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Colebrook Confessions #1
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy
COLEBROOK ACADEMY SERIES
Markham Savoy is Colebrook Academy's most infamous student...
He's also the most attractive, most deviant, and most charming, but who's counting? Every Colebrook matriculant knows that Markham is in the business of making problems disappear. And Colebrook students have no shortage of problems. But his aid comes at a price—an obligation to one day repay the favor. Given the number of kids who get in trouble at Colebrook, Markham has a veritable army of willing minions to do his bidding. So the question is, after years of collecting and collating the secrets of his peers, what exactly does Markham have in mind?
Each installment of Colebrook Academy is told from the point of view of a different student. As these characters' lives intertwine, each reveals one of the shocking, interlocking secrets that will help Markham leave behind a legacy. A final coup de grâce that the halls of Colebrook Academy will never forget.
THE DIRTY SECRETS OF MARKHAM SAVOY, COLEBROOK CONFESSIONS # 1
Even though he safeguards the secrets of his classmates, Markham wouldn't be caught dead sharing his own, and he never lets romantic entanglements get the best of him. But when Piper Harrington marches into his life, he’s forced to give her something in exchange for her cooperation in his schemes--his very own Colebrook Confession. And that's not the only time Piper brings out an unexpected side of himself.
Will the dirty secrets of Markham Savoy be his crowning glory...or his undoing?
Markham Savoy is Colebrook Academy's most infamous student...
He's also the most attractive, most deviant, and most charming, but who's counting? Every Colebrook matriculant knows that Markham is in the business of making problems disappear. And Colebrook students have no shortage of problems. But his aid comes at a price—an obligation to one day repay the favor. Given the number of kids who get in trouble at Colebrook, Markham has a veritable army of willing minions to do his bidding. So the question is, after years of collecting and collating the secrets of his peers, what exactly does Markham have in mind?
Each installment of Colebrook Academy is told from the point of view of a different student. As these characters' lives intertwine, each reveals one of the shocking, interlocking secrets that will help Markham leave behind a legacy. A final coup de grâce that the halls of Colebrook Academy will never forget.
THE DIRTY SECRETS OF MARKHAM SAVOY, COLEBROOK CONFESSIONS # 1
Even though he safeguards the secrets of his classmates, Markham wouldn't be caught dead sharing his own, and he never lets romantic entanglements get the best of him. But when Piper Harrington marches into his life, he’s forced to give her something in exchange for her cooperation in his schemes--his very own Colebrook Confession. And that's not the only time Piper brings out an unexpected side of himself.
Will the dirty secrets of Markham Savoy be his crowning glory...or his undoing?
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First published October 15, 2012
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November 6, 2012
As seen on Ed and Em's Reviews!
AND ENTER TO WIN ONE OF FIVE E-COPIES OF THIS NOVEL. ENDS 11/15/2012.
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The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is an interesting novella that begins what I'm sure will be another gripping series brought up by Twist Literary. The first book is written by C.C. Dalton, who writes the point-of-view of our beloved, Markham Savoy. (I almost typed in "Savory" - this ironic because Markham is immensely attractive, in a way that should keep girls locked in their rooms.)
Markham Savoy is not to be trifled with. He may not meet the standards of his family, but everyone at Colebrook Academy knows who is really in charge. You can either use his help to your advantage or burn him and have him use his power to make you miserable. Everyone knows this. Everyone follows this. Except Piper.
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is one story that I would've liked to see this in an omnibus because it was too short for my liking. It was really interesting and just as sexy as the first series that Twist released, the Alibi series, but I wanted more! It wasn't able to leave the a huge impression on me because it took me half an hour to read. I like the characters and I definitely would like to see more of them, but I wish Markham's story had been longer. We get to know him, but there is so much more we could've seen. It doesn't feel like I know him as well as I should. Though I love him all the same.
Going into this, I knew I was going to love the characters. Twist's last series had me loving to hate and hating to love the characters and I knew the Colebrook Confessions series would follow in its footsteps. Markham is your stereotypical bad boy. He has his way with almost any girl he wants. He's in charge and all of his classmates and many of the faculty know this. He's extremely smart and he does what he wants when he wants. This shouldn't really be attractive, but it so is! And though he's this playboy jerk, I really want him to be happy. There is a certain young woman I have in mind that would be perfect for him - other readers will probably agree with my choice. Markham's roommate and friend, Dane is super attractive in my head. You don't even know. As soon as we were introduced to him and he spoke, I fanned myself (ya know… in my head). His perspective of his friendship with Markham will be really interesting to see. The other minor characters like Piper, Hadley and Vivianne only intrigued me more. Their interactions seemed so real for teens in their situation (rich, spoiled, high and mighty, proud, a bit wild).
I don't even know how to describe the plot, because it didn't really feel like a plot. It moved at a steady pace and went through life like a student in private school's life probably goes… you know… without the flirting with teachers, taking advantage of other students, and bossing everyone around. It really just goes through Markham's life at the moment and shows you a bit about his background. It made me sigh a bit because of how much he cares for his sister. Guys who care about their families are hot. Just sayin'.
Up next is Dane's story and I can honestly say that I'm very excited to see where his perspective takes us! His past has me curious and his accent has me blushing - I'm a sucker for a boy with an accent.
I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.
AND ENTER TO WIN ONE OF FIVE E-COPIES OF THIS NOVEL. ENDS 11/15/2012.
----
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is an interesting novella that begins what I'm sure will be another gripping series brought up by Twist Literary. The first book is written by C.C. Dalton, who writes the point-of-view of our beloved, Markham Savoy. (I almost typed in "Savory" - this ironic because Markham is immensely attractive, in a way that should keep girls locked in their rooms.)
Markham Savoy is not to be trifled with. He may not meet the standards of his family, but everyone at Colebrook Academy knows who is really in charge. You can either use his help to your advantage or burn him and have him use his power to make you miserable. Everyone knows this. Everyone follows this. Except Piper.
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is one story that I would've liked to see this in an omnibus because it was too short for my liking. It was really interesting and just as sexy as the first series that Twist released, the Alibi series, but I wanted more! It wasn't able to leave the a huge impression on me because it took me half an hour to read. I like the characters and I definitely would like to see more of them, but I wish Markham's story had been longer. We get to know him, but there is so much more we could've seen. It doesn't feel like I know him as well as I should. Though I love him all the same.
Going into this, I knew I was going to love the characters. Twist's last series had me loving to hate and hating to love the characters and I knew the Colebrook Confessions series would follow in its footsteps. Markham is your stereotypical bad boy. He has his way with almost any girl he wants. He's in charge and all of his classmates and many of the faculty know this. He's extremely smart and he does what he wants when he wants. This shouldn't really be attractive, but it so is! And though he's this playboy jerk, I really want him to be happy. There is a certain young woman I have in mind that would be perfect for him - other readers will probably agree with my choice. Markham's roommate and friend, Dane is super attractive in my head. You don't even know. As soon as we were introduced to him and he spoke, I fanned myself (ya know… in my head). His perspective of his friendship with Markham will be really interesting to see. The other minor characters like Piper, Hadley and Vivianne only intrigued me more. Their interactions seemed so real for teens in their situation (rich, spoiled, high and mighty, proud, a bit wild).
