Begin Again

This book had me till the very end. Kaden is as moody as he comes and Allie with her insecurities and zest for life has him looking at life in a new way. I found their back and forth take on their feelings and relationship to be quite engaging, because though they loved each other, they had so many issues and unresolved emotions from their past to deal with.

Allie had just moved into a new place and had four years of college to look forward to and the author smoothly introduced other characters who would become good friends to see her through. I loved Dawn’s commitment and loyalty to their friendship. I also had the distinct feeling that she had some issues to deal with and given that this book is part of a trilogy I cannot wait to read Dawn’s story.

The pace is great, the introduction of nature and the outdoors in the form of Kaden and Allie’s hiking trips was a fresh outlook for me. I love the outdoors.

Of course, what’s college or new adult without some stuck-up personalities and Sawyer did make an appearance if not once, but twice!

On flow, I’d say that it was smooth because I read it in one sitting and that says a lot about how engrossed I was.

I am grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I’d also love to send my love to the author, Mona, for writing such a great read! Danke schön!

I loved it! I devoured it! Those of you who like the broody, jerkface alpha male, this book is for you.

Allie has escaped her family life to begin again at college. She just needs a place to live. Turns out, dorms are already full, and she needs an apartment. Not as easy as she thought. And then she has the pleasure of applying as a roommate with Kaden. TALK ABOUT JERK!!!! OMG, he was straight out nasty and rude, but I loved that first initial meeting and his "don't care" attitude.

There's more to Kaden than he lets show, and I just really, really liked him.....jerk or not! LOL!

Great storyline and like I said it was just an easy read with the right amount of perfection!

OH the feels I absolutely loved the characters and the story line. his book would be a great addition to anyone's must read summer list.

WOW is what comes to mind when I think of this book. this book recently got translated into English and I'm so glad it did. This book was seriously unexpected that is for sure It was an amazing read that I spent until 3am finishing it off because I could not put it down.

First book I read of this author as all her books are in German I'm hoping that it is not the last one that will be translated into English as I want to read the rest of the series , I'm also hoping it comes out on paperback one day because I need.

Kaden is one hell of a hot tortured guy who instantly became my new book boyfriend, and Allie I loved just as much. The way there relationship is slow and that's how I like it they hate each other at first but slowly a friendship is formed rules are broken and soon hearts as well. This book is a rollercoaster it made me feel love, humour at the way they fought, heartbreak, frustration, and angry I hated a few characters in this book and I'm sure everyone who reads this book will hate them just as much lol..This book is a hidden Gem. DEFINATELY AN AMAZING UNEXPECTED READ AND I RECOMMEND THIS TO EVERYONE...I CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE HOPE ITS SOON.

What I think about ... :

... the story:
I loved the story from the very first page on. It just drew me in and I could not stop reading as I just needed to know what would happen, why Allie left her family and everything she knew from her old life behind. I also wanted to know what happened to Kaden to behave like this and to keep Allie at a distance even tough he obviously likes her.

... the characters:
Allie was quite a fascinating character. The more you, as a reader, get to know her, the more you are surprised about her character, her motives, what happened to her and how she could become the person she is, even though all the stuff of her past could possibly make her a whole different person.
At first I just couldn't understand who she left her family and old life behind like this. I am quite a family person and even tough I do live quite a distance away from my family, I frequently visit them. For Allie it was just not like this and I simply could not understand why, until everything was reveled and showed, how much her own mum made her chose to leave her family behind.
I really liked Kaden, even though he really was an asshole at times and sometimes I really just wanted to hit him in the face - hard.
But as the story progressed more and more is revealed about Kaden and why he behaves like he does so that I just could not be angry at him anymore.
And he really can be romantic, as the end shows.
I really liked how their relationship developed and how they get to know each other as time goes by.
Execpt for Allie and Kaden, I also really liked Dawn, Allie's best friend and Spencer, who is Kaden's best friend. I just love both of their characters and really look forward to learn more about them in the second book.

What I loved the most:
The story, the characters and most all the emotions you feel throughout the story. I cried, I laughed and I just hoped that everything would be alright at the end.
I really loved the writing style as well.

What I did not like:
Nothing.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars.
I just loved this book and really recommend it to everyone who loves cute romances and New Adult stories.
I really can't wait for the second book, so get to know the whole story of Dawn.

