The Girl in the Steel-Capped Boots by Loretta Hill

Summary – A story of red dust and romance, of strength and dreams, discovered in the unlikeliest of places–the great Australian outback. Lena Todd is a city girl who thrives on cocktails and cappuccinos so when her boss announces hes sending her to the outback to join a construction team, her world is turned upside down. Lenas new accommodation: an aluminium box called a dongar. Her new social network: 350 men. Her daily foot attire: steel-capped boots. Unfortunately, Lena cant refuse. Mistakes from the past are choking her confidence and she needs to do something to right those wrongs and prove herself. Going to a remote community might just be the place to do that, if only tall, dark, and obnoxious Dan didnt seem so determined to stand in her way.

Groups Comments

This book is the author’s debut novel. The author’s note advises that she was an engineer in the Pilbara in 2001, but despite this the book lacks freshness and authenticity.

Some members felt that it was contrived, very predictable and simply a vehicle for a light romance.

Lena does undergo some “transformation” and development in her focus on work and her confidence.

The group members felt that the most interesting character was actually the Project Manager, Carl.

The lack of character development was disappointing, as was the lack of Pilbara descriptions.

The novel is definately a light romance, but is not recommended by the group as a “50 books you can’t put down”, or a “must read” book.