It's been awhile since I read a Nora Roberts book and, as a fan of many of her novels, I was very excited to get my hands on an advanced copy. I immediately downloaded Mind Games and dived right in.

I found the storyline and concept of Mind Games to be very interesting. I always love Nora's books with a little paranormal weaved into them and I really enjoyed reading about the gift that Thea, her grandmother, and the villain all share. I enjoyed all the characters and found them likable, except for our antagonist, Ray, who I hated (in a good way). Ray was an excellent villain that had me cringing at the awful things he does and thinks. I actually found many of Ray's parts and the interactions he has with Thea to be the most interesting parts of the book. Nora also provides great details on the small town, Rosebud Hollow, that help paint a beautiful and comforting setting.

With all that said, I almost gave this book a 3 rating because it seemed to drag for me. I was hooked right at the beginning with the devastation that happens to Thea and her family and how Thea handles it, but after this, it felt slow for the first half. It's great that we see Thea's journey from childhood to adulthood, but it felt like nothing was happening to capture my attention well. About half way through the book, it started to pick up again and I found myself enjoying the read. I will say, the ending was a little disappointing. With all the anticipation leading up to that moment, it felt very quick and a little anticlimactic.

Overall, I'd rate Mind Games 3.5.

Nora Roberts’ latest, “Mind Games”, focuses on Thea, a person who has a psychic ability passed on to her through generations of females in her family. The novel follows Thea through a traumatic event that alters the course of her life, taking the reader through this event and follows the Thea through adulthood while she deals with the pros and cons of her ability. The antagonist of the book, Riggs, is the person responsible for her trauma who also just so happens to have the same ability.

The book deals with the adage of good versus evil between Thea and Riggs, albeit battling with their minds (hence the title). It also shows how the support of a strong, close family can overcome any obstacle.

I’ve read a few Nora Roberts books, but this seemed to be a departure from the ones I’ve read, which all started out with adult characters, usually love interests that first hate each other, overcome obstacles and fall in love, and then something breaks them apart only for them to come together at the end. This is the first one of her books that I’ve read where the romance storyline is not center stage, and the main character is introduced as a 12-year-old with a supernatural ability, which is the main storyline. The love interest is introduced as Thea’s rock star teen-age crush, Ty, about a third of the way into the novel. He then ends up as her neighbor about halfway through when they finally meet and he’s no longer a rock-star. Thea has to juggle her feelings for him as well as how to tell him about her ability. She also has to deal with the person who was responsible for her childhood trauma, who uses his ability to disrupt the happiness she is trying to seek.

My only issue with this book was that it was a bit repetitive when it came to the trauma. In the beginning, Thea as a 12-year-old had to recount everything she knew to police. Toward the end, the reader was subjected again to a retelling of the trauma by adult Thea to Ty. I felt it was a bit much for the reader to read through everything again when we knew what happened already. A simple sentence, such as “Thea then recounted everything to Ty without sparing any details”, was all that was needed. It would also have shaved a few pages from the book. It just seemed like it was filler, like her publisher needed to have more pages added to the novel, so she added another description. I found it unnecessary.

So if you are a fan of Nora Roberts and also like a little supernatural element added to a story, then this is the book for you.

Whoa, this one is a bit creepy! I love how the family pulled together in the wake of tragedy and how the community just accepts them for who they are. But the mind games were very disconcerting.

Of course there is also a romance! Add in a music star with an adorable son and it just becomes even better.

The dialogue style is similar to what she uses for Eve Dallas in her In Death series. I don’t know anyone that actually talks in this shorter banter of incomplete sentences. It fits the character of Dallas or close friends, but not so much a couple just getting to know each other.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

I loved this book. Sweet, sad, hopeful and joyous at times, this family story that started with a tragedy ends in a love story and I enjoyed every minute of this book.

*This book comes out May 21, 2024.*

Major tissue alert! Maybe it's because I read this as I was starting to show symptoms of Covid, but this one caused me major tears (like the beginning of Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score did).

Thea Fox and her brother Rem love going to visit their Gram in Redbud Hollow, Kentucky each summer for two weeks. But during the summer that Thea was 12, her parents are killed while she and her brother are with her maternal grandmother. Thea and her grandmother share a gift (or sometimes it feels like a curse) in that they can "see" things. The night of her parents' murder, Thea sees through the murderer's eyes. This gift helps the police catch him.

The story continues through Thea's life from the time she's 12 through college and after. How does her gift keep her connected to the killer? What games will be played as a result of the connection?

This story is so good. I had to know what happened to Thea. I read this one in one day because I could not put it down. I will be buying this one because I know I will want to read it again and again.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing for the free ARC in return for an honest review.

Wow!! This book! It is so encompassing. As I read I sunk deeper and deeper into the Kentucky mountain sanctuary and family she calls home. I sunk into the relationships and the community. I cried and celebrated with all of them.

