Book Love: Secondhand Giveaway- Matched

Hello, beautiful blogger people! I am so glad that you stopped by!

What's that? You want to know what our Book Love Giveaway is??

I oblige.

I have decided it was high time for me to pay attention to the beautiful pre-owned books that seem to not get as much attention as they should.

Beautiful? you ask.

Yes, beautiful!

Although, some of the books I will be giving away are not in spectacular shape, they are still worth reading. So, we are going to be calling these books "Beautifully Loved Books."

So, onward to the giveaway! Yay!

This month, I will bestow on you 
Matched by Ally Condie 

 (From Goodreads)

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

I found Matched to be a fantastic Dystopian read, and hope that you will too! You can find my review HERE

Here are my giveaway terms:

*You must be 13 or older to win.

*You must live in the US.

Along with this giveaway, I would be ecstatic if The Book Love would keep on going! If you should win, all I ask if that you will either:

1. Continue the love and give the book to your local library,
2. Continue the love and donate the book,
3. or continue with your own Secondhand Giveaway.

Giveaway is from July 17 until July 23rd at midnight. 

You can enter Giveaway HERE!

Lets keep the love going!

Good luck to you! 

Review- Matched by Allie Condie

Matched by Allie Condie

Pages: 384

Publication Date: November 30, 2010

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

 

In the Society, Officials decide.

Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

      Cassia has always trusted their choices. It's hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one... until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now, Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no one else has ever dared follow- between perfection and passion. 

Cassia was absolutely thrilled that her Match ceremony was coming up. Who wouldn't be? The Society Matches you to your perfect mate to reach an optimal life. Not only that, but the Society helps you reach your optimal weight, health, family, even the optimal age and death. So, it was all so perfect when Cassia was Matched with Xander, her best friend. They would be married, and have the perfect... no, optimal life.

Until another face appears on her Port screen.

Was it an accident?

I fell into Matched so quickly. They story of the "optimal" Society sucked me right in. A life where no decisions have to be made. It intrigued a small part of my mind, while the other, larger part of my mind screamed "Resist! Revolt!". I wanted to know what Cassia would choose to do.

It turns out that the Society can take away all your choices, but it can never take away your freedom of thought.

Allie Condie make clever changes to Cassia's thoughts throughout the story. When that second face on her Port screen showed, you could almost hear a click in Cassia's thoughts, taking them from the Society's to her own. 

The meandering, winding romance that blossoms from Cassia and Ky's time spent together is a tad slow for my liking, but it ending up being a fabulous way to build up to the realization of love.
I do also wonder if there is a greater plan at work in this perfect world. Who could be behind it?

Matched was well written, the characters lovely, and the romance adorable. This Dystopian romance is heated, and blazes through the cold shadow of the "Society".

So good. What a great read!

     

Trailer Teaser

Trailer Teaser is to tease you, my readers!, with a book trailer that I love! Enjoy!

Matched by Allie Condie 

I fell in love with Matched, and the characters love. My lips are zipped... I just had to put up this Trailer :D

Are you thoroughly teased??

Teaser Tuesday (2)

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week, my teaser comes from Matched by Ally Condie. Enjoy!

"My hearts stops, and I can't believe what I see. A face come back into view on the port in front of me.

It is not Xander."
pg. 35


Did I peek anyone's interest?? I hope so! I just began reading Matched, and I am already addicted.
Happy Shooting, Junkies!

 

In My Mailbox Monday (2)

 

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren that gives readers the chance to share the books they bought/received/swapped/rented over the past week.

This week, I picked up a copy of Matched!!!

Author: Ally Condie
384 pgs.
Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: November30, 2010


Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

I have been waiting for this one for a while now! I am just recently falling in love with Dystopia reads, thanks to The Hunger Games. I also adore a good romance.

As I am talking about Matched at the moment, I would like to mention just how much I crave the cover of this book. The cover is so simple, but seems to say a million and one things at a time. To me, it speaks of a woman that is trapped in a world that she doesn't necessarily care for, but does it because it is what she knows.

The sequel Crossed (down below, out on November 1, 2011 )

speaks to me of that woman finally able to break free of her hold on this life. It reminds me of myself, once upon a time.

I can not wait to pick this one up! I hope it is as addicting as I think it will be!

My next pick was Water for Elephants.   

Author: Sara Gruen
350 pgs.
Algonquin  Books
Release Date: April 9, 2007

An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of Riding Lessons. 
When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her. 
Beautifully written, Water for Elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford.

Water for Elephants has also been on my list for a while. I know, I know, it's not a YA, but the story sounds so amazing, that I just couldn't help myself. I have also been told by a few people how freakin' great it is!

I love romances!

Happy Shooting, Junkies!