Through its action, romance, and heavy suspense, Mind Games takes readers on a long and winding journey of magic and tension with Thea and her family. The pacing may feel a little uneven at times, but all of the ups and downs come together to tell a compelling story.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery

Nora Roberts is the queen of many romantic subgenres and romantic suspense is one of my favorites. She writes great characters and her settings span the entire country. Mind Games takes place in the Appalachian mountains, which are pretty close to where I live and have driven through many times. I loved the vibe of that setting and how the evil that haunted Thea jarred with that easy country living and created this jarring note every time he entered the scene. Ms. Roberts always sets the tone so well.

I enjoyed all of the characters that made up Thea’s family and friends. The love story aspect of the book happened a little too late, to my taste, and the childhood trauma a little too long. I had wished that a little more time was spent in the current time but understand why the author chose to build upon Thea’s early childhood and build the suspense that would carry through to adulthood. I still wish we had gotten a little more romance and a little less evil prisoner.

I have read so many Nora Roberts novels and I have strong opinions about what makes a good NR story and when they are just average. I think this one falls kind of in between. Mind Games reminds me of some of her earlier novels where they feel a little less fleshed out. I still enjoyed it but it’s not one of my favorites.

Thea and her brother are visiting their grandmother in Kentucky. One evening, Thea and her grandmother both wake from a terrible nightmare. Thea actually saw her parents get murdered in her dream. Her grandmother just felt it. Because of Thea, the cops were able to arrest the guy who murdered her parents. But Thea is never free of the horrible man! He haunts her dreams!

Thea is a character which I connected with right away. She is young and traumatized but it does not stop her from achieving her goals. I also enjoy how she uses her gift for the good!

But the way these two characters connect in their dreams is creepy! Thea is definitely the stronger one and she comes up with a unique plan to stop this from ever happening again!

Psychic books always fascinate me. Nora Roberts does and excellent job with this trope. I know she has expanded her genre a bit but I have never read one quite like this. I really enjoyed it!

The narrator, January LaVoy, did a great job! I enjoyed how calm she was during some stressful situations for Thea!

Need a different thriller….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Although this wasn't my favorite Nora Roberts novel, it was still an engrossing and unique story as Thea Fox learns and uses her paranormal visions into her parent's killer's mind. The story started with the chilling vision that at first you think is a nightmare, but soon turns more creepy and sinister. The pacing of the story after started pretty slow with a lot of background, but soon drew me in to find out what happens next. And by the end of the story she's proven yet again that she's a master storyteller and I'll always be a fan of her writing.
Thanks to St Martin's Press through Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own and given voluntarily.

Thea Fox has an idyllic life. Loving parents, a pesky younger brother, wonderful home, and magical summers spent with her grandmother Lucy up in the hills of Kentucky. In the midst of one of those perfect summers, twelve year old Thea’s world is shattered. She and Lucy awaken in the dead of night after witnessing the brutal murder of Thea’s parents from hundreds of miles away. Both Thea and Lucy are gifted with seeing things others can not, but Thea has an exceptionally strong talent, a talent that connects her to the murderer. Using her unusual skills, Thea helps find and identify her parent’s killer, which leads to him spending the rest of his life in prison. Thea and her brother move into their grandmother’s home and start to build new, full lives that honor their parent’s memories. As Thea grows older, she’s always aware of the mental connection between her and the man who stole her parents lives and tries to mitigate the toll his looming presence takes on her. Then Thea meets a special man and his young son. In order to make a life with them, she’ll need to sever her twisted bond with the murderer once and for all. But he has spent years alone honing his talents and he’s not willing to let Thea go without a fight.

The Queen of Romance does it again! Mind Games is an exceptional entry in Nora Roberts’ vast oeuvre. Roberts is consistently amazing and could make the phone book into a riveting work of literature. She takes the mundane and makes it magical. Mind Games is beautifully written, like a lyrical piece of poetry. But the lyricism doesn’t lead to looseness. The story is on point and sharp. It’s focused and framed out. Every word serves a purpose. Roberts is always bringing new plots and fresh takes to the table, the unexpected and twisty. Romantic suspense with a bit of psychological thriller wrapped in a magician’s grimoire. I loved the mix of ordinary and supernatural elements. It becomes a layered tapestry of words. Roberts’ characters are so distinctive and easily identified as hers. They are fully fleshed out with motivations, thoughts, feelings, hopes, and dreams. They are emotionally smart and mentally tough. Another gem to add to the Queen’s crown.

