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Drawing Free Kindle Edition

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,945 ratings

“What would happen if I just kept driving?”

Moms aren’t supposed to have a life of their own, at least that’s what Becca Thompson believes. Between dealing with her youngest’s never ending tantrums, her teenager’s attitude, her ailing father’s rapidly failing memory and increasing pressure from her husband, Becca doesn’t have time to worry about who she used to be—let alone remember.

She loves her family, but deep down Becca knows she wants more than the daily chaos and the quick fixes her self-help books have to offer. It's just another day when finally the pressure proves to be too much and Becca makes a split second decision that will change everything.

Leaving her crumbling life in the rear-view mirror and fleeing to a remote mountain town may feel like the perfect way to reconnect with herself, but will her choices come at the expense of everything she left behind? Or can Becca find herself before it's too late?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the story that unfolds is beautifully written, covering some delicate and difficult issues sensitively and with compassion..."

"I couldn't put it down."

...so honest in the way it portrays a mother's frustration with not only herself but the world around her. While this author could have taken the easy way out and given everyone a happy ever-after ending, she instead chose to be upfront and honest. This one of the most genuine heartfelt stories of motherhood imaginable." ~Bette Lee Crosby

From the Inside Flap

*Excerpt*

There was nothing quite as wonderful as starting the day with a hot cup of coffee. Especially when that cup of coffee was enjoyed in complete silence before the rest of the house woke up. I only had a vague recollection of such moments, since it'd been years since I'd actually enjoyed one. My latest book, The Right Foot: Setting yourself up for success, suggested setting the alarm a half hour early, to enjoy the quiet time, and with nothing to lose, I'd done just that.

Then I hit snooze. Twice.

By the time I dragged myself out of bed, there was only about five minutes left before I'd have to wake the girls for school. But I'd take what I could get.

I ran my hand along Jordan's bedroom door as I passed. For a split second I was tempted to open it and watch her sleeping. It was my favorite way to see her, at least since she'd become a teenager. But no, I had to start my day off right, and that meant a cup of coffee, even if it was rushed. At least it would be quiet.

A crash came in the direction of the kitchen. I froze. Panic pricked at the back of my neck. What if someone was in the house? Should I hide? No. Protect the girls. I glanced behind me to Kayla's room. The door was open. It only took me three steps to reach her room. Kayla's pink comforter was crumpled on the floor, her usual nest of stuffed animals, flung around the room.

"Kayla?" I hissed under my breath.

Another crash. Then, singing.

I sighed, the vision of my coffee dimming as I walked towards the high pitched rendition of Mary Had a Little Lamb. As soon as I rounded the corner into the kitchen and splashed straight into a puddle, that vision vanished completely.

My eyes took in the wreckage. The new jug of milk I'd just bought, lay, mostly empty on the floor blocking the fridge door. The high pitched beeping of the refrigerator door alarm filled my head. Again, I cursed Jon's insistence on purchasing top of the line appliances, the stupid things were always making noise. A mixture of corn flakes, fruit loops and my favorite granola covered the counters, and most of the floor, turning into a chunky sludge where it met the milk.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B006PWS5W2
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 17, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 334 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,945 ratings

About the author

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Elena Aitken
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Elena Aitken is a USA Today Bestselling Author of more than fifty romance and women’s fiction novels. The mother of ‘grown up’ twins, Elena now lives with her very own mountain man in the heart of the very mountains she writes about. She can often be found with her toes in the lake and a glass of wine in her hand, dreaming up her next book and working on her own happily ever after.

For a free exclusive novella, click here—> www.elenaaitken.com/signup/

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
1,945 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the relatable and interesting storyline. They found the subject compelling and uplifting, encouraging self-discovery and finding one's passions. The emotional depth and character development resonated with readers. Many appreciated the vivid depictions of drawing and painting, which were evocative and colorful. The book kept their attention from start to finish, making it a great way to pass the day. Overall, customers praised the author's talent and skill in writing.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

125 customers mention "Readability"108 positive17 negative

Customers enjoy the book's relatable story. They find it well-written and relatable with truthful elements. The story is realistic and powerful, making it a great read from beginning to end.

