I definitely liked this book though it took me a while to get through. The reason is definitely the length, I'm so very used to 8 to 10 hour audiobooks. I will say that I loved January LaVoy's narration was wonderful. Right off the bat, I recommend this book but I recommend the audiobook. January uses different voices to differentiate between characters and what is really great about this book is her narration of characters as they are a child then as they are an adult. I believe she did a stellar job at this and made the listening experience seamless. The audiobook is a little less than 15 hours long, and all of it is needed in my opinion to tell the full story. If you like Nora Roberts audiobooks, I think you will like this book, and it will feel like a familiar friend. Just set some time aside, and enjoy!

Thea and her brother are dropped off with their grandma like they are every year when the unthinkable happens. As children they lose their parents to a killer, and Thea as well as her grandma can see what happened. Thea is even able to help authorities put away a killer. As Thea grows, and learns, and loves, she finds she's also intrinsically linked to her parents murderer through their psychic gift. Will Thea ever be free of the person who took her world away as a child?

I loved the book! I feel like it was well paced. It did trudge along in places, but not in too many, and not for long. There was one spot where we were listening and my son and I both was like, "What? Wait, what just happened?" and it took a minute for all of it to make sense, but that was funny more than anything. The characters are memorable, I love Thea and her grandma. Will this become a series maybe? One can only hope.

I usually gravitate toward the In Death series by Nora Roberts pen name for that series, JD Robb. But! I'm ever so grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for the audiobook arc of this novel. It was a great time, and I may just pick up the audiobook for my library! I will definitely be recommending this book too, it would be a great Book Club pick.

Mind Games was in true fashion of Nora Roberts as an author. It was filled with suspense, tragedy, romance, and twists. Nora Roberts has a captivating way of pulling you into her stories that will not let you go until the very end.

Mind Games was of particular interest to me because it was set in Appalachia, where I also grew up. I connected with the family values between the Foxes, Rhem, and Grammie and the closeness of community when living in a hollow. The harrowing experience this family encountered was a little far-fetched, but so are many Appalachia stories. This particular story may be more plausible to those who believe that some individuals have a gift/curse of reading people’s minds or seeing into their souls. Regardless, it was a great read with wonderful narration!

January LaVoy is one of my favorite narrators and Mind Games is another winner. I really liked the story, but I thought LaVoy hit it out of the park with all of the different voice variations, accents, and emoting. One of the best audiobooks I have listened to this year.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

Thea Fox who is the oldest daughter of in a loving family that includes her parents and younger brother. Every summer they travel to the hills of Kentucky to spend time with her maternal grandmother. This time her parents are dropping off her and her brother so they can have some alone time back in their home in Virginia.

But this summer is different because Thea's parents are the victims of an act of shocking violence that is the result of chance and a petulant killer's jealousy. And Thea "sees" the whole thing. She and her grandmother share “the gift of sight” and are aware of what happened even before the police knock on their door.

Now Thea and her brother will live with their grandmother and forge a new life in the Appalachian mountains with Grammy Lucy. Regardless of the killer being convicted of her parents murder and he will spend the rest of his life behind bars thanks to Thea and what she “witnessed”…..unfortunately, he isn't quite done with Thea and finds a way to torment her. This is an exciting must read.

* Excellent narration by January LaVoy.

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.

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 listened to the audio version, and as expected, January LaVoy's narration was brilliant, giving each character a distinct voice, no matter their gender or age or ethnicity. 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, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing copies for an unbiased review.

Wow. What a rollercoaster of a book. It's been a few years since I've read a new book by Nora Roberts and now I feel like I need to read her backlog. Please note, the romance in this doesn't appear until halfway through the book. The main relationship (non-romantical) is between Thea and her parent's killer. The book takes you on a wild ride with a few moments of calm in the middle. A perfect beach read for the summer.

This was so good and so different from most of the books I read. Well done and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the ending.

Mind Games by Nora Roberts is an intense and intriguing story. Thea is only 12 when her parents are murdered brutally in their beds. With an interesting gift, she is able to see the killer and put him in prison. However, he also has the same gift. And he can get into her head. The two will fight for control for years while she moves on and he rots in prison. Who will win? Quite good! I really enjoyed it. And the narrator was fabulous!

I've read a number of Nora Roberts' romance and fantasy romance series, but this is only the second thriller of hers I've read. I'd say this one reads much more like a fantasy romance with a few thriller elements than a true thriller, but I enjoyed it anyway. I liked the setup of the thriller elements and the way they were tied to her powers. I loved our FMC, that she was a video game designer, and how her video game work tied into the resolution of the thriller element. Like all of Roberts' books, I found the characters sounded more or less like all the rest of Roberts' characters but it didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the story.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mind Games by @norarobertsauthor was a fabulous book!! I had the pleasure of listening to this book as an ARC audiobook from @netgalley and @macmillan.audio

Mind Games is about a young girl and boy who heads to their grandmas house for a two week visit. While they are there their parents are brutally murder. The young girl, Thea and grandma have the gift of sight and witnessed the murder in their dreams. Thea’s detailed vision is what puts the murderer in super max prison. The book follows Thea’s life as she grows up trying to control her visions while also trying to live a normal life. The murderer also has the same abilities as Thea and she has to figure out how to permanently get him out of her head.

