REVIEW: WILLOWGROVE (HEMLOCK #3) BY KATHLEEN PEACOCK.

Title: Willowgrove (Hemlock #3)
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Edition: ARC
Publication: Katherine Tegen Book / January 6, 2015
Source: Gifted by the author
Pages: 368
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Trailer: Not available.

Synopsis:

Willowgrove is Kathleen Peacock's riveting conclusion to the Hemlock trilogy, a dark, romantic, paranormal suspense series that pits friendship against survival, and trust against love.

Ever since Mac's best friend, Amy, was murdered, Hemlock has been a dangerous place. But now that Mac, her boyfriend, Kyle, and Amy's ex, Jason, have investigated a mass breakout from Thornhill, a werewolf "rehabilitation" camp, the danger has only grown. Fear of the infection spreading is now at an all-time high, and anyone with a scar is suspected of being a wolf.

What makes Mac even more afraid, though, are the dark experiments that the warden of Thornhill was performing on wolves in a secret asylum called Willowgrove. Uncovering the truth about what happened may be the only way for Mac to save everyone she loves and end her nightmares for good.

There is no other perfect ending to Hemlock series than Willowgrove.

After finding Kyle and busting out hundreds of captured werewolves in Thornhill, Mac didn't stop wondering who is behind of it all. She couldn't stop thinking why the werewolves are being experimented on and tortured. She feels like she has to do something to help her friends even after the dangers they just faced. She knew she has to keep on digging the truth because that would have made Amy happy and that would keep her werewolf friends from danger. Her friend Serena is never the same after the experiments and she keeps getting worse. While trying to figure out the best action to keep everyone safe, Mac, Kyle, Jason, Serena, Trey and Eve found a horrible truth about the origins of the virus - that led to unexpected turn of events.

Willowgrove is the best book to end 2014 with. I enjoyed flipping through it until six in the morning and felt satisfied with how the series ended. It was such a hopeful ending, more like the beginning of the end thing -  where you know this is the last book in a series but felt like the story just started. Willowgrove amazingly clutched on to the intensity of Hemlock and Thornhill then slowly rested the story to its final page. I was heart broken over the end of my favorite series but still smiled and rejoiced because a) answers were revealed b) friendship proves no boundaries c) SEXY TIMES YO.

Willowgrove is perfect for laid back reading. I loved how Mac turned to be someone who didn't need saving, how Kyle made laugh out loud, how Amy stayed for Mac *cue tears* and how MY Jason proved his loyalty. Truly, friendship (when it's real) is one thing you can hold on to in times of doubt. This amazing friendship being almost the center of Willowgrove made me appreciate the story more. Romance was so intense in a sense that Mac and Kyle held on to what they have and even if times are worse, they didn't allow their relationship to abandon those people who matter to them. The bond their love and friendship brought them expanded not only to themselves but to their friends as well.

Filled with action compensated with amazing display of eternal love and friendship,Willowgrove is startlingly impressive. Delightfully engaging, Willowgrove is one of the best series enders I read! Totally commendable!

Thank you, Kathleen Peacock for my signed ARC!

"There wasn't a single part of me that didn't want him to stay. But I loved him enough to want what was best for him. Even if I wasn't it."

"Revenge probably tasted sweeter when it came with washboard abs."

"I had been brought up to believe that caring about people was a weakness, but loving Kyle didn't make me weak. It made me strong."

#BookPhotogProject (02): HEMLOCK SERIES.

It is the time of the month again for my #BookPhotogProject post! This month, am going to feature one of my all time favorite Paranormal series and I couldn't babble enough about this!

I found out about this series when I was a book blog newbie through the first blogger I ever been friends with: Liz of Midnight Bloom Reads. She was anticipating the release of the book and as a newbie in the industry, I got curious. I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis and I was fortunate enough to snag a copy (that time, it was difficult to find titles locally). I loved it ever since. Then a year after, the sequel came out and I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a finished copy! It was, without a doubt, another mind blowing sequel. Ohmygosh. I am reliving the feels.

Not only that, I was so lucky that I get to be Twitter friends with the author. She shows so much support and appreciation for the things bloggers do and the bloggers themselves. I tell you, she's no snob. Whenever I tweet her that I miss talking to her, she never misses a reply no matter how busy she is. I love that aside from the uber swoon worthy novels she shared with the world, she manages to be friends with her fans and she makes us feel important. I just also wanted to thank this author for being awesome. She is really awesome, guys!

What is this series and who is this author? Here. Let me show you.

My Blurb for Hemlock:

Kathleen Peacock made a mark with her debut novel, Hemlock. It is such a wonderful read that I seriously cannot put down. The novel is paranormal slash mystery slash romance rolled into one. It is incredibly written and honestly, there are no dull moments in it! It is beautiful from inside-out that one would wish for book two right away. I would definitely read it again. Over and over and over again.

My Blurb for Thornhill:

Thornhill is a delicious and mysterious novel which is the perfect sequel for Hemlock! Peacock really does know how to surprise her readers with all the unexpected thrilling action and heart breaking romance! I honestly couldn't ask for more! Thornhill is exciting, riveting and unputdownable!

