This book had such a fun and promising premise, but ultimately it just didn’t work for me. I enjoy a good insta-love story when it’s done well, so I was hopeful going in—but even with low expectations, I found this one surprisingly hard to get through.

The emotional connection between Wren and Hud felt surface-level and repetitive, with a lot of telling rather than showing. Their inner monologues recycled the same few thoughts over and over without meaningful development. Instead of organic growth or tension, the relationship leaned heavily on tropes—single dad reveal, small-town charm, a mysterious past, sudden B&B investment—but none of it felt earned. It read more like a checklist of popular romance elements than a cohesive story.

I also struggled with the lack of communication between the characters. It wasn’t so much "miscommunication" as a complete absence of it. Important backstory was withheld from both the characters and the reader until late in the book, and by then, I wasn’t invested enough to care. The pacing was uneven and the emotional stakes never landed.

The writing style itself felt clunky and inconsistent, with moments that pulled me out of the story—particularly the constant references to Wren being tiny. I lost count of how many times her hands, waist, or overall size were emphasized. It came off as cliché and distracting rather than endearing.

While there were glimpses of potential, especially in the setting and setup, the execution didn’t follow through. The emotional depth, character development, and chemistry just weren’t there for me. Unfortunately, this ended up being a miss.

if you're into small-town romance and insta-lust tropes, this one might be for you.

the push and pull felt too long that there are times where i sighed after reading parts that result in them distancing themselves from each other. personally, i found the last few chapters to be the best part of the novel - it had all the action! what i appreciate the most though was her profession - we love a boss lady 😎

another pet peeve of mine were the text messages!! tell me why they were conversing in emojis?? 😭

overall, i found myself becoming more interested in the side characters and the part they played in the story instead of the wren/hud's romance. cal, anderson, and connor, y'all stole the entire show in my book ❤️

I kinda wish I would’ve dnf I had to drag myself through it. The characters didn’t seem developed they were poorly written. I’m sorry.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Steady Now by Liberty Stowe absolutely stole my heart! From the very first page, it pulled me into a swoony, emotional small-town romance that delivered both tenderness and spice in perfect balance.

The writing flows beautifully, with just the right mix of heartfelt emotion and playful banter. I loved how Liberty Stowe built such a cozy yet passionate atmosphere, it felt like slipping into a world you never want to leave. The chemistry between Hud and Wren from page one is electric, the kind that lingers long after you close the book.

If you’re craving a romance that’s equal parts heartfelt and deliciously spicy, this one is an absolute must-read. I’ll be thinking about this couple for a long time. 💕

This book was absolutely amazing! Y’all know I love me a good small-town romance, and Steady Now gave me everything—close proximity, slow burn, and banter that was 100% worth the wait. 🥰

Wren and Hud’s story had me hooked. I’m a sucker for a friendship-to-lovers arc, and the way their relationship shifted from comfort to angst to something deeper was just chef’s kiss. The tension, the longing, the “will-they-won’t-they” moments—it was all there.

And don’t even get me started on Vogel Springs, TX. Liberty Stowe wrote this little town so well that I legit wanted to pack my bags and move there. The charm, the community, the cozy small-town feel—it became its own character in the story.

Since this is my first read from Liberty Stowe, I’m officially a fan. Her writing style pulled me right in, and I cannot wait to see what she does next. If you’re looking for a heartfelt, slow-burn romance that will make you swoon and smile, go ahead and add Steady Now to your TBR. 💕

✨ Thanks to NetGalley and Rupert Bossier for the eARC!

This was an enjoyable debut novel by Liberty Stowe. I love a book set in a quaint small town with generally good people. The good characters were likeable, and the "villains" were easy to dislike in this opposites attract, insta-love romcom. The spice level is high, but I did appreciate that the author included trigger warnings. I would have enjoyed an epilogue to follow, but that isn't a deal breaker for me. I expect bigger and better things from this new author.
Thank you, NetGalley and Rupert Bosier, for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

I did not finish this book.

I wanted to like this book, I really did and it had good elements at the beginning, but these two went from zero to 100 in a matter of like 3 pages. I made it to about 25% into the book and had to stop.

They went from the mechanic fixing her car to him having her entire front exposed. And like that just didn’t do it for me and actually gave me the ick.

I need a story to feel real and natural and this one just felt very unrealistic and so I wasn’t a fan. I also didn’t vibe with the FMC and her attitude kinda weirded me out.