Mind Games is definitely an emotional read. It is worth a read and I highly recommend it!

5⭐+++
Mind Games by Nora Roberts
Publisher- Macmillan Audio
Genre ~ Women's Fiction
Publication date ~ May 21, 2024
Audio length ~ 14 hours 30 minutes
Narrator ~ January LaVoy

This might possibly be my FAVORITE Nora Roberts book ever! If I could add on stars, I would.... it's that good.

There was so much to love about this book, in fact, it felt like more than one book as there are so many inner stories involved.

Murder & suspense
Psychic abilities
Family bonds
Country life
Crime investigations
Prison life
Young crush
Mature love
and so much more!

Right out of the gate, I was sucked into the story and couldn't put it down. I found myself with tears in my eyes at times, cheering for characters at other times and missing my grandmother all along. It takes place over a couple decades and easily slides into character aging.
The author is also able to tie in gaming (which I knew nothing about and now find the development of games fascinating!) and rock bands in a beautiful way that help character development bloom.

And the narration? January LaVoy has done an incredible job with this story. Her range is simply mind-blowing in tackling genders and all ages. She can read the lines of a 5-year-old boy as well as an aging grandmother perfectly. In fact, I thought there was more than one narrator!

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this AAC. I wholeheartedly recommend Mind Games as a perfect audio pick. All opinions expressed are authentically my own.

I would like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC audiobook.

I am a fan of Nora Roberts writing. She is one of the cleanest writers out there when it comes to sentence structure. She has mastered the art of being descriptive without using a lot of superfluous language. But I'm sure you're here to learn about the book!

This book is definitely magical realism, which I enjoy immensely. There is murder, thrills, a good bit of romance, a strong family relationship, and psychic battles! Yet realistic enough that people who dislike mysticism in their books can still enjoy it.

4.5 stars. I am always pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy a Nora Roberts novel. The mystery and intrigue balanced with romance. Mind games was no different, although it did bring in an unusual element of psychics.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the bit of Supernatural that Roberts incorporated into this book.

Every year Thea and Rem spent two weeks in the summer with Grammie. After their parents dropped them off and returned home, the unimaginable happened, they were targeted and killed, leaving the kids with no parents, but Grammie stepped up and took care of them.

The fact that Thea saw it in a dream and was able to give the police an exact description of what happened mad them believe that somehow Thea was involved.

Thea and the killer had a mental telepathy that stretched through the years.

As both Thea and Rem grow into adults their lives evolve. Thea tries to hide her gift from people, but when a "crush" from her younger years shows up to move in next door, things become romantic as well as terrifying.

This was a totally satisfying and enjoyable read.

5 stars

Mind Games-a standalone
By Nora Roberts-I've read The Circle Trilogy and Inheritance both 5 ⭐ reads.
Publication date: 5-21-24
Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Romantic Suspense/Paranormal
Tropes: small town, serial killer, single dad, former rock star H, close knit family
Rating: 4/5 ⭐

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC💙 ! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are mine alone.

The narrator is January LaVoy with all characters read by 1 person. I believe the voice fit the characters and the reading style brought the story to life The pacing was great and flowed easily with the story. The narration and the author were in sync, and gelled perfectly.
The narrator paused and announced every new chapter .The book had a table of contents which helped me follow along with the e-book and audio.

Thea Fox and brother Rem go to Kentucky every summer to visit Grammie Lucy. Both Thea and Grammie have the "gift of sight" being able to see into peoples minds and souls. Tragedy strikes and the siblings are left orphans after Thea and Grammie "sees" her parents' murderer.. As time goes on, Thea grows up knowing this monster has the same gift of sight as she does. When Thea falls in love with the next door neighbor and has plenty to lose, the killer wants his vengeance.

Roberts always delivers with edge of your seat suspense, a paranormal sprinkle, and a little romance. I enjoyed Grammie the best and thought too much time was spent on Thea's childhood. I wanted more from her current life with the hero. My recommendation is to read the audiobook because you can adjust the speed, skip parts easily (if desired), and picture the characters more vividly.

Mind Games by Nora Roberts
Romantic suspense, thriller. Slightly paranormal with mental telepathy.
Cora and John Fox drop their children off with their Grandmother in the Appalachia countryside where they can play, do chores and basically have a vacation. The children love their time with Grammie Lucy. Thea and Lucy wake up one night after witnessing via nightmare, the brutal killings of Cora and John. Lucy is only twelve but she’s able to give the police enough details about the killer that he’s soon found and put in jail. But putting him behind a locked door won’t keep him out of Thea’s thoughts. He knows that somehow she saw what he did and he won’t rest, or leave her alone, until she’s as dead as the others.