Don't have seconds thoughts about this series because I guarantee, 1000%, this series is perfect and absolutely remarkable. Seriously.

In line with this, let me also thank Kathleen Peacock for writing Hemlock, Thornhill and Willowgrove, for being an inspiration and Twitter friend. Thank you for being approachable and sweet, too! Also, thank you Sarah of Harpercollins for sending Thornhill last year. Thank you guys for letting the bookish industry have the chance to engulf such a phenomenal series! I cannot wait to read Willowgrove.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

PS: Jason is mine, okay?

REVIEW: THORNHILL (HEMLOCK #2) BY KATHLEEN PEACOCK.

Title: Thornhill (Hemlock #2)
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Edition: Hard bound
Published: September 10, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 368
Source: Copy sent by the publisher
Category: Romance, Paranormal
Trailer: Here.

Amazon ▲ Book Depository ▲ Goodreads ▲ Barnes and Noble

Synopsis:

Mac can’t lose another friend. Even if he doesn’t want to be found.

The ripple effect caused by Mac’s best friend Amy’s murder has driven Mac’s new love, Kyle, to leave Hemlock and disappear from her life forever. But Mac knows that Kyle plans to enroll in a rehabilitation camp, where he can live with other werewolves. She refuses to accept his decision, especially since the camps are rumored to be tortuous. So she sets out in search of Kyle with a barely sober Jason—and Amy’s all-seeing ghost—in tow.

Clues lead Mac to find Kyle in a werewolf den in Colorado—but their reunion is cut short by a Tracker raid. Now Mac and Kyle are trapped inside the electric fences of Thornhill, a camp for young werewolves. As she devises an escape plan, Mac uncovers dangerous secrets buried within the walls of Thornhill—and realizes that the risk to the people she loves is greater than ever before.

*Might be spoilery for you.*

Thornhill is LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

I tried requesting for Thornhill ARC back in April because you know, I LOVED Hemlock to bits and am too excited that is. Thornhill is basically one of my Most Anticipated Sequels of the year so imagine my eagerness in getting it. I've actually encounted several issues getting it but I am SO grateful that it finally arrived. I actually devoured it in less than 7 hours (which is pretty fast in my case, I usually finish a novel around 10-16 hours). And WOW!! All the trouble is just worth it!

Thornhill took off a several days after Kyle left Hemlock. Mackenzie, together with Jason, tries to find Kyle then convince him to come back home. He's infected with the Lupine Syndrome but Mac believes that Kyle's still human - inside out. When they stop and ask a cashier Eve if they've seen Kyle, they feel like they were lied to. They then decide to follow the girl that lead them to an abandon warehouse full of partying werewolves. They've seen Kyle but they've also seen Jason's tracker tattoo so they locked them up. Surprisingly, Mac sees her long lost father as the pack leader. The warehouse then is attacked by trackers and eventually put them in a rehabilitation camp in Thornhill where wolves are missing and not coming back at all.

The first page of Thornhill cracked me up! It had me at DEFLOWER! I cannot help but laugh and tweet it at Kathleen Peacock and I wasn't really prepared about THAT sexy moment 3 pages after! Kidding aside, I loved Thornhill. It was all in all about busting some wolves from a camp where they are being experimented at, all about fixing burned bridges, reunited hearts and unrequited love. I loved how Peacock made the consistency of the story smooth yet you would see that the novel can stand alone. Am not sure how to explain it but I feel like Hemlock is about friendship and then Thornhill is about against all odds kind of love. I was expecting a little more "wolf" action from this sequel though. I wish there was more explanation as to what is happening to the wolves being "treated". I guess there would be more of that in H3 (Hemlock 3).

I missed Mackenzie. Next to Anna from The Sweet Evil trilogy by Wendy Higgins, Mac is the second main character that showed me how to really define and live BENEVOLENCE. Despite the pain, the cruelty, the loss and self-doubt, Mac remained kind-hearted and faithful. Its as if there's no bad person for her. She doesn't hold grudges/resentment at all. I just feel bad for her because after all the trouble she's been through, she still couldn't get the only thing she wants. And I am hoping that this second heart break both Mac and I experienced at the end of both books would be rewarded in H3. I ship Mac and Kyle so much that seeing them being apart tears me. Though am super okay with Jason! CAN I HAVE HIM INSTEAD THOUGH, KATHLEEN? *bats eyelashes* because OMG THE CAR CRASH SCENE OMG MY HEARTTTT!

Hank also showed some progress when it comes to his relationship with Mac. I totally get his facade but no matter how we look at it, he owes her daughter a lot. That's the part I can totally relate with Mac. Love/hate relationship with THE father. Ugh. But yeah, am also glad to get to see new characters such as Eve and Dex who rocked! These characters added spice to the premise and who would forget my favorite character of all? AMYYYYYY! True enough as to what Peacock told me, there would be more of Amy here! OMG! Her presence not only gives me goosebumps but its actually my favorite aspect of the entire novel -- how your best friend still tries to help you even after death -- THIS IS STRONG WOMANCE, PEOPLE! Y'all should really ready this series then let's fan girl together!