"...myself nodding in agreement to the situations - they were raw and very real as she worked through her feelings about her self-propelled marriage and..." Read more

"...I also liked the ending. I won't say anything else about it to ruin the story...." Read more

"...I believe more women than we think feel the same way. Great read that should let all of us women who are mothers be reminded we need to find..." Read more

"...The writing was good and the story well thought out...." Read more

26 customers mention "Interest"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking. They appreciate the author's relatability to mothers and families. The book encourages self-discovery and not giving up on what you love most. Readers appreciate the discussion questions at the end that add complexity to the storyline.

"...ups & downs that affected the entire family but it seemed to work as a wake up call. Readers will see themselves in several of the situations...." Read more

"...An interesting premise, since it touches a nerve with me and probably 90% of the population...." Read more

"...Elena did an excellent job of capturing Becca's frustrations and missteps in her journey to get back to her real self...." Read more

"...I do believe it was very well written and comes from a place of truth. If you have a perfect life, you will not identify with this book at all...." Read more

22 customers mention "Emotion level"18 positive4 negative

Customers find the book emotionally charged. They find the main character sympathetic and relatable. The book captures the frustrations and heartaches a woman experiences as a parent. Readers easily identify with the feelings of inadequacy and failure the character faces.

"...Don't get me wrong - I did really enjoy the story. It was pure, raw emotion and these emotions are very difficult to put into the written word...." Read more

"Wow! What an emotional journey! This book managed to grab my emotions from the very beginning...." Read more

"...The characters and the setting were believable. The stresses Becca faces are understandable and I could certainly empathize with her anger and..." Read more

"...I was able to relate to Becca from the beginning and could hardly put the book down until I was finished...." Read more

9 customers mention "Drawing free"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's drawings and paintings. They find the descriptions evocative and enjoyable. The colorful characters and the contrast between the city and the idyllic setting are also appreciated. The story is described as emotional, funny, and romantic, with a happy ending.

"...I like the total contrast that the author created between "the city" and Rainbow Valley...." Read more

"...Drawing Free is full of emotional conflict, new beginnings and best of all a happy ending." Read more

"...The imagery and descriptions of drawing and painting were quite evocative. The writing doesn't get in the way of the story...." Read more

"...that Becca was lucky enough to land in a virtual paradise with wonderfully colorful, yet nice, characters is just unrealistic enough to make for..." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it engaging and hook them from the start. The author keeps them reading until the end, making it a great way to pass the day.

"...And it was compelling enough to hold my attention to the end. Each character that is introduced is exactly who you think it will be...." Read more

"...On the plus side, the book was well written and engaging. The characters and the setting were believable...." Read more

"DRAWING FREE is an engaging and evocative read...." Read more

"This is the first book I've read by Elena Aitken. It hooked me from the start...." Read more

6 customers mention "Author talent"6 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author's talent. They say she is a great writer who relates to mothers. The book is a must-read for women and touches many women.

"...Becca is an incredibly talented woman who placed her creative gifts at the bottom of the pile for everyone else...." Read more

"...after each chapter. Excellent job Elena!!" Read more

"...A must read for all women." Read more

"...This book touches a lot women." Read more

36 customers mention "Writing quality"24 positive12 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality. Some find it well-written and easy to follow, while others find it poorly written, hard to read, and full of coarse language, spelling, and grammatical errors. The story flows well at times but can be wordy at other times.

"...The book wasn't terrible to follow but the plot was not my favorite. I'm glad I picked it up free or I might have felt more disappointed." Read more

"...All that being said, I liked this story. The writing was good and the story well thought out...." Read more

"...This is not an easy story to read as Becca deals with a lot of deep-seated issues...." Read more

"...Readers will see themselves in several of the situations. The writing is so realistic that you feel it's all happening to someone you know...." Read more

22 customers mention "Character development"14 positive8 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed and believable. They enjoy Becca's character and find the book easy to follow. However, some readers find the main character hard to like and struggle with her character.

