Whenever I need a break from twisty books, I tend to gravitate towards a standalone by Nora Roberts. They are always satisfying with true love winning over all, a happy ending, and characters with such interesting careers. Usually they are based completely with real life things, though this one has a bit of a supernatural twist in the form of Thea's gift, and the killer, Riggs other natural wicked poison mind. You have their interactions as the main bad thing in this book, being that Riggs sadistically killed Thea and Rem's parents but was tracked down by Thea and given a life sentence in prison. But he can't forget that Thea put him in their and wants to end her existence one way or another.

The other part of the book is Thea and Rem living with Lucy, their Grammie, in the Appalachians after their parents death. It is a charming life with dogs, cows, chickens, and the making of soaps and lotions and candles. And if that isn't interesting enough, Thea becomes a game maker/programmer with games I would love to play. And the love interest is a rock musician with an adorable little boy. There are such sweet moments in between the struggle with Riggs that I always find myself smiling or even chuckling at certain scenes.

So if you want a feel good story with a bit of supernatural and a happy ending with true love. then this book is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book to read and review.

Good story overall. I think it was a little different for me compared to other works of hers that I've read. But I still enjoyed this story overall and will recommend it to all those that I know that enjoy Nora Roberts.

I really enjoyed this book. I likes the characters and the storyline. I liked watching Thea and her brother grow up. I loved that Thea chose a male dominated career and that she was successful with it. Grammie is basically who I want to be when I grow up. She's a really cool character. I love that Ty is a single dad with an adorable little boy. I love seeing men portrayed in this way instead of always being the deadbeat dad that took off.
That being said, one thing I didn't care for as much was the ending. I felt it was too abrupt and it really needed an epilog. I finished the book and thought "but what happened after that??" Did they get married? Did they have a daughter? Did she have the gift too? What happened to her brother and the girl he was seeing? Heck, what did Grammie have to say when they got home? I want more! I'm not ready to say goodbye yet. Stand-alones can be tough. I needed an epilog. Just saying. But overall it was a great read and I would recommend it. Well done!

I did not anticipate the direction this book would take, thinking at first it was going to be a light fun read. But to my surprise (and a good one) it delved from albeit pretty sad at first into a creepy suspenseful story. How unique to explore the power of the mind, how thoughts can transcend and transform. After a tragic event in Thea's life, it forever defines her forever and haunts her. However, with the help of her grandmother, she learns to overcome and take control of her life (and her mind) and show just how strong she is. Given a gift, she shows how special she is and that she will triumph in the end. Creative in this plot line, I found it mesmerizing. Roberts continues to surprise me with her range of storytelling and has become one of my favorite authors. Many thanks to #netgalley #mindgames #noraroberts for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Ohhh what to say about this one. Let me start off by saying I am a huge Nora Roberts fan; she is the reason I started reading and I will honestly probably read everything she releases, my feelings on her recent novels aside.

What I did like:
All of Nora's novels have great storylines and they're so easy for me to read. All of her main characters are always likeable and you always find yourself rooting for them. Thea and Ty were no different.

This was also a somewhat different direction from Nora's usual novel, and I did like that part. She does suspense and emotions very well, and the beginning of this book was a punch to the gut. She doesn't usually give us an up close view of what tragedies shaped the main characters, so being a part of Thea's parents murders was highly emotional and effective.

What I didn't like:
I don't think Nora's more recent novels can be primarily described as romance anymore. They're not the focal point at all, which is not a bad thing, but her novels have always been romance driven with another overarcing storyline. In this book, you don't even know who the MMC is until 46%. 46%! He was literally never on the page until then, so how are they supposed to organically grow in a romantic relationship with only half the book? And Ty doesn't even find out about the MAIN issue of the book until like 90%. No way to build a foundation imo.

Somewhat related, all of Nora's new novels now have the first THIRD of the book covering the FMC's childhood. For me, this is WAY too much. Background information and going through events in the MC's past is understandable, but it really takes away from the current timeline's growth and feeling connected to the characters during that time.

On top of all this, Nora's latest FMC's seem like the exact same person. They all have a very distinct way of speaking, and it's very unrealistic and maybe a little longwinded. It tends to take me out of the story because I'm constantly reacting to the dialogue and wondering who talks like this.

