Emily Cole thought she was going to have the best summer of her life when she met Zack Easton, the dark, mysterious, gorgeous, guitar playing guy who captured her heart at first glance. He encouraged her to take risks and act without thinking, but more than that, he taught her what it was like to fall head-over-heels in love with someone. Then right when she thought he was falling for her too, Zack broke her heart and walked away without an explanation. Now Emily is back at school for her senior year of college and nothing in her life feels right. Without Zack, everything just feels empty, but Zack left, and now she has no choice but to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and move forward. But what she doesn’t realize is that when she met Zack, her life changed forever, and without him, her heart might not go back together as easily as she hopes.Zack Easton’s life is falling apart. His mother is dying of cancer, he’s in a dead-end job and he let go of the first girl to make him happy in years. But he didn’t have a choice. He had to let her go. His life was too complicated for a relationship, he needed to focus on his mom, and he knew he couldn’t give Emily what she wanted in the long run. He just wasn’t the right guy for her. But more than that, he hadn’t been honest with her, and he knew if she ever found out that he’d kept something so big from her, she’d never forgive him. It was better to just cut ties and move forward. But Zack soon realizes that it’s hard to move forward when your heart is stuck in the past with someone else. (Mature YA Fiction)
Monica Alexander is a writer of contemporary, new adult, and young adult fiction. In 2011, she turned her lifelong love of reading and books into a career when she published her first novel, “Just Watch the Fireworks”. When she's not reading and writing, you can find her at the beach, in the mountains, or hiking through a city, soaking all the beauty of the world around her and turning her experiences into inspiration for her next book.
Man oh man - I cannot wipe the smile off my face. I'm so greatful that this one was out after I finished Broken Fairytales - I could not wait for the rest of the story. I just love Zack and Emily. This was by far one of the most satisfying HEA I've read in a while. Monica did such a great job laying out the backstory - and made the push pull of Zack and Emily's relationship so darn real. I often find myself frustrated - either the hero and heroine are kept apart because of what amounts to a stupid misunderstanding - or they seem to get over something major without blinking an eye. This book did an amazing job or keeping things real - real insecurities - real problems - real reactions - which all made investing in Zack and Emily so very worthwhile. I cannot wait to read the rest of Monica's books - if they are even half as good - I'm a fan for life.
In Buried Castles, we get to continue our journey with Emily and Zack. The summer has come to a close and Emily and Zack must deal with the fallout of everything that happened at the conclusion of Broken Fairytales.
"That had been an all-consuming love that had swept me up in a torrent of emotion that had been unimaginable until I'd experienced it."
Luckily, in this one we get to see Zack's perspective. Through Zack's eyes, we learn so many secrets that led to many of his decisions. With this came quite a bit of emotions that left my stomach sinking. Furthermore, we experience the devastation that Zack feels as he loses his mother to cancer. All of this came together to make Buried Castles a bit more emotionally charged. With everything going on his life, Zack never meant fall for someone and he is so conflicted about how to have everything that he wants.
"She was supposed to be a fun distraction, like all the other nameless and faceless girls I'd hooked up with over the years."
I literally couldn't put this one down. Broken Fairytale's ending had me so hooked and Monica Alexander did not let up as Buried Castles began. I felt a variety of emotions when it came to Emily and Zack: pity, anger, excitement, love, etc.
"Besides, reality is so much better than any fairytale."
I would absolutely recommend Buried Castles. It was a perfect sequel to Broken Fairytales. The obstacles that Emily and Zack's love faced only multiplied making the ending that much sweeter. I really did love this series and would have to give Buried Castles 4.5 stars.
Wow....this book has me so torn up I know I'm going to reread it at least once to absorb it all. I'm such a sucker for angst...I think it makes the fictional world more real and the rewards sweeter in the end. And if like me, you are a fan of SC Stephens and her "Thoughtless" series, and you've been looking for something that has that kind of punch, YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES!
Emily struggles to move on from her breakup with Zack and deal with the hand life has dealt her. With the help of her friends, school, and a good neighbor, she manages to put one foot in front of the other and go on with her life. Unfortunatly, memories of her summer with Zack and what she lost have a way of creeping up from time to time causing her setback after setback.
Zack's pain and suffering in this book completely had me. He has hidden so much of himself from Emily and the world, living with pain and regret, that everything seems hopeless. But words of wisdom from his mom and good friends and family help Zack see that he has a reason to fight for the life he wants.
I'll admit there were several twists and turns that I didn't see coming including and . And at times I wanted to pull my hair out and say "get your stuff together" to both Zack and Emily. But all in all I loved this book. Sequels don't usually do it for me but this one did.
I finished this book this morning, and honestly I took my time reading it because I just didn't want it to end. This was a great follow up in which lots of time was devoted to the main chaeracters coping with their issues from the previous book. I do wish that we could have gotten some more Zack and Emily together time. However, I know that as characters they had some unresolved issues that they had to resolve. Again Monica Alexander's characters are completely believable and will easily have you engrossed just like the last book. It kind of seems like there might be a third book (fingers crossed)? Alexander is an amazing author, if you have not read her other books, don't worry they are as good as this one! Thanks Monica :)
Finished it this morning and I loved it! I was either too frustrated about what just happened or too curious to find out what happens next to put it down. Monica once again did a great job and I look forward to reading future books from her!