I don't even know how to describe the plot, because it didn't really feel like a plot. It moved at a steady pace and went through life like a student in private school's life probably goes… you know… without the flirting with teachers, taking advantage of other students, and bossing everyone around. It really just goes through Markham's life at the moment and shows you a bit about his background. It made me sigh a bit because of how much he cares for his sister. Guys who care about their families are hot. Just sayin'.
Up next is Dane's story and I can honestly say that I'm very excited to see where his perspective takes us! His past has me curious and his accent has me blushing - I'm a sucker for a boy with an accent.
I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.
January 16, 2013
http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
At A Glance
It was a short but sweet read. I enjoyed it but wasn't enthralled by it.
The Good
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is the first installment of the Colebrook Confessions Series. This is what goodreads says about the series: Each installment is told from the point of view of a different student. As these characters' lives intertwine, each reveals one of the shocking, interlocking secrets that will help Markham leave behind a legacy. A final coup de grâce that the halls of Colebrook Academy will never forget.
I love series like this one. Seeing the story told in four differing POVs (with four different authors writing one book each) until it all comes together makes things more interesting. Twist Library did a great job with this concept with their last series, Alibi. In this book and series, we meet Markham. He is a bad boy but with an angel exterior. He comes from wealth and uses that to his advantage. With his connections, he has provided help and other services to the Colebrook Academy population for years. Almost all the kids at the Academy owe Markham a favor for his help. But why is this kid collecting favors? What is his end game? We still don't know but that's what's so intriguing.
Markham is just as ruthless when it comes to romance. He tells his girls right up front that he only does one-night stands. And every girl is totally whipped by his charm and good looks. Except for Piper. Piper, the bookish, proper girl, fascinates him. And after one avoidable circumstance, Markham finds himself owing Piper a favor. Now at the mercy of Piper's whims, Markham can't help but like the feeling of Piper having control over him.
Markham is a player and a manipulator. It's hard to like the guy. But, then again, it's hard not to like him, too. He kind of grows on you. He is very protective of his sister and goes above and beyond to keep his close friends safe. And as his feelings for Piper grow, you hope he can redeem himself even further through her. Because Piper is the kind of girl that can set him straight. I have hope for Piper and Markham.
It's the characters that drew me into this story. I just have to know what each one has to do with the overall climax of this series.
The Bad
I found myself often putting this novella down, and that's saying something since it is pretty short. It just didn't grab me. The characters were interesting, but the story was mediocre. There just wasn't enough momentum for me to stay glued to the pages.
Markham's "charm" was a little unrealistic at times. I just don't see anyone being that smooth, or the people who fall at his feet being that stupid.
The Snuggly
Though this story is in some ways YA, it's New Adult when it comes to sex. And there is plenty. We don't get too much detail but this book has a lot of sexual situations.
Final Thoughts
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy was a fun little read. The characters are fun to follow, I just wish more happened in the story. I am looking forward to the next book though. Recommended for people who like novellas.
Quotes
"This is ridiculous, Piper," he said. "And really, it has nothing to do with you--you're using your favor for someone else. Let me find a better way to thank you. One that won't endanger helpless minors."
"That's the problem, Markham," she said. She was close, so close he could practically taste the strawberry of her lip gloss. "You think you get to maneuver and manage everything--even how you repay people. The only way I'll accept your repayment is if it's on my terms."
He looked at her, utterly unmanned. Piper was a formidable adversary--she'd outmaneuvared him. It was such a foreign senesation that he paused for a moment to savor it.
At A Glance
It was a short but sweet read. I enjoyed it but wasn't enthralled by it.
The Good
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is the first installment of the Colebrook Confessions Series. This is what goodreads says about the series: Each installment is told from the point of view of a different student. As these characters' lives intertwine, each reveals one of the shocking, interlocking secrets that will help Markham leave behind a legacy. A final coup de grâce that the halls of Colebrook Academy will never forget.
I love series like this one. Seeing the story told in four differing POVs (with four different authors writing one book each) until it all comes together makes things more interesting. Twist Library did a great job with this concept with their last series, Alibi. In this book and series, we meet Markham. He is a bad boy but with an angel exterior. He comes from wealth and uses that to his advantage. With his connections, he has provided help and other services to the Colebrook Academy population for years. Almost all the kids at the Academy owe Markham a favor for his help. But why is this kid collecting favors? What is his end game? We still don't know but that's what's so intriguing.
Markham is just as ruthless when it comes to romance. He tells his girls right up front that he only does one-night stands. And every girl is totally whipped by his charm and good looks. Except for Piper. Piper, the bookish, proper girl, fascinates him. And after one avoidable circumstance, Markham finds himself owing Piper a favor. Now at the mercy of Piper's whims, Markham can't help but like the feeling of Piper having control over him.
Markham is a player and a manipulator. It's hard to like the guy. But, then again, it's hard not to like him, too. He kind of grows on you. He is very protective of his sister and goes above and beyond to keep his close friends safe. And as his feelings for Piper grow, you hope he can redeem himself even further through her. Because Piper is the kind of girl that can set him straight. I have hope for Piper and Markham.
It's the characters that drew me into this story. I just have to know what each one has to do with the overall climax of this series.
The Bad
I found myself often putting this novella down, and that's saying something since it is pretty short. It just didn't grab me. The characters were interesting, but the story was mediocre. There just wasn't enough momentum for me to stay glued to the pages.
Markham's "charm" was a little unrealistic at times. I just don't see anyone being that smooth, or the people who fall at his feet being that stupid.
The Snuggly
Though this story is in some ways YA, it's New Adult when it comes to sex. And there is plenty. We don't get too much detail but this book has a lot of sexual situations.
Final Thoughts
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy was a fun little read. The characters are fun to follow, I just wish more happened in the story. I am looking forward to the next book though. Recommended for people who like novellas.
Quotes
"This is ridiculous, Piper," he said. "And really, it has nothing to do with you--you're using your favor for someone else. Let me find a better way to thank you. One that won't endanger helpless minors."
"That's the problem, Markham," she said. She was close, so close he could practically taste the strawberry of her lip gloss. "You think you get to maneuver and manage everything--even how you repay people. The only way I'll accept your repayment is if it's on my terms."
He looked at her, utterly unmanned. Piper was a formidable adversary--she'd outmaneuvared him. It was such a foreign senesation that he paused for a moment to savor it.
December 13, 2012
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is the first in the Colebrook Confessions series and was written by CC Dalton for Twist Literary. This is the first book in the collection and each is told from a different character’s perspective. I immediately became immersed in the tale and consumed this in no time.
We meet Markham Savoy at the Colebrook Academy as he manipulates and handles both the staff and students of Colebrook Academy. He is from a wealthy family and has contacts in all the right places. He’s like the concierge at the Waldorf who can get you those tickets that are sold out but he doesn’t ask for payment. Instead he says you owe in him a favor. It is clear that students fear and respect him and the female staff bend to his will. While Markham collects and keeps secrets you cannot help but wonder what he plans to do with all of these people and the favors. When it comes to romantic relationships he is a member of the “one night stand club.” He lets the woman know strait up the score and still they fawn all over him. Piper Harrington may just put Markham in his place or turn his world upside down when she demands he owes her a favor for her cooperation.
