Tag Archives: Mind Games

Mind Games by Nora Roberts – a Review

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Mind Games by Nora Roberts – a Review

 

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Description:
As they do each June, the Foxes have driven the winding roads of Appalachia to drop off their children for a two-week stay at their grandmother’s. Here, twelve-year-old Thea can run free and breathe in the smells of pine and fresh bread and Grammie’s handmade candles. But as her parents head back to suburban Virginia, they have no idea they’re about to cross paths with a ticking time bomb.

Back in Kentucky, Thea and her grandmother Lucy both awaken from the same nightmare. And though the two have never discussed the special kind of sight they share, they know as soon as their tearful eyes meet that something terrible has happened.

The kids will be staying with Grammie now in Redbud Hollow, and thanks to Thea’s vision, their parents’ killer will spend his life in supermax. Over time, Thea will make friends, build a career, find love. But that ability to see into minds and souls still lurks within her, and though Grammie calls it a gift, it feels more like a curse―because the inmate who shattered her childhood has the same ability. Thea can hear his twisted thoughts and witness his evil acts from miles away. He knows it, and hungers for vengeance. A long, silent battle will be waged between them―and eventually bring them face to face, and head to head…

 

 

Review:

Mind Games by Nora Roberts is a fantastic standalone suspenseful novel, that had me unable to put the book down.   No surprise, as Nora Roberts/JD Robb never fails to disappoint.  With school out for the summer, the Fox family travels to Kentucky, so that the kids (12 year old Thea and 10 year old Rem) can spend two weeks with their Grandmother Lucy.  They love being there with the animals, gardens, mountains, and their Grammie.  Their mother and father return home to Virginia, giving them their own vacation; which leads them into a terrible tragedy about to happen. 

Thea awakens from a nightmare, as she saw her parents murdered, and she runs to her grandmother, only to realize that she saw the same nightmare. They both share a gift that is part of the female women in their family, which have the ability to see unique sights. Thea remembers everything about that nightmare, including the killer.  The kids will be staying with Grammie now in Redbud Hollow, and thanks to Thea’s vision, the man who killed their parents has been captured and will spend the rest of his life in prison, with no parole.  Thea learns quickly that the killer also has the same gift, using his gift to tie himself to her; which over 15 years becomes a continual mental battle between the two of them. Thea’s gift is very strong, which allows her to help two detectives to find a missing girl.  Both of those detectives will come to Thea over the years asking for her help.

Thea was a fantastic heroine, as she was smart, strong, dedicated and determined to be one stop ahead of Riggs.  I loved her relationship with Lucy (her grandmother) and Rem (her brother).  It was heartwarming to see how they always there supported each other, including Lucy’s two older sons. All the characters were great, including her best friend Maddy.  Ty (a well-known musician) came into the picture about half way through with his young son, Bray; and in a short time, they both had strong feelings for each other. I loved Bunt, Thea’s dog. & his love of Bray. 

Thea was very good at her designing her own video games, getting hired by a firm to create those video games.  She manages to stop Riggs attempts to get through to her, but she wants a life without this evil villain, who always is trying to get into her head.  Thea decides to create a different kind of final game, just for him, as she knows how to mentally deal with him and closing his mind forever.

Mine Games is a fascinating and suspenseful story, that deals with drama, family, murder, psychic abilities, evil villain and romance. Once again, Nora Roberts gives us a fantastic story that has us unable to put the book down from start to finish.  Mind Games was so very well written by Nora Roberts.  You need to read this book, as it was great.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Mind Games (Harp Security #2) by Laura K Curtis-a review

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MIND GAMES (Harp Security #2) by Laura K. Curtis-a review

Mind Games

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 17, 2015

The daughter of a schizophrenic, Dr. Jane Evans prioritizes order, control, and—above all—her work in a psychiatric research lab. When an attempted kidnapping threatens to derail the project she’s on, her boss hires a bodyguard. He’s everything Jane is not, and if she can survive, she may even learn to like the difference.