Mind Games is quite unlike anything I’ve ever read and yet, so familiar. It’s romantic suspense at its finest and book you’re going to want to savor. So take some time for self-care and grab yourself a copy.

Nora Roberts never disappoints me and this book was no exception. Thea and her brother are staying with their grandmother. They look forward to this trip every year. Thea shares a special gift with her grandmother and this gift leaves her distraught when she sees into the mind of a dangerous man. You will instantly love their grandmother and her generosity toward her family and those in her community. She teaches Thea to control her gift. I really enjoyed that this book follows Thea's life, but the book isn't solely about romance. It has the perfect amount of suspense that leaves you satisfied with the ending. I really loved the characters in this story and can't wait for more from Nora.

We will be ordering this for our library in large print, regular print and audiobook format. I always recommend Nora to my patrons and this book will be highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to review Mind Games!

When Thea is awakened one night by a terrifying vision of her parents being murdered that she knows in her heart is true, she also knows that life as she knew it and that of her younger brother are forever changed. Instead of the usual two-week visit each summer, they now permanently live with their grandmother in Redbud Hollow. She teaches them a simple way of life, of being kind and doing for others and they grow up to be wonderful individuals.

The women in Thea’s family were each born with a “gift”. Thea’s mother refused to use it and blocked it out. The gift Thea was born with, that helped her put their murderer behind bars for life, has allowed her to help others, but has also allowed the murderer to enter her mind because it seems he was born with a similar gift. Now Thea will have to figure out a way to outsmart him and end his taunting and threats once and for all. Is she up to the task?

I loved this book! I had tears in my eyes through parts of it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One of the things I like most about Nora Roberts’ books is that the protagonist is always a very strong female with an interesting and non-traditionally female career and a great backstory. Mind Games is no exception. The protagonist, Thea, is introduced as a young child who loses her parents to a senseless crime. She and her brother go to live with and are raised by their maternal grandmother in Appalachia. Their maternal bloodline passes a special mental gift to members of succeeding generations. Adult Thea becomes a gifted video game designer who also has a mental connection with the man who murdered her parents. The conflict that ensues becomes a war within the video game. I loved this concept and the story kept me reading throughout the night. I raced to the end yet I slowed, dragging it out so the story wouldn’t end. I loved this book, the inventive concepts it introduced, and the resolution. I give Mind Games 5 stars.

Let me start with I love Nora Roberts, she is a great writer and this did not disappoint. I love how we get to see the character grow and change in the book from where it starts and she is 12 to college and then adulthood and how her family and friends change and grow as well. The paranormal aspect in this story was so interesting since Theas abilities were inherited from her mother’s side of the family and have been passed down through the women of the family and her grandmother has this as well. The first ¼ of the book when Thea was 12 was so good and made my cry while reading since the traumatic event that she witnesses through her psychic abilities is the murder of her parents and her grandmother who shares her gift but not as strong witness’s it as well. The romance in this was so good and man the suspense was just on point.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

"In 'Mind Games,' young Thea Fox witnesses a traumatic event through her psychic abilities: a man murdering her parents. With her help, the killer, Ray Riggs, is arrested. However, Ray's psychic connection with Thea persists, disrupting her life. Despite finding solace in Kentucky with her grandmother and brother, Thea's peace is shattered when her teenage crush, Ty Brennan, moves in nearby. As their romance blossoms, Ray exploits their relationship to torment Thea mentally. Struggling to protect herself and her budding love, Thea must find a way to sever her connection with Ray. Nora Roberts delivers another gripping tale of romance and suspense, with Thea's resilience shining through against the backdrop of rural Appalachia, reminding us of the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. 'Mind Games' captivates readers with its blend of psychic intrigue, heartfelt romance, and the indomitable power of love to overcome even the darkest of challenges." Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an opportunity to read this ARC.

When is a gift also a curse? Follow Thea Fox as she develops and hones the unusual inherited traits that run through many women of the green Kentucky hill country. This beloved family line is suddenly ripped apart by unthinkable tragedy. Two siblings grapple with memories cut short by a malicious man with the ability to harass them at will. Thea struggles to find a way to honor her heritage, her loved ones, and herself. She is locked in battle with a madman and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her future. Intricate and intense...I highly recommend this one!

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of Mind Games for my unbiased evaluation.  5 stars

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the advance copy!

Nora's writing range is honestly just amazing, and "Mind Games" is the perfect title for this book. This spans pretty widely across genres, and even gets into the paranormal, which is an element I really enjoy. This was definitely less romance than her previous books, and spent quite a bit of time in her childhood, which I sometimes struggle with. Overall, I think this book is unique and can work for a really wide range of readers!

