Nora Roberts is one of the few authors who manages to take some of the most outlandish storylines and make them work. This is a saga of a tale as we meet our main character as a child and get to watch her grow. The first part of the book follows Thea as she experiences the moment that changes the trajectory of her life. Thea and her brother suddenly wind up living with their grandmother on her farm after the tragic murder of their parents. Grammie Lucy is a delightful soul who loves on the two children and helps Thea as she comes to a discovery about herself that she comes to feel she must always hide after she is able to help with catching her parents' killer. As we see Thea grow into herself and handle her special gift, we watch her experience loss, revenge, college, and love. This book has tragedy, romance, joy, inspiration, friendship, and family. I enjoyed every moment. There are definitely dark parts to this which bring in the suspense factor. Thea's story borders on the paranormal and requires a suspension of disbelief that I came close to struggling with. However, Roberts knows how to tell a story and writes characters that you come to care about and accept. Because of her masterful writing, I was able to sink into Thea's world and enjoy my time in the country with her brother, grandmother, and those she came to love. I highly recommend Mind Games for those who like a good revenge story or a book about healing and fighting back for the life that you want. 4.5 stars!

Based on the description alone, I thought I would enjoy this book. While I am not normally a paranormal/fantasy reader, I have always been able to enjoy the paranormal-light that is in Nora Roberts’s book. But unfortunately, I did not like this one and struggled through finishing it.
I did enjoy the Kentucky setting and I feel like I could be friends with Lucy and would probably want to work at her store! But that was the only character that I could connect with.
I found the story a little disjointed and felt like all the different story lines didn’t quite fit together. The time jumps had me flipping back a few pages to see if I missed something. I also did not feel any kind of chemistry between Thea and her neighbor.
Nora Roberts is usually an immediate yes on my TBR, but this one for me was a bit of a miss.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

thank you endlessly to @netgalley & @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read this story as an arc, months in advance. I’ll never be over getting to read my favorite author’s book early. 🥹

mind games: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I will never know how she does it but Nora Roberts has the most incredible brain to me. She manages to put bits and pieces of myself into the pages of her stories and she doesn’t have the faintest idea of who I am. 😅

This one is for the girlies who love to cry while they read, for the girlies who grew up loving boy bands, for the girlies who love criminal minds & for the girlies who’s favorite person is their grandmother.

Oh, also for the single dad trope lovers 🤪

Nora’s grandmother characters & four legged companion friends will always be the standard to me. 🥺 (and we got hounds this time, one of my personal favorites since I am a hound mom 🐾).

No Nora I’ve read before has had me in tears like this one did. The first 100ish pages took me so long to get through because I couldn’t finish a chapter without stopping to cry- it hurt so bad but it’s so good.

Since starting my reading journey with Nora books, I have adored the way she goes all in for her main character and that main character’s profession. This one was no exception- you could tell me Nora herself studied video game development for a year before writing this and I’d believe you. (She might have, I have no idea.) The way she brought Thea’s games to life was incredible and played out just like a movie in my mind as I read. Speaking of which, this is going on my list of books I want to see adapted to the screen.

The sweet, precious boy that captured my heart in this book will always bring me back to this story.

And lastly- you just can’t beat the setting of this one, it felt so cozy and like a warm hug.

Twelve-year-old Thea’s parents are murdered. It’s a senseless and cruel act by a no-good, evil man, but his plans to get away are thwarted by Thea’s unusual gift. It’s heartbreaking, but thankfully she has her loving grandmother and brother. They band together and try and live a good life while remembering their loss. I adored both her brother and her grandmother, Lucy, who was a big-hearted, salt-of-the-earth kind of woman!

Unfortunately, Thea captured the killer’s attention, as they share the same psychic gift and he’s bent on vengeance. He is a dark presence on and off throughout the story, but Thea’s gift is stronger, and she has her family and loved ones for support. I enjoyed how she fought back!

Mind Games wasn’t a fast-paced story, but it captured and held my attention from page one! I loved the world Ms. Roberts created: family, friends, animals, gardening, cooking in the small, tightknit community of Redbud Hollow. The slow-burn romance was just icing on the cake!

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy of Mind Games and recommend either version. January LaVoy is one of my favorite narrators! She has a rich, pleasing voice, and nailed the wide range of ages, male and female voices here!

An enchanting yet dark tale of romantic suspense with endearing characters and a beautiful setting in rural Kentucky. I liked the alternating perspectives and the narrative descriptive, combined with an intricate plot. If you're a fan of slow-burn romance and drawn-out suspense, then this is the book for you. I've always been a massive fan of Nora Roberts and her latest definitely didn't disappoint.