Markham is a bad boy wrapped in angels clothing. He is smexy, a smooth talker, tells the girls no commitments and loves um and leaves them. He collects favors like the devil collects souls. I did not find a whole lot redeemable about him; however he was very protective of his sister and revelations about what he did for his best friend made my heart soften. His interest in Piper unnerves him and I am anxious to see where this goes. Piper is by the book, totally into school, helps the community and impresses the staff. She is dorm leader and constantly on alert for violators. She is snarky, opinionated and not falling for any of Markham’s charms. We meet Dane (POV for book two), Markham’s best friend and motorcycling riding bad boy. We learned a little about him and that he is Markham’s man or glorified errand boy. Vivianne is another friend who makes an appearance and will be the voice of book three. The characters were all different and had their own voice. While I did not exactly feel all cuddly towards any of them I am reserving my opinion till the end.
I am very curious about the Colebrook Academy as not a lot of information is given. We know most of the students are from families of influence and are overachievers. It’s a boarding school with dorms and the youngest student I encountered was Markham’s fourteen year old sister who is a freshman. I like the concept that Twist Literary has created with this series and their previous series Alibi. Each of the books are about one hundred pages in length and told from a different point of view and written by a new author. I think this gives each character a really unique voice and I love how they blend all of the tales together. It’s kind of like stepping into a virtual reality scene and seeing it unfold as each individual character. This was an exciting start to the series. Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
We meet Markham Savoy at the Colebrook Academy as he manipulates and handles both the staff and students of Colebrook Academy. He is from a wealthy family and has contacts in all the right places. He’s like the concierge at the Waldorf who can get you those tickets that are sold out but he doesn’t ask for payment. Instead he says you owe in him a favor. It is clear that students fear and respect him and the female staff bend to his will. While Markham collects and keeps secrets you cannot help but wonder what he plans to do with all of these people and the favors. When it comes to romantic relationships he is a member of the “one night stand club.” He lets the woman know strait up the score and still they fawn all over him. Piper Harrington may just put Markham in his place or turn his world upside down when she demands he owes her a favor for her cooperation.
Markham is a bad boy wrapped in angels clothing. He is smexy, a smooth talker, tells the girls no commitments and loves um and leaves them. He collects favors like the devil collects souls. I did not find a whole lot redeemable about him; however he was very protective of his sister and revelations about what he did for his best friend made my heart soften. His interest in Piper unnerves him and I am anxious to see where this goes. Piper is by the book, totally into school, helps the community and impresses the staff. She is dorm leader and constantly on alert for violators. She is snarky, opinionated and not falling for any of Markham’s charms. We meet Dane (POV for book two), Markham’s best friend and motorcycling riding bad boy. We learned a little about him and that he is Markham’s man or glorified errand boy. Vivianne is another friend who makes an appearance and will be the voice of book three. The characters were all different and had their own voice. While I did not exactly feel all cuddly towards any of them I am reserving my opinion till the end.
I am very curious about the Colebrook Academy as not a lot of information is given. We know most of the students are from families of influence and are overachievers. It’s a boarding school with dorms and the youngest student I encountered was Markham’s fourteen year old sister who is a freshman. I like the concept that Twist Literary has created with this series and their previous series Alibi. Each of the books are about one hundred pages in length and told from a different point of view and written by a new author. I think this gives each character a really unique voice and I love how they blend all of the tales together. It’s kind of like stepping into a virtual reality scene and seeing it unfold as each individual character. This was an exciting start to the series. Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
August 27, 2013
My Take on this Journey:
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy, By C.C. Dalton, was a novella, the first episodic segment in the ColeBrook Academy Series. The short story is told in the perspective of the main character, Markham Savoy. Each subsequential novella in the series will be told by a different student each time, who attends the ColeBrook Academy.
Markham Savoy is an egotistical, wealthy, strategic, manipulative, scheming, non-commital, unemotional, non-conformist, who not only runs all the students, (especially the females) but also the staff, and anyone else who he can trade favors with. He never gets emotionally involved with women. They are just an arrangement, without commitment, or attachments. All the blond girls know the score, and they still get involved with him, because they can be someone if they have a connection to someone as important as Markham Savoy.
Markham doesn't seem to give a damn about anyone but his younger sister, Hadley, and a girl named Piper Harrington. Piper has Markham's number, and she isn't about to fall for his alluring, sex addictive personality, that sways all the rest of the women in his path. Markham has a thing for Piper because she does not fall prey to his tactics, and pulls in a favor from her to take in Hadley as her roommate, because he doesn't approve of the girl she has been set up with. Markham holds students secrets for favors, expecting return favors when he calls them in, like the Godfather.
Piper is a feisty girl with gorgeous green eyes, and a fiery temper that sets Markham at attention from a young age, and comes back into his life after being away at school for several years. She has a moralistic attitude, and plays by the rules. Pretty much a goodie two shoes. Markham is hoping that she will teach Hadley to follow in her footsteps, so she doesn't fall for one of the male predators on campus, like himself. Markham won't let Hadley grow up, and is still living in the past, calling her by her nick name, and treating her like a child. Hadley isn't having any part of it.
Dane is the motorcycle bad boy, best friend of Markham, a descendant of the Russian Mafia, who has just returned from rehab. He has trouble written all over him, and has a pile of secrets, and some hidden from him that he doesn't even realize. He is loyal to Markham, and does all his dirty work for him, and looks out for Hadley. There is a lot of innuendo going on, and Markham wants to leave his mark on the Academy, and Harvard, and many other places. He is well connected, and there is a huge cliffhanger at the end of the story. There are no secrets revealed, and so many questions unanswered. I am hoping the readers will get answers in the next segment of the series. I really felt the novella was too short to get a real picture about what was going on at the root of it all. It was enough to keep the reader interested, but not enough to get a handle on it.
I give The Secrets of Markham Savoy, by C.C. Dalton, 3 Intriguing, Manipulative, Scheming, Stars!
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy, By C.C. Dalton, was a novella, the first episodic segment in the ColeBrook Academy Series. The short story is told in the perspective of the main character, Markham Savoy. Each subsequential novella in the series will be told by a different student each time, who attends the ColeBrook Academy.
Markham Savoy is an egotistical, wealthy, strategic, manipulative, scheming, non-commital, unemotional, non-conformist, who not only runs all the students, (especially the females) but also the staff, and anyone else who he can trade favors with. He never gets emotionally involved with women. They are just an arrangement, without commitment, or attachments. All the blond girls know the score, and they still get involved with him, because they can be someone if they have a connection to someone as important as Markham Savoy.
Markham doesn't seem to give a damn about anyone but his younger sister, Hadley, and a girl named Piper Harrington. Piper has Markham's number, and she isn't about to fall for his alluring, sex addictive personality, that sways all the rest of the women in his path. Markham has a thing for Piper because she does not fall prey to his tactics, and pulls in a favor from her to take in Hadley as her roommate, because he doesn't approve of the girl she has been set up with. Markham holds students secrets for favors, expecting return favors when he calls them in, like the Godfather.