This book was not quite what I expected it to be. I was a little leery of some of the parts of the book, but overall it was a good book. It was a traumatic experience for all involved. To have such tragedy occur to children is gut-wrenching to even read about. My emotions were all over the place as I read this book, but it keep me glued to the pages.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Mind Games is a fascinating story. Thea and her grandmother Lucy can see beyond what the natural eyes see. It is heartbreaking in ways as they see the murder of Lucy’s daughter and son in law and Thea’s parents.
The setting in Kentucky sounds inviting. I like the progression of the story, which gives time for Thea and her brother Rem to grow up and then to follow them as adults.
I love the love interest of Tyler and his son Bray. Bray is adorable.
I found Thea’s video game design and coding interesting.
The hard part of this story is the villain. He is twisted and chooses evil at each turn.
The ending didn’t feel finished. I wish the reader had an epilogue to take us farther past the resolution with the villain.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Mind Games by Nora Roberts is a gripping story that I totally enjoyed!
The story was well written and engrossing. The suspense is also fantastic, as you'd expect from Nora Roberts.
The characters in this book were well-drawn. This was such a great story. I was totally engrossed all the all the way from start to finish. I loved everything about this book.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Nora Roberts continues to be an elite author for me when it comes to atmospheric writing. No one can put me in a setting and make me see, feel, and taste everything like she can. I love her prose so much; it makes me feel like I’m watching a movie in my head and not reading words on paper. The plot was fast paced, and the pages just flip by. I didn’t expect to feel so emotional while reading Mind Games but not even 30 pages in and I was already tearing up. This book had me on a roller coaster of emotions from crying to laughing to being angry. Things get dark and heart wrenching quickly but there are so many wholesome moments sprinkled in which balances out the doom and gloom aspects. I loved that the book starts with Thea and Rem as children and follows them through their teen years and into adulthood. I will say due to how traumatic the event they experienced was, I wish their healing hadn’t been glossed over. Also, given how the book started out I was not expecting a romance to pop up halfway through the story. I honestly would have preferred this book being left as a mystery/thriller without the romance plotline. I loved learning about Thea’s abilities and her interactions with the antagonist were so intense. Thea and Rem’s grandmother Lucy was one of my favorite characters. She was so wise and the kind of loving matriarchal figure every family should have. Overall, I really enjoyed the thrilling journey this book took me on! If you’re looking for a suspenseful novel with supernatural elements thrown in you should check this book out!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story starts with the Foxes dropping off their two kids, Thea and Rem, with Grammie for the two week fun time with her. While the kids are having a terrific time, a killer targets their parents. Thea and Grammie have the gift of vision and realize what has happened. Thea is able to help put the killer in prison. The local community backs Grammie and the kids and supports them as they grow up without their parents. As time goes by and life moves on, Thea helps the police periodically while her parents’ killer reaches out using his gift to try to intimidate her. This story had it all: mystery, suspense, drama, and romance! Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors and she delivers another amazing book!

A very classic Nora Robert’s book where is has similar plot lines, but with mildly different twists. Can never go wrong with a Nora Robert’s novel, just need a rainy day and warm blanket.

I absolutely love Nora Roberts. But as her trilogies have become repetitive, it's been awhile since I've read one of her standalone novels. And this one great. She is such a great storyteller. Pulling you into the story with great characters and keeping you engaged so it's impossible to put the book down.

Thea is a wonderful character that you can empathize with right from the beginning. The story follows her growth through tragedies and difficulties to become such a strong woman. And the last chapter where she confronts her parents' killer was so enthralling. Another great book.

Thea and her brother always spend summers with their grandmother. She and her grandmother have a gift of reading other’s thoughts. When their parents are murdered, Thea can read the killer’s thoughts and he can read hers. She helps put him in prison for dozens of horrible deaths. As the years pass, he gets into her mind and she decides he needs to be neutralized in order for her to live. A great Nora Robert’s novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc of this book.

This is my first Nora Roberts book and I know she is beloved author. I enjoyed a lot of things in this book but I also felt it was a bit long and drawn out and could have been shorter.