Mind Games will blow your mind. Nora Roberts has delivered an edgy suspense thriller. The women in Thea Fox's family have a gift; others may call it a curse. Although she is miles away at the time, the young girl is a silent witness to her parent's murder. The murderer is also a psychic and the two create a twisted bond that haunts Thea throughout the years. Each character can push their way into the mind of the other, inflicting a pain that feels real. Thea can build stories in her dreams and she later grows up to turn the stories into video games. Hence the title of the story.

The beginning of this story grabs the reader with a gutpunch and the taunt suspense story keeps the reader turning pages. Thea and her close knit family and friends are people who I would want know. Their likable characters make her an empathetic protagonist. The only thing that I didn't like in this story was the late introduction of the romance element. The book is advertised as a romance. Loyal readers expect nothing less. But halfway through the book, I was still questioning that label. When the main male character is finally introduced, he comes straight from central casting complete with sweet romance tropes. Because the romance begins so late in the story, it doesn't have time to evolve in a natural pace and feels rushed. However, romance lovers will be more than satisfied with Robert's trademark love scenes that can always get the reader's heart racing.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher, but the opinions in this review are completely my own. This Fantastic psychological thriller combines with a fun romance to provide a novel you won't want to miss.

Nora Roberts can literally do no wrong!

Every book this woman puts out is like an offering from a story telling God that I can’t begin to try and put down. This book is no exception to that very tiring rule. Why tiring you might ask? Well because Nora has stolen yet another night of my sleep being I didn't go to bed just so I could read further on. And, when I finally passed out from sheer exhaustion my kindle hit my face and I now have a bruise on the bridge of my nose that makes it look like I got into a bar fight. But instead of sayin, “you should se the other guy”, I have to look down and say, “I go beat up by an e-reader.” LMAO Don’t yo worry it is a wound I wear like a badge of dyslexic reading honor!!

Thank you NetGalley and ST. Martens Press for this 5 star ARC read!!

The Fox kids look forward to spending two weeks at their grandmother's house every summer. Thea, age twelve, can savor many childhood treats here, like the mountain air and their grandmother's food. Her parents, however, are unaware of the horror that awaits them when they return home.
Thea and her grandmother Lucy wake up from the same nightmare in Kentucky. Although the two have never talked about the unique sight they share, as soon as their sorrowful eyes contact, they both know that something horrible has happened.

This is the second book by Nora Roberts that I have read, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. However, this story is definitely not what I expected. I thought the author generally wrote romantic suspense and didn’t know that this book was more of a paranormal book. I’m giving it three stars because I like the book's main character and setting. However, her love interest arc and her parent’s killer's story were too much for me.

I’m sure you'll love this one if you regularly read her books. If this is the first Nora Roberts book you’re reading, you may want to choose another title by Nora Roberts as your first.

Wow!! I love Nora Roberts books, I discovered her during the pandamic. I read just about all of her romantic suspense books.She is one of the most favored authors. This book I'm speechless , but I will try. I will tell you this made me cry and root for these characters! It is definitely one of her best. I don't want to give to much away but Theas second sight was extraordinary. I've read a few books with a character that have this but the way Thea handled herself was amazing at 12 years old. The whole book was very emotional and suspenseful and it came around to a great ending. I need to thank Netgalley for the advance copy they gave me for my honest review!!!

This book is why this is one of my all-time favorite authors. The amount of heart is astounding. I lose time reading because I am completely swept away in her stories. This is a standalone. Thea is such a strong character. And I adore Ty. Their romance is sweet, sexy, and so emotional. The big complication of Thea's life is engrossing. I was riveted to the plot involving Ray. Loved this book!

From the beginning, the sweeping beauty of Appalachia, the farm in Kentucky, to a brutal family murder. Psychic abilities, or “the gift” connect the main character, Thea, a child who has to grow up too fast - her grandmother and the beast who murdered her parents throughout the novel. I had read the recap so I had an idea of what would happen, but, the suspense leading up to the tragic event and beyond was palpable.

As Thea and her brother grow up on the farm with their grandmother, Thea grows into a young woman. There’s romance mixed with intense suspense and the supernatural, which combine it all into an amazing story. There are so many genres! What a great read.

I could not put this down - Nora Roberts is one of the most versatile authors I have ever read, and “Mind Games” is a great addition to her repertoire. What’s next Nora?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

A story and characters that will stay with you long after you have finished the last page! Thea Fox and her younger brother Remington are spending several weeks with their Grammie in Redbud Hollow, Kentucky. Their parents head back to the city, but are caught in the web of an evil young man who takes what he feels he is owed and leaves tragedy behind. Thea and her Grammie share the “sight” and know immediately that her parents are in trouble. When Thea uses her sight to “see” what happened to them, she uses this information to bring the killer to justice. The killer also has the “sight” and continues to harass her, but as she grows older, she is able to keep him at bay. She is stunned when her former crush, Tyler Brennan and his young son Brayden, move in next door. Tyler is raising his son and is careful with who he allows in their circle. He is slowly trusting and falling for Thea, but when he believes that she abused his trust, what will he do? Will she ever be able to block the killer from her mind, permanently? A must read! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

This well-written novel was compelling as well as thought provoking. A family drama with a touch of thriller. There was so much to this story, it’s full of tragedy, love, friendship, loss and grief. I was completely engaged throughout and really enjoyed the supernatural element. The ending was beautiful and hopefully there will be a sequel in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When Thea was twelve years old she witnessed her parents murdered in their beds in a senseless crime of hate and jealousy. Because of what Thea saw, however, her parents' murderer was caught and sentenced to life in prison.

