This was such a unique story. The beginning was hard to read. I knew something bad was going to happen and I was dreading getting to that point. I’m not sure anything could have prepared me for what occurred and it certainly made me question if what Thea and Lucy share can be considered a ‘gift’.

Thea, Rem, and Lucy have been through a lot, but they came together as a family and were stronger for it. Things got interesting in how Thea was able to develop her gift. I don’t really want to say more, because I don’t want to give anything away, but it was definitely an interesting twist. I enjoyed the story and was happy with the way everything turned out.

3.5

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Quick read, interesting characters. With the ending, I wonder if this will be a new series. Hope so, I'd read it.

I have read Nora Robert’s since I was a teenager and am now a middle aged millennial. I have read her In death series without fail for decades, but haven’t picked up a stand alone in years. This was the perfect home coming. This is Nora at her best making both the teenage and middle aged women in me swoon over such a delightful story. It has literally everything I could ever ask for. A beautiful tragic heroine with mind powers who preserved and her new neighbor is her former teen celebrity crush from a boy band! GASP. He also has the cutest son. She has a big lovable dog and support system. The absolute dream. Also, as far as men written by women? Nora has been perfection at this for a long time. Please see Roarke from the In Death series. No better man in literature. I haven’t been approved for a Nora Robert’s book before and this one couldn’t have brought me more joy. TYSM Nora ILYSM!! Also, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc that I obviously HIGHLY recommend.

I am a huge Nora Roberts fan but this book was not hooking me the way her books usually do. the writing style was still compelling but I did not find myself engaged like I had been before. Which is a bummer, I'm very predisposed to loving her books. Unfortunately, this book was not doing it for me.

I always enjoy Nora Roberts books, especially the ones with a supernatural slant. With a nicely moving plot, well drawn characters and interesting secondary characters, I read this in one fell swoop!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Nora Roberts new book is like a toy chest filled with everything you've always wanted! Mind Games is a filled with romance, friendship, the importance of family and a psychological thriller that will leave you on edge until the end. Thanks for the advanced copy!!!

So good! Then again, Nora Roberts doesn’t do bad. Right off, I was drawn in. The unexpected happened and I was an emotional basket case. It was so unpredictable and such a refreshing new storyline. I could never anticipate the next move and the final move, was definitely over the top. A killer and the victims daughter in a volley of strength and wit had me flipping pages to see the end game. Guessing it wasn’t possible. Again, so good!

Wow! I feel like my heart and mind have been put through the wringer while reading this book. First an unimaginable crime leaves two youngsters orphaned. Then readers learn that young Thea, just twelve years old, was a witness to the crime by way of her second sight or physical abilities. That night, she went to bed with innocent thoughts and no real knowledge of evil, only to see the murder of her parents in her dreams. Forever changed, now very aware of the gift or curse passed through the maternal line of her family, Thea must not only make others believe what she has seen, but also ward off the mental invasion by the source of her anguish….the murderer of her parents.

At this point in this story, I could only empathize with Thea and family’s anguish and despair. (Tissues were definitely needed through the first part of this book). I also could only admire the sheer force of will and determination that Thea shows as she battles against not only the mental intrusion from a psychopath, but also the doubts and derision from those who don’t believe in or understand her abilities. Her Grammie’s (Lucy’s) strength, determination and resilience are evident as she rallies around young Thea and Rem, protects them and helps them manage their grief and other tumultuous feelings, all while having to deal with her own. Lucy is also able to help Thea refine and control her abilities, which are even stronger than her own, to shut out intrusions and to learn to cope with the challenges and aftermaths of her visions. She guides both her grandchildren into adulthood and makes sure that they have a strong home base, Redbud Hollow.

I loved the small town setting, the recount of Thea’s and others growth from youth to adulthood and the guiding light shone by Grammie. Adult Thea is still grappling with the psychopath, while also making a place for herself in Redbud Hollow and the business world. She is also dealing with trust issues stemming from past hurts and struggling to open her heart again. Ty is a fantasy come true and little Bray is a pint sized heartbreaker who melts her heart instantly. Thea’s life journey is compelling, twisty and so emotional. One might call it a tale of good triumphing over evil. This book was unputdownable, left its mark on both my heart and my imagination and has found its way onto my “Must Keep” list.

