Roberts creates strong, competent women with interesting careers. This standalone romantic suspense novel has Natural Resources police officer Sloan Cooper who spots a killer’s pattern while on medical leave. Highlights for me include the family bonds for both Sloan and Nash. I also thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of house remodeling. Add in tracking a twisted killer and a hot romance or two and once again Roberts has a winner sure to be in high demand. The narrator adds to the story, conveying emotion differentiating characters and supporting the pacing. Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely love Nora Roberts. I seemed to enjoy her older books better than her newer ones BUT this one was so good. I loved all the characters. I loved that Sloan was a National Resource Police Officer. I loved the murder/mystery aspect. Definitely one of my favorite books of hers. 100% recommend. I already cannot wait for her next release.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

Sloan, who works for the Natural Resources police, is shot- not in the line of duty, but when stopping for gas on their way back from a bust. She stays with her parents while she recuperates. There, she notices a story about a missing girl. And something keeps bugging her. She has plenty of free time, so she looks into it. She thinks she's found a connection, but it is a stretch. And no one takes it too seriously- until another person fitting the profile disappears.

My brief synopsis gives the impression that this is a fast paced race to find a killer. It isn't. It actually moves pretty slow for a Nora Roberts book. There is a whole lot of home renovations happening in the interim. The case is actually quite background. And the book takes forever to get going.
I normally love NR's books. I enjoyed this one, but it just didn't grab me like they usually do.

January LaVoy's narration is perfection, as always.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story will keep you tuned in! A pair of sadistic, twisted serial killers.

Natural Resources police officer Sloan Cooper is recovering from a near death experience when she decides to move back to her parents' peaceful home to recover.

While recovering she starts looking into mysterious disappearances that show a pattern.

Hidden Nature is a gripping romantic suspense. It's a complete standalone which is great ! It had me intrigued and consumed by the storyline right from the start. It was definitely a little on the slower side, so yes it does take quite some time for it to get truly exciting. It still managed to hold my attention. The chapters were also quite lengthy which for me is a little bit of a turn off. It is still a very entertaining read but it did take me a little to be completely immersed.

Roberts is amazing at creating complex and interesting characters. The world she built was also amazingly described and vivid. The romance is definitely a slow burn, but I think it fits the aspect of the book just fine. What wasn't my favorite was the serial killers POV, it just felt weird, cheesy and not natural. I felt their interactions were so strange, they didn't feel genuine and it truly took away from them being “scary”. Also, I wanted a twist, something to catch me off guard and it was very straight to the point. The ending was very convenient, lacking tension and suspense.

Overall, it was an enjoyable book even with its flaws. I still believe seasoned Roberts fans will appreciate this novel. For my personal liking I just needed something more to make it memorable.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @macmillanaudio, @stmartinspress & Nora Roberta for my gifted ALC & ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read everything Nora Roberts writes. I was lucky enough to be able to listen to Hidden Nature. I loved it!

Sloan Cooper, a Natural Resources police officer, gets injured while on duty and moves back to her parents' house in Heron's Rest for recovery. She stumbles upon a series of mysterious disappearances and enlists the help of a new man in her life to solve the case. Despite the danger, Sloan is determined to stop the horrifying abductions.

I always appreciate Nora's books for her strong female characters and the suspenseful mysteries she often weaves into the pages. An added bonus for me is when a dog is included - that's when I'm fully invested! A doggy sidekick in a book never fails to capture my heart.

From the moment I started reading this book, I was hooked. The dark and intense storyline made it impossible to put down, and despite its length, I devoured it in a single day. The main character, Sloan, is instantly likable - a strong and independent woman many of us can relate to. Her journey, starting with a challenging injury, is one that I couldn't help but root for. The other characters introduced were easy to follow and equally endearing, except for the villains, of course.

The vividly described setting made me wish I had read this book during a snowstorm or in the winter, as it would have added a whole new layer of atmosphere. I appreciate that this book doesn't shy away from difficult moments and gets straight to the point. A typical Nora Roberts read, you know you won't be disappointed! What set this book apart for me was its fast pace, clever plot twists, and its ability to keep me glued to the pages.

Overall, this was a great read to unwind with and escape from life's responsibilities for a day. I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook, and the narrator did an excellent job. I was fully engaged and found it hard to hit pause. The transitions between characters and the overall mood were seamless, making me feel like I was holding my breath throughout. This has quickly become my new favorite Nora Roberts book. I went in with high expectations, but this story exceeded them, leaving me completely lost in its world. Kudos to Nora Roberts for another fantastic read!

