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American Heavy Metal #2
Flying Gold
American Heavy Metal is Tiffani Ellis’s sanctuary, or at least it was before her dad died. Being in charge means her own dreams are firmly on the back burner. Now she spends as much time fixing problems as she does the cars she loves. She’s already struggling to find her feet; the last thing she needs is the man who broke her heart showing up at her shop with a car he doesn’t deserve to touch, much less own.
Matt Adams left town, moved to the west coast and became a big shot. But his passion for cars never waned, and neither did his regret over how things ended with Tiffani. Now he’s back, his dream car in tow. He’s gearing up for a big race, he needs help and he knows exactly where to find it.
Tiffani won’t turn down a paying job, but working with Matt stirs up feelings best left buried. What was left behind them is irresistible, but it doesn’t take long to realize that a few hot nights will never be enough. Sex is easy, but forgiveness is not…
Don’t miss Hard Chrome, the first book in the American Heavy Metal series, available now from Vanessa North and Carina Press!
This book is approximately 56,000 words
Matt Adams left town, moved to the west coast and became a big shot. But his passion for cars never waned, and neither did his regret over how things ended with Tiffani. Now he’s back, his dream car in tow. He’s gearing up for a big race, he needs help and he knows exactly where to find it.
Tiffani won’t turn down a paying job, but working with Matt stirs up feelings best left buried. What was left behind them is irresistible, but it doesn’t take long to realize that a few hot nights will never be enough. Sex is easy, but forgiveness is not…
Don’t miss Hard Chrome, the first book in the American Heavy Metal series, available now from Vanessa North and Carina Press!
This book is approximately 56,000 words
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2020
2 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa North
42 books520 followersAuthor of over a dozen novels, novellas, and short stories, Vanessa North delights in giving happy-ever-afters to characters who don’t think they deserve them. Relentless curiosity led her to take up knitting and run a few marathons “just to see if she could.” She started writing for the same reason. Her very patient husband pretends not to notice when her hobbies take over the house. Living and writing in Northwest Georgia, she finds her attempts to keep a quiet home are frequently thwarted by twin boy-children and a very, very large dog.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 20, 2020
Arguably, the best praise I can give this book right now is that I read this in like two hours, which is unheard of given my attention span and ability to focus on books right now. Flying Gold is a second chance romance between Tiffani and Matt, who dated and fell in love in high school and had plans until Matt ruined things between them. Tiffani is still grieving her father's death when Matt's car shows up in her life. She's also still angry with him for messing them up so carelessly a decade ago. Matt is now a... cinematographer person? Idk. He's won an Oscar. Anyway, it's very obvious from the beginning that he (a) regrets how things went with Tiffani and (b) wants to fix things.
There was a lot about this book that worked for me, but mostly it's the characters that make this book shine. Tiffani is mad. She's just got this rough edge that I just really adored. But then she has this moment where she thinks about how she's been treating Matt and realizes she doesn't want to let this bitterness really be a part of who she is anymore. It's just... So well done. And for his part, Matt is unbelievably patient and contrite in a way that I think some people may find too akin to a doormat, but I thought was handled really beautifully. He just wants to be who Tiffani wants. There's a lot about trust in this book and I really loved the way it's handled.
There are a couple of things that kept this book from being five stars for me though. One is that I felt that there was a moment in the book that requires a content warning that just didn't feel necessary to me at all. The content warning is that a man in a position of power takes advantage of his position to "just make out" with a 16 year old girl. It's handled well in terms of if this was real life, that's how I would want it to go. But I didn't feel like it needed to be in the book. It only serves to make Matt look good? And I just didn't think we really needed that. The other thing I didn't love was the conflict. It was so predictable and I just feel like we can do better than what it was. But, all things considered, I enjoyed this book a lot and I so appreciate that it thoroughly held my attention. And I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next installment in this series in October!
Thanks to Netgalley and Carina for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to its release!
