Heels of Steel

by Barbara Kavovit

Image courtesy of Amazon.com.

A contemporary romance about shattering glass ceilings one skyscraper at a time.

Kavovit’s experiences as a female leader in the construction industry allows her to build a unique story around Bridget Steele. Born and raised in the Bronx, Bridget knows what it means to fight. After a violent mugging at a young age scares her and her family, Bridget’s dad teaches her how to fight for what she wants. What Bridget wants is a construction company. Unfortunately, New York doesn’t roll out welcome mats for women looking to demolish drywall and lay tile. In an industry where most women are admired for things other than their brains, Bridget knows she needs to be better than any man just to get a seat at the table. Surrounding herself with talented colleagues from all walks of life, she learns to act, look, and talk the part of a contractor until she’s catering to some of New York’s most elite clients. Knowing everything could come crashing down at any moment, Bridget hustles from client to client until she’s stretched beyond her limits. When one particularly nightmarish job leaves Bridget bankrupt, divorced, and without a company, she scraps herself together and takes a consultant job while looking for her next big break. That break comes in the form of a downtown skyscraper…and the sexy Jason Russo. As in, CEO-of-Russo-Construction Jason Russo, whose spotless work has dogged Bridget’s steps from the moment she landed her first big job. Jay, recovering from a divorce of his own, genuinely seems to appreciate Bridget’s intelligence and ambition. But Bridget’s encountered her share of chauvinistic assholes on sites and in boardrooms. With her big break on the line, how can she afford to believe Jay Russo’s any different?

Kavovit taps into her own story to share Bridget’s in a way that makes this novel one of a kind. Bridget, Jay, and the characters filling out their lives paint a vibrant inside look at one of New York’s toughest industries. The biggest drawback is that Kavovit doesn’t always give the reader that look in real time. Too much of the foundational story depends on telling, not showing. It’s like the reader is invited everywhere into Bridget’s home, expect the basement. Luckily, the rest of the house has ceiling to floor windows.

A diverting account of labor, love, and luck set against the New York skyline.