Been years since I have picked up a non Eve Dallas Nora Robert’s book. I don’t know why I have been away for so long.

Mind Games reminded me of how much I enjoy her storytelling and writing.

Felt immediately connected to the characters and drawn into this story.

If it’s been awhile since you have picked up Nora Robert’s this is a great place to make a comeback.

O. M. G. Talk about a captivating read. I started this book one evening and I wanted to call out from work the next day just to read! I felt EVERYTHING! I felt the loss, the horror and I felt the love this family gave one another. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting … Thea has a tie to her parents killer and she feels him trying to get to her at times. Grammie has helped her learn how to keep him out. I was really intrigued by their abilities.
Thea is smart and kind and hasn’t stopped living life because of what happened. She and her brother, Rem, have a close relationship and they look out for one another. I liked the fact that this family stayed close despite the tragedy in their lives. I enjoyed the friends Thea made in life and the support she had. I don’t want to spoil this read so I’ll end this by saying GRAB THIS BOOK!!

I enjoyed reading Mind Games by Nora Roberts. . You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Nora Roberts unquestionably possesses an exceptional talent for storytelling, and she once again demonstrates her prowess in this captivating book. With a perfect blend of murder, suspense, romance, and a touch of the paranormal, it offers a truly immersive reading experience. The characters are masterfully crafted, and Thea's journey, marked by a heart-wrenching tragedy in her youth, showcases her resilience and the unique abilities she possesses. Make certain to add this remarkable novel to your "To Be Read" list without hesitation!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC to read and review.

BOOK REVIEW: Mind Games by Nora Roberts
2024 Publication Date: May 21

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Best Domestic Thriller Books
T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Best Thriller Books
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2024

Pages: 432
Genre: Thriller
Sub-Genre: Domestic Thriller | Steamy Thriller
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶 (Mild Spicy)
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: Kentucky | Appalachia (US)
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Mind Games is a fantastic edge of your seat thriller, a family drama, and a romance book all mixed together. The book had me from the very beginning and it's my favorite read of 2024 so far! Mind Games starts out with the Fox family getting ready to visit Grammie in Kentucky. The parents are going to stay one night and then leave the kids with Grammie Lucy for 2 weeks. The kids absolutely love their vacation on Grammy's farm in Kentucky. Rem is 10 years old and Thea is 12 years old. They love milking the cows, feeding the chickens, hiking in the woods, baking, helping Grammie make candles and soaps, and hanging out with all of the dogs. It's their favorite time of year.

While the Foxes are back home they are having their own kind of fun. Little did they know that a madman was watching and would make his move very soon. Thea and Grammie Lucy awaken at the same time one night. Thea has had a very detailed dream and she knows it was more than a dream immediately. She wakes up terrified that her parents have been murdered. She saw the killer enter their house, she saw everything he did, and watched him kill both her parents. As she ran to Grammie Lucy's room, she was already sitting up and looked a fright. She had a similar vision/dream but not as specific as Thea's. The women in the family have a gift of sight. Thea asks Grammie to call the police to have them check on her parents. Grammie knows it's too late, but she hopes she's wrong.

The people in Redbud Hollow, Kentucky know of Grammie and her gift of sight. The police don't question her and they make the call to the Virginia police where the Foxes live. Later there's a knock at the door and it's the worst possible news. The Foxes were murdered in their bed with a gunshot to the face. Thea is able to give a detailed account of everything the killer did and where he is currently. The killer also has the gift and he was able to tell that Thea was watching. Once he's arrested he's placed in a supermax prison and given 2 life sentences. He had killed another couple the same way as well as a young woman.

The kids are devastated by the loss of their parents, but happy to have Grammie take them in. Their parents had planned it out that way if something ever happened to them. Years pass and the kids go off to college, Grammie's soap and candle business grows, and the madman is rotting away in prison. Thea still has visions and can see into the killer's mind when she wants to. She knows how he feels, but she hates that he can get into her mind as well. Will she ever be rid of him? Will his threat that he's going to kill her come true? Is it possible he could escape?
Thea comes back to Redbud after graduating college and Grammie has a surprise for her and Rem. She's bought some land nearby that they can build homes on when they're ready.