The only thing: Thea was staying with her grandmother hours and states away from her family home. You see, the women in Thea's family have a gift. They know things, they can "see" things. Her grandmother has the gift, her mother had the gift - although was more uneasy with it and chose to lock it away - and now, Thea has the gift.

Over the years, Thea will learn that there are those who don't or won't understand so she learns to be careful. But one person she can't seem to escape is her parents' killer. That terrible night bonded them in more than just blood, but in mind. Thea will have to figure out the game if she wants a chance at living her own life.

Mind Games is another Nora Roberts book. I feel like I can say that with both a reverence and a plainness. Her contributions to romance and the romantic suspense genres - including dipping into elements of the supernatural - are undeniable. But that also makes it difficult to tread into anything new or unexpected.

Mind Games follows suit with her other recent releases in that a heroine has something bad happen to her and spends the rest of the book reconciling with that. Typically this also involves not being fully free and clear from the "bad guy". In this case, it is a bit of a twist because the continuing conflict between Thea and her parent's killer - Ray - remains in the shared space of their minds or dreams, however you may choose to interpret the gift. I honestly, never felt like there was a real threat. I guess a more apt thing to say was that there was very little external conflict it was all very internal - literally and figuratively. And despite this looming threat it never felt high stakes.

There's a lot of expository build up with a lot of time spent in Thea's childhood - almost to the point where her adult life - including the romantic interest - feels rushed toward the end.

Regardless of all of this, I still was invested in the story. I was still pulled in and found myself immersed. It was definitely and escapist read for me and there is nothing wrong with that.

One thing I have noticed in the more recent Nora Roberts releases is the very chopped / clipped dialogue. Almost, at times, like characters are reading from a list of bullet points. It's a rather strange affectation.

I've learned, however, that it leans better into audiobook format than standard reading. I don't know if this is what Nora Roberts is going for or not, but the whole performance aspect lends itself well to the paired down dialogue and descriptors.

No one is better to bring this story to life than January LaVoy. If you are an audiobook fan, I'd say her name should have popped up somewhere along your listening journey. She has such a great range and in this case in particular I was super impressed with her ability to go from character to character, young to older, myriad of genders so easily. There were so many times that I forgot it was one person narrating the entire book. At times I had to remind myself that's how she easily she pulls you into the story and these characters. Each has their own voice in the sense that I never questioned who was speaking. The emotion comes through so well encapsulating a twelve year old girl's trauma of not only losing her parents, but witnessing it happening. Overall a great performance.

Mind Games is an emotional book from the beginning, happy, sad, scared, shocked, angry and heart broken, by then end of the book though filled with joy. It's a book filled with family, mystery, growth, drama and romance.

Thea and her brother Rem spend two weeks in the summer with their grammie Lucy in Kentucky while their parents enjoy the peace and quiet at their home not knowing what is to come. One night back in Kentucky, Thea and Lucy both awaken to the exact same nightmare, they know as soon as their tearful gazes meet one another in the dark night that something terrible has just happened to Rem and Thea's parents. Thea and Rem will now be spending the rest of their childhood growing up in Kentucky with their grandma, but thanks to Thea's special vision, their parents killer will spend the rest of his life in a super max prison, it doesn't stop their though the killer as well has special vision and him and Thea can contact each other and play Mind Games with each other.

Adored watching Thea and Rem grow up though out the book and grammie Lucy is the grandma that everyone wants. And who doesn't want to end up having their teenage celebrity crush living right next door?!?

Nora Roberts is a wonderful writer and did a job with these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nora Roberts, St Martin's Press for this ARC

As a long time Nora Roberts reader I can say with impunity that this is one of her most interesting. Her mind is so creative to come up with these plots and each year when a new book comes out I wonder how she does it. This time we have a heroine, Thea, with “the sight” which runs in her family. There is a beautiful love story with Ty and his young son, and a family consisting of her grandmother, who also has the gift and her younger brother. As usual there is also suspense and a creepy killer. I loved reading this book and frankly did not want it to end. If you have ever read a Nora Robert’s book,you will love this one,and if you’ve never read her, please take a chance and read this one. You won’t regret it!