Piper is a feisty girl with gorgeous green eyes, and a fiery temper that sets Markham at attention from a young age, and comes back into his life after being away at school for several years. She has a moralistic attitude, and plays by the rules. Pretty much a goodie two shoes. Markham is hoping that she will teach Hadley to follow in her footsteps, so she doesn't fall for one of the male predators on campus, like himself. Markham won't let Hadley grow up, and is still living in the past, calling her by her nick name, and treating her like a child. Hadley isn't having any part of it.
Dane is the motorcycle bad boy, best friend of Markham, a descendant of the Russian Mafia, who has just returned from rehab. He has trouble written all over him, and has a pile of secrets, and some hidden from him that he doesn't even realize. He is loyal to Markham, and does all his dirty work for him, and looks out for Hadley. There is a lot of innuendo going on, and Markham wants to leave his mark on the Academy, and Harvard, and many other places. He is well connected, and there is a huge cliffhanger at the end of the story. There are no secrets revealed, and so many questions unanswered. I am hoping the readers will get answers in the next segment of the series. I really felt the novella was too short to get a real picture about what was going on at the root of it all. It was enough to keep the reader interested, but not enough to get a handle on it.
I give The Secrets of Markham Savoy, by C.C. Dalton, 3 Intriguing, Manipulative, Scheming, Stars!
August 16, 2016
3.5 stars. Were this book longer, I think I would have rated it much higher because it's pretty entertaining. Review posted here.
It might be unfair of me to rate Markham Savoy as 3.5 stars because I really did like it; I just didn't like the length. Twist specializes in serialized novellas that create a full story. I think it's intriguing, but honestly, I really liked being in Markham's head. I'm not sure I'll like reading the story from other characters' pov. Also, novellas work as a kind of bonus content because we already know the characters in a book or series; the novella is just extra. With Colebrook, the whole situation is unfamiliar. It seemed like as soon as I got into the story, it was over.
All that being said, I really did enjoy Markham Savoy. Markham is an egotistical, controlling alpha male at his school. He doesn't just enjoy being Top Dog; he thrives on it. Even in such a short space, the folks at Twist were able to create a very believable protagonist. I felt like I knew Markham. Mostly, he just wants to take care of the people around him: himself, his sister Hadley, his best friend and roommate Dane, his good friend Vivianne, and his crush Piper. It's funny that Piper (seemingly) despises Markham, but she is one of the few characters who humanizes him AND can put him in his place. Meanwhile Piper appears to be a well-adjusted, normal girl who focuses on her education and also the well-being of others (an opportunity Markham seizes when they both "save" Hadley from her roomate "situation"), but I bet Piper has a lot going on beneath that cool exterior. I'm really excited to see it. I hope that with the pov change, we'll still see plenty of scenes with Markham and Piper because they're so entertaining together! It's hard to analyze the other characters because their appearances are fairly brief, most only appearing once. I would like to see more of Dane and Vivianne, though, so I am glad that both of them have thier own installment.
There isn't much in the way of action in this installment, but with that ending, I have no doubt the pace will pick up in Dane's story. It's natural for the first quarter to be more introduction. Anyway, it was a good opportunity to see what kind of person Markham is from his own pov first. We see him plotting schemes, seducing girls, and plotting and scheming some more. It seems fairly straight-forward, but someone is going to throw a wrench in all Markham's best laid plans, and then we'll get to see him think and adjust on the fly.
All in all, Markham Savoy is an entertaining and quick read. It's kind of Gossip Girl, but instead of Blair and Serena running the show, this is all Markham, and I like seeing this prissy social scene from the point of view of a guy. Readers may choose to read each installment as it is released or wait for all of them to be out, but either way will go fairly fast.
It might be unfair of me to rate Markham Savoy as 3.5 stars because I really did like it; I just didn't like the length. Twist specializes in serialized novellas that create a full story. I think it's intriguing, but honestly, I really liked being in Markham's head. I'm not sure I'll like reading the story from other characters' pov. Also, novellas work as a kind of bonus content because we already know the characters in a book or series; the novella is just extra. With Colebrook, the whole situation is unfamiliar. It seemed like as soon as I got into the story, it was over.
All that being said, I really did enjoy Markham Savoy. Markham is an egotistical, controlling alpha male at his school. He doesn't just enjoy being Top Dog; he thrives on it. Even in such a short space, the folks at Twist were able to create a very believable protagonist. I felt like I knew Markham. Mostly, he just wants to take care of the people around him: himself, his sister Hadley, his best friend and roommate Dane, his good friend Vivianne, and his crush Piper. It's funny that Piper (seemingly) despises Markham, but she is one of the few characters who humanizes him AND can put him in his place. Meanwhile Piper appears to be a well-adjusted, normal girl who focuses on her education and also the well-being of others (an opportunity Markham seizes when they both "save" Hadley from her roomate "situation"), but I bet Piper has a lot going on beneath that cool exterior. I'm really excited to see it. I hope that with the pov change, we'll still see plenty of scenes with Markham and Piper because they're so entertaining together! It's hard to analyze the other characters because their appearances are fairly brief, most only appearing once. I would like to see more of Dane and Vivianne, though, so I am glad that both of them have thier own installment.
There isn't much in the way of action in this installment, but with that ending, I have no doubt the pace will pick up in Dane's story. It's natural for the first quarter to be more introduction. Anyway, it was a good opportunity to see what kind of person Markham is from his own pov first. We see him plotting schemes, seducing girls, and plotting and scheming some more. It seems fairly straight-forward, but someone is going to throw a wrench in all Markham's best laid plans, and then we'll get to see him think and adjust on the fly.
All in all, Markham Savoy is an entertaining and quick read. It's kind of Gossip Girl, but instead of Blair and Serena running the show, this is all Markham, and I like seeing this prissy social scene from the point of view of a guy. Readers may choose to read each installment as it is released or wait for all of them to be out, but either way will go fairly fast.
August 8, 2013
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is the first installment of the Colebrook Confessions Series. The series it’s told from different point of view, told by the students in the book. I love books that are from different point’s of view, I think it gives you the chance to understand better the characters and to understand the story better.
This book was short, I can’t say I understood Markham well or the big legacy he was talking about, but it was a good book and different from what I've read until now. The story starts with Markham who is with a girl in his door-room, he doesn't even knows her name and he can’t appreciate a person that doesn't knows what beskope means. He has a habit of picking up blonde girls, but none of them are like Piper Harrington. Although Markham has at least one woman in his life that he respects and looks after her, his sister Hadley. She is 14 years old, beautiful and smart but he doesn't let her to make her own mistakes. She is his Cubby, as he loves to call her, because when she was little and it was raining, she would go and hide in the cubbyhole inside the pantry, until her old brother came and rescued her. But Markham doesn't understand that she has grown up, and now she is in school with him, in the Colebrook Academy. He tries to convince her it’s better if she get’s a new roommate, because the one she has now isn't good enough for her. Hadley isn't interested, she wants to make new friends and hang out with her new colleagues, she wants to live a little. But Markham it’s Markham and he can’t have that.