Overall, this book was entertaining, but I've been having all these same issues with her current novels. And I'm pretty sure she has to have a ghostwriter at this point. Would explain way her structure seemed to change and why I'm not jiving as much with her new releases.

In Nora Roberts' "Mind Games," readers are captivated by the journey of Thea, a young woman with the extraordinary ability to see events.. From her childhood to her young adulthood, Thea grapples with the challenges of possessing this unique gift. The story takes a thrilling turn when she witnesses the murder of her parents and fearlessly identifies the culprit to the police. Skeptical at first, the authorities eventually recognize the truth in Thea's words. The gripping narrative explores the complex connection between Thea and her adversary, who shares her ability and invades her thoughts throughout her life. This eerie element adds a layer of suspense and mystery to the plot. Roberts' writing transports readers into Thea's world, where they experience the heartwarming moments of family love and the chilling encounters with danger. The portrayal of the family's deep affection for one another serves as a beacon of hope amidst the turmoil Thea faces. The book's ability to seamlessly blend romance and thriller elements keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Thea's quest for justice and her fight against an unseen enemy create a compelling narrative that leaves readers yearning for more. The ending of the novel offers a sense of closure while leaving room for further exploration. Thea's ongoing involvement with the police hints at the possibility of future adventures, leaving readers eager for the next installment in the series. Overall, "Mind Games" by Nora Roberts is a captivating read that blends romance, suspense, and family dynamics. With its well-developed characters and intriguing plot, the book promises an enthralling experience for readers from start to finish.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Nora Roberts is a "one click" author for me. I will always buy her new books! As usual this one was fantastic! I really enjoy her writing style. She was one of the first authors I picked up as a young adult.

4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC of Mind Games!

Another solid read from Nora Roberts.

Twelve year old Thea is enjoying a summer break at her Grammie's in KY with her little brother Rem, when she is woken from a nightmare. She's just watched her parents be murdered by Ray Riggs. Thea was unaware of her gift before this night but her vision allows police to find Ray and put him behind bars.

We follow Thea as she grows up but will she ever be free of her connection to Riggs?

Well I wavered on this one. Honestly this is a 2.5 star read. I just rounded up to 3 stars for Goodreads.

"Mind Games" follows young Thea Fox who along with her brother, are dropped off for the annual vacation at their grandmother's home in Appalachia. Thea though while staying "sees" a man who ends up breaking into her parents home and murders them. Due to Thea, the man is arrested and jailed. But Thea realizes this man has the same "gift" that she does and through the decades she does what she can to stop him.

Look. I don't know guys. This was just not good. I think because though I love how Roberts takes her time setting up her stories. This one went on forever. I got tired of reading about Thea and what she saw. Thea, her brother, and even the grandmother are not that interesting to spend time with. I think a lot of things kept getting glossed over that I had to tell myself to be quiet about (such as if only women have the gift in Thea's family, why did [redacted] have it as well? Did anyone else in his family? It just seemed like a random thing to toss in so he could keep popping up like a bad penny).

The other characters don't really work for me outside of the love interest's child. And of course Thea's dog. I just felt very bored because reading about someone having mental fights with someone is not an interesting book.

And since it took til almost the 50 percent mark for the love interest to show up, this whole book barely got the "romantic suspense" designation in my opinion.

The ending was just kind of a mess. Sorry. I get there was supposedly a whole games aspect to it, but it just didn't work and I kind of went...okay then.

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

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

Nora Roberts is always a feature on my most anticipated reads of the year list. Mind Games is her newest romantic suspense and this time, she goes for a sprinkle of paranormal. The story follows Thea, a young girl with a strange gift. One night, she dreams of her parents being murdered and knows that it is not just a dream. When she wakes up, she helps put the murderer behind bars, but their story is far from over.

This wasn’t my favorite Nora, but it was still a solid read! The romance doesn’t begin until much later in the story, so I recommend going in expecting more of a family saga vs. a traditional romantic suspense. I loved the paranormal aspect and the villain was top notch. Another hit from Nora Roberts.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mind Completely Blown!

Nora Roberts just left me SPEECHLESS!

