This book was absolutely brilliant. It shows you all parts of Thea’s life and how she ends up to be the adult she is. I absolutely cried in some parts that will just break your heart. The characters were amazing and it felt like coming home in other parts, with the southern traditions. This is one of my favorites by Nora Robert’s and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great book.

Rating: 3.5

In Nora Roberts' newest standalone novel, Thea sees her parents murdered over a state away thanks to a family gifted based down to the women in the maternal line in the family. I kind of think about it as the shining ability, if you're familiar with the King novel. Anyway, this ability allows her to form an eerie bond with the man who killed her parents through the next few decades. As she grows up then settles in rural Kentucky, she's able to keep the murderer at bay, but when she's ready to settle down into a new relationship she realizes it's finally time to separate that bond for good.

I tend to enjoy the standalone novels from Nora Roberts as there is a good mix of romance and some mystery, most of the time. This one is similar but lighter on the mystery and romance and a little heavier with the paranormal, which I didn't mind. I thought the novel could have been shorter. The second half of the book seemed to drag on more than necessary. Once the romance is started, it just started to drag a little bit more for me personally. The romance didn't feel forced, but didn't feel as genuine as other ones she's written about in the past. I loved Grammie and her no-nonsense way of life and just living in general. She reminds me of my own grandmother, minus her shining ability. Overall it's easy to fall in love with all of the characters, minus the murderer of course. This may not be my favorite novel of hers, but I still found it enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin Press for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

I have read and enjoyed many of Nora Robert's books. This book is not one of my favorites. I found parts of the book slow and feel that they could have been left out of the book. Reading the other reviews tells me that I am in the minority. I think that I had an issue with the characters' ability to see into each others' minds. The main character, Thea, inherits this ability from the other women in her family. It is never explained how the killer of her parents has the same ability.
I enjoyed the parts of the book where she met and started a relationship with her rock star teenage crush, Ty. and his son, Brayden. It's disappointing that this part didn't begin until about half way through the book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Mind Games” by Nora Roberts - 4 stars (Pub Date: Out Now!) is a stand alone book (no trilogy required) with interesting characters, an easy-to-follow and super-interesting story laced with a taste of the supernatural. The setting and world building is also great, and the whole experience was entertaining. This book is particularly tight in it's dialogue, and the pacing is really solid.

Good things: Roberts delivers again with a consistent, interesting, narrative with characters I care about, living experiences that I want to know about, love stories and big baddie battles that are satisfying and tied up nice and neat. Nora Roberts is like the favorite meal you’ve fixed every few weeks since you learned to cook. You make it the same way every time, sometimes you throw in a few minimal ingredient changes, but you never vary too much and it’s always good, filling, and tasty. With Mind Games being a stand alone novel, I got the full story in one book, and felt full enough to try something new and inventive from other authors now that I”m settled.

Opportunities: The endings of Nora Robert’s books are always so damn short! I spend pages and pages reading about gardens and farm chores, and candle making, and murder scene descriptions, and relationship building scenes, and super cool psychic powers, and I’m fully engaged and invested in the book and THEN IT JUST ENDS IN LIKE 3 PAGES. This book has a great ending. It checks all my boxes for interesting, loose ends addressed, characters drive towards the sunset I want them to drive towards, but it’s literally a micro-percentage of the larger book and it feels very abrupt. This is the second or third time this has happened with one of her books, and it takes an AMAZING experience and immediately ratchets it back down to simply great. I want her to take just a little more care and time in wrapping it up, PLEASE. Give the readers time to revel in the conclusion and settle into their goodbyes.

Final Thoughts: This is a fun read. I’ve never hesitated to return to Nora Roberts, particularly when I’m in a slump and I’ve been in one for a while now. I read this in less than 2 days and I loved the characters and plot. I feel like I had my spaghetti dinner, and I’m ready to jump back into more varied cuisine again…so I’m 100% appreciative of this author and her consistent delivery. But PLEASE give me a few more pages of exposition to say goodbye to the protagonists, their family, and the great world you’ve placed them in, Ms. Roberts!