There was a lot about this book that worked for me, but mostly it's the characters that make this book shine. Tiffani is mad. She's just got this rough edge that I just really adored. But then she has this moment where she thinks about how she's been treating Matt and realizes she doesn't want to let this bitterness really be a part of who she is anymore. It's just... So well done. And for his part, Matt is unbelievably patient and contrite in a way that I think some people may find too akin to a doormat, but I thought was handled really beautifully. He just wants to be who Tiffani wants. There's a lot about trust in this book and I really loved the way it's handled.
There are a couple of things that kept this book from being five stars for me though. One is that I felt that there was a moment in the book that requires a content warning that just didn't feel necessary to me at all. The content warning is that a man in a position of power takes advantage of his position to "just make out" with a 16 year old girl. It's handled well in terms of if this was real life, that's how I would want it to go. But I didn't feel like it needed to be in the book. It only serves to make Matt look good? And I just didn't think we really needed that. The other thing I didn't love was the conflict. It was so predictable and I just feel like we can do better than what it was. But, all things considered, I enjoyed this book a lot and I so appreciate that it thoroughly held my attention. And I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next installment in this series in October!
Thanks to Netgalley and Carina for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to its release!
April 20, 2020
Here you have the second book in the Heavy Metal series. Now this story still has the family and you do find out what happens from the end of the last book. It opens though with a man in Georgia buying a Chevelle. On his way to where he will be filming a show for Netflix, it stalls and ends up towing it to Heavy Metal. The man just happens to be the boy or man who broke Tiffani’s heart ten years ago in high school, Matt Adams who is now an award-winning filmmaker.
Tiffani does not want to deal with the car once she sees the name but really is forced to because Duke is still in the hospital and she is the only one who can run a diagnostic on it. After getting another ticket she still does not find anything wrong with it when she is forced to deal with Matt herself. It is when they are together on a drive when the car stalls that he still wants to talk about the past and she does not.
She is not only dealing with her emotions from ten years ago but also in wanting to sell the family home which she has been living in since their father has died. She also was the one who took care of him as well. Her you really get a look into the workings of the family but also her feelings with loss, grief, anger everything one experiences when losing someone. Then having to deal with Matt on top of everything adds to her stress. The author does a good job of handling everything and this is really a very good story and she even brings in racing which I thought was a good touch. A wonderful book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Tiffani does not want to deal with the car once she sees the name but really is forced to because Duke is still in the hospital and she is the only one who can run a diagnostic on it. After getting another ticket she still does not find anything wrong with it when she is forced to deal with Matt herself. It is when they are together on a drive when the car stalls that he still wants to talk about the past and she does not.
She is not only dealing with her emotions from ten years ago but also in wanting to sell the family home which she has been living in since their father has died. She also was the one who took care of him as well. Her you really get a look into the workings of the family but also her feelings with loss, grief, anger everything one experiences when losing someone. Then having to deal with Matt on top of everything adds to her stress. The author does a good job of handling everything and this is really a very good story and she even brings in racing which I thought was a good touch. A wonderful book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
August 5, 2020
I loved this second chance romance! Sometimes teenagers just do dumb, stupid things, and they pay the price for them - in this case, ruining a meaningful relationship because of a drunken hookup. Matt is sincerely sorry for what happened and ten years later, he has the chance to be around Tiffany again when his classic car ends up in her shop and this time around he isn't going to screw it up. I empathize with Tiffany and her feelings and how she's held herself back from commitment with anyone else, but it was good to see her and Matt become friends again and for her to forgive Matt as his sincerity is evident from the start. Tiffany's siblings are delightful secondary characters and they are all still dealing with their grief from their father's death, Tiffany especially as she still lives in the home where she took care of him. I'm glad they sorted things out with the house to give her some closure too. There are sexy scenes and funny ones, sad and joyful ones and the racing scenes were fun too - it makes for an all around delightful reading experience. I can't wait to read more in this series!