One of Markham best friends it’s Dane, the one who always helps him. He rides a motorcycle, looks all bad boy but he went through a lot. The one thing that Dane doesn't knows is that Markham helped him when he had the drug problems he was the one that got him in rehab and called his dad. The problem is, Markham doesn't have the courage to tell Dane the truth.
After a little talking, Markham convinced Piper to let his sister move in with her, telling her the truth about Dane, considering this is the one truth that will convince Piper to trust him. In order for Hadley to move in with Piper, she had a request, Markham will have to keep every Saturday free and do what she tells him to do.
If you read the book, you will have the chance to get to know other characters as well, such as Vivianne, a little about Audi and Tate. Give it a chance because C.C. Dalton really knows how to write a good book, even if it is short. I can’t wait to read the next books and see what Markham it’s planning. This story really got me curious and left me with a lot of questions. Is Markham going to tell Dane the truth? Is he going to finally admit he is in love with Piper? Is he going to do something about this? Can’t wait to read more about the Colebrook Confessions Series. Thank you for the opportunity of reading this book! I recommend it!
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is the first installment of the Colebrook Confessions Series. The series it’s told from different point of view, told by the students in the book. I love books that are from different point’s of view, I think it gives you the chance to understand better the characters and to understand the story better.
This book was short, I can’t say I understood Markham well or the big legacy he was talking about, but it was a good book and different from what I've read until now. The story starts with Markham who is with a girl in his door-room, he doesn't even knows her name and he can’t appreciate a person that doesn't knows what beskope means. He has a habit of picking up blonde girls, but none of them are like Piper Harrington. Although Markham has at least one woman in his life that he respects and looks after her, his sister Hadley. She is 14 years old, beautiful and smart but he doesn't let her to make her own mistakes. She is his Cubby, as he loves to call her, because when she was little and it was raining, she would go and hide in the cubbyhole inside the pantry, until her old brother came and rescued her. But Markham doesn't understand that she has grown up, and now she is in school with him, in the Colebrook Academy. He tries to convince her it’s better if she get’s a new roommate, because the one she has now isn't good enough for her. Hadley isn't interested, she wants to make new friends and hang out with her new colleagues, she wants to live a little. But Markham it’s Markham and he can’t have that.
One of Markham best friends it’s Dane, the one who always helps him. He rides a motorcycle, looks all bad boy but he went through a lot. The one thing that Dane doesn't knows is that Markham helped him when he had the drug problems he was the one that got him in rehab and called his dad. The problem is, Markham doesn't have the courage to tell Dane the truth.
After a little talking, Markham convinced Piper to let his sister move in with her, telling her the truth about Dane, considering this is the one truth that will convince Piper to trust him. In order for Hadley to move in with Piper, she had a request, Markham will have to keep every Saturday free and do what she tells him to do.
If you read the book, you will have the chance to get to know other characters as well, such as Vivianne, a little about Audi and Tate. Give it a chance because C.C. Dalton really knows how to write a good book, even if it is short. I can’t wait to read the next books and see what Markham it’s planning. This story really got me curious and left me with a lot of questions. Is Markham going to tell Dane the truth? Is he going to finally admit he is in love with Piper? Is he going to do something about this? Can’t wait to read more about the Colebrook Confessions Series. Thank you for the opportunity of reading this book! I recommend it!
August 20, 2013
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy was not what I was expecting, in more ways than one. It's a quick, entertaining read that, while it may not have much going on, still manages to capture life at Colebrook Academy. At the centre of this school is Markham Savoy. Markham deals in secrets and favours, and through that effectively manages the school. He is always in control and he never betrays anything about himself. There's only one exception: Piper Harrington. When he makes an arrangement that involves Piper, he unwittingly finds himself in a position he is unused to: he is in her debt. Forced to give up one of his own secrets and repay a favour, Markham finds himself at the start of something new.
Despite the surprisingly short length, it is very easy to get a sense of how Colebrook Academy works and how Markham is able to keep everyone under his control - well, almost everyone, but I'll get to that in a minute. Markham is an intriguing character. I'm not sure I like how - to put it in Piper's terms - he micromanages everyone, but at the same time I can't help but wonder why he is the way he is. He clearly has his own secrets, and feelings and thoughts that he disguises; even as a reader, I don't know much more about him than any given character he interacts with, and I'm curious to see what hides behind the exterior. The one thing that is made abundantly clear is how much he cares for his younger sister; while he is overprotective by far, he does genuinely love her and want to look out for her.
Piper's character is the one that prevents it from being truly everyone under Markham's thumb. I liked Piper simply for being immune to Markham's charms and being able to see through the pretences and pretty words. It was good to see her stand up to him and actually turn the tables so he was on less sure footing. Since this is in third person narrative but through Markham's perspective, we only see her through his eyes - and yet it's enough to know that she is a strong character. Dalton doesn't make this into a romance despite the fact that our protagonist likes her, and I was glad of that. Still, it's clear that Piper's effect on him is a positive one, which leaves me hopeful that we'll see more character growth as the series progresses, despite the fact that each narrative revolves around a different character.
The synopsis doesn't really prepare you for what lies in these pages, but don't let that put you off. The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy was a decent read that I got through in no time at all, and is written in such a way that the reader can automatically understand both the world and the characters. It sets a good basis for the rest of the series.
This review is also posted on my blog.
Despite the surprisingly short length, it is very easy to get a sense of how Colebrook Academy works and how Markham is able to keep everyone under his control - well, almost everyone, but I'll get to that in a minute. Markham is an intriguing character. I'm not sure I like how - to put it in Piper's terms - he micromanages everyone, but at the same time I can't help but wonder why he is the way he is. He clearly has his own secrets, and feelings and thoughts that he disguises; even as a reader, I don't know much more about him than any given character he interacts with, and I'm curious to see what hides behind the exterior. The one thing that is made abundantly clear is how much he cares for his younger sister; while he is overprotective by far, he does genuinely love her and want to look out for her.
Piper's character is the one that prevents it from being truly everyone under Markham's thumb. I liked Piper simply for being immune to Markham's charms and being able to see through the pretences and pretty words. It was good to see her stand up to him and actually turn the tables so he was on less sure footing. Since this is in third person narrative but through Markham's perspective, we only see her through his eyes - and yet it's enough to know that she is a strong character. Dalton doesn't make this into a romance despite the fact that our protagonist likes her, and I was glad of that. Still, it's clear that Piper's effect on him is a positive one, which leaves me hopeful that we'll see more character growth as the series progresses, despite the fact that each narrative revolves around a different character.
The synopsis doesn't really prepare you for what lies in these pages, but don't let that put you off. The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy was a decent read that I got through in no time at all, and is written in such a way that the reader can automatically understand both the world and the characters. It sets a good basis for the rest of the series.
This review is also posted on my blog.
August 16, 2013
*Also posted at Oops! I Read A Book Again*
Thank you to Shane of Itching for Books Blog Tours for the review copy. Still, all of these are my honest opinions.
