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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
4.5 stars.
I always look forward to this time of year and Nora Roberts' standalone contemporary fiction title.
Hidden Nature was a bit different for me because I didn't fall into the story like I usually do. It took a few chapters for my attention to be properly captured.
Once this happened, there was no holding back, and I devoured Hidden Nature.
As I've come to expect and love, the characters, their relationships, the dialogue, AND an amazing story that is crafted so beautifully are en pointe.
Ultimately, this is another winner from Nora Roberts, and I look forward, as always, to upcoming titles.
I always look forward to this time of year and Nora Roberts' standalone contemporary fiction title.
Hidden Nature was a bit different for me because I didn't fall into the story like I usually do. It took a few chapters for my attention to be properly captured.
Once this happened, there was no holding back, and I devoured Hidden Nature.
As I've come to expect and love, the characters, their relationships, the dialogue, AND an amazing story that is crafted so beautifully are en pointe.
Ultimately, this is another winner from Nora Roberts, and I look forward, as always, to upcoming titles.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Sloan is shot early in this book and has a long recovery. While she is recovering she stumbles across a missing persons case that peaks her interest. She later finds another one, and another one. She links them together, but can't find what they all have in common. Until her new man helps her find the missing link. This is a creepy, slow burn, with a nice romance.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to St. Martins Press for the advance reader copy and to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.
Sloan is an officer in Natural Resources. When injured on the job, she returns home to recover near her family. And she starts putting together a series of seemingly unconnected missing person cases, finding the link and looking for a serial killer.
This was such an engrossing thriller. To be honest, I didn't even really need a romance plot. Indeed, my favorite romance was between Sloan's younger sister and a man who just moved to the area.
There were some aspects that were grotesque, so I flipped through those pages quickly. And I don't even quite know how to summarize the content warnings (but definitely look for them or DM me).
But most of all, I was left with the reminder of just what a fantastic writer Nora Roberts is. She can draw me into any story and make me love the main characters, no matter how flawed.
Observations while reading -
Sargent Sloan Cooper (which throughout my reading never failed to remind me of “Agent Dale Cooper” which made me to want to watch Twin Peaks again)
*tofu joke - why? Really… why?
*classic Roberts - romance between a strong and capable FMC with past trauma with one of the new guys in town, who is also strong and capable, also with past trauma, thriller and mystery, a couple of good boy doggos, and family meals.
I’ve been reading Nora Roberts since I was in junior high, I’m 51 now and still reading. Given that many years of reading, not every book works for me and Hidden Nature wasn’t a favorite - I found the plot repetitive, the chemistry between Sloan and Nash was disappointing because I just couldn’t see it, and with an anticlimactic ending. Despite my own issues with this, I still think many fans will very much enjoy it.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the DRC
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Hidden Nature
By Nora Roberts
Nash has simplified his life. His choice to leave the hustle and bustle of New York City for the quiet solitude of Herons Rest, MD has opened up his life to happiness. Bonus, his brother joined him and together they are building something, literally with a new business that brings them both contentment. The town has embraced them for their skills and the timing couldn't have been better.
Sloan is back home recovering from a gunshot wound. She has a long recovery again, but she's strong and determined. When she gets word about a possible abduction she starts digging. It's what she's trained to do as an officer of the Natural Resource police. (Yes, I looked out up, this is a real thing.) The more she looks the pieces start to come together and the picture is bigger than expected.
But while this is something she's focused on in her spare time, so much more good is happening in her life. The job, her family, and one amazing man who is perfect for her.
This isn't a who done it, you know from pretty early on and Ms. Roberts does a great job of showing the crazy that exists in our world.
By Nora Roberts
Nash has simplified his life. His choice to leave the hustle and bustle of New York City for the quiet solitude of Herons Rest, MD has opened up his life to happiness. Bonus, his brother joined him and together they are building something, literally with a new business that brings them both contentment. The town has embraced them for their skills and the timing couldn't have been better.
Sloan is back home recovering from a gunshot wound. She has a long recovery again, but she's strong and determined. When she gets word about a possible abduction she starts digging. It's what she's trained to do as an officer of the Natural Resource police. (Yes, I looked out up, this is a real thing.) The more she looks the pieces start to come together and the picture is bigger than expected.
But while this is something she's focused on in her spare time, so much more good is happening in her life. The job, her family, and one amazing man who is perfect for her.
This isn't a who done it, you know from pretty early on and Ms. Roberts does a great job of showing the crazy that exists in our world.