Eric Sorensen owes Jane a debt he can’t possibly repay. Without her tutoring, he would not have made it through college, would not have the life he does. But none of his memories of college Jane prepare him for adult Jane. When she suddenly disappears, he follows her trail to a secret lab in a cartel-controlled Mexican jungle. Rescue seems impossible but Eric’s not the type to give up, even if it means trading his own life for hers.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: MIND GAMES is the second installment in Laura K. Curtis’s contemporary, adult HARP SECURITY romantic suspense series focusing on the elite security team at HARP Security. This is security specialist Eric Sorensen, and scientist/researcher Dr. Jane Evans’s storyline. MIND GAMES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Eric and Jane) MIND GAMES focuses on the hunt for the people trying to kidnap Dr. Jane Evans. As the deadline approaches to reveal the latest drug for schizophrenia and mental disorders, threats and kidnapping attempts against Jane, as the lead researcher on Project Calm, begin to escalate. Enter Eric Sorensen-HARP security specialist-and a former acquaintance and college mate of Jane Evans. What ensues is a storyline that finds Jane abducted, imprisoned and forced to work on a designer drug for the Mexican cartels.

The romance aspect of the storyline finds Jane as the aggressor. She is a woman who wants something from Eric, but Eric isn’t open to a one-night stand, and his ‘job’ places everyone he loves in danger. The $ex scenes are limited without the use of graphic sexual imagery but I thought something was missing between Eric and Jane: perhaps it was the fact that our couple were separated for a good portion of the storyline.

MIND GAMES is a storyline with a very large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including several of Eric’s fellow security specialists-all former military personnel-as well as HARP Security owner Nash Harper. We are also introduced to a number of Jane’s fellow researchers, including Dani-a young, twenty five year old woman who has gone missing in the days preceding Jane’s abduction; and Clive Handler-the man in charge of Project Calm. The requisite evil comes in many, many forms as Jane finds herself in the middle of the Mexican jungle running from drug lords, guerilla super-soldiers, and a human trafficking ring.

The world building focuses on several plot lines wherein our heroine attempts to uncover the truth, run for her life, and save the lives of several other victims of the Mexican cartels. A good portion of the storyline finds Eric and his comrades searching for Jane; and Jane stalling for time hoping for someone to come to her rescue. Jane’s questioning of the guards finds our heroine retrieving insider information that may come in handy to take down the people involved. There is a bit of a twist with the reveal but it wasn’t difficult to deduce the person behind the attempts on Jane’s life.

MIND GAMES is an action-packed story of suspense with a little science fiction via the development of a super soldier through drugs and hypnotherapy. The premise is entertaining and intriguing, if somewhat over the top; the characters are numerous, colorful and animated; the romance is a slow build to a happily ever after. I will add that I miss Mac Brody from book one ECHOES-there was a definite negative vibe between Nash and Mac, and I was hoping for some information or resolution to their tepid relationship.

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

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CLOSED HEARTS by Susan Kaye Quinn-cover reveal

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CLOSED HEARTS by Susan Kaye Quinn

 

CLOSED HEARTS (Young Adult)-Book 2 of the MINDJACK Trilogy by Susan Kaye Quinn

RELEASE DATE: May 23, 2012

The Reading Cafe will feature an interview (and reviews)  with the author Susan Kaye Quinn on May 31, 2012

When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.

Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice after all. As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders’ fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown—a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash—Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira’s boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.

********************MIND GAMES a review******************

MIND GAMES  (YA) (found in the anthology In His Eyes) is the prequel short story to indie author Susan Kaye Quinn’s new Mindjack Trilogy.

Background:  Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. (susankquinn.com)

In a world of mindreaders, Kira is an anomaly. She has yet to enter the change and is unable to read the minds of her fellow students. But at the same time, her mind is a blank to anyone who dares to enter.  To be forever branded as a zero is not the title Kira wants. As the end of the school year approaches, Kira is hoping that summer vacation will usher in some new changes in her life.

Raf Santos is one of the most popular guys in school.  With the upcoming year end Gamesdance, Raf has only one girl in mind for his date, but the others have different plans that do not include Kira. When Raf’s so called friends threaten to harm Kira, Raf will make a decision that could hurt Kira and destroy their fragile relationship that appears to be unraveling day by day. Once best friends with Kira, Raf will have to face the consequences of his actions, when Kira may no longer be a part of his life.

Mind Games in the introductory short story in Quinn’s Mindjack Trilogy.  An interesting concept that includes the ability to read minds, hear thoughts and the isolation of those who have yet to attain status in a world governed by the reality of truths.  Without the ability to be read, the zeroes cannot be trusted-for fear they hold secrets.  A concept based in prejudices and stereotypes, I look forward to reading Open Minds-Book 1 and Closed Hearts -Book 2 in the Mindjack Trilogy. 

 Reviewed by Sandy

 

 

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