"...Aitken has a way of masterfully crafting female characters. Of modeling them until they are painfully realistic...." Read more

"...So far, I am finding the main character really hard to like...." Read more

"...book..the whole fantasy of escape, the setting, and the interesting characters she meets and my wanting to slap Becca and spank her kids didn't get..." Read more

"...The characters and the setting were believable...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2012
    A moody teenager. A screaming kindergartner. A marriage with a lost owner's manual. An aging parent who doesn't recognize you. Any one of those might be enough to make a woman want to run away. But most never would. Becca thought this was her lot in life until one day she had finally had enough and took the off ramp to escape.

    Much of Elena Aitken's book is spent thoroughly making the reader FEEL what Becca is going through. She expertly build you into Becca's world, though still allows you to see the areas that Becca herself has trouble understanding. More than once I found myself nodding in agreement to the situations - they were raw and very real as she worked through her feelings about her self-propelled marriage and her hopelessness about her father's battle with Alzheimer's Disease. The attitudes and temperaments of her children gave me glimpses into the future with my own. Aitken has a way of masterfully crafting female characters. Of modeling them until they are painfully realistic.

    The story has a simple premise:

    Mom never thought this would be her life
    Mom gave up every bit of herself for her husband and family
    Mom tried not to be resentful of everything she's given up
    Mom is depressed
    Mom snaps and abandons her family to find herself

    It is a mommy fantasy - "What if I just took that off ramp and disappeared for a while?" and Aitken has allowed a glimpse at how it might play out. As Becca escapes into the mountains, to a family cabin she didn't know her family had, she begins to allow the ties that bind and gag her to loosen. A dalliance with the man sent to maintain the property serves to simultaneously simplify and complicate her life. New connections emerge to the mother she never knew and finding the answers to the questions that surface on her "time-out" from life help her see that she needs to take ownership of her life.

    If anything, this story makes me less likely to want to run away when the going gets tough. It makes me appreciate the time I claim away from my kids. The story shows the seedy underbelly of the other side of that mommy fantasy. And, ultimately, the story seems unfinished because she never does resolve the issues that caused her to run away in the first place. It makes it difficult to see a happy ending - all that is left is the hard work of re-building the life she wants from the pieces she is left with.

    I think it sounds like I am a bit down on the story itself. Don't get me wrong - I did really enjoy the story. It was pure, raw emotion and these emotions are very difficult to put into the written word. It speaks the world of Aitken's talent as a writer. The story was like daydreams made real and proven that reality cannot live up to the rose-coloured glasses of a daydream. If you are a fan of women's fiction - I recommend you pick this one up for your Kindle.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2012
    Goodreads Description- "What would happen if I just kept driving?"

    Moms aren't supposed to have a life of their own, at least that's what Becca Thompson believes. Between dealing with her youngest's never ending tantrums, her teenager's attitude and her ailing father's rapidly failing memory, Becca doesn't have time to worry about who she used to be.

    Deep down, Becca knows she wants more than the daily chaos and the quick fixes her self-help books have to offer, but when her husband starts demanding more, the pressure proves to be too much. On the way to pick up her daughter, she makes the split second decision to take a different exit off the freeway and drives towards the mountains leaving her crumbling life in the rear-view mirror.

    Fleeing to a remote mountain town, Becca knows she must rediscover her spirit, even if reconnecting with herself comes at the expense of everything she left behind.

    The minute I started reading this book, I connected with Becca and her overwhelming life of a mother and wife. I too feel the stress and often become overwhelmed simply by the huge amount of time has to be given to my kids, no matter if they are newborns to teenagers. I really think any mom can relate to those feelings. Mothers think we have to be the best moms ever and we are striving for an almost impossible goal. We have to learn instead to just do the best we can without losing our sense of self.