Ya know how sometimes you need to go to bed early because you have to wake up super early the next morning? Yeah. Well, I needed to go to sleep early last night. But let me tell you, that did not happen. Buried Castles kept me up until almost 3 o'clock in the morning. The whole time I was reading, I knew I should have been sleeping, but I couldn't put this book down!
Buried Castles by Monica Alexander was even better than I expected, and I had high expectations going in to this novel. There was just so much to this book; it truly was an emotional roller coaster. The first few chapters alone had me going from sobbing to laughing to freaking out in a matter of minutes, and the ups and downs didn't stop there. Oh, and prepare for your life to be flipped upside down by a crazy, shocking curve ball! I was literally mouth agape, couldn't-believe-it freaking out! Luckily, the big shocker comes out at the beginning of the novel so you have plenty of time to adjust! :)
I love this series for so many reasons, but my favorite thing about this series is the characters. They are REAL. Personally, I connect with Emily's character the most. I can relate to where she is at in her life and the things she is dealing with. Zach *sigh* is definitely my type. Well, I think he's every girls type. LOL. He's got the bad boy thing going for him, but he's also got a softer side too. He's a singer. He plays guitar. He's sexy. He's confident. He definitely has it going on.
I gave Buried Castles (Broken Fairytales #2) by Monica Alexander 4 STARS. I definitely recommend this series!
I am writing a review of this book, but I think this review could really apply to all the books Monica Alexander has released so far. I kind of went on a Monica Alexander reading binge the past few days. There isn't a single book of hers that I didn't enjoy. I do wish that I would have read them all in publication order. I love that she intertwines characters from her other books into each other. My only problem was that a few times the endings got spoiled for me, b/c I read about it in another book. However, I am realistic in that I know how these books usually end anyways. Her characters are always engaging and interesting. There is also a ton of story in each book. They seem longer than most indie published books which I love. However, they aren't long in the sense that they drag on. I highly recommend this book and all other books she has published.
PS It would be great to see a guide of all the characters that exist in the Monica Alexander universe and what books they appear in.
Buried castle was even better that the first one, and that is saying much because I just loved broken fairytales.
Here we see Emily going through such a hard time, she's just broken, and everything reminds her of the perfect summer she had with Zack, and what she doesn't have anymore.
Zack is going through his worst, everything is just falling apart, and he just wishes he coukd change everything.
But soon Emily realizes that Zack has even more secrets, and a whole new life he never told about.
I really enjoyed that this book was told through both point of views, and so we could see what was Zack's feelings too, I just think I fall head over heels in love with him, because he was just so lost, and so different frowm what we've seen in the first book. His history was amazing and I loved every part of it.
And most of all I loved that even with all the difficulties and heartbreaks we could see a beautiful ending.
I have probably read over 100 books this year and this book is my favorite by far. The journey Emily and Zack took through Broken Fairytales and Buried Castles was an emotional rollercoaster and pretty much wrecked me emotionally.
Livng only 20 minutes from Charlotte, I loved reading about Chapel Hill, Durham and Asheville. Having been to Chapel Hill many times, I could picture Emily and Zack hangin out in the college town easily.
I never thought anyone could come close to Kellan Kyle (Thoughless series)as THE rock god extraordinaire but Zack Easton may just surpass him after I contemplate this book a few more days. Having lost my mom to cancer I can relate to his battle, especially those heartbreaking "bad days" his mom would have. I really have nothing bad to say about Zack. He is absolutely HOT!!!!
If you loved Beautiful Disaster and the Thoughless series, read the Broken Fairytales series. You will not regret it.
This was a great book to read, as I could not physically put it down. As soon as I thought the story was heading down the right road with Zack and Emily, a twist would push them away only to be brought together again at a later date. The ending was not rushed and provided a sense of satisfaction alot of books now seem to miss. I hope they enjoy their happily ever after, but would not be averse to another book in their lives.
I loved this sequel to Broken Fairytales. Buried Castles put the characters Zach and Emily back together again in an unfairytale like sort of way where the princess castle isn't what the heart desires. "All you have to do is jump" in and read this novel because once you have you'll wish that Liar's Edge really did exist and you'll only ever want to be a princess to a rock-god instead of a real prince.
After finishing Broken Fairytales, I quickly bought this book to discover what would happen to Emma and Zack's story. I found that I enjoyed the first novel a little more than this one but I still enjoyed this book. It definitely had its moments where I would think what?!? but if you liked the first book then you'll like this one.
I was so happy to be able to jump right into this book once I was done with Broken Fairytales. Especially with how book one ends! I agonized repeatedly since I wasn't sure if Emily and Zack would ever tell each other their true feelings. But I was smiling big at the end of the story so it was all worth it!
This book delivered the perfect sequel. It twisted and turned in directions I never imagined. I loved the story as it unfolded. Just couldn't put it down until I finished. I hope somewhere down the road we will get to share Emily & Zack's story again.
So excited about Buried Castles! Love where she has taken this story. Love that she kept me on my toes throughout the story!! Loved it, devoured it, and I can't wait for the next Monica Alexander book!
I loved the first book. I was kinda disappointed in the storyline of the second. I thought it coulda been better. My emotions were kinda all over the place with this one. It was still a great love story and I loved the ending!
Monica you have done it again!!! Loved this book. Zack and Emily are amazing. Looking forward to seeing what you come out with next. Love all of your books.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the continuation of Emily and Zack's relationship. I hope the next book will be out soon, because I literally cannot wait to see how this ends