Mind Games is a book that you don't want to end. I wanted to stay in Redbud as long as possible and enjoy the animals on the farm, the chores, the cooking, and the characters. You will never forget Thea, Rem, Grammie Lucy, Bunk the dog, and more. Don't hesitate to get this book! I rate Mind Games 5 stars and if there was a higher rating this book would get it. Nora Roberts has created one of the best books I've read in a long time. The book is now available and should go to the top of your TBR pile! I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of Mind Games in exchange for a fair review. #MindGames #NoraRoberts

Loved this book!! This book had it all.....paranormal, love, family, Kentucky, music and romance. The setting really stood out for me. Rem and Thea must live with their beloved grandmother on her small farm after the death of their parents. The grandmother is a remarkable character full of love, wisdom and small joys. I would have loved to be her neighbor.

Rem and Thea decide to stay in Appalacian Kentucky after college and they all have a strong family bond. Meanwhile the women of the family have the "gift" of sight. This gift is evident throughout the story and adds a thriller aspect to the book when Thea's mind connects with her parent's killers.

Meanwhile a childhood crush moves into town and shakes up Thea's life. Nora Roberts knows how to write romance and I enjoyed this part of the story. I think you will too. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

Twelve year old Thea has a special bond with her grandmother (Grammie) and looks forward every year to the two weeks she and her younger brother Rem spend with her each summer. She talks to her parents almost every day while immersing herself in life on Grammie's farm. One night Thea awakens from a terrifying nightmare, having watched every horrific moment of her parents murder back in Virginia. When she runs, terrified, to her Grammie's room and finds her with tears streaming down her face, she knows the nightmare is real.

Grammie (Lucy) and Thea share a kind of second sight, a gift that passed to the women in the family. Thea's sight was even stronger than Grammie's and with her help the killer was apprehended quickly and sentenced to a supermax prison. What Thea comes to realize is that the killer, Ray Riggs, possesses the same gift and he knows that Thea is the reason he now sits in a cell. Year after year, Ray uses that gift to infiltrate Thea's dreams, to torment her through the mental connection they share. As Thea grows into adulthood, embarks on a career, and finds love, Ray is always there tainting both her dreaming and waking moments with promises of vengeance. When Ray's abilities seem to grow stronger and ever darker, Thea knows she must fight to break their connection for good - no matter the cost.

The first chapter or two of Mind Games were gut wrenching and went a long way in displaying the twisted hatred and violence in Ray Riggs and the innate goodness in Thea. Their connection was a frightening one but was not always front and center. The first third of the book was devoted to Thea's childhood and it wasn't until almost the halfway point that the love interest was introduced. While there are certainly psychological suspense elements at play, readers should not expect a fast-paced thriller. The story unfolds at a slower pace, with many day to day details of Thea's life on the farm with Lucy and Rem.

Mind Games is a blend of women's fiction, psychological suspense, and romance. The main characters are richly drawn and have such distinctive personalities, and Roberts' descriptions of Thea's life in Kentucky shared the beauty of the Appalachians in vivid detail. I could see Grammie's kitchen, and the animals, Thea's cottage, and their peaceful surroundings. I highly recommend Mind Games to readers who enjoy a suspenseful tale without the breakneck pace.

Norah roberts at her best. Keeps you on the edge of your seat as it winds its way through family, terror,love in a beautiful setting. You must read this one!

Nora Robert’s is a great storyteller! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Mind Games is a sad but beautiful, entertaining read. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I will recommend this one to everyone.

This was a really interesting approach to a thriller. It made it so creepy that the killer shared his thoughts with Thea, and it was such a rush to read.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy and am voluntarily reviewing it. I love me some Nora Roberts. Especially her books with a little supernatural element. She knows how to weave the supernatural elements so seamlessly that they just enhance and not take over the story line. This book spans over some years. Althea and Remington Fox are headed to their grandmother's house for their two-week summer vacation. The whole family looks forward to this time. Lucy Lannigan is beloved in the town of Redbud Hollow, Kentucky. She loves her time with her grandkids and her daughter and her husband.