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
June 8, 2022
Not as good as the first one
October 9, 2024
FLYING GOLD was a good solid read but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one in the series. I went back and forth a little bit on what rating to give and finally settled on 4 stars because the second half of the book was so strong. I would highly recommend reading HARD CHROME first because there's some overlap of events between the two books and unfortunately FLYING GOLD doesn't really introduce those events very smoothly for those that didn't read the first book. It took me a little bit to get back into the swing of the series and characters because a lot of the development was set up in the first book and not rehashed here. However, once the overlap is past and the story moves into Tiffani and Matt's relationship, it really settles in and gets good.
Tiffani was a great heroine who is struggling with grief over losing her father and not being able to move on and now she's confronted with the ex-boyfriend who destroyed her heart 10 years ago. Tiffani is incredibly angry (with good reason) at Matt and a large part of her growth comes from her moving on from the past and realizing that letting the past control her makes her into the kind of person she doesn't want to be. Matt and Tiffani's journey is very emotional and trust doesn't come easy even though the attraction and past feelings are still there. Matt hates himself for what he did in high school but he's never stopped loving Tiffani and I thought Vanessa North did a great job showing how Matt's changed and how he's not afraid to be held accountable for his past mistakes.
Overall, I enjoyed this but it's not as strong of a story as some of North's prior books. That being said, I still love these characters and can't wait for more from the Ellis family.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Content Warning: Matt cheated on Tiffani when they were high school sweethearts 10 years before; Tiffany’s father recently died; small scene with an adult film director sexually harassing a 16 year old actress
Tiffani was a great heroine who is struggling with grief over losing her father and not being able to move on and now she's confronted with the ex-boyfriend who destroyed her heart 10 years ago. Tiffani is incredibly angry (with good reason) at Matt and a large part of her growth comes from her moving on from the past and realizing that letting the past control her makes her into the kind of person she doesn't want to be. Matt and Tiffani's journey is very emotional and trust doesn't come easy even though the attraction and past feelings are still there. Matt hates himself for what he did in high school but he's never stopped loving Tiffani and I thought Vanessa North did a great job showing how Matt's changed and how he's not afraid to be held accountable for his past mistakes.
Overall, I enjoyed this but it's not as strong of a story as some of North's prior books. That being said, I still love these characters and can't wait for more from the Ellis family.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Content Warning: Matt cheated on Tiffani when they were high school sweethearts 10 years before; Tiffany’s father recently died; small scene with an adult film director sexually harassing a 16 year old actress
May 24, 2020
It was nice being back in Royal with all the Ellis crew. Readers were introduced to all of them in Hard Chrome, the first book in Vanessa North’s American Heavy Metal series, but we didn’t get to know Tiffani very well. Although I think I enjoyed the first book a little bit more, there was still a lot to love about Flying Gold.
This book was told from both Matt and Tiffani’s POV, which was a good thing, because the Ellis’ opinion of Matt was more than a little bit biased. Even though he broke Tiffani’s heart when they were both in their teens, seeing him again brought back all that pain. Without Matt’s POV, readers wouldn’t have known how much he regretted hurting his first love and how much he still cared.
Flying Gold was also about grief and how each of the siblings were dealing with the loss of their father, but especially Tiffani. She wasn’t exactly self destructive, but she was a thrill seeker, especially when it came to cars and speed. As much as she didn’t want to face Matt, her sister reminded her that they couldn’t afford to turn business away. Plus, she couldn’t resist working on his car. That car was what initially brought them together, but their continued attraction brought them closer.
It took a while for Tiffani to start to trust Matt and there were a couple of bumps along the way. Matt was determined to prove himself, because he didn’t want to let her slip away again. The big thing he had on his side was that he was always honest with Tiffani, even if that honesty hurt. Even though she still loved him, she had to decide if she could learn to trust him again with her heart.
The next book in the American Heavy Metal series is Salvaged Steel and from the sneak peek that readers were given at the end of Flying Gold, it should prove to be an interesting read. 😉
I received Flying Gold in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book was told from both Matt and Tiffani’s POV, which was a good thing, because the Ellis’ opinion of Matt was more than a little bit biased. Even though he broke Tiffani’s heart when they were both in their teens, seeing him again brought back all that pain. Without Matt’s POV, readers wouldn’t have known how much he regretted hurting his first love and how much he still cared.