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy introduces us to the world of Colebrook Academy series. While I knew going in that it was only a novella, I didn't realize it was this short! But I have to give props to the author because TDSoMS surely paved the way for the whole series. It didn't waste any time and introduced us to Markham Savoy and the several other key characters in Colebrook Academy who will get to know in the next installments. This installment was narrated from Markham's POV and serves more of a peek into what is happening in this school.
Being in Markham's perspective, we get to glimpse who he's pining for and what he really is in his school. He's famous but for an altogether different reason. Loving the meta when Piper said it herself that Markham is like a mafia don. Which what he is. He does favors in exchange for favors, honesty and loyalty. I totally had some Don Vito Corleone vibes with how he runs the school. Not only students but even school administrators. If he want something, he can definitely get it. But what he can't get is the one thing, or girl, he wants. That's Piper Harrington. Piper is deadset on her negative impression of Markham but once he actually makes her see what he really is, I did like the Markham underneath. Wish it was always there but of course, a man has to keep pretenses.
Though categorized as a new adult novel, the characters are in high school. Okay, they're in a boarding school and I love the boarding school set-up. Which makes me go in disbelief a bit because how can a high school kid be THIS powerful? Like a mafia don? Moreover, I don't know if it's really the way it is in schools yonder but these kids are wild! I guess my high school experience and environment was just too different and too tame for these kids. But if you believe Gossip Girl or at least buy it, I think this novel won't weird you out one bit. (And yes, I find Gossip Girl unbelievable.) I think I wouldn't have this issue if the story was set in college.
All in all, The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy made me interested in the Colebrook Academy series as it has introduced characters fort the first three installments and I definitely want to check out the next one, especially as it focuses on the Russian badboy Dane. Oh my.
Thank you to Shane of Itching for Books Blog Tours for the review copy. Still, all of these are my honest opinions.
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy introduces us to the world of Colebrook Academy series. While I knew going in that it was only a novella, I didn't realize it was this short! But I have to give props to the author because TDSoMS surely paved the way for the whole series. It didn't waste any time and introduced us to Markham Savoy and the several other key characters in Colebrook Academy who will get to know in the next installments. This installment was narrated from Markham's POV and serves more of a peek into what is happening in this school.
Being in Markham's perspective, we get to glimpse who he's pining for and what he really is in his school. He's famous but for an altogether different reason. Loving the meta when Piper said it herself that Markham is like a mafia don. Which what he is. He does favors in exchange for favors, honesty and loyalty. I totally had some Don Vito Corleone vibes with how he runs the school. Not only students but even school administrators. If he want something, he can definitely get it. But what he can't get is the one thing, or girl, he wants. That's Piper Harrington. Piper is deadset on her negative impression of Markham but once he actually makes her see what he really is, I did like the Markham underneath. Wish it was always there but of course, a man has to keep pretenses.
Though categorized as a new adult novel, the characters are in high school. Okay, they're in a boarding school and I love the boarding school set-up. Which makes me go in disbelief a bit because how can a high school kid be THIS powerful? Like a mafia don? Moreover, I don't know if it's really the way it is in schools yonder but these kids are wild! I guess my high school experience and environment was just too different and too tame for these kids. But if you believe Gossip Girl or at least buy it, I think this novel won't weird you out one bit. (And yes, I find Gossip Girl unbelievable.) I think I wouldn't have this issue if the story was set in college.
All in all, The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy made me interested in the Colebrook Academy series as it has introduced characters fort the first three installments and I definitely want to check out the next one, especially as it focuses on the Russian badboy Dane. Oh my.
August 13, 2013
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is the first book in the Colebrook Academy series. It's one of those books that I would call a young adult/ new adult crossover. It could go either way depending on the later books but it is hard to tell which direction it will lean just on this book alone. I liked The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy and I think the series could be something I would get easily addicted to. It was more of a foundation book than a plot advancing book though. It sets up the characters and it does some really good development to get to know each of them.
Markham is an interesting guy. He comes from a super rich, super powerful old family and because of his connections, he basically runs Colebrook Academy. I mean, really runs. He can make pretty much anything happen, and at one point piper referred to him as a mafia don and I thought that was such a great comparison. But what I did like about him, is that he is really smart and well read. And he has the biggest soft spot for his younger sister.
Piper is an awesome chick. She is smart, strong and has a wicked dry sense of humor. Even though Markham was the main character in the story, I kind of saw him through Piper's eyes. Don't get me wrong, I have a slightly higher opinion of him than she did for most of the book. (she really thought he was scum) She gets to see glimpses of the real Markham and that was what her and I both liked the most. I felt like I really connected with Piper.
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is set in an exclusive high school academy, so it not the most original plot, but to me it is a classic. One scenario that I feel can be done in so many different ways, so I still enjoy it a lot. And I liked C.C. Dalton's take on the prep school experience. The book was a little short, which might be why I didn't think a ton of stuff happened, other than the character and background development. That is why I am so excited to read the second book in the series, because I feel like that is where we will really get rolling and I think everything is set up for this to be an awesome series.
Markham is an interesting guy. He comes from a super rich, super powerful old family and because of his connections, he basically runs Colebrook Academy. I mean, really runs. He can make pretty much anything happen, and at one point piper referred to him as a mafia don and I thought that was such a great comparison. But what I did like about him, is that he is really smart and well read. And he has the biggest soft spot for his younger sister.
Piper is an awesome chick. She is smart, strong and has a wicked dry sense of humor. Even though Markham was the main character in the story, I kind of saw him through Piper's eyes. Don't get me wrong, I have a slightly higher opinion of him than she did for most of the book. (she really thought he was scum) She gets to see glimpses of the real Markham and that was what her and I both liked the most. I felt like I really connected with Piper.
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is set in an exclusive high school academy, so it not the most original plot, but to me it is a classic. One scenario that I feel can be done in so many different ways, so I still enjoy it a lot. And I liked C.C. Dalton's take on the prep school experience. The book was a little short, which might be why I didn't think a ton of stuff happened, other than the character and background development. That is why I am so excited to read the second book in the series, because I feel like that is where we will really get rolling and I think everything is set up for this to be an awesome series.
August 9, 2013
*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
As you can see in the blurb above, The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is the first installment in the Colebrook Academy Series. The key word here is installment. This is not a stand alone novel, but rather the first part of a series. This book will leave you hanging. The next installment picks up where this one left off but from a different character's point of view. Another interesting thing to note is that each installment is written by a different author. See Twist Literary for more information.
Markham is an interesting character. As much as I wanted to hate him, I just couldn't. He's the king of all players. His intelligence and ingenuity are amazing, though, his self-restraint could use some work. I almost felt sorry for Markham as he suffered through one amusing disaster after another featuring his love interest Piper Harrington. Almost. I couldn't get past the smirking to arrive at pity.
Other characters are introduced briefly that will play a part in the next installments. Gospodin Danya (Dane of the next book) is the son of a Russian mobster with a penchant for trouble. He was just released from rehab and keeping clean may prove to be too much for Dane. Vivianne Benthurst (of the third book) has a wit and backbone to match Markham, plus she's immune to his charms which makes her aces in my book.