The women in her family are special. They will soon find out the Thea has the gift much more powerful than they have seen. What's special about this town is they know and understand Lucy's gift and when Thea exhibits it, they embrace her and respect what she tells them. The gift becomes important when it plays a significant role in finding the man that murdered Thea and Rem's parents. The kids will now grow up with their grandmother.

Life moves on and now the kids are grown finding their way. Thea's gift is still strong. She has had some bumps along the way and has learned to develop it and keep it to herself. She just wants to be normal. When she finds out her new neighbor is her childhood crush, Thea starts wondering if she has finally found a person she can open up to.

Tyler Brennan and his son, Braydon, are looking for somewhere to call home. No one expected the lead singer of Code Red, to plop down and Kentucky. Tyler decides to give it a summer and go from there. He never expected Thea. Both Thea and Tyler had been hurt revealing too much to the wrong person. How do you have a relationship that is based on untold secrets? Neither can never really know the person. As their families get closer, it becomes harder and harder to keep the secrets from coming out? What will happen when it does? Not only that, Thea is fighting some serious demons. Is Thea finally ready to let someone help her slay her dragons?

4.5 stars

Nora Roberts has never disappointed me - and Mind Games is a great example of her romantic suspense novels.

To set the scene - Thea and her younger brother, Rem, love to stay at their grandmother’s house in eastern Kentucky every summer. When Thea is 12, their parents leave them with Grammie and head back to their home in Virginia, where tragedy strikes. Thea’s parents have attracted the attention of someone really, really evil, who is jealous of their success and their “fancy” house and belongings.

Thea has inherited a “gift” from her grandmother’s line - she can “see” things, so she witnesses something terrible happen to her parents while she sleeps. Because of what she saw and felt, police are able to identify the culprit. But this guy also has a similar gift and Thea has attracted his attention. While he is in prison, Thea and Rem live a mostly good life with their grandmother. But as Thea grows, his presence in her mind also grows. It truly becomes a battle of their minds.

The relationship of the two kids with their grandmother was really beautiful. Roberts paints a pretty idyllic picture of life in the Kentucky mountains, with close-knit family and friends, and a home-based business that does very well. Eventually, we get a romance - and it’s a good one. I don’t want to spoil any surprises, so I won’t say much more than Thea and Ty turn out to be perfect for each other. To top it off, there’s an adorable little boy and an adorable huge dog!

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by one of my favorite narrators, January LaVoy. She does an amazing job with all the characters, both male and female and a bunch of different accents.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

***ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY FOR REVIEW***

I had this ARC sitting in my Kindle for a couple of months, but every time I thought about picking this one up, I felt nervous. It was different than her usual stand alone novels. She doesn't usually delve into anything supernatural in them- she saves that for the trilogies.

So, I walked into the library on book release day, and there was a stack, just waiting for me. I decided, what the hell.

As it seems to be with all of her novels (I am a huge fan, after all), I absolutely enjoyed the story of Thea and her family, even if, at times, it was really hard to read (emotionally). I had a hard week this particular week, lots of emotions, and this book definitely kept me in them, rather than let me escape. But, having somewhere to put them and to live, with Thea, her family (can I get a book about young Lucy??)... I appreciated it.

Two small things that bothered me a bit while reading this: the time jumps. I very much felt like it was like, oh weeks later and weeks later. I know why, but I feel like a straight cliff to her adult hood, with a little flash backing would have been better.
Second small thing: Your Uncle's son is not your nephew, it's your cousin. That really threw me for a loop and almost made me set the book down. Between Nora, her editors, etc... no one caught this?! C'mon guys!

As usual, recommend. Especially if you like a little something extra (like psychic abilities) to go with your fiction/romance.