An absorbing standalone centred around wounded police officer Sloan Cooper who is back in her hometown recuperating from a near fatal shooting. When a woman was reported missing something about the case caught the attention of a bored Sloan and the more she questioned events, the more intrigued she became until looking into other seemingly random disappearances across three states with no apparent similarities, she uncovers a connection, one that strikes a little too close to home for comfort.
The Queen of romantic suspense has done it again, giving readers a fantastic romantic suspense novel balancing out the intrigue without skimping on all the feels and emotions with a love story of found family, you don’t just read her books but fall headfirst into them with each new release better than the last. Hidden Nature had everything I love in a book. A picturesque smalltown setting, a gripping plot filled with mystery, intrigue, danger, and suspense that builds throughout the story and of course wonderful characters not only with the hero and heroine but the secondary characters as well. Sloan and Noah’s relationship was slowburn, initially more of a ‘friends with benefits’ situation, both had just made major changes in their lives so weren’t in the market for serious until love snuck up on them and with Sloan came her loving family, something that had been missing in Noah’s life. They were a great partnership with Noah acting as a sounding board for Sloan as well as offering his own insights and as Sloan hunted them, interspersed throughout the story were glimpses into the everyday lives of the protagonists. Yes, you know right from the beginning who they are but then again this isn’t a whodunnit.
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Please not that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Wow. I got nothing. This was pretty awful. I don't even know what the point of this one was. It was so lackluster. Things happen, serial killers run about Maryland, and then more things happen. The book ends. I honestly wish that Roberts would just write a straight up thriller and ditch the romance. You can see her heart is not in it much anymore. Her latest romantic suspense novels have felt drab.
"Hidden Nature" follows Sloan Cooper. She's a Natural Resources police officer (and no I am not looking that up) working in Maryland. Sloan and her partner pull over and then the next thing she knows, she's shot, interrupting a store robbery. Sloan though has a near death experience, comes back to life, and has to figure out what is next for her. She becomes engrossed with a missing woman's case and starts to work it. The romantic counterpart to Sloan is Nash Littlefield. Nash moves from New York to Maryland and decides to start a handyman business with his brother Theo. FYI, Sloan has a sister named Drea. There is a younger brother named Theo. You know where this is going right? The book follows Sloan as she works the case and deals with the non-existent sparks she has with Nash.
Honestly, this was boring. So much boring. Sloan is barely developed, Nash was not developed at all. Drea and Theo were a waste of time and plot.
The bad guy(s) in this one were just a mess and a half. The reasoning behind the kidnapping and murders made zero sense and that's that. Also, as someone else pointed out, Roberts spent more time developing the bad guy(s) then the actual heroine and hero.
The plot was barely there. And the flow was awful. We followed the book through all four seasons I think and it felt like I experienced it. The book just drags.
I think it's been a bit since Roberts has set a book in Maryland, but honestly everything felt very drab. I don't know. There was no spark in this book at all.
The ending was a shrug.
The book eventually ended. I got to move onto another book.
Wow. I got nothing. This was pretty awful. I don't even know what the point of this one was. It was so lackluster. Things happen, serial killers run about Maryland, and then more things happen. The book ends. I honestly wish that Roberts would just write a straight up thriller and ditch the romance. You can see her heart is not in it much anymore. Her latest romantic suspense novels have felt drab.
"Hidden Nature" follows Sloan Cooper. She's a Natural Resources police officer (and no I am not looking that up) working in Maryland. Sloan and her partner pull over and then the next thing she knows, she's shot, interrupting a store robbery. Sloan though has a near death experience, comes back to life, and has to figure out what is next for her. She becomes engrossed with a missing woman's case and starts to work it. The romantic counterpart to Sloan is Nash Littlefield. Nash moves from New York to Maryland and decides to start a handyman business with his brother Theo. FYI, Sloan has a sister named Drea. There is a younger brother named Theo. You know where this is going right? The book follows Sloan as she works the case and deals with the non-existent sparks she has with Nash.
Honestly, this was boring. So much boring. Sloan is barely developed, Nash was not developed at all. Drea and Theo were a waste of time and plot.
The bad guy(s) in this one were just a mess and a half. The reasoning behind the kidnapping and murders made zero sense and that's that. Also, as someone else pointed out, Roberts spent more time developing the bad guy(s) then the actual heroine and hero.
The plot was barely there. And the flow was awful. We followed the book through all four seasons I think and it felt like I experienced it. The book just drags.