I appreciate the opportunity afforded me to have an early read of this book by netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinions in this review are expressly those of ButIDigressBookClub and are intended for use by my followers and friends when choosing their next book. #butidigress #butidigressbookclub #mindgames #noraroberts #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #arc #arcs

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Publishing Review 5/30/2024

I loved everything about this story. The thriller aspects didn't dominate the story but they were always there under the surface of life going on for Thea. We got to see her grow up and see her character fully developed. The relationships were just as much a part of the main story as the thriller aspects. The concept of mind games is so clever....not capitalized because I'm referencing the game in the story, not the title.

It’s been a very long time since I read a Nora Roberts book, but I’m glad I picked this one up because it was so good!

I loved the small town Appalachian vibes mixed with the horror of what Thea was going through. This was like a contemporary romance/chick lit mixed with Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep and that seems like a weird mix, but it worked somehow.

The characters were wonderful and I felt immersed in Thea’s grandmothers world just like Thea felt each summer when she visited. It was a breath of fresh country air, but also a book that had me on the edge of my seat. I don’t want to give much away since I went into this pretty blind, but I highly recommend it.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

The title of this book is aptly named! The writing sucked me into the book from the beginning but towards the end of the book, the story dragged on and I just wanted to get to the end quickly. I liked the sinister twist of Thea linking minds with Ray which added a sense of danger and adrenaline to the story by wondering when he would enter her mind next. However, my favorite part of the story was the romance between Thea and Tyler. I would have loved the book if it was written as a romance novel because the characters were so charming and likable! I kept waiting for the tense moments to ruin the lovely, budding relationship between Thea and Tyler letting Ray win the mind game. I liked how the story ended even though it was a little dark for me as I read the events as they played out! This is a great read for readers who enjoy psychological thrillers!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I received a free copy of, Mind Games, by Nora Roberts, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Twelve year old Thea has a gift, she can see things in her dreams, that actually come true, like the murder of her parents. This is such an intriguing book, though I would of liked it better with out the swear words.

Wow! What a crazy wonderful faced paced story full of twists. Not your average love story, but one you won’t be able to put down.

MIND GAMES
Nora Roberts, author
Women’s Fiction

When the Foxes are in a deadly accident they leave behind their children. Thankfully they have their grammie to guide them into adulthood. Especially one of the girls who is showing some unique abilities that only grammie can help her with.

This book was a refreshing change of pace with Roberts’ stand alone books. With a little paranormal activity, a bit of suspense and of course some romance thrown in for good measure. I give this book a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

Whenever I get in a reading slump, having trouble making progress on my TBR pile, I can count on Nora Roberts to put a page turner in my hands. Mind Games is no exception. Thea Fox witnesses the unthinkable murder of her parents when she is twelve years old, but not because she was there. She’s psychic, and for unexplainable reasons, her mind links with that of her parent’s killer. They both have the gift of sight, only he uses his for evil and she for good.
Thea and her brother go to live with their also gifted Grammie in Redbud Hollow, in the Kentucky Appalachians. There she grows up, learns and continues to be haunted by the murderer. It’s a beautiful setting with enough magic, technology, and sizzling romance to remind us of what a wonderful storyteller Roberts has always been. This was a wonderful breath of fresh air. The book was published May 21, 2024. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s press for the review copy.

Before I dive into this review, I must make a full confession. I’m a lifelong Nora Roberts fan and will always recommend her books. I found her in a Reader’s Digest Condensed Books volume when I was probably way too young to read romance and romantic suspense, and I never looked back.

Mind Games reads like a mashup of her old-school romance writing with a dash of romantic suspense and a pinch of her paranormal leanings. If you’re looking for a fast-paced romantic suspense, this book will not be for you. But I, for one, truly enjoyed what was, for me, a return to her romance roots for the most part. Add in the extra elements, a strong family unit unafraid to love boldly and love big, a heartbreaking murder, and an evil villain you are never meant to feel any good feelings toward, and you have a winner in my book. Oh, and romance. But that comes so much later in the book. The story is chocked full of character development of the main female character and is very much about her journey and her family’s unwavering support along the way. I found this book a refreshing change of pace from her last romantic suspense.

As always, Nora Roberts refuses to stay in any mold where she and her writing are concerned, which is why she’s considered a queen amongst a plethora of talented authors. And before you come at me about being a huge fan and always loving her stories, I can honestly say it’s not always been true. Some I’ve loved, some I’ve not cared for at all, and some I’ve been ambivalent about. But it’s her talent to weave these incredible stories that bring me back time and again as she has done for many, many years. If you’ve never given her books a chance, I challenge you to do so immediately.