Thank you NetGallary for an early review copy of Mind Games!

Mind Games is absolutely outstanding! I was on pins and needles throughout the entire book!

This book has it all! Love, suspense, family, mystery, angst, heat and a touch of paranormal!

I love the way Nora Robert’s tells a story. Character development is superb! Giving us a brilliant story! BRILLIANT!!!

This book is in my top 5 reads for 2024! A masterpiece that kept me engaged the entire time!

No spoilers with my review! This is a must read for 2024!

If I could give more than 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I would!

A great new suspense novel by Roberts. Main characters are likeable and you root for them to succeed in this suspenseful thriller. Highly recommend this book. Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley. #NetGalley #MindGames

Nora Roberts delivers another great story with Mind Games. There is suspense, romance, a little paranormal, and some truly interesting, lovable characters. I especially enjoyed the strong sense of family and community which helped overcome the darkness of the killer.
Recommended.

Imagine you can see in someone's mind and what they are doing? Imagine you can see in the mind of the man who kills your parents and you witness the whole thing from miles away? Thea has an incredible gift passed down from her grandma Lucy and that is exactly what happens to her.

Ray Riggs was the man who murdered her parents and he also has the same gift...which he starts to use from jail to get into Thea's head. It is a wild story with many twists, country life living and a love story thrown in. I highly recommend.

Thea and Rem’s parents are viciously murdered, and Thea can see it as it happening even though she is hours away visiting her grandmother. Using her “gift”, Thea is able to share details that puts the killer away. Turns out the killer also has the “gift” which he uses to enter Thea’s dreams and torment her.

I enjoyed this story and its unique storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Publishing Group, and Nora Roberts For the opportunity to read and review Mind Games.

Nora Roberts never fails to deliver an outstanding and suspenseful mystery and MIND GAMES is no exception. I was immediately charmed by the Fox family who were on their way to the family homestead, an idyllic farm in the Apalachians. Twelve-year-old Thea and her younger brother Rem are excited about their annual summer visit and the chance to spend a few weeks with their grandmother. After a quick visit, their parents return home little suspecting that their world isabout to take an abrupt and sinister change. When Thea and her Gran awaken one night from a horrible dream, they know it is the result of their hereditary gift of "the sight." And they know their lives will never be the same: they have witnessed the hideous murder of Thea's mother and father miles away in Virginia. Because of "the sight," Thea is able to provide a detailed description of the crime and of the vicious killer who is brought to justice. As she grows older, her gift becomes stronger and she develops a psychic link with the murderer that will shadow her into the future. After college, now a successful game designer, she continues to live on the farm and use her skill to help law enforcement save the lives of other victims. Then, through a quirk of fate, she meets the man of her dreams -- and realizes the time has come to start a new chapter in her life. But to achieve her freedom from the link with her parents' killer, she knows she will have to face yet a new level of danger.

Another great Nora Roberts' book!
I loved the story! The heroine's unique gift made for a fascinating story.
I really enjoyed the supporting cast of characters that surrounded her and the ending was unexpected.
As usual, the book delivered on the suspense and romance that we expect from a Nora Roberts standalone.

Couldn't put this book down.
It had a little bit of everything , Love/Murder/Mystery and Fantasy all in one book.
Nora Roberts did it again. Another winner.

Another Nora Roberts home run! I’ll admit at first, the sadness of it threw me off a bit because it isn’t the “typical” Nora Roberts book. But MAN once you get going, you will be hard pressed to stop! Every single character is phenomenally written, and you can just crawl right into this world that’s been created. Grammie and Bray are my absolute favorites, with Thea, Rem, Ty and Bunk very close behind. I loved how strong Thea was, especially while dealing with Riggs, and also thought her relationships with Musk and Howard were the perfect touch. The pace flowed just right and the ending was perfect, not too much but didn’t leave you wondering. I would love a follow up book to see what happens with Rem, Maddy’s wedding and what the future holds for Thea and her family!

This book lives up to the title as Nora Roberts takes her readers on a definite mind game. With each chapter Thea needs to close figurative windows and doors to stop her parent killer from getting into her head. Back and forth, push and pull until the very end. This psychological thriller was one I will not easily forget. A great read.