, and they could be connected. The story takes a dark turn, and I couldn't put it down! Definitely going back and reading few of Nora's books that I have missed!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Nora Roberts and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Facebook and other social media and retail sites upon publication day of May 27th.

I was so excited to get this book from Netgalley. I haven't read anything by Nora Roberts in years and was looking forward to it. This book was just okay for me, my least favorite book by her that I can remember. It is very slow paced, too slow for me, but others love that. The story was entertaining, but I found the Serial Killer plot just too strange and not needed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Nora's new book is a good read. I finished reading this book in 3 days. The characters in this book is like visiting an old friend. The main character, Sloan, is an officer (think Park Ranger). She's injured while off duty and nearly dies. The story details her recovery, resilience, and her determination to recover. Sloan has the most amazing support team. Her immediate family are fantastic and likeable. The town where the story is set, is almost like a Hallmark movie set. It's described with such detail, you'll want to visit.

While in recovery, Sloan stumbles into a case of a missing person, which she begins to realize, is much bigger than it seems. She's putting together the pieces of the missing but will she figure it out before it's too late? (That's the part that had me reading well into the night)

Of course it wouldn't be Nora without some romance. I didn't really need this part of the book, but it was nice. We got to see the characters work through their own emotions while being respectful of each other's boundaries. Overall, it was a good read.

I am a huge Nora Roberts fan so I was so excited to receive this advanced copy. This book was everything I hoped for and more. It was romantic, edgy, suspenseful, engaging. I could not put it down! The dialogue was snappy and engrossing, I felt something for each character. So excited for more Nora!

As always, a highly suspenseful, entertaining read from one of my favorite authors. Loved this book, sank into the world of the crazy bad and the lovely good of Sloan, Nash, Tic, Mop and the whole Cooper family and hated when I came to the end of the book. Nora Roberts has another top read, she never disappoints. Grab this one and enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the DRC.

Hmmm… not sure what I think about this one. The mystery definitely spooked me-- and was pretty dark, honestly, but I never felt as connected to the romantic plot line. I’d say this one succeeded for me more as a suspense than a romance, but even then, not sure this is my favorite NR. Would absolutely still recommend to our die-hard Nora Roberts fans, though!