I would give this book a thousand stars if I could, and only the highest of recommendations.

Where do I begin?!?

I say this every dang time but it’s the truth. Nora Roberts writes in a lyrical, magical way. She weaves this story around you when you open a book and step in. You are immersed in her world. And then the journey begins. You experience all the feels. Her dialogue is witty and fun. It makes you feel like you are in the middle of it all.

I love a book that has a wee bit of paranormal with the suspense. This did not disappoint. And man when the reveal of who had moved into that cottage I almost fell over. This book had it ALL. And then some. I could not put it down. I tried to hold off reading but I was lucky to get to read so I dived in. And man…it was unputdownable. Once again NR has made me fall in love with the people and their story she wove. She is a master storyteller.

Somehow, Nora Roberts always grabs my attention from the first page of her books. Mind Games is very suspenseful and also has a paranormal twist to it. It has heartbreaking moments but is also full of love, family, strength, and perseverance.

I adore Nora Roberts. I consume every book she puts out and this one did not disappoint. This was not a breakneck speed thriller, nor was it a love story. This one would be hard to categorize but it was amazing all the same. Roberts ability to weave characters that make you feel like you know them is awe inspiring. I became attached to these characters. Their life was so richly told. The spiritual gifts were brought to life in a very realistic way. The lives of this family gripped my from the first page and drew me in. I wish I could meet this family in real life. They left me with a warm feeling. A family to strive for. There was not a dull moment as we are taken through the lives of this family. This is one you buy for your bookshelf and cherish it. An absolute must read!

Nora Roberts has written over 200 novels and it would be understandable if she was running out of fresh ideas or writing formulaic stories. MIND GAMES proves that isn’t the case.

MIND GAMES is anything but ordinary. Readers will be gripped from the very first chapter and wholly invested in the heroine, Thea’s, life and story. And what a story it is.

Thea is an amazing character who readers will watch go from a scared child who “saw” her parents murdered to a grown woman who is strong but caring and passionate.

Nora Roberts really knocked it out of the park with this one! Absolutely brilliant.

Mind Games is a classic Nora story with a twisty cat and mouse game of a killer and a victim.

Nora has slowly been transitioning her books from a straight romance to more of a women’s fiction with a romantic subplot, and I think Mind Games is an excellent example of this. This is an engaging story with classic Nora elements: A strong female character, a fabulous setting, and an interesting suspenseful murder. The actual romantic relationship for our main character Thea, doesn’t really pick up steam until half way through the book, and you’ll note, he isn’t even discussed in the synopsis.

This is a fairly intense story - it starts off in vivid detail about the murder of Thea’s parents and the unique gift Thea has that causes her to witness the incident thousands of miles away. From there, we watch her grow up, and figure out how to deal with her gift. She builds a life for herself, helps solve some tragic cases with the police, and deals with a vicious killer who’s head she can get into, and who can get into hers. Nora is an incredible storyteller and I loved the world she has built here. Thea is a fascinating and whip smart character. While she’s almost fiercely independent (which is partially from eldest daughter syndrome and the tragedy in her life and her gift) she is also deeply caring and has an incredible family. Grammie and her brother are two delightful characters that light up the page.

In classic Nora style, the twisted mystery held my attention. It’s interesting because as a reader, we know who the villain is from the get go. The story is less about solving the mystery and more about solving how Thea will live a fulfilling life free from him. Mind Games has one of the most unique show downs between a hero and a villain that I've read in a while. I’m interested in learning what other readers thought of it.

Mind Games is a twisty paranormal-lite women’s fiction read that will be best enjoyed with a glass of iced tea and a hammock this summer!

LOVED. THIS. BOOK. Nora Roberts has done it again. This is a masterfully told story with well developed characters and an amazing plot. Thea Fox and her younger brother are in Kentucky visiting their grandmother when something happens that will impact the rest of their lives. Do yourself a big favor and read this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

I'm a sucker for a story about family and this one delivers pretty poignantly.

Thea and her family have so much love and joy until someone doesn't approve and ends it.

I really appreciate the small bits Roberts give us of Riggs. He and The as enemies is extra fascinating when you consider their ages, which I didn't until halfway through!

There was one part that kinda stuck out to me, it seemed like conflict for the sake of conflict but on the whole this book is excellent and I would highly recommend it!

