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!
*****

It has been awhile since I’ve read a YA book. Normally I find the characters shallow and whiny. This story was NOT like that. Kaden and Allie both had pasts to overcome that felt real and painful. Their story was happy and sad and loving. It was a pleasure to read this story.

Allie and Kaden had a great story and I loved reading this. I hope to read more from Mona Kasten in the future.

[I received a free advance review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
For someone who generally enjoys new adult books, I found it surprising that I didn't like this novel all that much. Although it's got college romance, beautiful friendships and a good character transformation, a lot of other stuff were missing. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to take the fact that the book was translated into consideration while reviewing... But it felt like the writing was pretty rudimentary and the characters were one-dimensional and almost tedious.

I liked the book. I did struggle a little connecting to the characters.
I felt like some things were missing. It could have been that it was translated from a different language.

Absolutely love and devoured this in one sitting! Perfect for lovers of brooding alpha males with a hidden past that sucks you in. The plot was compelling and fast paced. Just the right amount of angst and emotions.

Finding love is difficult in the best of circumstances but when there is baggage that comes with it it's even harder. Allie and Kaden were like oil and water but they mixed really well once they got past their issues. Mona is a talented writer and I couldn't put the book down.

Begin Again by Mona Kasten was an enjoyable read. It is Allie and Kaden’s story of meeting as roommates and having love develop even though they may not want to admit it.

Allie is trying to “begin again” by moving far away from her parents and their demands and starting college. She just wants to make her life what she wants.

Kaden is trying to “begin again” by putting on a tough act to avoid being hurt by anyone in his life. He acts like a jerk and avoids relationships due to a painful relationship breakup in his past.

These two can and will “begin again” in this not typical romance between two college students.
Good story that I recommend reading!

This book was just what I needed when I picked it up. I was in the mood for a college romance with an alpha male and this book delivered.

Allie is ready to begin her college life away from her family and is in need of a place to live. All the apartments and dorms are full so she is in desperate need to find some place to stay.

Kaden and Allie become roommates and things are off to a rocky start. Kaden is a major jerk and it took a while for him to redeem himself for me. The characters in the book I really liked and the friendships they had.

If you are looking for a college romance then look no further. There was the right amount of drama and romance to completely captivate you. This was a one sitting read for me that I really enjoyed.

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!

I did not care for this read. It was a translated version and things seemed to have been lost in translation. but even with a good translation, I do not know if I would like any better. The idea of the story was there but it just did not have the backing.

This story seemed like it would be right up my alley. I enjoy a good loveable jerk as much as the next reader, but it was Allie's character I truly connected with. While I certainly enjoyed the romance, her personal journey was my favorite part of the book.

After being under her parents (really her mother) scrutiny all her life, and having her life charted out before her as to how they expected Allie to proceed along life’s path, Allie said “NO MORE”! Packing her bags she’s about to start over in Woodshill, Oregon going to a small college and making her own career choices! However, the hard part is now beginning – find a place to live before school starts and convince one very chauvinistic bad boy Kaden – sexy with his tattoos and careless attitude – that she would be the perfect room mate in his rental unit.

The 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.

*** Interesting read - definitely! Both protagonists have deep and profoundly dark pasts they’d both like to forget and neither is ready to share them. And of course they do “hook up” and even though they are great together, Kaden feels guilt for being happy and content; and Allie feels guilt over disappointing her parents yet knowing her mother betrayed her in the worse possible way.

The light moments were great and it even got emotional at times. It was easy to like Allie - not so much for Kaden. For two broken souls would it be possible to be honest about their feelings and secrets so they might find happiness and forgiveness together?


Marilyn Rondeau

Thank you for allowing me to read this book for review. At this time I am not writing a review for it as I had a hard time staying connected to the characters and the storyline. I am more than happy to share the book and promote it on my blog though as I know that just because I didn't love it doesn't mean others won't.

I enjoyed this novel. The story was good and I was involved from beginning to end. Glad to see that it has been translated from the German, never read something translated from another language before. Thank you netGalley I will spread the word .

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!

3.5 STARS

I am a sucker for the roommate trope and couldn't resist this one. It was somewhat predictable but entertaining nonetheless. Kaden is the typical badboy with a good heart, and while I disliked him initially, he did grow on me. It was a cute, light-hearted read but nothing overly rememberable or unique. If the subsequent books are translated into English, I would likely give them a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bastei Entertainment for my advanced review copy.

I was pleasantly surprised but this story! So impressed, I can't wait to read more!