Twelve-year-old Thea’s parents are murdered. It’s a senseless and cruel act by a no-good, evil man, but his plans to get away are thwarted by Thea’s unusual gift. It’s heartbreaking, but thankfully she has her loving grandmother and brother. They band together and try and live a good life while remembering their loss. I adored both her brother and her grandmother, Lucy, who was a big-hearted, salt-of-the-earth kind of woman!

Unfortunately, Thea captured the killer’s attention, as they share the same psychic gift and he’s bent on vengeance. He is a dark presence on and off throughout the story, but Thea’s gift is stronger, and she has her family and loved ones for support. I enjoyed how she fought back!

Mind Games wasn’t a fast-paced story, but it captured and held my attention from page one! I loved the world Ms. Roberts created: family, friends, animals, gardening, cooking in the small, tightknit community of Redbud Hollow. The slow-burn romance was just icing on the cake!

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy of Mind Games and recommend either version. January LaVoy is one of my favorite narrators! She has a rich, pleasing voice, and nailed the wide range of ages, male and female voices here!

When Thea was twelve years old she witnessed her parents murdered in their beds in a senseless crime of hate and jealousy. Because of what Thea saw, however, her parents' murderer was caught and sentenced to life in prison.

The only thing: Thea was staying with her grandmother hours and states away from her family home. You see, the women in Thea's family have a gift. They know things, they can "see" things. Her grandmother has the gift, her mother had the gift - although was more uneasy with it and chose to lock it away - and now, Thea has the gift.

Over the years, Thea will learn that there are those who don't or won't understand so she learns to be careful. But one person she can't seem to escape is her parents' killer. That terrible night bonded them in more than just blood, but in mind. Thea will have to figure out the game if she wants a chance at living her own life.

Mind Games is another Nora Roberts book. I feel like I can say that with both a reverence and a plainness. Her contributions to romance and the romantic suspense genres - including dipping into elements of the supernatural - are undeniable. But that also makes it difficult to tread into anything new or unexpected.

Mind Games follows suit with her other recent releases in that a heroine has something bad happen to her and spends the rest of the book reconciling with that. Typically this also involves not being fully free and clear from the "bad guy". In this case, it is a bit of a twist because the continuing conflict between Thea and her parent's killer - Ray - remains in the shared space of their minds or dreams, however you may choose to interpret the gift. I honestly, never felt like there was a real threat. I guess a more apt thing to say was that there was very little external conflict it was all very internal - literally and figuratively. And despite this looming threat it never felt high stakes.

There's a lot of expository build up with a lot of time spent in Thea's childhood - almost to the point where her adult life - including the romantic interest - feels rushed toward the end.

Regardless of all of this, I still was invested in the story. I was still pulled in and found myself immersed. It was definitely and escapist read for me and there is nothing wrong with that.

One thing I have noticed in the more recent Nora Roberts releases is the very chopped / clipped dialogue. Almost, at times, like characters are reading from a list of bullet points. It's a rather strange affectation.

I've learned, however, that it leans better into audiobook format than standard reading. I don't know if this is what Nora Roberts is going for or not, but the whole performance aspect lends itself well to the paired down dialogue and descriptors.

No one is better to bring this story to life than January LaVoy. If you are an audiobook fan, I'd say her name should have popped up somewhere along your listening journey. She has such a great range and in this case in particular I was super impressed with her ability to go from character to character, young to older, myriad of genders so easily. There were so many times that I forgot it was one person narrating the entire book. At times I had to remind myself that's how she easily she pulls you into the story and these characters. Each has their own voice in the sense that I never questioned who was speaking. The emotion comes through so well encapsulating a twelve year old girl's trauma of not only losing her parents, but witnessing it happening. Overall a great performance.

Mind Games by Nora Roberts delivered a standalone novel of loss, suspense, magical realism, and romance that held me captive from beginning to end. The audiobook narrated by January LaVoy was brilliant and one I highly recommend.

I started off reading Mind Games and then devoured the audiobook when it became available. I am a huge Roberts fan and generally prefer her trilogies, but Mind Games was a fantastic five star listen that held me captive, made me cry and left me yearning to raise chickens.

We are introduced to the Foxes as they travel to the Appalachians to drop their children off for a two-week summer vacation at their grandmother’s farm. Twelve-year-old Thea and her ten-year-old brother are excited to spend time with their maternal grandmother as their parents return to Virginia, unaware that trouble is coming.