Whoa…..where do I begin! This newest book by Nora Roberts checked so many genre boxes, from romance to mystery to paranormal thriller.

Thea and Rem Fox enjoy spending two weeks every summer with their Grammie in the beautiful and idyllic countryside of Kentucky. But the summer they are twelve and ten, tragedy strikes the family and Kentucky becomes their permanent home. Like all the females in her family, Thea possesses a “gift”, the psychic ability to see into other peoples minds. This family saga, with a great cast of characters, takes the reader through the emotional journey of loss, grief, love and self discovery.

I absolutely enjoyed the first third and final chapters of the story and was immersed in all the emotions of the plot and characters. However, I felt the mid section was long and somewhat repetitive and the inconsistencies of dialogue in the way one of the child characters spoke was troublesome for me.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Publication date: May 21

I have been reading Nora Roberts for as long as I can remember. There is a comfort in the familiarity of her formula and reading one of her books is like a warm hug.

Thea is the main character of Mind Games and she witnesses something horrible as a child. The first half of the book focuses on this plot point and how she and her family deal with the aftermath of the tragedy. The women in the Lannigan family all have what they call the "sight" and Thea's is particularly strong. It adds a unique element to this story and ties her to the killer in an unexpected way.

Thea does have a love interest in the second half and I enjoyed how he was linked to her childhood. I don't want to spoil it, but I will say the man/boy/dog connection warmed my heart. There is some romance, but I would classify this as more of a contemporary suspense novel with family and romantic elements.

The way the title plays out through various aspects in the story is very well done. The characters are all loveable and the setting of Redbud Hollow is perfect. The conflict wrapped up a little quickly, but overall it was gripping and had me engaged the whole time.

Nora Roberts is a Queen and I will always read her books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Mind Games is another winner by Nora Roberts! The unique connection Thea and Lucy share is very interesting to explore as the author shares the womens' experiences with their gift. A gift some would call a curse...It was fascinating getting into the mind of a killer and Thea's mind.

I did greatly enjoy the life the kids built with their grandmother after their parents were gone. That part of the book ws wonderful and uplifting and definitely reminded me of simpler times.

Nora Roberts is the queen for a reason and Mind Games is yet one more example of the author at her best. You'll definitely not want to miss this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC at my request. All thoughts, as always, are my own.

I read a digital copy of this new novel thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press. I requested the book because I am a big Nora Roberts fan; I have read and enjoyed dozens of her books.

Nora Roberts is a skilled storyteller; her writing style is easy to read; She builds fleshed-out characters and introduces them so that her readers care about their lives and their problems. She outdid herself in the opening scenes of this book. It was emotional, suspenseful, and fully hooked me from the first words. Writing suspenseful and emotional scenes is definitely a strength of this writer.

However, the genre and subject matter of this book is almost completely out of my wheelhouse. I have learned in recent years not to expect the pure romance or simple mystery of Ms Roberts's early writing; but this novel left me puzzled. I know (and care) little about gaming or rock music, and fantasy/supernatural is one of my least-favorite genres of novel. I likely wouldn't have requested the book if I'd read a thorough blurb first even though I greatly admire Nora Roberts's writing in general.

Another thing that kept this book from being a 5-star read for me was the language of the characters. The author seems to think that all characters speak in the coarse and crass way that these (and most of her recent) characters do. I found the vulgar, common, low-brow dialog distracting and puzzling in these characters. I wonder if Nora Roberts is still actually writing the books that come out in her name.

Overall, in spite of these distractions and defects (IMHO) the book was interesting and entertaining.

Thea Fox comes from a long line of women gifted with the sight. 12-year-old Thea mostly keeps her visions to herself until the night she awakens having seen her parents' murders and knows that she has to tell the police what she's seen in order to help find their killer. The first half of this book is so emotional and such a powerful depiction of grief and a compelling family portrait that I forgot it was also a romance. This is just as well since the love interest doesn't show up until nearly halfway through the book. The story is genuinely creepy at times, but also so warm and beautiful when painting a picture of the rural Kentucky setting and the strong bond Thea and her brother have with the grandmother that raises them after their shared tragedy. I don't know when Nora Roberts sleeps, but I'm never going to complain that she keeps churning out these hits.

ARC e-book via NetGalley
Provided by St. Martin's Press
Publication: 21 May 2024