So just when the story was getting pretty good, it ended. It's a bit unsatisfying to reach the end and be left dangling like that. I mean it was just suddenly over mid story (though I do want to know what happens next). Amazon estimates the book at approximately 51 pages. It's a lightning fast read, less than an hour. This series is upper YA/borderline new adult, containing sex, drugs, alcohol, and poor decisions. It's no worse than most R rated movies so let's go with 17+ for the age recommendation. I thought the characters were interesting and the plot has potential, so I'll read the next installments.
As you can see in the blurb above, The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is the first installment in the Colebrook Academy Series. The key word here is installment. This is not a stand alone novel, but rather the first part of a series. This book will leave you hanging. The next installment picks up where this one left off but from a different character's point of view. Another interesting thing to note is that each installment is written by a different author. See Twist Literary for more information.
Markham is an interesting character. As much as I wanted to hate him, I just couldn't. He's the king of all players. His intelligence and ingenuity are amazing, though, his self-restraint could use some work. I almost felt sorry for Markham as he suffered through one amusing disaster after another featuring his love interest Piper Harrington. Almost. I couldn't get past the smirking to arrive at pity.
Other characters are introduced briefly that will play a part in the next installments. Gospodin Danya (Dane of the next book) is the son of a Russian mobster with a penchant for trouble. He was just released from rehab and keeping clean may prove to be too much for Dane. Vivianne Benthurst (of the third book) has a wit and backbone to match Markham, plus she's immune to his charms which makes her aces in my book.
So just when the story was getting pretty good, it ended. It's a bit unsatisfying to reach the end and be left dangling like that. I mean it was just suddenly over mid story (though I do want to know what happens next). Amazon estimates the book at approximately 51 pages. It's a lightning fast read, less than an hour. This series is upper YA/borderline new adult, containing sex, drugs, alcohol, and poor decisions. It's no worse than most R rated movies so let's go with 17+ for the age recommendation. I thought the characters were interesting and the plot has potential, so I'll read the next installments.
September 4, 2013
Never a dull moment. I was pleasantly surprised by how invigorating Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy was throughout the forty plus pages. The story was swift, entertaining, witty, and delightful at all ends.
Markham is quite a piece of work. His playboyish and cocky attitude should have turned my stomach but I found him rather amusing. Clearly he thinks he's on top of the world (particularly Colebrook Academy and all the girls within it) but falters in the presence of one very opinionated and no-nonsense girl. Piper. I liked how sharp her tongue was and how she would counteract everything Markham would say. She's like his kryptonite and I can't wait to see how their relationship take flight in the rest of the series, especially with Piper accepting Markham's arrangement involving his sister.
I also liked how I got to get a feel for what the other characters in the series are all about, in regards to their personality and individual issues. Dane seemed like the one with deeper problems; his run far beyond Markham's issues with commitment and I'd like to explore Dane's life a bit further. As far as Vivianne goes, I have an idea of what the deal is with her as hinted by Markham. I get a sense that she's pretty overprotective but I wonder just how blurred the line is when it comes to overprotectiveness and desire. I guess I have to wait for her installment to find out.
Overall, Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is really interesting. A tantalizing start to what I presume to be a tasteful series. It embodies humor, intelligence, graphical descriptions, and a lustful atmosphere that is pretty tamed for the modest but enjoyable by the open-minded. If you love new adult contemporary with a academical journey, then you'll enjoy this one. I certainly did.
Markham is quite a piece of work. His playboyish and cocky attitude should have turned my stomach but I found him rather amusing. Clearly he thinks he's on top of the world (particularly Colebrook Academy and all the girls within it) but falters in the presence of one very opinionated and no-nonsense girl. Piper. I liked how sharp her tongue was and how she would counteract everything Markham would say. She's like his kryptonite and I can't wait to see how their relationship take flight in the rest of the series, especially with Piper accepting Markham's arrangement involving his sister.
I also liked how I got to get a feel for what the other characters in the series are all about, in regards to their personality and individual issues. Dane seemed like the one with deeper problems; his run far beyond Markham's issues with commitment and I'd like to explore Dane's life a bit further. As far as Vivianne goes, I have an idea of what the deal is with her as hinted by Markham. I get a sense that she's pretty overprotective but I wonder just how blurred the line is when it comes to overprotectiveness and desire. I guess I have to wait for her installment to find out.
Overall, Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is really interesting. A tantalizing start to what I presume to be a tasteful series. It embodies humor, intelligence, graphical descriptions, and a lustful atmosphere that is pretty tamed for the modest but enjoyable by the open-minded. If you love new adult contemporary with a academical journey, then you'll enjoy this one. I certainly did.
August 19, 2013
(View this review on My Library in the Making.)
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is a unique book in that it's really short, kind of like a novella in length, and it made me think of the first episode of a new TV series where you're introduced to the story, the main characters, and their issues, then poof, you have to wait for the second episode to know more. This might put off readers who want a complete story arc by the end of a book, and I'm usually one of them, but not with this one.
I've watched every single episode of Gossip Girl, and from that you can deduce that I have a thing for egotistical teens who wreak havoc with their fat bank accounts and act like they own the world, and Markham Savoy was exactly that... and more. He's smart, practical, and an environmentalist too, but like most great men, a great woman was his undoing.
I finished this book in one hour, but that wasn't just because of the length. The plot was very interesting and progressed fast that I couldn't stop reading. It wasn't just Markham who made the story compelling—the other characters also had a lot to do with that. Strangely enough, the one character who I found a tad bit boring was the girl of Markham's dreams, Piper Harrington, but I sensed an underlying complexity to her so I guess she'll get better in the next books.
If you can't already tell, I totally enjoyed The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy. It had me at page one because I genuinely wanted to know more about Markham and his world. I recommend it to people looking for a short, light read, and I'm certainly eager to read the next books!
MY FAVORITE PART is Markham repaying Piper. So adorable!
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is a unique book in that it's really short, kind of like a novella in length, and it made me think of the first episode of a new TV series where you're introduced to the story, the main characters, and their issues, then poof, you have to wait for the second episode to know more. This might put off readers who want a complete story arc by the end of a book, and I'm usually one of them, but not with this one.
I've watched every single episode of Gossip Girl, and from that you can deduce that I have a thing for egotistical teens who wreak havoc with their fat bank accounts and act like they own the world, and Markham Savoy was exactly that... and more. He's smart, practical, and an environmentalist too, but like most great men, a great woman was his undoing.
I finished this book in one hour, but that wasn't just because of the length. The plot was very interesting and progressed fast that I couldn't stop reading. It wasn't just Markham who made the story compelling—the other characters also had a lot to do with that. Strangely enough, the one character who I found a tad bit boring was the girl of Markham's dreams, Piper Harrington, but I sensed an underlying complexity to her so I guess she'll get better in the next books.
If you can't already tell, I totally enjoyed The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy. It had me at page one because I genuinely wanted to know more about Markham and his world. I recommend it to people looking for a short, light read, and I'm certainly eager to read the next books!
MY FAVORITE PART is Markham repaying Piper. So adorable!
August 16, 2013
Review Originally Posted at: Book Freak
It reminded me of...