Allie and Kaden's lives are more intertwined than they think. Upon their first meeting, Kaden believes that Allie is a dude looking to rent the extra room in his apartment - based on the signature at the end of the emails they've exchanged, "A. Harper" is not who Kaden thinks. When Allie shows up at his apartment for the showing, Kaden and Allie begin to clash, Kaden's arrogant cocky attitude and Allie's sassy, independent voice are no match for one another.

This novel blew me out of the water. It is my first novel by Mona Kasten, and by the looks of it it won't certainly be my last. I really enjoyed this book, the balance between romance, comedy and drama - I applaud the author she really outdid herself on this novel! The romance had me swooning, frustrated (in more than one way, if you know what I mean) and pining for my own personal Kaden White!

I highly recommend this novel, it is a must read for me if you're into the light romance with a little bit of drama and twists put in here and there. It definitely isn't a dark romance, erotic or anything near any of those genres. It's the perfect feel-good romance that you'll enjoy and that'll pull at your heart strings in ways you didn't even know a novel could!

Wow, oh wow, this is the first book I have read from this Author and it was fantastic. I can't recommend it enough. The day I started I could barely put it down carrying the damn kindle around with me. The writing is very good and has a fast paced plot. It's the the good girl meets the bad slightly broken unwilling to commit bad boy, tattoos and all. As a new freshman in Oregon Allie has just moved to get away from her parents and needs an apartment to share when she meets bad boy Kaden with who she has to share the apartment with. I really enjoyed this book from the first page until the last.

Allie presents as a privileged young woman who is running from her overbearing parents for reasons unknown until midway through the book. She is looking for a place to rent and meets Kaden who has a room to rent out and his attitude is included.

Kaden has recently separated (unpleasantly) from his girlfriend and presently has a very negative outlook toward female relationships in general. He has some other deep seeded issues which he has canvassed, cryptically, on his skin by way of tats which is divulged halfway through the book as well.

This is my first read of author Mona Kasten and I enjoyed it. The easy, fluid banter and flow between Allie and Kaden as well as the supporting characters makes for an easy, fun and chill read. It's an angst-free, NA, feel-good story about two people who are running from their past and seeking a future free of reigns and find what they're looking for in one another. Definitely recommend.


*** Thank you, Netgalley via the publisher, for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review. ***

I stayed up way to late to finish reading this book. A kind of coming of age book where Allie tries to find out who she wants to be and finds love with Kaden. The story was exciting as you could relate to Allie's introduction to her new found freedom and how she looked at her environment and her new friends. Allie and Kaden both had deep issues they had to deal with from their past. I could relate emotionally with their angst. It was a compelling story from page one and as I mentioned above I could not put it down. I smiled and was sad and sighed and was glad that they found their HFN status. I voluntarily received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley. I highly recommend it.

This is the first book that I've read from Mona Kasten and I have to say I was quite amazed of her talent! The author's writing style isn't very typical. It's a bit fast paced at times and then slows down its pace just so you can catch up. Definitely a very unique writing style!
I really enjoyed reading Begin Again. There's a definite mystery going on throughout the story and in the beginning hints are dropped here and there about Allie just enough to whet your appetite. She's hiding from a past that she's obviously ashamed of and want to forget entirely. As she's trying to grapple new college life and living with a male roommate (who happens to be the tall, dark, and brooding type!), she discovers things about her roommate that might threaten her own escape from her old life. Kaden has a mysterious past of his own and is still suffering from it but we don't really get to see why until end of the novel. The author had a clever way of wanting the reader to dislike Kaden as he was sort of the antagonist, but I just couldn't hate him. And that in itself shows how great an author is - the ability for you to feel empathy for the antagonist and somehow root for him to the very end.
Ms. Kasten did a wonderful job researching and fleshing out her main characters. I felt their angst, their fears, and their loss. Both hero and heroine in the story suffered greatly and their pasts were explained in a well-written way. I was also glad that the author didn't use the typical insta-love for these two characters but the attraction and the curiosity were there immediately. Although neither one of them really wanted to be roommates due to Kaden's "rules", they lived as amicably together as possible. There was some hatred and some affection as Kaden tries to help Allie live through her ghosts although not opening up about his own.
There is a HEA ending and the author wrote the epilogue in a very satisfying way. I liked how she helped her main characters grow up in a way and through friendship and patience, both of them found love and peace.

What a great book!! It had all the necessary components that make an excellent story: humor, angst, tears, drama, and a great ending.