Flying Gold was also about grief and how each of the siblings were dealing with the loss of their father, but especially Tiffani. She wasn’t exactly self destructive, but she was a thrill seeker, especially when it came to cars and speed. As much as she didn’t want to face Matt, her sister reminded her that they couldn’t afford to turn business away. Plus, she couldn’t resist working on his car. That car was what initially brought them together, but their continued attraction brought them closer.
It took a while for Tiffani to start to trust Matt and there were a couple of bumps along the way. Matt was determined to prove himself, because he didn’t want to let her slip away again. The big thing he had on his side was that he was always honest with Tiffani, even if that honesty hurt. Even though she still loved him, she had to decide if she could learn to trust him again with her heart.
The next book in the American Heavy Metal series is Salvaged Steel and from the sneak peek that readers were given at the end of Flying Gold, it should prove to be an interesting read. 😉
I received Flying Gold in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 25, 2020
I remember my Dad taking me along to watch drag racing when I was little, it was the dullest thing I have ever watched in my life and I come from a country that follows a sport that goes on so long they stop for tea. That said, I really enjoyed this romance that features drag racing and American muscle cars (I'm not entirely sure what they are).
This is a second chance romance, which I love. I usually don't enjoy ones where they have split up due to cheating, but this time I'm prepared to forgive that. Matt and Tiffany were teenagers when they were together and although they still clearly have feelings for one another, what Matt did was back when they were very young and happened ten years ago. I think that both characters needed to be alone and become who they are before they can fully be together when they are older.
I haven't read the first book in this series, but that didn't matter. I'd be more than happy to go back and read it now and I'd certainly be keen on the next in the series. This was a good romance and I enjoyed reading it. Just what I needed to lift the spirits at the moment. Something I think we could all do with right now.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a second chance romance, which I love. I usually don't enjoy ones where they have split up due to cheating, but this time I'm prepared to forgive that. Matt and Tiffany were teenagers when they were together and although they still clearly have feelings for one another, what Matt did was back when they were very young and happened ten years ago. I think that both characters needed to be alone and become who they are before they can fully be together when they are older.
I haven't read the first book in this series, but that didn't matter. I'd be more than happy to go back and read it now and I'd certainly be keen on the next in the series. This was a good romance and I enjoyed reading it. Just what I needed to lift the spirits at the moment. Something I think we could all do with right now.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 30, 2020
She's a mechanic-owner of her family's muscle car business, he's the guy who broke her heart at 17. Ten years later, he shows up (working on a tv production in GA) with a busted muscle car and an itch to race. Chemistry is rekindled, resisted, and ultimately given in to.
This book didn't spark for me. It was a nice read, and a quick read. I appreciated that the family business is woman run, and I appreciated the setting in the world of cars and racing. I don't know if my lack of external interest in that particular setting was the issue for me.
I think that a lot of people will read this book and love it. I suspect that this is a book that benefits from being read in series - a previous couple were on page a lot in this story. I found that there were a lot of pieces of the story that I would have liked more depth on - some secondary relationships, some other things that were mentioned and might be followed up on in future books. That said, the preview of the next book was definitely intriguing and I might want to check in and see what these characters are up to in it.
This book didn't spark for me. It was a nice read, and a quick read. I appreciated that the family business is woman run, and I appreciated the setting in the world of cars and racing. I don't know if my lack of external interest in that particular setting was the issue for me.
I think that a lot of people will read this book and love it. I suspect that this is a book that benefits from being read in series - a previous couple were on page a lot in this story. I found that there were a lot of pieces of the story that I would have liked more depth on - some secondary relationships, some other things that were mentioned and might be followed up on in future books. That said, the preview of the next book was definitely intriguing and I might want to check in and see what these characters are up to in it.
