Blog tour: The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy

Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Pub Date: August 6, 2013
Publisher: Twist Literary
Genre: New/young adult contemporary dramatic romance
Format/Source: DRC, giveaway prize
Status: Book 1 of the Colebrook Academy series

I received The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review as part of the blog tour, which was set up by Shane from Itching for Books. The rest of the tour schedule can be seen here.

Summary:

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?

Review:

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.

Favorite Quotes:

1. "I wish every girl was as strong and pragmatic as you, Vivianne."

"Yes, but then you'd never get laid, Markham."

2. "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."

3. "Pull up a seat, Piper. The show is just about to start--you see Derek is an alter ego for the dread Captain Bone Crusher of the pirate ship Blood Viper, while Sarah is the empress of Calponia. They've been at war for"--he glanced at his watch--"forty-five minutes."

"And who are you?" Her smile was playful and sweet. Markham's heart thudded a little faster. Piper could be a serious liability to any boy less disciplined than himself.

"I'm God," he said. When she rolled her eyes he said, "No really, they worship me on Calponia and seven other imaginary island chains. Sit." He patted the edge of his chaise. "We're in need of a lesser female deity."

4. "A little birdie told me you brought a girl into the boys' locker room," Piper said.

"And here you are," Markham said. "Proof positive. A self-fulfilling prophesy."

"Not me," Piper said. "I don't count."

"Piper," Markham said. "We really need to work on that self-esteem. Repeat after me: I, Piper, am a unique and special individual."

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Links:
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy on Goodreads
Twist Literary official site