Thea has inherited the gift from her mother, her grandmother, great-grandmother, and so on down the line. One night she wakens in the middle of the night from a dream that revealed to her that her parents had been brutally murdered. She uses her gift to contact the killer, only to find that she's forged a connection that she cannot control- and he can use that connection to get to her. Can she keep him out? Break the connection and go on to live the happily-ever-after she deserves?

I had somewhat low expectations for this book because I was disappointed with Inheritance and felt like (still feel like) Roberts used a ghost writer. But this book, oh no, it's Roberts all the way. Suspense, slow burning romance, lovely setting that is perfect apart from the evil lurking in the darkness, and in the end (no spoiler here) the perfect fairy tale ending.

Mind Games is a book no Nora Roberts fan should miss. Though the story didn't progress the way I expected and it leaned more heavily toward the supernatural than I usually like, I enjoyed the voice in which it was written and the super sweet romance underscored by sparks of brutal suspense.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I want to thank St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Mind Games by Nora Roberts. I had previously read and thoroughly enjoyed Identity. This new book did not disappoint!
“But when it came down to it, it would be her mind against his.”
I always thought psychics were fake but Thea sure proved me wrong! She has the ability to see what is happening when she is hundreds of miles away. Her gift can be wonderful or a curse.
Most of the book takes place in a rural town in Kentucky. The characters are wonderful loving people.
And of course this is written by Nora Roberts so you know something happens! And it does!
Can success at creating video games bring down the monster who is always lurking in her mind?
It’s a book that is hard to put down.
Mind Games is scheduled for publication 2/21/2024.

This author could tell a story about the phone book and I would probably read it. She has a magical gift of storytelling that is like no other.

This book was so subtle with the way the story slowly changes and becomes more charged the further you dive into the pages. I love the small-town, down-home atmosphere that captivates your senses. The relationship’s developed and the culture of the Appalachians is strong in this one.

Mind Games is a story about unique gifts and growing up “different” than the others. It gives us strong family connections, amazing friendships, and doing for others.

It also brings horrible crimes and evil to shatter the peacefulness. It is about doing the right thing, control, and righteous payback which brings us to a fabulous, sweet ending!

Roberts is the Queen of her own mind games that she weaves into her stories to grab our attention. This story is twisted in many ways, but the satisfaction you find at the end makes it all worthwhile!

Nora Roberts has done it again! Thea Fox is 12 and her brother Rem 10. Both are spending some vacation time with Grammie Lucy at her Appalachian farm when a man breaks into her parent’s home and brutally murders both. What he doesn’t know is that Thea, like her grandmother, is psychic. Telling a reader more would only lead to spoilers and this story is just too well done to spoil. Fans already know what to expect. New readers will understand in the first chapters. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC for an honest review.

Another 5 star book from a 5 star author. Nora Roberts writes up enchantingly complex stories that pull you in. You just can’t put down until you finish. It’s stand alone, but it could easily become a series of books about the other characters because it’s so well developed. Fingers crossed that it does become a series.

Thea, is the daughter of a rich father, estranged from his family, and a mother from an Appalachian family. Due to a tragedy, she and her brother grow up with their grandmother. This tragedy activates her psychic abilities, which continue through her adult life, and a link to a killer. It’s so much more than just a suspense, or romance. Nora Roberts develops these wonderful characters and relationships.


Thank you to NetGalley and publisher St. Martins Press for an ARC of Mind Games

Like every summer before, twelve year old Thea Fox is looking forward to spending two weeks at her grandmother's farm. But this year, while Thea and her brother are safe in Kentucky, her parents are murdered in their home in Virginia. Thea's special gift of "sight" allowed her to see her parents' murderer as he walks through her house in Virginia and she helps the police track him down, and ultimately sends him to prison for life. Thea settles into her new life in Kentucky, but her link to the murderer continues to haunt her as she gets older. While she wants to move on, the killer wants to get revenge for being caught. This battle continues to escalate as Thea tries to settle into a normal life.

This was an enjoyable read. The author does a wonderful job painting the beautiful setting. Makes me want to go visit Kentucky. The characters were lovable and kind (except for the bad guy). Overall, Nora Roberts delivers another good standalone book.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

Mind Games by Nora Roberts is a stand-alone novel I already knew I would love going in.
What I Loved
Setting-Oh my goodness ! Nora Raoberts picked the perfect backdrop for this story. The surroundings sucked me right in ; likely this was somewhat influenced for me as a reader by the fact I live near the Appalachian Mountains.
Characters and Dialogue- I loved how each of the characters was built up and found it particularly easy to get into everyone's mind in terms of their motivations. The Dialogue felt natural and flowed easily.
What didn't work for me
Uniqueness- Something within this work just felt a little too similar to a few of her more recent titles and it was to an uncomfy degree.
Who I would recommend this work for
-Anyone who already loves Nora Roberts
-Readers burnt out on series that just need a complete narrative in one volume
-Anyone who particularly enjoyed the title Divine Evil by the same author