April 27, 2020
In the second book in the American Heavy Metal series, Vanessa North continues the contemporary romance series with a second chance romance story. When Tiffani's high school sweet heart and heartbreaker Matt returns to town, it's going to take some work for him to get back into her good graces. It's a classic story of regret and the need for another.
I liked this story. While I found it a bit predictable (and I read alot of contemp romance so you may not find it the same) that didn't bother me because I really liked the characters and wanted to see them get back together after the appropriate level of groveling. Ten years and a lot of stuff has gone by, so there's a lot for Matt and Tiffani to work through.
There were characters from the first book in the series in this but it did not impact the standalone aspect of this romance. Overall, an entertaining and satisfying romance set in a classic car and garage setting, if that's your thing. I enjoyed this.
An ARC was provided for review.
I liked this story. While I found it a bit predictable (and I read alot of contemp romance so you may not find it the same) that didn't bother me because I really liked the characters and wanted to see them get back together after the appropriate level of groveling. Ten years and a lot of stuff has gone by, so there's a lot for Matt and Tiffani to work through.
There were characters from the first book in the series in this but it did not impact the standalone aspect of this romance. Overall, an entertaining and satisfying romance set in a classic car and garage setting, if that's your thing. I enjoyed this.
An ARC was provided for review.
May 4, 2020
Another great book in this series about a family who’s lost their dad and are struggling to keep his auto shop running. This is the story of the 2nd oldest sibling, Tiffani. Tiffani is still struggling with her dad’s death almost a year later. After all, she’s the one who was taking care of him just before he passed, and she’s the one still living in his house. She wants to sell the house but doesn’t know how to approach her siblings about it. She does NOT want to deal with the man who broke her heart and left town 10yrs ago. Unfortunately, Tiff doesn’t have much choice because they need the business. Cinematographer Matt Adams is back in his hometown, Royal, GA, to shoot a movie. He is also passionate about racing and buys a classic Chevelle. When the car shuts down on him in traffic, he has it towed to none other than American Heavy Metal...the shop owner by the family of his hs sweetheart...the one whose heart he broke. Can Matt breakdown Tiffani’s walls and prove to her that he’s changed?
April 24, 2020
Flying Gold is the second book in Vanessa North's American Heavy Metal series. We met Tiffani in the first book. Tiffani's heart was shattered when she was a teenager and she hasn't been serious with anyone since. When Matt Adams's car breaks down Tiffani refuses to work on it because he is the one that broke her heart 10 years ago. For Matt, seeing Tiffani again makes him realize just how huge a mistake he made ten years ago. He always knew it was a mistake but didn't see to grasp how big. Will the two be able to move on from the past or will it always be something that haunts them?
I almost DNFed this book because the actions of Matt in the past. There are certain things I can't get over when it comes to romance novels and he did one of them. I thought Matt was a good character and properly contrite. He didn't try to make Tiffani feel bad for her feelings or make her move past something she couldn't. Because of this I was able to finish this book. I give it 4 stars.
I almost DNFed this book because the actions of Matt in the past. There are certain things I can't get over when it comes to romance novels and he did one of them. I thought Matt was a good character and properly contrite. He didn't try to make Tiffani feel bad for her feelings or make her move past something she couldn't. Because of this I was able to finish this book. I give it 4 stars.
April 29, 2020
Flying Gold is book 2 in the American Heavy Metal series. It’s a stand alone second chance romance. You don’t need to read book one to follow the story, but I recommend book one as well as this one.
Tiffani Ellis and Matt Adams were high school sweethearts until he screwed it up. Now he’s back ten years later and still full of regrets. Their reunion gets off to a rocky start, but soon builds up as Tiffani and Matt can’t deny the strong attraction that’s still there.
Flying Gold is is well-written and has likable characters. Readers of book one will enjoy the follow up on Teegan and Duke, as well as some foreshadowing about Tanner and Tyler Ellis. I look forward to reading their stories next.
