From the beginning of this book, I was hooked on my flighty girl, Wren & the quick witted, Hudson . The first moment that Wren & Hud met, you could feel the chemistry and spark between them. This small town story was the perfect summer read!

Within the story, we see how the two deal with their own personal hurdles, curve balls life threw, and the way they work together to overcome their fears together.

The growth they both made within themselves and with each other despite all the small town drama of Vogel Springs and obstacles thrown at them was a beautiful transition from the start to the end the story.

Steady Now was packed with lots of charm, laughter, wit, and romance. Definitely added some heat to the summer!

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc of Steady Now

This small town romance had likable characters, who were, of course, very attractive. The storyline was predictable but still enjoyable. The romance moved a bit too quickly as they hadn’t had much of a serious conversation before getting close and falling in love. I would have liked to see more development of a general relationship. There was also more cursing than I found necessary and felt like it detracted from the story. This was a light, easy read, perfect for a summer break.

Steady Now
By Liberty Stowe

Wren Baldwin has found a place to land. Or rather it found her as the only place she can get her car fixed. Wren is embracing the quaint little town in the Hill Country of Texas. Maybe she's ready to stop running and start living.

Hudson Bass is blown over by the woman who even when down still sees the good in things. With everything in his life in turmoil now is the worst possible time for such an intense attraction. Never one to deny himself, even when this complicates things more, Hud shows Wren he can be trusted to make the right decision.

Steady Now is a well-written quick summer read that had me hooked from the first couple pages. Wren breaks down just outside Vogel Springs and meets none other than the handsome mechanic Hudson. They quickly develop deep feelings for one another. Little do they realize that everything happens for a reason. The reason why Wren was originally running away may be the reason that ultimately helps Hudson in his personal battles.

Thank you to Netgalley and Liberty Stowe for this advanced readers copy.

The book follows the story of Wren and Hud. Wren whose Maserati breaks down in a remote Texas town and Hud who is the mechanic in the town. But honestly there is so much more to them - Wren's past, her spirit, her amazing friendships and clarity. Hud is a handsome, hot, town favorite family loving man, who fyi, is also a single dad. Overall their journey is great. This is an insta love book, but still I would have liked for them to be attracted to each other a little after knowing each other because their personalities had so much to offer and the insta love kinda took away from that. Also, would have love to have an epilogue of what happens 5 years later or so. But anyways it's a pleasant, Western read.

Rich city girl runs into a hot, small town mechanic
It's a cliche as it sounds. Angst and spice and a hot, Texas summer. If the first three quarters had been a good as the last, this would've gone way better.

This is a story of heartbreak, of running from your fears, of finding love when you least expect it, and of healing ❤️ In short, I loved it!

Hud and Wren both have their pasts that haunt them and hold them back from committing, but they both fall into each other and it's beautiful to see them fall in love.

"No one ever— well… it’s never been like this. This is real."

TY to Netgalley for the ARC!

Wren is running away from her life in her Maserati. In the middle of nowhere Texas, her car breaks down. Of course, the closest auto repair is in a small town and run by the ridiculously attractive, but complicated, Hudson Bass. I devoured this book in a day. When I took a break from reading, the story was all I could think about. There were twists that I didn't see coming. I also really love the cover.

Definitely a summer reading! A cliche romance where two people fall in love almost instantly without depth of character. Wren and Hud found in each other something they didn't even realize what they were looking for. If you're looking for hot and steamy scenes then this book is for you.

This read was painful to get through. The characters were not believable, things happened too fast to be believable, and the dialogue was corny and juvenile.

Welcome to Vogel Springs indeed! Steady Now by Liberty Stowe offers a deliciously simmering small-town romance that pulls you right into its heart, much like a perfectly cooked bacon and meringue-filled breakfast. From the moment Wren's Maserati breaks down near Hudson's garage, you know you're in for a treat, and this book delivers a sexy, heartwarming journey.

Wren Baldwin is on the run from her life, not for it, and her unexpected stop in Vogel Springs introduces her to Hudson Bass, a mechanic who can fix anything but himself. Their chemistry is undeniable from the get-go, a palpable spark that leaps off the pages. Hudson's internal struggle his baggage, his legal battles, and his belief that Wren will eventually leave is deeply felt, and Wren's reluctance to acknowledge her falling for the town and its rugged hero adds a compelling layer of angsty push and pull.