Mind Games by Nora Roberts was a suspenseful novel filled with tragedy, and evil that is unimaginable and the amazing love of a family. Set in the hills of Kentucky, we soon realize just because someone may have grown up in the backwoods doesn't mean they are always stuck there and dumb or dirt poor. In this book we meet Thea and her younger brother Rem, their lives are shattered one summer when their parents are murdered. What follows is a intriguing story line that kept me turning the pages until the very end. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This book touches on several genres - psychological thriller, coming of age, romance, and paranormal. And it does it well. Thea is 12 when she and her younger brother, Rem, are spending their annual two-week visit with their grandmother on her Kentucky farm when back at home, their parents are brutally murdered in their bed. Thea sees it happening in a dream because of her psychic ability to "see" what others are thinking/feeling. Problem is, the psychopath who killed her parents has a similar ability, and he knows that she saw him. She's able to help put him in prison for several murders, but because of their mutual psychic abilities, they're inextricably connected - and he's determined to destroy her life. Meanwhile, she grows up living with her grandmother (who shares her gift), goes away to college, returns to the farm when she's done, establishes a successful career as a video game designer, falls in love. Roberts paints a vivid picture of farm life in Appalachia, and made me hungry with talk of food and recipes (and had me searching for a few). I've always been more of a fan of Robert's writing as J.D. Robb than the early books I'd read from her, but the writing here is a bit tighter than those early books I'd read, and I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing copies for an unbiased review.

Billed as a mystery/triller, Mind Games starts out that way in part one, then digresses into romance/chick-lit. There is a whole lot of paranormal throughout the story which is about the only thing that saves this book and makes it interesting. I liked the rural Kentucky setting, the psychic phenomena, and the incorporation of video game design (check for Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt 22). However; "Grammie" feels like a much older character than the 47 year-old middle-aged lady in the book's beginning... I am 46 and in no way would feel like a grammie, lol. It just didn't feel authentic for me. The interesting beginning and ending unfortunately sandwiched a lot of pretty boring dialogue and repetitive recounting of what we already knew happened to other characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read Mind Games by Nora Roberts. I have been reading her work for decades (oops, showing my age a bit).

The cover of Mind Games looks so adventurous and peaceful, but the story is anything but…and I was pleasantly surprised. I love when an author mixes mystery and suspense with the paranormal and Nora Roberts wove them together seamlessly.

I never used to be so interested in the romance of a story, but that has changed since I have gotten older. I love romantic suspense and paranormal romance. Nora hid the nail on the head…we have all the romance we could want in Mind Games.

The villain is a great villain, sufficiently evil and, even though he is locked up in supermax, he manages to haunt Thea. Thea made the mistake of creating an opening, but she was only twelve years old, so we can understand how her need to make the villain pay would override her need to keep a distance from him. He is more dangerous than she knew.

There’s plenty of fun dialogue, along with the grown up talk. At times, I found myself laughing out loud. Kids are little sponges and pick up those grown up words we wish they would never hear…know what I mean?

I know the book is a stand alone, not a series, but I grew to care so much about the characters, I would love to visit them again. Nora Roberts brought them to life and I don’t want to see their story end.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

Mind Games is the latest romantic suspense from Nora Roberts. It's a stand alone novel featuring Thea Fox and her family. Thea has the ability to see into the future and to know things about people. And that ability takes a horrifying term when she wakes up from a vision that devastates her family.

I found this such a unique premise for a psychological thriller. It quite literally features mind games between Thea and the antagonist. The book kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I knew the formula for how Nora Roberts writes these kind of suspenseful novels, she surprised me completely.

But there were also all the amazing aspects that I know I can expect from a Nora Roberts book. There's a great balance of tension and hopeful joy. And of course, there's a secondary storyline with a lovely romance. But most of all, I greatly appreciate Thea's amazing and supportive family. Nora Roberts is the queen who will forever remain on my auto-read list.

4.5 stars rounded up

Nora Roberts sure knows how to write a great emotional book!!!!!!!!!!!! I read this book cover to cover in two days and enjoyed every minute of it. This is another bestseller for Roberts.