NICUnurse’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭑ (4.5)

I have been reading Nora Roberts’ books for as long as I can remember. My grandmother was a huge fan, and I would snatch her latest book after she read it. So, it was a no-brainer for me to read Mind Games.

The main storyline of Mind Games centers around Thea, her relationship with her parents’ murderer, her gift, and her relationship with Tyler. It is a well-written storyline that shook me with the trauma that Thea endured throughout the book.

I found Thea’s gift fascinating. Thea was psychic, and somehow, she formed a connection with Ray, the murderer, who is also psychic. Thankfully, Lucy (her grandmother) is also psychic and taught Thea how to control the gift. Those lessons also, for the most part, kept Ray out of Thea’s head during her teenage years. Thea’s gift was strong, but I didn’t realize how strong it was until she built that world where it physically hurt Ray. And let’s remember what she did at the end. That did scare me because it showed exactly how strong her gift was.

Tyler and Thea’s romance did seem a little forced, but the more they interacted, the more I liked them together. During the breakup scene, I was heartbroken because of what was said and the accusations that Tyler flung at Thea. I also didn’t like how he didn’t let her explain herself. I also didn’t like that Thea tried to prove herself to Tyler with her gift. That did make me go, WTH?

I enjoyed the thriller angle of the book. I liked that it was a more mental game between Thea and Ray (because he was in prison). Even though I knew he couldn’t get out, I tensed up when he taunted Thea through their link.

I loved the end of Mind Games. I liked how everything turned out, and I felt that Ray got what he deserved!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Nora Roberts for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Mind Games. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

4.5 Stars

Nora Roberts does it again! I loved this one! The story is a little unbelievable but that is ok because this is fictions and boy did it entertain me. Thea was born with a gift and when her parents are murdered while her and her little brother are staying with their grandmother she sees it happen in her dream. The rest is the story of her life and struggle with the man who killed her parents. I ate every bit of this up! I kind of wish it wasn't a stand alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Another great book by NR. I loved the heroine and all the secondary characters. You get to follow her from the time she is 12 until she gets her HEA. This book takes several twists and turns throughout it but all gets wrapped up in the end.

Nora Roberts weaves a story that takes her reader into the heart of her character's turmoil as we follow along on an emotional journey of healing and survival! I was quickly hooked from the very first description of this family and once the drama really started to play out, there was no way I could put it down. Fast paced and addictive with a family that is easy to love and pull for as twist after twist comes knocking. I loved Thea and Tyler made a really great sounding board for her to rely on in the end. Lots of angst, danger and romance mixed in. Highly recommend!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! No slow parts but the prison scene got a bit weird and was difficult to follow. It had a good combination of mystery, suspense and romance with a steady pace to keep the story interesting. I enjoyed the Appalachia setting as I am a Kentucky girl myself. Overall, a good book that I would recommend. My thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Not for me. I’m not too into magic and paranormal and this author seems to be staying in that realm lately. I did enjoy the family dynamic and setting for this story tho. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

This book immediately grabbed my attention, it is about a family in a holler in Eastern Ky (which is where i grew up), so alot of the things that were talked about took me back to my childhood. Grammie's husband passed away from black lung as did my daddy, book talked about chow chow-which my mama makes, just hearing the way they all talked about the beauty of the mountains, how there is always someone around to help you when needed and always having the feeling of home. There truly is no place like those mountains.

Thea and Rems parents were brutally murdered and this story is about them and Grammie, but really about Thea's gift and her dreams and how she never forgets what happened but always tries to live her best life which leads her to come up with a plan to get rid pf the killer so that she can live in peace. I loved the relationship that Thea and Rem have with Grammie and their journey to closure and their love for each other.

So many things with this book resonated with me and how i grew up -especially the feeling that those mountains can bring to your inner soul. Nora Roberts outdid herself on the research for this book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this amazing story!!

This book was a great intro to Nora Roberts! I enjoyed the story of the FMC and the supernatural vibes. My only drawback was that the MFC didn't come into the book until nearly halfway through the book.

3.75 stars