    Sense of self is what Becca has truly lost. She became pregnant at a young age and married quickly. She suffered from post-partem depression for a long time after Jordan was born, turning into more of a major depression. Many years later, she gives birth to Kayla and falls into the same pattern. Now she has a teenager who is so angst filled she won't speak to her mother and a young daughter, who is prone to giant temper tantrums. Becca's mother died when she was young and doesn't remember anything about her. Her dad is falling fast into dementia and the decision to put him in a facility looms on the horizon. Basically Becca's life just swings out of control for her and she loses it. She needs a break and while on the way to pick up Kayla, she calls her husband and tells him to get her and the decision is made. Becca is off to take her break in Rainbow Valley, a small town in the mountains, that, for reasons unknown to her, her father has a cabin that he rents out.

    When Becca arrives in Rainbow Valley she senses that this is the place for her to find herself, make some major life decisions, and unravel some serious family secrets.

    The pros of this book are the fact that I connected to Becca and her plight immediately. I could feel what she was feeling. As a matter of fact, when I was reading the beginning, I myself was tense and worried right along with Becca. For an author to be able to write a character that connects to readers so well is a great accomplishment. I like the total contrast that the author created between "the city" and Rainbow Valley. The city being a busy overwhelming place and Rainbow Valley so peaceful and serene. The author wrote the description of the valley very beautifully. I also liked the ending. I won't say anything else about it to ruin the story. This story also makes me know that in my own times of family stress, I won't run away. There are clearly other ways to deal with things.

    The cons are the how many times it is repeated that Becca hasn't painted in almost forever and that she doesn't know if she can do it again. It was said so much that it almost became a filler of sorts. I also didn't like the repeated statement of "I don't cry". We get it...Becca is emotionally closed off...to herself and to others.

    All in all I liked the story and would recommend it to others. I probably would have given a 3.5 star rating but went with 4 stars to fit with Goodreads and Amazon.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2012
    As a mother of three teenagers, I started off relating to the main character. I have wanted to up and leave many times and found myself feeling for her at the beginning even when she decided to up and leave, I was still on her side. Then the book took a turn and it got harder for me understand what she was doing. The choices she made while gone had me saying "what are you doing?" and I think out of wanting to found out what was going to happen with the children and what the husband was going to do kept me reading.
    How it all finished had me thinking to was to unbelievable even for a work of fiction.
    The book wasn't terrible to follow but the plot was not my favorite. I'm glad I picked it up free or I might have felt more disappointed.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Too True
    Reviewed in Canada on May 15, 2020
    Excellent writing! This could be anyone of us. The characters come to life as any location could be. It tends to make you wonder what you would have done in any of these situations!
  • Sonja Romero.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awsome book
    Reviewed in Australia on May 28, 2020
    Wow i totally enjoyed this one, could even relate to her loneliness n self worth issues.... but a wonderful outcome.... good easy read too....
  • Riverdaffyd
    5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2016
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even when I was reading through tears. I could fully understand Becca's need to escape, I expect most mothers have been there at some point! A lot of difficult subjects are faced in this book, and Elena has an honest and sensitive touch that resonates and tugs on the heartstrings.
    A well thought out story, well worth reading.
  • VB
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting final twist
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2019
    I found the storyline interesting and the narrative well-written. I see that some other reviewers have been judgemental about the main character, finding it difficult to believe that she would be overwhelmed by 'normal' life, but I believe the character's emotional status was described very well. The final twist was not entirely a surprise, but I enjoyed the book and will be reading more by this author.
  • Tedstoad
    3.0 out of 5 stars Wendy
    Reviewed in Canada on December 28, 2016
    I truly enjoy Elena Aitken's writing. However, this would not have been my most favorite one. Sorry. I've read return to Vegas, and I loved it. I guess they can't all be perfect for me.

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