Resistor placement for Zener diode for over voltage protection
The first circuit you show, with the resistor in-line with the load current, is what you require.  That way, the Zener diode will limit the voltage, and the excess voltage will be dropped across the resistor.
In your suggested circuit, the excess voltage will also be dropped across the resistor, but since the resistor is in series with the diode, and the combination is in parallel with the load, the load will still see the full voltage - the load voltage will not be limited by the Zener.
The circuit shown here uses the Zener to regulate to 3.3V, and R2 limits the current through the LED at that voltage.



simulate this circuit &ndash; Schematic created using CircuitLab