After reading the overview of this novel, I was a little apprehensive about it. Fortunately for me, my love of Nora Roberts and her books was stronger than my fears. MIND GAMES does begin with a heartbreaking painful loss for this family. Lucy (Grammie), the matriarch of this family, keeps them strong through the rough times that follow. The supernatural abilities that Grammie shares with her grand daughter, Thea, become a main story line. All of the characters in this novel are well written and Nora weaves a story around their lives. I was especially charmed by 4 year old Braydon, and his love for Thea's dog, Bunk. A special thank you to St. Martin's Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.

I normally like Roberts’s thriller romances, but this one really falls flat on the romance for me - it was halfway through the book before we met the male lead, and their buildup felt rushed. This wouldn’t, necessarily, be a bad thing except that this is also one of the weaker thrillers, in my opinion. The antagonist felt very toothless - I never felt like he was a genuine threat to any of our cast of characters. This led to a book completely lacking urgency, and I found it hard to maintain interest.

I'm in a state of major anticipation four times each year.

Around February and September for the latest 'In Death' titles, May for the latest romantic suspense title and November/December for a title in the latest trilogy in progress....all of course served up by the amazing Nora Roberts aka JD Robb.

I've been on this particular train for nearly 40 years and remember the pure romance published by Silhouette and the like back in the day.

Romance writing, and reading, isn't comparable to that time anymore as life, society and people's experiences have progressed and developed in ways maybe only authors like NR could have imagined.

However, what that now gives us is the opportunity to develop our reader experience with authors we trust to take us to new places, knowing we'll be safe in their hands.

With Mind Games that is exactly what NR has so expertly crafted for our reading pleasure.

A little darker than pure romance, we have a tragic story of murder, intrigue and a family dealing with their new normal by grieving together.

The character development in this novel is just phenomenal taking the Fox children and their mother's family through a traumatic time. Despite this it's a time that they don't just survive but somehow thrive! Good always conquers evil (except at the start)...and sadly only guaranteed in fiction!

This novel takes the reader through many tough times experienced by Thea but we see a brave girl become a determined young lady and into a woman with the strength and fortitude of her Grammie!

Rem, Maddie, Ty and Bray all play their rightful part as do all the supporting characters, and yes there is a romantic storyline but, in my opinion, it is there as a pretty background to this amazing story and not solely for the HEA of our main characters.

A must read!

Nora Roberts may have written an unbelievable amount of books, but she has not yet lost her touch. This one has more supernatural elements than you usually find in her standalone romantic suspense, but it worked better than I expected. The murder happens very early in the book, yet Roberts is able to connect us emotionally to the characters very quickly so that we feel the pain despite the lack of page time.

It's not a perfect book. I did feel like less time could have been spent in Thea's childhood, after a point I was anxious to get to her being an adult. The romance happens late in the book, but it's a sweet slow burn. You won't find a lot of flaws in Roberts's main characters, but if you've read a few of these you should be used to that by now. I also found the final confrontation between Thea and the killer a little anti-climactic. But overall, I really enjoyed the book. Roberts has given us another sweet family to love, and a beautiful (but not all sunny) depiction of life in rural Kentucky.

I hadn’t read Nora Robert’s for a while, and this book had me wondering why. Such a great story of survival and perseverance. Yes, it had some supernatural elements, but the driving forces were the characters. Great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press as well as Ms. Nora Roberts for this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbridled opinion.
#NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #MindGames #NoraRoberts

Title: Mind Games
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: May 21, 2024

Themes: Family, trauma, homicide, small town, psychic, grief, healing
Trigger Warnings: homicide, orphaned children, mental illness, psychic, celebrity lifestyle

Every book that Nora Roberts writes I will read. Always. This is just a fact. She writes compelling characters and wonderful stories filled with heart and drama..and animals. This is the story of a girl named Thea Fox who was born with a powerful psychic gift, as was her beloved grandmother, Lucy. Thea and her brother look forward to spending two weeks on her Grammy’s Virginia farm every summer. One summer, the two weeks become multiple years when Thea and Lucy wake up from the same nightmare. One in which her parents are murdered by a psychotic teenager. They both know, when they wake, that this was more than a dream, but a vision. The family reels from this tragedy but manage to build a beautiful new life together. Thea knows she hasn’t seen the last of this villain. What follows is a story of familial love and survival against all odds.

Nora Roberts has a gift for characters. Her books always contain a good and strong female protagonist and her equally strong male (eventual) love interest. Thea was a likable and well-established lady as was her rock star love interest. This book did follow the Nora Roberts formula that I’ve mentioned in previous reviews of her books. The story starts with a traumatic event, the female protagonist rises above all odds and makes a good life for herself until she meets a man that she doesn’t want at first, but eventually he ends up with her. Whatever event happens at the beginning raises its ugly head again and the two overcome it together. They proceed to live happily ever after. There’s also always a dog. The dog is always my favorite part. The book is always full of heartfelt and meaningful speeches. Sometimes, there’s an element of witch-like magic, as in this book. Family is often a theme. At no point will I ever say that this is a bad thing. Ms. Roberts’ books are the literary equivalent of tomato soup and grilled cheese for dinner. It’s reliable and comforting and I always love it. This book followed the usual formula although I did feel it was darker than is typical. I loved the setting. I felt like I was there with Thea in her lovely Virginia home with her sweet dog. I loved every second of it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. If you like Nira Roberts read this book it is so much more than expected.

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!