Allie Harper, moved over 1,000 miles away from home to get away from her judgemental parents. Her mother is more concerned about what her society friends think about her, then her daughter's welfare. So Allie leaves Lincoln, Nebraska and goes to college in Woodshill, Oregon. She wants a fresh start and her freedom.
The only problem is she doesn't have a place to live. So she's looking for a roommate. After looking at several apartments, she gets discouraged. She figures she'll look at one more and if it doesn't work out, she will sleep in her car. She loves the last apartment, only the guy is a jerk, he's the legendary Kaden White, the campus tattooed, hottie. He makes a Allie abide by 3 rules or he will throw her out.

1. Don't talk to him about girl problems
2. Keep your mouth shut if he brings a girl home
3. They will NEVER hook up.

She's fine with those rules, Kaden's arrogant and treats her terribly in front of people. But as he slowly let's his walls down, Allie sees the REAL Kaden and she likes what she sees.

But when their friendship becomes more, things start to go sour.

A must read!!

This story was so captivating!!! I had so many emotions running through me while reading it! Some parts had me laughing out loud, others had me feeling angry and some even made me cry. When a book makes various emotions touch base I know that book is a winner! Great characters, I loved every one of them and Kaden & Allie we’re amazing! Their chemistry was off the chain! Great read that I highly suggest!!!

5 STARS!!!

I LOVED THIS SWEET STORY. It's amazing how the author (who has never been to the US) portraited the Oregon mountains; I actually felt like I was there right alongside Allie.

I want Dawn and Spencer's book now!! I'd love to know about Monica and Ethan, how they met and the Sawyer thing.

I loved Begin Again. The writing is engaging. The banter is funny. The sexual chemistry is off the charts. Allie Harper was desperate for a place to call home. School was about to start and she was afraid she would be living in her car at the rate she was going. But not even that would scare her into moving back home. Woodshill, Oregon was her new home. Far away from the manipulating ploys of her mother or the nightmares of her recent past. Here she would claim herself. Starting with claiming a room with Kaden White. Kaden was one of the hottest guys in school. He was a slut and he knew it. Girls wanted him and guys wanted to be him. Finding a roommate that would share his ideals was important. That meant he couldn't share it with a girl. Unless they had clear, explicit rules: 1. Don't talk about your girl problems. 2. Keep your mouth shut if I bring someone home. 3. We will NEVER hook up. Turns out, rules are meant to be broken and Kaden is the one that will break each and every one of them... Their relationship starts at odds, it evolves into one of respect and admiration. With time they learn that they are more alike than they think, but it's when love comes in that all bets and rules are off. Begin Again is an amazing read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this romance in between Kaden and Allie. Although, Kaden comes off as a jerk throughout the book and I almost didn’t want Allie to give him a chance, he does some fantastic groveling towards the end of the book. Both the characters of Kaden and Allie are complicated and have a dark background story that has affected their lives. The author has woven a lovely story of people who come with a lot of baggage but need to find a way to work through their issues if they ever want a chance to be together. I would highly recommend this book and cannot wait for the next book from the series to be out.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

Allie leaves the Midwest to get away from a dysfunctional family life. She's having a hard time finding a place to live now that she has decided to go to college and become a teacher (against her parent's wishes). Kaden is a college student tortured by mistakes of his past. He doesn't want to trust again and he definitely doesn't want a female roommate. Somehow, when he meets Allie, he seems to forget about all the rules he had imposed for himself and for his new roommate.

I will be the first one to tell you, I am usually not a fan of new adult romances. I am far enough removed from that age group to find those books annoying. However, Ms. Kasten has changed my mind. I love Allie and Kaden's story! It has an entrancing story without all the tired tropes that tend to come with this genre. I also love the fact that the cast of characters is well developed. Bravo, Ms. Kasten! I want to read more!

I instantly fell in love with this book. the characters felt fresh, the storyline was interesting, and there was the perfect amount of angst. I grabbed the book based on a blurb and thank my lucky stars.

Allie strove to start her life over away from her parents and their rules and slavery to public perception. What I appreciated most about her and her situation is how she showed fortitude and perseverance. She is a fighter with gumption - despite all she has experienced.

It's this spirit that helped break through the shell Kaden created, it certainly helped heal him. Without giving away too much, I think I can say with certainty that I too am not broken, just bent. This book is a beautiful reminder that we're all a little weird., and that's okay.

I certainly hope more people stumble across this book. What a great read!