The Dirty Secrets of Markhan Savoy is the first installment of the Colebrook Academy Series. Here we are introduced to Markham, who can make anything possible for the students of Colebrook Academy. Of course, the favors are not for free, they come with a price. A favor for a favor – sounds fair. Sounds a little bit of unrealistic for high school – how can these people be able to manipulate others at this age?!
He was a master manipulator and I hated his ego. The only thing that I like about him is he takes care of people close to him – like his sister and his best friend. The town-scene also gave readers a glimpse of what he could be like outside the portals of the school – it was highly unlike him, but I found it cute. It shows that he too has a heart.
We also met Piper, his ultimate dream girl, someone who is out of his reach. She was intelligent, responsible, a good girl – his total opposite (or not!). They have already crossed paths, and she didn’t seem to like him. But when an opportunity arise for them to bump into each other more often, he took the opportunity without any second thoughts.
This is just the first part of the four-book series told in several points of view by the students of Colebrook. This one is short but enough to get your head into the series. Like me, I’m sure you would be curious as to what is going to happen next.
*ARC Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.
It reminded me of...
The Dirty Secrets of Markhan Savoy is the first installment of the Colebrook Academy Series. Here we are introduced to Markham, who can make anything possible for the students of Colebrook Academy. Of course, the favors are not for free, they come with a price. A favor for a favor – sounds fair. Sounds a little bit of unrealistic for high school – how can these people be able to manipulate others at this age?!
He was a master manipulator and I hated his ego. The only thing that I like about him is he takes care of people close to him – like his sister and his best friend. The town-scene also gave readers a glimpse of what he could be like outside the portals of the school – it was highly unlike him, but I found it cute. It shows that he too has a heart.
We also met Piper, his ultimate dream girl, someone who is out of his reach. She was intelligent, responsible, a good girl – his total opposite (or not!). They have already crossed paths, and she didn’t seem to like him. But when an opportunity arise for them to bump into each other more often, he took the opportunity without any second thoughts.
This is just the first part of the four-book series told in several points of view by the students of Colebrook. This one is short but enough to get your head into the series. Like me, I’m sure you would be curious as to what is going to happen next.
*ARC Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2012
This is my second time reading a book published by Twist Literary (read my review of the Alibi series here), and I really enjoyed this unique concept. The books are written in short installments, with each installment from a different person's point of view. I like that kind of writing, as it allows the reader to really get to know each character in the series.
Book one, The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy, is told from Markham's perspective. Markham reminded me a lot of Chuck Bass from the Gossip Girl television series. He had that same controlling personality, wealth, and need to manipulate everyone around him. Those are not particular qualitites which I admire, so it was hard for me to really like Markham. His one saving grace was the way he watches out for and takes care of his younger sister (heavy-handed though his actions may be).
Markham was like a 'handler' for the students of Colebrook Academy. He does favors for people in exchange for those people owing him a favor in return one day. The entire way he operated seemed pretty unrealistic for a high-school student, but hey, I'm not exactly living in the world of the super-rich, so what would I know?
I liked that The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy had a lot of surprises and intrigue. It kept me guessing as to what would happen next. I liked seeing Markham play with the children at the town's benefit, because it showed a softer side to his character.
I would recommend the Colebrook Confessions series to fans of contemporary YA. I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series!
Book one, The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy, is told from Markham's perspective. Markham reminded me a lot of Chuck Bass from the Gossip Girl television series. He had that same controlling personality, wealth, and need to manipulate everyone around him. Those are not particular qualitites which I admire, so it was hard for me to really like Markham. His one saving grace was the way he watches out for and takes care of his younger sister (heavy-handed though his actions may be).
Markham was like a 'handler' for the students of Colebrook Academy. He does favors for people in exchange for those people owing him a favor in return one day. The entire way he operated seemed pretty unrealistic for a high-school student, but hey, I'm not exactly living in the world of the super-rich, so what would I know?
I liked that The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy had a lot of surprises and intrigue. It kept me guessing as to what would happen next. I liked seeing Markham play with the children at the town's benefit, because it showed a softer side to his character.
I would recommend the Colebrook Confessions series to fans of contemporary YA. I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series!
August 29, 2014
To read this review and more, go to my blog!
Quite honestly, I have no idea what I just read. I felt like I opened the TV in the middle of an episode of a series I've never heard of, but instead of changing the channel, stayed and tried to figure out what was going on.
"Will the dirty secrets of Markham Savoy be his crowning glory...or his undoing?"
Good question, synopsis! I've no freaking clue. Because we didn't actually get that far in this book. This extremely short novella just stops before anything really happens. And in between, I also felt like I was missing pieces and information.
For example!:
The summery of this book is very misleading, or should I say revealing instead?
"Markham is in the business of making problems disappear" say what? When was that mentioned/showed in this book, ever? All we heard was him talking about his 'special brand of success' and speaking of his gazillion vague meetings. The only thing we actually saw him doing was help a student get together with a teacher. Where in all this was it mentioned, even once, that he makes problems disappear? Seriously, I learned more from this line about Markham's business than I did the entire story!
To read the rest of the review, go here!
Quite honestly, I have no idea what I just read. I felt like I opened the TV in the middle of an episode of a series I've never heard of, but instead of changing the channel, stayed and tried to figure out what was going on.
"Will the dirty secrets of Markham Savoy be his crowning glory...or his undoing?"
Good question, synopsis! I've no freaking clue. Because we didn't actually get that far in this book. This extremely short novella just stops before anything really happens. And in between, I also felt like I was missing pieces and information.
For example!:
The summery of this book is very misleading, or should I say revealing instead?
"Markham is in the business of making problems disappear" say what? When was that mentioned/showed in this book, ever? All we heard was him talking about his 'special brand of success' and speaking of his gazillion vague meetings. The only thing we actually saw him doing was help a student get together with a teacher. Where in all this was it mentioned, even once, that he makes problems disappear? Seriously, I learned more from this line about Markham's business than I did the entire story!
To read the rest of the review, go here!
May 21, 2013
This honestly wasn't what I was expecting at all. I wish I could say I feel in love with Markham but I didn't. The usual bad boy cocky attitude just didn't do it for me this time, which, I admit is pretty unuaual. Other than his love for his sister the boy didn't have a whole lot of redeeming qualities. I wasn't even sure I liked Piper very much either, I am curious how the other books will play out but I don't know if I am curious enough to give the series another go. I just don't think this was the read for me.
August 4, 2013
I'm not sure this is the new thing in eBooks but I'm not really a fan of these novella's that are released a section at a time telling just a little bit but to really read the whole story you need to buy them all. Why aren't they released as an entire book? Markham Savoy rules Colebrook Academy. He's the boy in charge if you need anything. All he asks is for the favor to be returned. You are introduced to several characters but not much happens and the story leaves off right when something is happening. I'll stick to novels.
July 28, 2013
4.5 enthusiastically unique stars
Full review to come, but this book is SHORT. So, please be aware of the full scope of what this book and the entire series is about before you dive in. Truly unique. Kudos to CC.
Full review to come, but this book is SHORT. So, please be aware of the full scope of what this book and the entire series is about before you dive in. Truly unique. Kudos to CC.
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