The writing itself was fine and if I forced myself to push through, I probably would have been okay, but life’s too short to read books I don’t like.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Steady Now is a charming, sexy, small-town romance that blends heartfelt emotion with sizzling chemistry. Liberty Stowe drops us right into Vogel Springs, a town so vividly drawn you can practically smell the bacon frying and feel the warmth of its quirky charm.

Wren and Hudson’s story is full of tension, vulnerability, and heat. Wren, running from a life that no longer fits her, and Hudson, weighed down by his past and an impending legal battle, are both broken in their own ways. Their attraction is immediate and undeniable, but what makes this story shine is the tenderness woven between the sparks—the stolen glances, the small-town moments, and the push-pull of two people who know their time might be fleeting.

This is more than a romance—it’s a story about finding connection when you least expect it, about second chances, and about the healing power of love (and maybe a little bit of small-town magic).

If you enjoy emotional small-town romances with heat, heart, and characters who feel real and raw, Steady Now will absolutely pull you in.

I really enjoyed this authors writing style it was easy to get into. The chaos of the FMC is so relatable and loved her inner conversations she had. The side characters are so charming. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town, the story had a good plot. It was very well done. I enjoyed it very much thank you so much for this ARC!

Trying to escape her controlling father and sleazy ex, Wren hits the highway with no clear destination—just a desperate need for freedom. When her Maserati breaks down, she finds herself stranded in the small town of Vogel Springs, where she meets Hud, the local mechanic. To him, she looks every bit the spoiled rich girl—rolling in with her red wedge sandals and perfect spray tan. But with the car part needing to be shipped from Italy, Wren has no choice but to stick around.

As days turn into weeks, sparks fly between Wren and Hud, proving that first impressions aren’t always the whole story. And let’s just say…I will never look at a tractor the same way again!

But beneath the romance, real tension brews. Hud is the last holdout against a big company trying to buy up land in Vogel Springs, and the pressure is threatening his livelihood. Wren, with her background and connections, refuses to let him—or the charm of the town she’s grown to love—get steamrolled.

This was such a fun, small-town romance with heart, heat, and a heroine determined to take back her life. Watching Wren and Hud’s relationship unfold had me hooked from the start.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rupert Bossier for the advanced copy—I’m leaving this review voluntarily!

Thank you to Liberty Stowe, Rupert Bossier, and Netgalley for the ARC. My review is voluntary, and the opinions are my own.

I liked this novel. The characters were interesting. They were well developed. Each character shows emotion. The small town storyline reminded me of the small town I grew up in. The cutest of all the characters was little Connor. Definitely would read another book by this author.

The story began with a dead Maserati and a small-town mechanic. I enjoyed the characters and the side stories. There was also a little mystery/conflict regarding land and a custody battle. It was a quick read a great for summer.

Thank you to NetGalley, RupertBossier, and Liberty Stowe for the eARC.

2.5 stars rounded to 3
I love a small town romance book but this one felt like a lot was happening and at the same time nothing was happening... there was no character development and some scenes felt off.

I loved the feeling this book gave me. I always love a small town romance, but this added an extra warm feeling to the description and characters. The plot had some twists and turns that I did not expect and kept me on my toes. This was the perfect palette cleanser and I will be recommending as such.

A small town romance book, forced proximity, nosey neighbors, family land at stake. Honestly, this book has everything. There are a lot of times when a book has so many troupes that it doesn’t blend well or even tell a good story, but this is not one of those books.

Wren is badass in so many ways. From her car to her career, she is not going to take flack from anyone. She is the definition of empowered.

I loved all the side characters in this story. They made it such a fun read. I love a good small town nosey neighbor or a well meaning old lady.

The pacing on this novel was slower than I would have preferred. For those readers who enjoy a slower pace and a slow burn romance, this is the read for you!

This was a slow read for me personally.

The love story was a slow burn.

The MMC is a single father who runs his own auto shop and by coincidence Wren (the FMC) experiences a mechanical failure with her Maserati.
I thoroughly enjoyed the character development in this book. It was really good. I did not expect the ending of this book at all. The author did a good job at keeping the suspense throughout the whole book. Definitely Recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and RupertBossier for a digital ARC of Steady Now.

This was a pretty early DNF for me. The writing was too clunky and confusing for me to continue reading. Wasn't for me, unfortunately.

Such a cute and nostalgic story! This is a great feel-good small town romance! I finished this in 1 day! We have strangers-to- lovers, single dad, city girl small town life, slow burn, sarcastic tension filled banter, and more🤭 This is perfect for a quick summer read! Looking forward to reading more by Liberty Stowe!

Hud is fighting for what he loves most while Wren is running from those who are supposed to love her most. This book has tension, banter, found family, and forced proximity. Loved it!!