Tiffani Ellis and Matt Adams were high school sweethearts until he screwed it up. Now he’s back ten years later and still full of regrets. Their reunion gets off to a rocky start, but soon builds up as Tiffani and Matt can’t deny the strong attraction that’s still there.
Flying Gold is is well-written and has likable characters. Readers of book one will enjoy the follow up on Teegan and Duke, as well as some foreshadowing about Tanner and Tyler Ellis. I look forward to reading their stories next.
May 14, 2020
This was another in what I'm calling the Ellis Siblings books. Tiffani and Matt's story was cute. But like the first book, I didn't get into it as much as I'd hoped. I love a second chance lovers story and they're cute together. I liked how the story focused on them so much and how the growth of both characters, from their early high school years to present, showed growth in character and how they changed in positive ways. I just wanted more... I think I need more show and less tell. I wanted to see more connection between the two.
But I did like it and I'm looking forward to the next book.
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
But I did like it and I'm looking forward to the next book.
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
June 17, 2020
There's something about these books that pull me in. I really liked this take on second chance romance as the author does a good job in giving enough time (10 years) from the break up. It gives the charactes time to grow, live their lives and come back to each other from a place of understanding and moving forward. I'm really not fond of cheating but in this case I felt the issue was well handled as the male lead never tries to justify his actions but owns to his mistakes. It was great to revisit this family and feel that for a while the world is a better place.
*I was given an ARC on NEtGalley under no obligation*
*I was given an ARC on NEtGalley under no obligation*
March 18, 2020
Dynamic, well-written second chance romance. I enjoyed Matt and Tiffiani reconnecting and it was nice to revisit Duke, his sisters, Tanner, and everyone else working at American Heavy Metal. It deals with cheating in the past, but Matt was only seventeen so the forgiveness tolerance is a bit lower.
Thank you Carina and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you Carina and NetGalley for the ARC!
July 5, 2021
Flying Gold had promise. I liked the premise but it fell short. Why did Tiffany never race on a track. How did Matt have so much free time while directing a TV show. I felt like I didn’t really get to know the characters. The writing was good. The audiobook narration was very good which is probably what kept me interested.
May 9, 2020
I don't like the "You hurt me in high school" trope, but North does a good job showing that the characters have (somewhat) moved on from that to have developed adult selves. It might be where I'm at now, but this book concentrated more on loss and grief than the first, I think.
June 29, 2020
This is the sequel to Hard Chrome. I enjoyed this one slightly better than the first book. I liked the couple a bit more. It's a second chance romance. I liked Matt but Tiffani did have to grow on me. It was a bit predictable in the end. I also recommend this one.
January 30, 2022
This is probably more of a 2.5 for me. There’s nothing wrong with the book exactly, it just felt really boring. It was also a fairly short book, but it felt so long, which is just not a good sign. I feel like nothing happened? I don’t know, maybe this just wasn’t for me.
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April 1, 2020Categories
Carina Press Romance Promise, Contemporary Romance, Romance
Miniseries
American Heavy Metal (Book #2)
Carina Press Romance Promise, Contemporary Romance, Romance
Miniseries
American Heavy Metal (Book #2)
May 31, 2020
Complementary copy for honest review and opinion. This book was entertaining and gave a great female character the chance to shine. Enough romance was thrown in to make it swoon worthy.
December 1, 2022
Verkligen härlig bok. Lyckas få igång alla ens känslor och går inte att lägga ifrån. Skönt samtida med inslag av politisk kritik och med starka jämställdhetsnormer. Är ändå okomplicerad och lättsmält nog för att platsa inom feelgood-genren. Lyckad kombination. Obs. Del 2 i serien. Del 3 är inte släppt ännu.
@storytel köp gärna in fler av Vanessa Norths böcker. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@storytel köp gärna in fler av Vanessa Norths böcker. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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October 19, 2022Trigger & Content Warnings:
Sexual harassment
Cheating recounted
Death of a father recounted
Sexual harassment
Cheating recounted
Death of a father recounted
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews