Hidden Nature

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What do you make of the relatively slow start to the book? Why do you think so much time is spent on Sloan’s injury and recovery?

2. Discuss what was your favorite storyline or plot element and say why.

3. How does this book compare to other books by Nora Roberts? You might consider similarities between this book and High Noon (2007), where the female protagonist is a police detective who becomes the target of a murderer.

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Have you or someone you know been the victim of a violent crime, as Sloan was? What did you find most realistic or compelling about her recovery? Was there anything unrealistic about it?

2. How does Sloan’s attitude about the protection of public lands compare to your own? Are there points you agreed or disagreed with about the preservation of public resources and the need to educate?

3. Have you ever undertaken, or thought about, a fresh start, like that which Nash and Sloan experience? What did you find believable about their journeys, and how was your own different or similar?

4. Nash and Theo’s situation with their parents is very different from Sloan and Drea’s. How did these family dynamics compare to your own experiences with family?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Certain characters in the book exhibit surprise that Sloan, as a conservation officer, has broad powers to enforce the law. Did this novel teach you anything about conservation officers that you didn’t know before? In what ways, if any, does it impact your understanding of conservation more generally?

2. Sloan experiences several episodes where minor characters defy laws because they object to restrictions placed upon use of public land. These characters might be grouped as sovereign citizens, sharing the belief that they ought not be subject to certain rules and regulations. What do you think Roberts might intend to say about the sovereign citizen movement and similar outlooks?

3. Clara justifies her actions not as murder but as righting a wrong and believes she is authorized by God to carry out His will. What do you think Roberts is suggesting about certain forms of religious extremism and their interpretations of moral code?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Explore the role that the setting plays in the book. How are the Allegheny Mountains described, and what is their significance? What other settings are important?

2. Compare and contrast the romantic relationship between Sloan and Nash with the relationships between Theo and Drea, Joel and Sari, and/or Clara and Sam. What makes for a successful romance, and what challenges can arise?

3. Discuss the ways that family bonds and support form an important element in the book. You may wish to look at the ways family interactions support the action as well as character development.

4. What do Sloan’s nightmares represent? Do you see the meaning of these nightmares changing as the book progresses?

5. The “chosen one” trope is popular in fantasy titles, including in The Awakening (2020) by Roberts. Do you see an element of this trope in Sloan’s character arc? Why or why not?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Take a scene or plot twist that particularly surprised you and rewrite as a screenplay—or act out—the scene you expected to see.

2. Draw, paint, or model Sloan’s finished house as you envision it. Feel free to add touches you’d like, not just what you think Sloan would do.

3. Drawing from Gothic, horror, or paranormal genres, write (or act out) a script for Clara’s nightmares while she is in prison.

4. Imagine Nash and Theo’s parents (and their new partners) show up for Theo and Drea’s wedding. Write, draw, or act out that scene.