Thank you, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I've been reading Nora Roberts book since my mom introduced me to her back when I was in late jr high/ early high school. She's the author I have the most books from (just over 100) and I have yet to read a book of hers and NOT love it.

I'm starting to get into audiobooks and this was the very first Nora Roberts audiobook I've listened to. As always her story line was so interesting. I loved the multiple POVs and that she even included the pov of the villains in the story.

The villains and the protagonist don't meet face to face until right at the end of the book but the build up to their meeting was amazing. The MFC has such a rough time in the book but perseveres through every struggles and uses it to help motivate her in finding the answers she is looking for.

I will always recommend Nora Roberts to anyone and everyone

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC audiobook.
Excellent!! Nora Roberts characters always make me all warm and fuzzy inside. Down to earth, real people.
I honestly believe that January LaVoy is the best female narrator there is.
Perfect book that I will definitely be recommending to all.

This was a crazy book. Nora Roberts once again keeps you wondering when and where the next issue will be. I loved this book so much. Once I started listening to it, I couldn't stop. Sloan's story is just so empowering and eye opening. She had to fight to get better and as someone that has had a serious health issue, I know how hard it is to fight your own body and mind to come back to what it used to be. Sloan is an amazing police officer, and I loved hearing about how she worked the case in her free time as well as keeping up with her job. Sloan's family is also just so good, I loved all the different family members and each of their relationships. Nash and his brother are also so interesting and I loved learning about them. They both add to this book so much. I definitely would love to get more of Sloan and Nash, but this book ended perfectly, and I would be happy even if there isn't another book with these two.

I have read most of Nora's Roberts books, she always has a great writing style and approach to romances and storylines. I'm always entertained and invested in the lives of the characters. However, there have been some books that I've had difficulty reading or liking beyond the main characters because of the portrayal of the antagonists. I liked this book because I was really rooting for Sloane and Nash and loved the additional romantic interests and storylines except for the antagonists. I've really gotten into listening to audiobooks, especially Nora Robert's because hearing the story brings a level of excitement I never expected. But hearing the antagonists story and their reasonings was a bit jarring to listen to and process so I didn't always. I loved the rest of the book and the main characters and their HEA, just that set me off the wrong way. For the rest of the book, I enjoyed seeing the main characters fall in love and the side characters interactions and especially, the home improvement aspect. I have come to expect it in a lot of Nora Robert's books and I'm really liking it, all the decorating and home renovation! This book kind of reminded me of Identity with the main character falling back on family and the journey she went on afterwards. It was wonderful. Overall, I loved the storyline, the story, the romance, and especially the HEA.


Thank you Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Nora Roberts for this ALC!

This is classic Nora Roberts: action-packed, emotionally grounded, and easy to binge. Sloan Cooper is a strong, capable lead—injured but not broken—and her journey from survival to justice is compelling. The mystery is layered and creepy, with missing persons cases tied together in a way that keeps tension high. Nash is a dependable, if slightly too-perfect love interest, but their dynamic works.

That said, some recycled elements stand out—Tic the dog feels lifted straight from The Search, and the overuse of “babe” and “doll” by villains veers from character-building into caricature. Still, if you’re new to Roberts or haven’t read her backlist recently, this one will hit the spot. It’s gripping, polished, and paced just right.

I love Nora Roberts and I love January LaVoy, but I did not love this book.

I thought the plot was a good one, but the story was just too slow to keep me interested.

love Nora Roberts and I read all of her books except the several books in one that are sold at drugstores. There were a few times in this that I get like parts of previous works were pulled and reworked for this. Specifically, the dog Tic, short for Lunatic was just like Jaws in The Search and some of the dialogue about the dog was the same. Now knowing that Nora Roberts excels at formulaic fiction, it does not bother me that much but I am taking half a star. The use of the terms "babe" and "doll" had me annoyed to the point of distraction. As they were said by the bad guys who had a lot of time on the page, I get that they should be annoying, but I am taking another half a star because I do not believe that anyone would say a term of endearment after every sentence.

Sloane is a Natural Resources Police Officer. When she walks into a gas station after a bust, she walks into a robbery and is shot twice. After coding on the table and being brought back, she returns to her hometown to recover with her family. Nash has moved to this small town to start a contracting business. He is a solidly good guy and becomes someone that Sloane can bounce ideas off of. However, people who have been brought back after dying are disappearing and despite not being her job, Sloane wants to figure it out.

This is a solid Nora Roberts book and would be great for someone who has not read The Search over and over.

Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for the DLC. All opinions are my own.