Hard Chrome is the first book in a new series, American Heavy Metal, and the first book I’ve read by Vanessa North. I don’t read a lot of M/F stories these days but I wanted to give her writing a try and I know she also writes M/M books.

Tanner Ellis (a female) left her home and family 10 years ago but has returned to help run the family business, American Heavy Metal, after her father’s death. She has secrets and things left things behind in Chicago that she doesn’t want to tell her family about.

Duke Wilson had a difficult life growing up. When he went to work for American Heavy Metal the Ellis family welcomed him into their fold and became the family he wished he’d had when he was young. When Tanner returns to run the family business he feels threatened and doesn’t want to lose what he has; he doesn’t see how a dressed-up, sharp-tongued princess has any business running American Heavy Metal.

Hard Chrome has kind of an enemies-to-lovers vibe. Tanner and Duke strike sparks off of each other as soon as they meet and not in a good way. Tanner’s making changes that Duke doesn’t like. Eventually the verbal sparring between the two sets off a different kind of fire and they become involved with each other.

There are a lot of really hot sexy scenes in this story but there are also a lot of very poignant family moments. Duke has younger twin half-sisters that he doesn’t see enough of because of his broken relationship with his mother. Tanner feels a lot of guilt for leaving her family to follow a relationship that ended up being a disaster.

This book was a pretty easy read; a nice medium length that I was able to finish in one evening. I know there is at least one more book coming in this series and the scene seemed to be set for it to be a M/M story (I hope). There were a few queer characters in Hard Chrome so I’m hoping for a series with lots of variety.

Reviews for Vanessa North

♥ Amazon US ♥ Amazon CA ♥ Amazon UK ♥ Audible ♥ Barnes & Noble ♥ Google Play ♥ Kobo US ♥ Kobo CA ♥ Kobo UK ♥

I cross the expanse of gravel making up our front lot and pull the key ring from my purse. Dad’s key ring, complete with the football-shaped tag reading Champion Dad. Tyler had given it to him for Christmas a decade ago. I swallow around the lump in my throat and find the door key.It sticks in the lock.

Dammit. Of course it does. I try twisting it this way and that, and then a blare of country music sounds behind me as a truck pulls into the gravel lot. Is this guy trying to wake the whole town? A door slams, music and diesel engine still loud, and then a rough hand closes over mine. The awareness of a gigantic male body behind me and the touch of his hand make me jerk away like I’ve been burned.

Welp. So much for professional first impressions.

“Slow down, princess. You need an easy touch with this one.” He twists the key gently and the door pops open. “Now open the gate to the back lot so I can get to work.”

I bristle at the nickname, but I swallow my pride and face him, catching the barest impression of a stubbled jaw and flash of brown eyes before he turns his back.

The guy—my employee—strides to his truck, hips swaying in low-slung jeans, arm muscles on bulging display in a white tank top, straight out of the pages of a beefcake calendar. In my years post-college, running a day spa, I’ve never had to deal with an unfortunate attraction to an employee. Holy shit, I need to implement a dress code.

He climbs back into the truck and gestures at the gate, an insolent smile on his face. “Ain’t got all day, princess. I’m a flat-rate tech.”

Nodding, I bolt for the side of the building. Thankfully the padlock there opens easily, and I push the button on the wall to activate the automatic gate.

The tech tips his UGA cap at me and drives through, truck nuts swinging from his trailer hitch. Of course he has truck nuts. The big truck, the condescending nickname, the muscles, and the crude ornament all add up to one thing: a cocky asshole compensating for something.

At the front door, I rip down the sign that reads Closed for Funeral, and I start my new life.