Member Reviews
Just wow! Love this author and absolutely adore every book she writes. And this one was just amazing. So nuanced and well written. Highly recommend to all.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am a big fan of Nicole Trope. I have read all her books.
This is another great read, very similar to the last book in the series. I must admit, though, I did prefer the original title.
This is book number 2 in the Grace Morton series. I believe that you can read this as a standalone. I love the way this one had me guessing. I found it to be realistic and quite enjoyed it.
@nicoletropeauthor is an auto-read author for me and this book didn’t disappoint. Grace moves to Melbourne in hopes of reconciling her relationship with her daughter, Cordelia. She also wants to watch Cordelia’s boyfriend, Garth, who she has a bad feeling about. I had no idea where the story was going or how it would end! I can’t wait for her next one! Recommended for readers who love twisty plots and domestic drama.
Thanks for allowing me to read in advance! I’ll recommend at publication.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of A Mother Always Knows (Grace Morton Book 2) by Nicole Trope. I was quite excited to read this book after finishing Not a Good Enough Mother (Grace Morton #1). It did not disappoint! It was a great read and kept me totally engaged. It was fast paced and twisty. I enjoyed this one more than the first one but I would recommend reading them in order. I have read a few books by Nicole Trope now and have enjoyed them all. Looking for a good read, try this one. A 5 star rating from me.
A Mother Always Knows is book 2 in the Grace Morton series. I read the first book Not A Good Enough Mother (previously named The Assistant).
Book two picks up where book one ended. There are some reminders throughout about what happened in the first book, but I would advise to read them in order.
Grace will do anything to protect her daughter even though they are estranged.
Just as intriguing and twisty as the first. A delight to see what Grace was up to now.
Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc.
Grace Morton is a mother on a mission. She only wants what is best for her daughters. Too bad she has to do it from afar. Cordelia, Grace's daughter with her late husband Robert, is now living in Melbourne with her boyfriend of 4 years. Grace, wanting to observe her daughter from afar (as they are estranged) gets a job in Cordelia's boyfriend's office (Garth). Within a day things happen and Garth goes missing. Cordelia is the #1 suspect and who does she call? Her mom.
This book was enjoyable and fast paced but not as twisted as the first book. It felt a tad convenient and unbelievable. It was still an easy read. I enjoyed the main characters but felt more depth was needed. In book 2 I wanted more from Grace and Cordelia. I also wish the author had played up the relationship between the sisters...but perhaps that where book 3 goes?
I definitely should have re-read the first book because I remembered almost nothing from it. However, many reviewers said this could be read as a standalone. I didn't find that to be true, and while the story was engaging and enjoyable, I feel I would have been more invested if I had refreshed my memory on the events from the first book before reading.
Thank you Netgalley for this arc of A Mother Always Knows. I've read other books by this author. One I read was The Truth About the Accident and The Family Across the Street. All three books were really good. If you like suspense and thrillers, I'd recommend reading anything from this author. She is an auto buy author for me. I gave this 5 stars.
I loved rejoining Grace in this second book of the series, as she flies across Australia to check on her estranged daughter in her new life, although from a distance. Following her motherly instincts Grace, was particularly keen to investigate the ‘maybe unsuitable’ boyfriend.
As in the first book, I enjoyed the lengths Grace went to, to remain hidden. The connections to book 1 and previous events, are revisited to keep a new reader informed.
The plot of this book is definitely both intriguing and intricate. I was reading long into the night to follow the fast-paced action, with a few ‘hold your breath’ moments, when I thought events could go horribly wrong! I was kept fascinated and in the dark, trying to solve the case, until really close to the end of the book.
I particularly liked the authentic and difficult, emotional reactions between Cordelia and her mother, Grace. As a mother I could totally empathise with the protective instincts Grace displayed, like a lion trying to protect her cub!
This book, set mostly between a high profile law firms offices and Cordelia’s apartment was described so vividly that I felt I was ‘watching’ the story unfold. I also found that I really cared about the characters and wanted them to succeed in their search for truth.
I love books by Nicole Trope and especially the chance to read a follow up book to a previously loved read. Her books are always great reads, full of plot twists and this one certainly did just that! I would totally recommend this.
What a fantastic read. Loved this one even more than the first one! This is the second book in the series. Both following the same mother daughter relationship theme.
Grace was recently released from a psychiatric facility, and is determined to reconnect with her estranged daughter, Cordelia. Grace decides to watch her daughter from a distance, and she becomes increasingly concerned about Cordelia’s controlling boyfriend, Garth. Next thing you know, Garth disappears. Cordellia ends up being the main suspect in Garth disappearance, but Grace knows this is not like her daughter and will protect her at all costs.