Roberts is a masterful storyteller as she takes us through the tragedy of the parent’s murder, introduces us to Thea’s gift, and dives into the mind of the killer. She weaved magical realism and the police investigation into the story, then giving us a glimpse of the children’s lives on the farm before moving the story to their adulthood where Thea will find acceptance, love and face the evil that stole her parents.

The story was wonderfully paced, with touching moments, family, heartbreak, misunderstandings and humorous moments that made me laugh and cry. The suspense angle built slowly as we became connected to the Foxes, their maternal grandmother and uncles. Then she wove in, a sexy neighbor, a loveable dog, a cute little boy and more to make the story complete.

I love when I become completely immersed in the characters and story. Roberts did just that. As I stated, I began reading, but switched over to audio. January LaVoy beautifully captured the characters, the emotions and helped heighten the suspenseful moments of the story. I highly recommend grabbing your earbuds for this one!

This review was originally posted on <a href="http://booksofmyheart.net/2024/05/21/%f0%9f%8e%a7-mind-games-by-nora-roberts/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
&nbsp;

<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I am a fan of this author, who is prolific. I haven’t read as many of her books as I would like, but have read all the JD Robb In Death books. I loved this from the start.

The world building is breath taking with the gorgeous countryside in Appalachia. There’s also the gift which runs in the women of the family. My favorite thing in paranormal type stories is mind skills. That’s what we get here.

Thea has the skills, even more than her grandmother. She learns to use them and work with them. She did not become a police consultant or go into law enforcement. She has a different, exciting and imaginative career. I love the way she built her life around her family. In the tradition of her Grammie, who has cows, goats, chickens and makes soaps and candles. The food with all the fresh produce from the garden, and fresh eggs, is tantalizing. All these aspects of the worldbuilding elicit more emotions.

Then there’s her ongoing battle of will with the man who killed her parents. Thea tries various things to shut him out. He’s in the supermax for the rest of his life, but that’s not enough.

Thea’s romance is beautifully grown, with a childhood crush and a 5 year old boy, who is the best! I was so happy for their joy and sad for their hurts. It’s a happily ever after, where they can live their best lives.

<h4><strong>Narration:</strong></h4>
January LaVoy is an excellent narrator.  As usual, I really enjoyed her performance of all the voices.  They were distinct enough for me to recognize characters and comfortably appropriate.  I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.

Thea and her brother are visiting their grandmother in Kentucky. One evening, Thea and her grandmother both wake from a terrible nightmare. Thea actually saw her parents get murdered in her dream. Her grandmother just felt it. Because of Thea, the cops were able to arrest the guy who murdered her parents. But Thea is never free of the horrible man! He haunts her dreams!

Thea is a character which I connected with right away. She is young and traumatized but it does not stop her from achieving her goals. I also enjoy how she uses her gift for the good!

But the way these two characters connect in their dreams is creepy! Thea is definitely the stronger one and she comes up with a unique plan to stop this from ever happening again!

Psychic books always fascinate me. Nora Roberts does and excellent job with this trope. I know she has expanded her genre a bit but I have never read one quite like this. I really enjoyed it!

The narrator, January LaVoy, did a great job! I enjoyed how calm she was during some stressful situations for Thea!

Need a different thriller….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Mind Games is a fascinating story. Thea and her grandmother Lucy can see beyond what the natural eyes see. It is heartbreaking in ways as they see the murder of Lucy’s daughter and son in law and Thea’s parents.
The setting in Kentucky sounds inviting. I like the progression of the story, which gives time for Thea and her brother Rem to grow up and then to follow them as adults.
I love the love interest of Tyler and his son Bray. Bray is adorable.
I found Thea’s video game design and coding interesting.
The hard part of this story is the villain. He is twisted and chooses evil at each turn.
The ending didn’t feel finished. I wish the reader had an epilogue to take us farther past the resolution with the villain.
I like the narrator, LaVoy. She does an excellent job with the voices and pacing.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book.

Nora Roberts continues to be an elite author for me when it comes to atmospheric writing. No one can put me in a setting and make me see, feel, and taste everything like she can. I love her prose so much; it makes me feel like I’m watching a movie in my head and not reading words on paper. The plot was fast paced, and the pages just flip by. I didn’t expect to feel so emotional while reading Mind Games but not even 30 pages in and I was already tearing up. This book had me on a roller coaster of emotions from crying to laughing to being angry. Things get dark and heart wrenching quickly but there are so many wholesome moments sprinkled in which balances out the doom and gloom aspects. I loved that the book starts with Thea and Rem as children and follows them through their teen years and into adulthood. I will say due to how traumatic the event they experienced was, I wish their healing hadn’t been glossed over. Also, given how the book started out I was not expecting a romance to pop up halfway through the story. I honestly would have preferred this book being left as a mystery/thriller without the romance plotline. I loved learning about Thea’s abilities and her interactions with the antagonist were so intense. Thea and Rem’s grandmother Lucy was one of my favorite characters. She was so wise and the kind of loving matriarchal figure every family should have. Overall, I really enjoyed the thrilling journey this book took me on! If you’re looking for a suspenseful novel with supernatural elements thrown in you should check this book out! Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