🎧 I alternated reading this between an ebook and audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by January LaVoy who has narrated many books by this author. After listening to the audiobook, I’m was surprised it was a singular narrator as there a distinct voices for several of the characters. The performance was tense when it needed to be and had me in tears during the emotional scenes. I was drawn into the story immediately which is usual for this author. Between reading an ebook and listening to the narrative, I would recommend going with whichever format is your preferred. For me, I hear the accents better in audio which makes it less visual bit more impactful.
I listened to this at my usual 1.5 speed.

Both media formats are equally thrilling and absorbing. Get your homework and tasks done first. Once you start this book, you’re not going to want to put it down until the very end.
Gripping and enthralling.

I received this book from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.

Nora Roberts masterfully crafts a captivating tale of family bonds, intrigue, excitement, and love set against the backdrop of Redbud Hollow, a quaint Kentucky mountain town. In "Mind Games" we follow Thea, a young woman endowed with a special family legacy, her brother Rem, and their grandmother, Lucy, as they navigate the aftermath of a profound family tragedy.

Roberts' vivid descriptions transport readers to the heart of Kentucky, immersing them in the rich tapestry of its landscapes and culture. I loved Thea, Lucy, and Rem and how well the characters are written and the seamless integration of Thea and Lucy's extraordinary abilities into the narrative added an extra layer of intrigue that kept me utterly engrossed. I couldn't put the book down.

Then I was delighted to experience it all over again through the captivating narration of January LaVoy in the audiobook version, who knocks it out of the park! I absolutely love the way LaVoy performs. Her character voices, impeccable timing and pacing, and engaging storytelling are riveting. I couldn't listen long enough and hated having to even pause. Terrific narration!

"Mind Games" is a refreshing and satisfying read, offering a perfect blend of compelling storytelling, memorable characters and situations, and a very happy ending. Whether in ebook or audio format, I highly recommend this for anyone seeking a delightful escape.
"You've turned one of the hardest days of my life into one of the most beautiful. This is what I want, and now, now I can have it."

Mystery & Thrillers | Romance | Women's Fiction

Nora Roberts is one of the few authors who manages to take some of the most outlandish storylines and make them work. This is a saga of a tale as we meet our main character as a child and get to watch her grow. The first part of the book follows Thea as she experiences the moment that changes the trajectory of her life. Thea and her brother suddenly wind up living with their grandmother on her farm after the tragic murder of their parents. Grammie Lucy is a delightful soul who loves on the two children and helps Thea as she comes to a discovery about herself that she comes to feel she must always hide after she is able to help with catching her parents' killer. As we see Thea grow into herself and handle her special gift, we watch her experience loss, revenge, college, and love. This book has tragedy, romance, joy, inspiration, friendship, and family. I enjoyed every moment. There are definitely dark parts to this which bring in the suspense factor. Thea's story borders on the paranormal and requires a suspension of disbelief that I came close to struggling with. However, Roberts knows how to tell a story and writes characters that you come to care about and accept. Because of her masterful writing, I was able to sink into Thea's world and enjoy my time in the country with her brother, grandmother, and those she came to love.

The narrator helps with this as well. January LaVoy always draws me into a book and this one is no exception. Her voice helps bring Thea and the other characters to life. Without her skill, I might have come out of the story more so I am glad that I chose to listen on audio for this one. I highly recommend Mind Games for those who like a good revenge story or a book about healing and fighting back for the life that you want. 4.5 stars!

I believe I have found my new top favorite Nora Roberts book ever! I listened to the audiobook, narrated by January LaVoy, and I could not stop listening! My list of top favorite Nora books has not changed in years, years I tell you. Then I listened Mind Games and it quickly took the top spot. I absolutely loved Thea, Lucy and Rem. They were amazing characters, as was Riggs in his own way. I was so drawn into this story from the first chapter to the very last. I was so captivated and engaged with this story.

Thea’s family headed to Kentucky for their yearly trip to visit her grandmother, Lucy. Her parents stay for a few days before they head back home so the kids, Thea and her brother, Rem, can spend two weeks with Lucy. Thea and Rem love this time with their grandmother and have so much fun, even as they help her in her business. Thea shares a gift her grandmother shares as well. They are able to see what others cannot. When her parents are murdered, Thea sees everything and is able to help the police find the man who did it. This is not a spoiler, as it is in the blurb. What follows is their new life with their grandmother and we see them grow and live their lives, however, Thea now has a connection with the murderer. A connection she does not want but cannot stop.

The suspense in this one was a bit different. We know who the villain is and what he wants, but I really enjoyed that during this story. I absolutely loved Thea. She was so strong, determined, but also caring and protective of those she loved. She was a bit reserved due to her gift and yet she was true to herself. I loved how protective and caring Lucy and Rem were. They were all so good together. Then, when we are introduced to her love interest, I was blown away. What a great surprise. Like I mentioned above, this is now my top favorite Nora Roberts story ever and the audiobook was amazing!

Happy listening!