Mind Games by Nora Roberts delivered a standalone novel of loss, suspense, magical realism, and romance that held me captive from beginning to end. The audiobook narrated by January LaVoy was brilliant and one I highly recommend.

I started off reading Mind Games and then devoured the audiobook when it became available. I am a huge Roberts fan and generally prefer her trilogies, but Mind Games was a fantastic five star listen that held me captive, made me cry and left me yearning to raise chickens.

We are introduced to the Foxes as they travel to the Appalachians to drop their children off for a two-week summer vacation at their grandmother’s farm. Twelve-year-old Thea and her ten-year-old brother are excited to spend time with their maternal grandmother as their parents return to Virginia, unaware that trouble is coming.

Roberts is a masterful storyteller as she takes us through the tragedy of the parent’s murder, introduces us to Thea’s gift, and dives into the mind of the killer. She weaved magical realism and the police investigation into the story, then giving us a glimpse of the children’s lives on the farm before moving the story to their adulthood where Thea will find acceptance, love and face the evil that stole her parents.

The story was wonderfully paced, with touching moments, family, heartbreak, misunderstandings and humorous moments that made me laugh and cry. The suspense angle built slowly as we became connected to the Foxes, their maternal grandmother and uncles. Then she wove in, a sexy neighbor, a loveable dog, a cute little boy and more to make the story complete.

I love when I become completely immersed in the characters and story. Roberts did just that. As I stated, I began reading, but switched over to audio. January LaVoy beautifully captured the characters, the emotions and helped heighten the suspenseful moments of the story. I highly recommend grabbing your earbuds for this one!

This review was originally posted on <a href="http://booksofmyheart.net/2024/05/21/%f0%9f%8e%a7-mind-games-by-nora-roberts/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
&nbsp;

<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I am a fan of this author, who is prolific. I haven’t read as many of her books as I would like, but have read all the JD Robb In Death books. I loved this from the start.

The world building is breath taking with the gorgeous countryside in Appalachia. There’s also the gift which runs in the women of the family. My favorite thing in paranormal type stories is mind skills. That’s what we get here.

Thea has the skills, even more than her grandmother. She learns to use them and work with them. She did not become a police consultant or go into law enforcement. She has a different, exciting and imaginative career. I love the way she built her life around her family. In the tradition of her Grammie, who has cows, goats, chickens and makes soaps and candles. The food with all the fresh produce from the garden, and fresh eggs, is tantalizing. All these aspects of the worldbuilding elicit more emotions.

Then there’s her ongoing battle of will with the man who killed her parents. Thea tries various things to shut him out. He’s in the supermax for the rest of his life, but that’s not enough.

Thea’s romance is beautifully grown, with a childhood crush and a 5 year old boy, who is the best! I was so happy for their joy and sad for their hurts. It’s a happily ever after, where they can live their best lives.

Whether she writes under this name or as J. D. Robb, I am a huge Nora Roberts fan. I always look forward to her romantic suspense books. Some of this book is emotional, and some is heart-pounding, all wrapped up in an atmospheric setting. 

The relationships in this book are solid and heartwarming, from Thea's family to her romance with Ty. The first half of the book is more character-driven, and Roberts develops her characters well. Love them or loathe them, they are vividly depicted. Thea, the FMC, in particular, is well done. It is a strong FMC that is easy to root for.

We meet Thea at age 12. She has a psychic gift, and her visions show her something horrific and terrifying, as she can see into the mind of the man, Ray, who killed her parents as he is doing it. Law enforcement takes her description of him seriously, and he is captured. However, Ray also has psychic powers but uses them for evil and attempts to terrorize Thea—the two battle it out psychically as he's in jail. Despite the tragedy, and with the love of her devoted grandmother and brother, Thea builds a life for herself and falls in love. But the danger is just around the bend.

I love magical realism, and this storyline is unique. Literal mind games are going on as Ray comes after Thea using mental telepathy, and she learns to fight back. Psychic abilities run through Thea's family and are passed down through the women. Lucy, Thea's grandmother, also saw the horrific visions the night Lucy lost her parents. I would have loved more details about this magic system because it really intrigued me. This wasn't my favorite Roberts book, and the pacing seemed slower than some of her other romantic suspense stories, and some dialogue was repetitive. But overall, it was enjoyable, and I can't wait for whatever Roberts writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the free book!

*3.75 rounded up

Nightmare or reality? One night during the summer when Thea is 12 years old, she has a nightmare that her parents were murdered. She soon learns that her Grammie has the same dream and unfortunately it turns out to be true. As time passes, she has to decide whether to shut out her ability or to use it to save others. In addition, her parents' killer has the same ability and she has to learn how to cope with that. Overall I enjoyed the story but felt that the first part of the story could have been a little shorter.