We follow Thea who lost her parents at 12 years old. She and her brother were spending the start of summer with their Grammie in Kentucky, as they do every year. While her parents are back home in Virginia they are murdered in their bed. This part of the story instantly grabbed my attention and my heart. For the first 30 % of the book we learn about this tragedy and we learn some interesting facts about Thea and the women in her family. This was very interesting and a great way to get me excited. However, the middle of the book turn a slow turn. We see Thea go to college and become a skilled video game artist. She designed and crafted her first game and makes a successful career for herself. Finally at about 50% we see her fall in love. This part of the book is also interesting. I love the characters and the animals and the family relationships we see. But again, there is a lot of repeat that becomes boring and the "thriller" part is few and far between. The gaming aspect of this was pretty interesting and fun to read.

I would rate this a 3.5. I did not like the language that was used, although, it makes sense. I also did not like the casual way the Lord's name was used. It also makes sense as this is how people talk but it was bothersome to me. For the most part the romance was clean, there were a few scenes but they were not bad. I liked so much about it but it just could have been a bit shorter and still made the same impact.

Mind Games is a dip into the paranormal waters weaved with themes of love, loss and family. And what a beautiful family they are.

Thea and her brother Rem travel every summer to visit her grandmother, Lucy or Grammie, in Kentucky. Thea and her grandmother share a special psychic connection as do all the females in the Fox family. That summer, Thea and her grandmother psychically witness the brutal murder of Thea’s parents. The murderer also shares the same ability as Thea and as the years go by he taunts Thea, poking at her. Thea’s grandmother has to teach her how to control her abilities and strengthen them so he can’t hurt her.

As time has passed Thea has become as game programmer and built her own house near her grandmother. Thea is strong and patient and is such a great female character. She meets Ty and his son when they move in next door. Ty is a former member of her favorite childhood band, Code Red. Ty is at a crossroads with the direction of his life and where he wants to settle with his son. He is protective and kind and immediately captivated by Thea. It was beautiful to watch their romance unfold and see Thea fall equally in love with Ty’s son.

My one criticism is the fact that this is classified as a romance and yet we don’t meet Ty until halfway through the book. The first half is dedicated to Thea’s childhood. And at times it felt as if it dragged on. It could have benefitted from some summarization to keep the reading flow. The second half felt like it flew by quickly.

The beauty of this book is in the story telling. The way Nora uses words to paint a picture so real you feel you’re there. And dialogue so authentic and interesting. This story of a beautiful family and community who love and support each other and become Ty’s found family. It’s all weaved together into this beautiful tapestry of words. It’s Nora Robert’s superpower.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this review copy.

Mind Games is an electric thriller underpinned by the power of family and an exquisitely sweet romance.

I’ve probably said this before, but Nora Roberts has this uncanny ability to weave a clever and very detailed story so that you feel completely immersed in it, with a pace that is never too slow or tedious. Every word and event have a place and a meaning.

Just like Thea, I squealed quietly inside when she met Ty and they got to know each other. Their relationship developed gradually, but they had a palpable and real connection right from the start. Every character had so much dimension and heart. I loved all of them.

This story took us on a wild ride of harrowing experiences and a wide range of emotions. I felt wrung out by the end, but with a goofy smile on my face. The “Mind Games” element to it was truly well done, providing most of the nail-biting suspense.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I finished this book, my reaction was "Wow, that was a good one!" Just in the first two chapters you fall in love with the Fox family and Grammie Lucy, who are all so unaware of the tragedy that awaits them all. The Virginia family looks forward to the summer visit that Thea and Rem have each year in Kentucky with Grammie, and this is where the full power of Thea's "gift" brings her innocent childhood to a stop. As Thea and Rem settle into their new Kentucky lives, we watch the development of their characters through a timeline that touches on the important things in their lives but does not linger until present day. Thea's "gift" allows her to keep track of her parents' murderer, Riggs, to be sure he remains in prison.....but her psychic-visits don't go unnoticed as Riggs has a "gift" of his own and soon begins to harass Thea through the vicious mind games he plays. Learning to lock out Riggs, Thea settles into her own life story with her gaming business, Rem's helping her along with creating his own future, assisting Grammie with her business of homemade products, and the busy-ness of having her own home and animals to care for. The peripheral characters Roberts brings into the story, friends and neighbors, show up at "just the right times" and round out the characters' stories. But when the new neighbor and his son move in, she finds herself becoming romantically involved, and her guard against Riggs drops, endangering her relationship. With the support of her Grammie Lucy and Rem, Thea fights against the evilness of Riggs in a very unique way, involving her skills as a gaming-developer. This was one part of the story that I found very enjoyable as it adds a unique dimension to the storyline and how she confronts Riggs in her own world. Worth the read and another hit for sure!! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #MindGames

This copy was given to me by the publisher and Netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.