January LaVoy is a master of audiobooks and Mind Games is no exception. She tells a story exceptionally with her voices for each of the individual characters. Roberts' characters are richly drawn and multifaceted, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journey. I enjoyed the supernatural element of this book even though it's not normally something I'm drawn to.

The master storyteller and queen of suspense, Nora Roberts, is at the top of her game, delivering a brilliant, suspenseful, emotional, and twisty tale of gifts of the mind in MIND GAMES —where we witness how some use those gifts wisely, while others do not in this riveting tale of good versus evil.

A long-time fan of Nora Roberts. She is magic with words, storytelling, twisty suspense, and well-developed characters. MIND GAMES is exceptional and made me want to return and read the books I missed. Take advantage of this one. Set aside the time. Unputdownable!

The audiobook...
January LaVoy is a favorite gifted narrator. She and Nora are a match made in heaven! She delivered a knock-out performance! Her voice was spellbinding, and she juggled multiple voices easily and precisely. Her captivating, pitch-perfect pacing was impressive—a fabulous, engaging, and listening experience. I highly recommend the audio!

About...
Every summer, John and Cora Fox take their two children, Thea (12) and Rem (10), to visit with their maternal grandmother, Lucy, in Redbud Hollow, Kentucky. The kids adore their Grammie and look forward to the visit. The parents return home to Virginia for two weeks without the kids.

Grammie is a busy business owner who runs a farm with animals and makes her own butter, candles, soaps, and much more. Everyone loves Grammie, the perfect loving grandmother and neighbor.

After the parents returned home, they were brutally murdered in their bed. Grammie and Thea have a special gift, and they both are awakened from a nightmare where they witness John and Cora's murder while it is taking place. A sadistic criminal followed them home after seeing Cora with her nice watch and car at a store.

Thea is helpless. Her gift was inherited through the bloodlines and stronger than Lucy's, the Grammie. She witnessed everything and could see it through the killer's mind and eyes.

With her special gifts, Thea helped the Virginia authorities identify the killer. At first, the authorities did not know what to expect, but her gift provided many specific details.

However, once the criminal is caught, he haunts Thea's thoughts and dreams as she continues to see him, as he also has a gift. They both have mental battles.

The kids have wealthy paternal grandparents who do not care about them, but luckily, Grammie has the parents' will that gives her full custody and executorship of the estate, and she is a fierce protector. John's parents have always looked down on Lucy and their daughter Cora. The kids, of course, are happy to live with Grammie and not their other grandparents.

Time moves on, and Thea and Rem grow up. Thea has to block the killer's evil and twisted thoughts. One day, there will be a showdown, and who will win out? He should never be out of prison, but what if he escapes? Will they meet again, and who will win out in the end?

I loved MIND GAMES! The author does an outstanding job with all the characters! I loved being immersed in the culture and life on the farm and Grammie's beautiful heart with her tenacity, wisdom, and love.

Rich in character and setting! From compelling characters, a clever twisted plot, heart-pounding suspense, and utterly captivating with a sprinkling of romance. The author skillfully dives deep into the minds of both good and bad, blended with humor.

Thea and Rem are well-developed characters, and the book follows them from childhood, college, adulthood, and Rem's career. I loved seeing Thea with her gaming and dreams and how she uses her abilities.

Thought-provoking, I also enjoyed how Nora uses the banter between the killer and Thea—it's full of suspense, mystery, thrills, twists, and lots of heart with a sprinkling of romance.

After reading MIND GAMES, you will remember why you love Nora Roberts and why she remains #1! For Roberts' fans, and those of her (book to movie 2007), Carolina Moon as well as fans of Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pu Date: May 21, 2024
May 2024 Must-Read Books
May Newsletter

This audio copy was given to me by the publisher and Netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.

I love Nora Roberts and this book was no different. So much about the main character resonated- her chickens, big dog, love and closeness of her family. The aspect of magic was really fun and different from most of her thriller romances she normally does. I really enjoyed these aspects of the story.

The narrators voice was enjoyable

Thea and her grandmother Lucy have a special power, where they can focus in and see/ read / get into other people’s minds. Thea finds herself seeing horrible things happening to her parents. Thea and her brother end up living with their Grammy Lucy in Kentucky. The characters are so well developed and felt real. The story line was easy to follow, and I enjoyed it when there were other POVs besides Thea. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was superb. There was suspense, romance, and a bit of supernatural all mixed together. This was an emotional story that drew me right in and kept me wanting to find out what would happen next.

MIND GAMES - NORA ROBERTS

4.5⭐

PLOT -
12 yr Thea and her brother stay for summer at her grandmothers and while their parents return home and are murdered. Both Thea and her grandma Lucy get real time vision of this horrific scene. Due to this esp Thea's vision their parents killer is arrested and will spend the rest of his life in super max prison. But this gift of vision at times feel skike a curse as she tries to build a career, find love but the person whom she sent away also has the same gift as her and this ensues a long silent battle waged between the tow as the MIND GAMES begin.

MY THOUGHTS -
I grew up reading and loving Noras books they bring such comfort and she writes such strong female characters and Thea is one of them...the way she handles her gift and at times overcomes it is deftly written plus her bond with her closed ones was beautifully done.
The plot was unique and very interesting to read.
Its a slow burn mystery thriller with romance in the end ( wish we had more of it though).
Special mention to the narrator January Lavoy she brought out all different voices perfectly and was very easily distinguishable.

I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator, she was amazing! I was hesitant about this book because of the supernatural aspect but it was just an added element to the story, it wasn’t the sole focus. It was a beautifully written story with family and friends that made it feel so special. I loved this one, highly recommend!

Thea Fox is twelve years old when her parents are killed. She and her brother are staying in Appalachia with her Grammie at the time, but Thea still witnesses the whole thing. She has the gift of sight and it’s just like she’s there in the house with her parents and the killer. Thea’s ability allows her to help the police put her parent’s murderer behind bars, but even from jail he can mess with Thea’s mind. Over the years, he comes and goes in her life until Thea has had enough and puts her foot down, trapping him and forcing him hand.

When I saw this book I was definitely intrigued by the description and knew it was going to be good because it was by Nora Roberts. I was hooked on this book from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down as I got pulled farther and farther into the story. This book takes place over many years and I loved the way it was broken down and we got to see Thea grow and find herself outside of the murder. The characters in this book were strong and easy to like, this story itself pulled me in and wouldn’t let me out until the very end and the moments of sweetness between Thea and the support her family and neighbors had for each other was the perfect balance to the tragedy this book revolves around. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for a good thriller with a little bit of mystery, some strong characters and a story that will hook you from the very beginning!

I was hoping this book would have a lot more warmth but instead it’s much more in line with Robert’s recent books. The telepathy and murders and being hunted things are wearing thin. I didn’t enjoy.

Thea and her brother discover what it is like to have their entire world fall apart when their parents are brutally murdered. Thea has a psychic connection to the killer that helps the police capture him and keeps them connected even after he is sent to prison, Thea will have to come face-to-face with evil if she ever wants to have peace in her life. Quick read that keeps you coming back. The narration is very good.

I always love the magical elements in Nora Roberts' books.

Thea and Rem spend two weeks with Grammie in Kentucky every summer. They get some time on the farm and their parents get some alone time. Thea awakes from a nightmare that something happened to her parents, runs to Grammie's room and sees Grammie also had the same vision. Thea is able to assist detectives in finding their killer.

The killer is in prison for life. Unfortunately, he shares the same gift as Thea and Grammie, and spends years trying to mess with her playing "mind games".

Ty, Thea's teen crush musician, moves to town with his young son, and a romance blooms. Meanwhile she is still dealing with the mind games.

I loved the romance, the mystery, and all the family elements.

January LaVoy did an amazing job on this audio.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press for an eARC and MacMillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a very interesting read! really cool concept, would love to see this as a tv series!

Another amazing hit from the queen. I don’t know what she puts in her books but they’re positively intoxicating. She’s an auto buy for me and has been for decades.

Oh my heart! This one was such an addicting listen. The writing drew me in completely. I don't know how quickly I came to love Thea, but she has a unique talent that we quickly discover. This draws a killer's interest and puts her in danger. I loved how the story progressed and how the title perfectly portrays the story. It is a heart-wrenching tale, but it's filled with love and discovery.

January LaVoy was the perfect narrator. She portrayed Thea exceptionally well, making me feel deeply invested throughout the story. I loved spending days in Kentucky with Grammie, Lucy. I didn't want to leave. I was cheering for Grammie on that telephone call. Loved it!! I would love to return to this world again.