What I love about Nicole Tropes books is that you always think you have them figured out, but then the end hits and it’s never what you thought!
Quick thriller read. I was immediately engaged in the story and wanted to know how it would all unfold.
This is book #2 in a series. I read it as a standalone book but I actually think it would maybe have worked better if I had read book #1. The story fell a bit flat for me and I think that might be because I was missing the connections from the previous story.
Overall, if you like thrillers and especially if you like series then this book is worth a read.
☆ARC REVIEW☆
Publication date: Available now!
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I really enjoyed the sequel in the Grace Morton series! I thought 'A Mother Always Knows' was a lot more fast-paced than the first in the series and I honestly did not expect the twist!
Thank you, NetGalley, Nicole Trope, and Bookouture, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!!
A Mother Always Knows is book two in the authors' Grace Morton series & kicks straight off where book one finished.
While it can be read as a standalone, I would suggest reading Not A Good Enough Mother first to fully appreciate the story and background of Grace's life that led her to this point.
This was another fast paced gripping story that I got stuck into straight away and ended up flying through, I really enjoy this author's style of writing, it flows so nicely with the characters and their actions brought to life perfectly. I loved seeing Grace once again seamlessly settle into an 'undercover' assistant role in order to watch & protect someone, in this case, her estranged daughter Cordelia. Grace is a force to be reckoned with, she has some quite questionable actions but I just loved her, she's the ultimate fierce protector but slightly unstable, you honestly don't know what she might do next & you have to love her f*ck it attitude.
There was plenty of suspense, surprises and twists in this read & I have to say I really wasn't expecting the final twist and I loved how much it caught me off guard.
This is the perfect read for fans of psychological/ domestic thrillers and if you're looking for a fast-paced suspense filled read.
I really enjoyed this book and highly suggest reading the first. This picks up right where the first ended and I would love to see more Grace Morton books! Grace has many secrets and has an estranged relationship with her daughter. When her daughter becomes the prime suspect in her fiance's disappearance, Grace is elated to have her daughter reach out to her after years of limited contact.
I loved reading "A Mother Always Knows". It was the perfect continuation of "Not a Good Enough Mother". It kept me intrigued and wanting to keep reading about Grace, her daughter Cordelia, and Cordelia's boyfriend Garth.
3.5 stars!
I will start my review by letting you know, this will be a much better read for you if you have already read Not A Good Enough Mother (book 1). I was waiting for a plot twist from some characters mentioned at the beginning of the book, not realizing that these were characters that had their moment of fame in book 1.
This was a super easy book to get into, it had my attention from the beginning and was fast paced. It kept me guessing but as I got towards the end, the twist just fell flat for me. It wasn't as good as I was expecting it to be, it was a little boring and disappointing! However, I would still encourage readers to give this one a chance! I will likely go back and read book 1 because I did enjoy her writing, and I thought Grace and Cordelia were very entertaining characters. A protective mama bear and a grudge-holding daughter tend to make quite the combo!
Thank you NetGally and Bookouture for the invitation to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
Panic over! Just for a minute I thought I hadn't read the first book, then I realised it was no longer called The Assistant and had been rebranded as Not a Good Enough Mother, I'd toured with it back in the summer.
Boy was it worth the wait! Grace is back and it's time for mother and daughter to reunite and take to the helm.
Trope has nailed it again and draws us in with a fast paced, twisty and thoroughly entertaining read.
Secrets, lies and redemption await the discerning reader.
Melbourne
Cordelia, 24, and Garth, 33, have been together for over 4 years. Once again, he has texted saying he is working late again. She knows he is working hard to become a partner in a law firm, but his late nights are growing. Cordelia works for a graphic arts firm. Garth has always criticized her friends.
Cordelia’s mother, Grace, is an alcoholic. When she learned that her husband was having an affair, she became drunk and forgot that she had left candles burning when she fell asleep. This resulted in the house burning down from which she escaped but her husband died in the fire. She spent some years in a mental institution.
Cordelia wants nothing to do with her mother who had a very successful business that she sold and Cordelia will come into a very healthy trust fund soon.
When Grant goes missing, Cordelia is frantic and cannot figure out what happened to him. The police think that Cordelia had something to do with his disappearance. When Grace contacts her, Cordelia is hesitant to let her back into her life but needing her help with Grant’s disappearance, she relents. Grace is ready and willing to help her. What they uncover is quite shocking.
This was an interesting story that kept me guessing who could be the bad person.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Nicole has done it again.
another great thriller that had me hooked from the beginning. Glad i read the book 1 because book 2 was amazing.