Honestly, I can't believe that I fall in love with the lead interest. Up until now, I haven't moved on with Kaden.

Begin Again is so far my favorite New Romance novel for 2017! Thank you, Mona Kasten for allowing it to be translated into English!

Allie and Kaden have different personalities and yet, they both needed each other.

I salute Allie for seeking the freedom that she wants and somehow she achieves it. Her Mom seriously is crazy and very selfish. Kaden, on the other hand, has this huge baggage in his conscience but he wasn't able to stop himself from falling in love with Allie.

I enjoy the hiking, the tattoos and their wonderful meaning and of course the heart thumping moments of these two!

This is a wonderful love story. It's translated from German. Kaden and Allie are two university students who have had a rough beginning in their lives. They fall in love and somehow must learn to trust again. Lovely.

I couldn't put my kindle down! This book got me curious, and i'm happy to have read it. Allie was a character i admired because she was strong and unlike other female main characters in other books she wasn't weak for a man. Inside maybe she had all these types of feelings ,but she held strong for an appropriate time to release them. I loved that because she got to know Kaden before falling in love so quickly.

Book Talk…12/15/17
Traci Kenworth

Begin Again by Mona Kasten. Oct. 20, 2017. Bastei Entertainment. Netgalley.

He makes the rules. She breaks them all.

A new start. It's the only thing keeping Allie Harper going, when she packs up her life and moves across the country to Woodshill, Oregon. She's about to start college, desperate to leave the ghosts of her past behind her. Even if that means never talking to her parents again.

Now the hard part - finding an apartment before classes start. Just when it seems she'll have to live out of her car, Allie visits one more place. It's beautiful. With one exception: can she stand being roommates with campus bad boy Kaden White? Sure, Kaden is sexy with his tattoos and careless attitude, but he's also an arrogant jerk. With nowhere else to go, Allie moves in.

The first thing Kaden does is make a set of rules. Either Allie obeys, or she's out:

1. Don't talk about your girl problems.
2. Keep your mouth shut if I bring someone home.
3. We will NEVER hook up.

Easy enough, thinks Allie. Who would want to get involved with a brute like Kaden? But the more she gets to know him, the more she sees beyond his gruff facade. He, too, is harboring some painful secrets. For Kaden and Allie, it gets harder and harder to ignore the sparks between them. And the lines between the rules start to blur-

Begin Again is a beautiful romance that shows us just how possible it is to start over. To find freedom in heartbreak and love in the most unlikely places.

After a heartbreaking move from her parents’ home, Allie finds herself taking a room with a guy who has all sorts of rules, including not to think they will ever hook up. Allie doesn’t see much of a problem with that as he’s a jerk, she thinks. However, as she moves in she starts to discover a different side to Kaden. A side that she might just be able to fall in love with.

These characters grab you from the get-go and pull you in. Allie and Kaden are so messed-up but together, they’re magic. As they move back-in-forth between his friends and her friends, sides get taken, lines get drawn, and the battle for love has just begun. I wish I could’ve read this in one setting, it was that good! It appears this is the first in the series on Amazon and Goodreads, so I’ll keep the author in mind for the next ones. LOVED!
*****

Attraction can be a cruel thing when you know it can’t be good for either of you. And in this case, it was downright torture for Allie Harper and Kaden White.
Both came from troubled backgrounds that now trickled into their present lives. Causing havoc in their romantic lives. Making them act and say the craziest things at times.
Kaden needs to feel in total control at all times and had to keep all females at bay and his brash behavior was usually his way of accomplishing that. That was until he met, Allie. You see he never entertained having a girl roommate because he had fallen in love and been burned so all girls were evil.
But Allie was as brash and foul mouth as he was and that gave him pause and well he was desperate to find a roommate as she was to find a place to live. So, match made in heaven. Allie had moved from Nebraska, to get away from her rich controlling parents and ended up with a conceded controlling roommate, instead. Was okay with it anything to be able to get on the road to becoming a teacher. She wanted that and freedom so badly she could taste it.
Part way through not only does Kaden start to confuse and blur the lines for her with mixed signals, but her mother tracks her down like a dog. Messes with her head and makes her more insecure that when she got there. She tries to withdraw but Dawn and Scott her new and only friends ever try and help but it’s Kaden that pulls her through.
Yet, when he falls on hard times he turns his back on her making her question herself and them as friends and more.
This story was so fast and complex. Like an onion being peeled back quickly. The story was interesting with the subject matters and how they were handled. But also, how the couples and friends handled them all together. I give this 5 ++++ stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

First time reading from this author, I was given an ARC from netgalley for honest review.