Thornhill is a delicious and mysterious novel which is the perfect sequel for Hemlock! Peacock really does know how to surprise her readers with all the unexpected thrilling action and heart breaking romance! I honestly couldn't ask for more! Thornhill is exciting, riveting and unputdownable!

Thank you Sarah of HarperCollins for the finshed copy!

"He hasn't figured out that no matter what you do, some people just end up broken."

"Can you hide what you were? Every moment of every day, could you pretend to be something else? Someone else? Could you stand spending every day worried that you were going to hurt someone if you knew there was an alternative?"

"I loved Kyle. More than anything. Maybe enough to want what was best for him -- even if that best would end up hurting me."

FEATURE: AUTHOR OF THE MONTH.. (5)

I cannot contain the happiness and excitement I feel to share the author I will feature this month. HER debut novel became one of my ultimate paranormal favorites and featuring her and her books will always be my pleasure! For May I bring to you

 KATHLEEN PEACOCK.

The million-dollar question, what inspired you to write Hemlock?

I was listening to music one morning while walking to work. The song “It’s Been Awhile” by Staind started playing. Within seconds, a scene popped into my head—sort of like a music video. Three friends—a blond girl and two boys—were in a hospital room. The girl had been hurt and one of the boys, a hunter, had just learned the other was a werewolf.  

Over the years, I occasionally thought about those characters and what their lives and world would be like. When I decided to try writing a novel, they were the characters I was most interested in taking the journey with.

One of the things I loved about Hemlock is the cover. Did you have any say about it? Or was the cover your idea entirely?

Isn't it pretty? I actually didn't have much input into the cover. I asked for a few small changes to the title font and layout, but that was the extent of my involvement (which was fine with me as my publisher has an amazing art department and I knew they would do a great job).

Another reason I loved about it is the fact that the Lupine Syndrome is known. It felt like a huge risk stepping out of YA's comfort zone about paranormal being a secret. Why did you take that risk? I mean was it really the idea to begin with?

In that original scene that popped into my head, Jason was shocked that Kyle was a werewolf but not surprised that werewolves existed. It was clear to me that they lived in a world where people knew about werewolves and  I based the world building around that. 

And one especially lonely stretch of beach which was perfect for thinking  (Source)

Are we going to see more of Amy in the sequel?

Yes! Amy is definitely sticking around and will be just as creepy as ever!

Jason and Kyle's friendship is very strong. Is it inspired with a real-life friendship?

I wish! I’m always a bit jealous of people who have strong friendships that date back to childhood.  

Why werewolf? Why not vampires, faeries or dystopian plots?

The Kyle that popped into my head was a werewolf just like the Jason who popped into my head was a sort of werewolf hunter—the choice was entirely driven by the characters.

Are you Team Kyle or Team Jason? (I'm definitely Team Kyle!!)

Team Trey ;)

Why did you decide to title both books after the place where the novels happened?

Honestly? I’m just really horrible at titles. I didn't have a title for book one, so I just started calling it Hemlock after the town where the book was set. I fully expected my agent or publisher to suggest changing the name, but it just sort of stuck.

Why, yes, that is a Thornhill ARC. @gillianewise was right: they are pretty! *hugs book* (Source)

Any advise for aspiring young writers out there?

Read as often and as widely as you can.

Message to your Filipino fans! :)

You guys are AMAZING! Thank you SO MUCH for reading!

ABOUT THE BOOKS

You guys can definitely order Hemlock here:

Indie Bound * Amazon * Amazon CA * B&N * Book Depository * Chapters/Indigo

Add to Goodreads

And you can go ahead and pre-order Thornhill here:

Indie Bound * Amazon * Amazon CA * B&N * Book Depository * Chapters/Indigo

Add to Goodreads

About Kathleen

The Official Stuff

Kathleen Peacock spent her teen years crushing on authors and writing short stories about vampires. She put her writing dreams on hold while attending college, but tripped over them when office life started leaving her with an allergy to cubicles. Her debut, HEMLOCK, is coming May 8th, 2012 from Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of Harper Collins, and will be published in the UK under the title DEADLY HEMLOCK from Simon and Schuster Children’s Books.

The Other (less official) Stuff

I’m obsessed with Chuck Taylors.
I make Bella Swan look graceful and coordinated.
I have a diploma in graphic design and have had illustrations published in Applied Arts, the premiere magazine for Canadian design and visual communications.
I used to think moleskin notebooks were made out of actual mole skin.
Never engage me in a debate about Star Wars unless you have plenty of time on your hands.
I like sentence fragments. And watermelon. Both are tasty.
Mood boosting songs: “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing” by Scissor Sisters, “Via con me” by Paolo Conte, “When You Were Young” by The Killers.
I believe the Goonies really ‘r’ good enough.

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Thank you so so much Kathleen for giving me a chance to feature you on my blog and I think I made it clear how much I am in love with Hemlock and thrilled for Thornhill! Can't wait!