Cat Johnson Braves Doll Lil’s Word Association Challenge!

Author: Nikki Logan
Title: How To Get Over Your Ex
Release: January 22, 2013
Series: Valentine’s Day Survival Guide duet
Reviewer: Mona Leigh
Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Purchase: | Book Depository
After her on-air proposal is turned down by her commitment-phobe boyfriend, Georgia Stone must learn to survive singledom. Unfortunately, thanks to a clause in her contract, she has to do it under the watchful gaze of brooding radio producer Zander Rush. And so begins the Year of Georgia! Lurching from salsa classes to spy school, Georgia discovers a taste for adventure. Her biggest thrill so far? Flirting with danger-aka the enigmatic Zander. But admitting she’s ready for more than just a fling…? Definitely Georgia’s scariest challenge yet!

Omigod! With Valentine’s Day coming up, this was a ‘must read.’ I know we’ve all listened to radio stations where they’ve talked someone into doing something that concerned their significant other. Well, this radio station in London did just that when they held a contest for the wedding of a lifetime. All the winner had to do was propose – on air – to their unsuspecting partner.

When Georgia Stone won, she just knew her boyfriend, Dan, would accept her proposal. But when he turned her down – on air – live – she was shocked and humiliated, and looking for an inconspicuous escape from the station. On her way down in the elevator, it suddenly stops for a handsome, well-dressed man. She doesn’t want to let him on, but is too embarrassed to make a scene. Moments later, when the elevator stops again, the man shields her from prying eyes and delivers her safely (and privately) into the parking garage so she can make her escape.

It turns out the man is Zander Rush, the station manager.

A number of years earlier, Zander was left standing at the altar to explain to all their guests that the bride had jilted him and flown off to parts unknown. Since that humiliation, he’s kept everyone at arm’s length, never allowing anyone to get close to his heart. So when Georgia’s humiliated, he feels it as acutely as she, and sets out to make things right … and keep the station owner happy.

What he comes up with is, instead of spending £100,000 on a wedding and honeymoon, they’ll spend it on Georgia. For a whole year, she’ll get to remake herself into a new and better version – Georgia 2.0 – and every month they’ll have a segment on air about her adventures. Reluctantly, Georgia agrees. On one condition. Since Zander protected her in the elevator, he’s the only one she trusts to accompany her on these excursions.

At first they do things like cooking classes and dancing and makeovers, but then Georgia discovers that she actually likes Zander and enjoys his company. As the days and adventures pass, she realizes there’s nothing wrong with Georgia 1.0, and tires of everyone trying to change her. Instead, she changes her itinerary to things she wants to do and enjoy.

To Zander’s complete dismay, he likes Georgia 1.0 and doesn’t want her to change, either, but he refuses to let his feelings show. Leave it to Georgia to pull his emotions out of him kicking and screaming until she finally gives up and calls the whole thing off.

Their adventures and experiences are funny and amazing and incredibly insightful, and the way they fall in love is off the charts. Poor, drab Georgia opens up a bright, colorful world to the wealthy Zander that he’s never seen before.

The most touching scene, however, is at the end where she’s doing her final on-air interview to talk about her adventures with listeners who call in. When one listener calls in, she recognizes his voice and is shocked that no one else in the studio does. It’s Zander. And he’s in the studio next door. His declaration of love is simply breathtaking in its simplicity. And when he turns on the light so she can see him … on the phone … through the glass wall, my heart just melted.

This is one of the best “feel good” stories I’ve ever read. A woman’s journey to self-improvement that’s stymied when she discovers there’s nothing wrong with simply being herself, and not being afraid to live and enjoy life. Georgia’s an incredibly gutsy person, and I admire her spirit and enthusiasm and most of all her capacity for love.

Mona's first grade teacher, Mrs. Stanford, gifted her with the love of reading. For that, she'll always live in her heart. But reading took over Mona's life, eclipsing everything but playing sports, and has continued to be a huge part of her life. Although she has always written poetry and stories for her self, last year she decided to try her hand at writing fiction. She is currently editing her first urban fantasy and hopes to have it ready for the agent by summer's end. Besides reading, Mona loves speed in the form of fast cars. The faster, the better! In her next life, she plans to drive race cars (or whatever happens to be their replacement in the future) all while reading and writing. She has also taken up rune reading, and find it to be disturbingly accurate and exciting.

Doll Mona Leigh

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