I loved it. I enjoyed the characters, Allie known as Crystal wants to live her own life, not by her parents rule.
She moves to another state/town so she can be away, and make a life of her own, but it's hard when college is starting and you need a place to stay.

Finally, she finds someone that will make it difficult with his own rules, but can she handle him.

Kaden has his own demons, but he's good with his friends, unless something or someone hurts him, and he's afraid of getting hurt again. But he needs a roommate, and his own rules. Can she follow them?

Well with a lot of tension, but he does like her, she makes him happy, within times, rules are made to be broken. And are they?

Definitely a good book to read, I could not put this book down. Definitely keep you going.

Allie is a freshman searching for an apartment in a small college town. She hasn’t exactly “run away” from home but has started this journey against her parents wishes. She is determined to leave her troubled past and start over with a new name, new friends and positive outlook for the future she is creating. As door after door closes, panic sets in along with idea of having to sleep in her car. On the last look of the day, the guy that stands in front of Allie takes her breath away. He is beautiful, tattoos lining his muscular arms and a smile that could stop traffic. Kaden is rude, snappy and instantly tells her no way. Allie wheedles in for a quick tour, trying hard not to seem desperate, knowing that she most certainly is. And so begins the romance between Allie and Kaden. The discovery of real friendship and past secrets that could tear them apart. Does this sound corny enough for you? Bad boy, sweet girl fall in love against the odds, etc etc It may be picking up a book at the right moment or a memory that startles your senses but I read this seemingly teen romance, translated from German, in one straight sitting. The conversation flowed and the pages turned and before I knew it I was taken away if only for the day. Highly recommend and enjoyed this quick break from reality. Interestingly, this is a trilogy but it seems only this first one has been brought to the US.

This story is about Allie and Kaden. When Allie moves to college, she’s looking for a room to rent but can’t find the right one until she checks out the spare room in Kaden’s apartment. The problem is that he actually doesn’t want to live with her but Allie is very convincing and Kaden lets her move in anyway and they start to develop feelings for each other.

I really enjoyed reading the book and it was such a quick read and it has a great plot. I read this in one sitting which normally doesn't happen but this book captivated me so much I couldn't put it down. It also made me laugh and I fell completely in love with the two main characters, Kaden and Allie along with most of the secondary characters.

All in all, I really liked this book and am glad had the chance to read it. Can't wait to read more from this author

This was such a good book! I’ve become a big fan of the NA genre and Begin Again had everything I look for in a NA book! I loved the friendships, the setting, the romance and the drama. I liked all of the main characters and enjoyed the relationships they formed. Kaden was rough around the edges but I really liked him anyway. Allie was so strong and had been through a lot, I was rooting for her and her freedom. Overall it was a great book and I look forward to reading more by this author!

I really liked this story!

With just a few pages I found myself being held captive by the storyline, I was so intrigued by it. As I started reading it and getting to know the characters in the story I fell more and more in love with them. Kaden and Allie are such opposites but the one thing they share is a pure heart and the need to live their lives like they want to. Even though they make some mistakes along the way, that made me want to smack them in the head, I loved them because of how real they were portrayed. They are not perfect. They don’t have perfect lives, and they both have baggage to deal with. Pasts they need to reconcile with and a future to fight for.

But even when there are some deep emotions involved, there are also so many light moments that will have you holding your stomach because of how much you will laugh. Other moments that will make you hold your breath because of how beautiful and intense some moments between these two are. Moments that will have you all giddy and excited for them, others that will manage their way to your heart to give it a hug.

And you will fall in love with the rest of the characters. Kaden and Allie are amazing, but their group of friends are just as awesome.

Heartwarming, sweet and fun.

A coming of age story, “Begin Again” is about finding freedom your own way. Without saying, “nothing is free in this world,” author Mona Kasten showed that Allie and Kaden had to fight for their independence every step of the way. Nothing was given to them. They had to work for it.

But, it is not just teen angst, “Begin Again” is also a beautiful love story. Please be aware that this book is YA, so some of you who are more used to faster pacing might find it a bit slower than Fast & Furious. There is a rhythm to it that makes you continue reading, just not at neck-breaking speed.

“Begin Again” is Rated T for Teens. Parental guidance is strongly advice due to some adult situations.