I love Nora Roberts and this book was no different. So much about the main character resonated- her chickens, big happy dog, love and closeness of her family. I even loved that she made a character that was comfortable with cooking and growing her own food. I really enjoyed these aspects of the story. Grandma's Appalachia background and herbal remedies were so cool to read- now I wanna learn more myself. The magic that isn't normally in her thriller romances was a fun twist. I wish that the danger aspect was a little more high stakes versus it being a "mind game"

Nora Roberts is really good at giving us characters to love. I enjoyed the characters in this book and their stories. I wish I got more from the storyline with Ray. It seemed like it should've been given more attention throughout the book, instead of some of the stuff I saw as filler. I also was underwhelmed by the ending. It was still a great story and I loved Ty and Thea. I gave it 3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

Mind Games written by Nora Roberts was absolutely MIND BLOWING!!!!!!! I get so excited and filled with so much joy when a book by Nora Roberts lands in my hands, but the anticipation for Mind Games was literally unreal. Nora never fails to amaze with her beautifully and ground breaking storytelling. Mind Games was no exception, I felt so many emotions while reading this book, I was happy, I was sad, I was scared, I was shocked, I was angry, I was heart broken, but by the end of the book I was filled with so much joy. I loved this book way more than I could ever explain, no amount of words I share will bring this book the justice it truly deserves. Mind Games is more than just a book written by one of my many favorite authors, there's romance, sadness, family, love, loss, finding happiness during hard times, there's a mystery, but most importantly there's MIND GAMES. Have I captured your attention yet? If not, let me just say the thrills were thrilling. I can't recommend Mind Games enough, please do yourself a favor and add this book to your never ending tbr shelf immediately. Have you ever read a book that it felt like the author sucker punched your heart with their words? Well, it felt like Nora Roberts left a hole in my heart.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND ST. MARTIN'S PRESS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!

Every single June right after school gets out for summer break, the Foxes have driven the winding and adrenaline pumping roads of Appalachia to drop off their children, Thea and Rem for a two week stay at their grandmother Lucy's house. In the Kentucky mountains, Thea can run free, breathe in the fresh smells of pine, her grandmother's homemade fresh baked bread, and Lucy's handmade candles. Rem can run around wild and play in the mud and just be a little boy whose enjoying his summer vacation with his sister and grandma. After dropping off their children, the Foxes head back to suburban Virginia to enjoy their peace and quiet, but while they are heading back to Virginia the Foxes have no idea they are about to cross paths with a ticking time bomb. One night back in Kentucky, Thea and Lucy both awaken to the exact same nightmare, though Thea and Lucy have never discussed the special kind of gift they both share, 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 no 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.

Mind Games was dark and twisted, but I loved every single minute of it, I adored watching Thea and Rem grow up. Grammie Lucy is the grandma that everyone wants in their lives, she's loving, extremely supportive, and always there for her grandchildren through this difficult time, but she also has time for being a mother to her own children. Thea and Rem are the perfect type of siblings, they have a strong relationship and bond with one another after what they went through when they were children. Thea and Rem bicker like all siblings do, but they will always have each others backs no matter what. I absolutely loved and adored Grandma Lucy, she was such a sweet soul, but she definitely had a sassy side of her which was so cute and funny. It was so heart warming to see Rem and Thea lifting each other up after witnessing a grief that no child should ever have to experience. Let me be honest with y'all, I don't think I've ever cried reading a mystery/thriller before, but Mind Games destroyed me, the funeral for Rem and Thea's parents gutted me, it was utterly heart breaking. Grammie Lucy, Thea, and Rem will always have a special place in my heart, I don't think I could ever forget these sweet souls for a long time to come. Also, I can't forget about all the animals Lucy had at her house/farm, ugh, they were all so adorable and had the absolute cutest names ever.