I think it's been a bit since Roberts has set a book in Maryland, but honestly everything felt very drab. I don't know. There was no spark in this book at all.
The ending was a shrug.
The book eventually ended. I got to move onto another book.
medium-paced
This was really gripping.
It was an interesting experience as Nora Roberts tends to be so hit-or-miss for me—and I’d just DNF’d several books by other authors when this one unexpectedly gripped me. While it wasn’t suspenseful, or particularly fast-paced, the motive was different. I so rarely read anything that I haven’t already read 1000 times, so this was refreshing. I also enjoyed the ‘slice of life’ aspect and the small town vibes. Excellent. Makes me want to go try more of Nora’s books, to find the others that grip me.
Small town.
Violence.
Cozy mystery vibes, even through the investigator is a cop.
Alternating POVs.
Light romance,
Absolutely demented assailants.
Overall:
Very fun. 4 stars.
🎧 Audio:
The audio was great—smooth overall sound quality and decent voice acting.
4 stars.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Released Date: May 27, 2025
Narration rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Closed door romance, no spice
Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for the opportunity to listen to the ALC of Hidden Natures by Nora Roberts in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
As a long time fan of Nora Roberts/JD Robb, I really feel that Hidden Nature is yet another captivating addition to Nora Roberts’ body of work. Blending romance, mystery, and suspense, the novel showcases Roberts’ signature talent for storytelling and character development. Roberts truly showcases the breadth of her talent in this romantic suspense novel as it has some aspects that could be found in her In Death series as well as her Nora Roberts titles.
Hidden Nature is not just a love story; it’s a suspenseful journey into the unknown, filled with tension, but also heartfelt moments. Roberts crafts a richly atmospheric setting, immersing readers in a world that feels both familiar and layered. The characters are emotionally resonant and the reader is drawn to them from start to finish. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to her books, Hidden Nature delivers a fulfilling and immersive reading experience that balances heart, intrigue, and the power of connection. My only real complaint is that the ending felt rushed and wrapped up abruptly; however, that is a minor complaint as the reader definitely knows a lot of where the store is going early on and really is just going along for the ride.
This was a truly immersive and wonderful listening experience. The audiobook is narrated by January Lavoy, a seven-time Audie Award winner, Grammy nominee, and AudioFile Golden Voice. Lavoy does an excellent job distinguishing the multiple POVs and is able to do excellent female and male character voices. Truthfully, I had to look it up to be sure there were not multiple narrators because every voice is very distinct. Her narration truly made the audiobook work so well because it would have been confusing if the voices were not distinct.
Narration rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Closed door romance, no spice
Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for the opportunity to listen to the ALC of Hidden Natures by Nora Roberts in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
As a long time fan of Nora Roberts/JD Robb, I really feel that Hidden Nature is yet another captivating addition to Nora Roberts’ body of work. Blending romance, mystery, and suspense, the novel showcases Roberts’ signature talent for storytelling and character development. Roberts truly showcases the breadth of her talent in this romantic suspense novel as it has some aspects that could be found in her In Death series as well as her Nora Roberts titles.
Hidden Nature is not just a love story; it’s a suspenseful journey into the unknown, filled with tension, but also heartfelt moments. Roberts crafts a richly atmospheric setting, immersing readers in a world that feels both familiar and layered. The characters are emotionally resonant and the reader is drawn to them from start to finish. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to her books, Hidden Nature delivers a fulfilling and immersive reading experience that balances heart, intrigue, and the power of connection. My only real complaint is that the ending felt rushed and wrapped up abruptly; however, that is a minor complaint as the reader definitely knows a lot of where the store is going early on and really is just going along for the ride.
This was a truly immersive and wonderful listening experience. The audiobook is narrated by January Lavoy, a seven-time Audie Award winner, Grammy nominee, and AudioFile Golden Voice. Lavoy does an excellent job distinguishing the multiple POVs and is able to do excellent female and male character voices. Truthfully, I had to look it up to be sure there were not multiple narrators because every voice is very distinct. Her narration truly made the audiobook work so well because it would have been confusing if the voices were not distinct.
It’s been a while since I read one of the authors books and idk why because she writes really great rom suspense and I’m always on the lookout for that particular subgenre. Sloan was the type of MC that I instantly connected with and her personal storyline was interesting. The suspense plotline was creepy and weird and def kept my attention, even if it was a bit predictable in the end. January LaVoy is one of my OG narrator faves and she can really read and perform an audiobook like few can, man she’s talented and makes the listening experience so engaging. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️