Stowe truly shines in building the world of Vogel Springs, making it feel like a place you'd genuinely want to visit, complete with "tractor emoji invitations" and a strong sense of community. The emotional stakes are high, and both Wren and Hudson's inner monologues really make you feel their pain and their longing. You'll be rooting for them to overcome their individual hang-ups and embrace their clear connection.

My only reason for holding back that fifth star is that, at times, the "will they or won't they" push and pull felt just a tad drawn out. While it certainly heightens the tension and makes the eventual pay-off incredibly satisfying, there were moments I was just itching for Wren and Hudson to fully acknowledge what was right in front of them.

Despite that minor quibble, Steady Now is a captivating and truly enjoyable read. It’s packed with heat, heart, and just the right amount of small-town charm. If you're looking for a romance that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, with a bit of a delicious ache, then definitely park yourself in Vogel Springs for a while and dive into Wren and Hudson's story. Highly recommend!

Steady Now is the debut novel from Liberty Stowe. Wren’s car breaks down in Vogel Springs. She is also trying to process her break-up. Hud is the mechanic trying to fix her car. Her car needs a part that is not readily available and she ends up staying in Vogel Springs to wait for her car to get repaired.

Both develop feelings for each other from the moment they meet, but both try to deny their feelings for each other, knowing that Wren will leave after her car is fixed. Hud is also dealing with a challenging legal situation that he does not want to put Wren through.

Throughout the story, you can see how Wren and Hud both find comfort in each other as they are both trying to heal from their pasts.

I think the story is well-paced and the description of the small town setting is done well.

I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy slow burn, small town romance.

3.5/5

There are open door scenes.

Thank you to NetGalley and RupertBossier for the opportunity to review an Advanced Reader Copy of this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Delightfully Entertaining with Sizzling Chemistry!
Steady Now by Liberty Stowe is an absolute gem of a small-town, slow-burn romance that had me hooked from the moment Wren’s Maserati broke down in the middle of nowhere.

Wren, the rich and oblivious socialite, finds herself stranded and in desperate need of help—enter Hud, the broody and undeniably sexy local mechanic. From the moment these two meet, sparks fly in the most delicious way. Their chemistry was chef’s kiss, and the way their relationship unfolded had me bingeing this book in record time.

The writing is sharp, funny, and thoroughly entertaining. I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud. The characters—especially Wren and Hud—were so well-developed, and their interactions felt natural, heartfelt, and hilarious.

While I did have some formatting issues with the ARC (my Kindle and iPhone didn’t love the layout, but it read much better in the NetGalley app), that had absolutely nothing to do with the story itself. I can’t wait to grab a finished copy and proudly add it to my shelf!

Thank you to Liberty Stowe, and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I genuinely adored this one!

I Absolutely love small town romances and this one didnt disappoint 🥰 I loved the spice and the way the author portrayed the emotions with words. 💕 I felt everything. 🥹

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC (my first!)💖

I went into this book excited and with an open mind since I'm just starting to branch out into the small-town romance subgenre. I'm a sucker for a rich girl/simple guy trope, and the overall premise sounded super cute. However, I struggled getting through this particular book sadly.

The insta-love trope isn't for me, especially when the two main characters barely had a full and direct conversation the entire book. There was no lead up or context, so the insta-love (and possessiveness) was confusing and seemed a bit forced. There wasn't much of a chance to even attempt a will they-won't they.

The backstory for the FMC, Wren, tried to come off as mysterious and alluded to a toxic family background, but those details were also lacking, even when a bit more light was shed on it at the very end of the book, which also was confusing and came off as forced. Overall, I think the depth of the characters was lacking, and I didn't love the stereotyping of Wren's gay best friend, Anderson.

There was some spice (🌶️🌶️🌶️/5), which I always appreciate! This might just be me, but the physical logistics of a couple scenes were hard to imagine were physically possible. They felt awkward and took out of the moment.

Overall, I love a fluffy, swoon-worthy romance with silly tropes, but this particular book and cast of characters seemed a bit too misguided and lacking depth. I struggled to get through it, and even considered emailing NetGalley to DNF at a couple points. But I wanted to commit to completing my first ARC review. If I had just randomly picked this up on my own, I wouldn't have finished.

If someone told me that this was Ms. Stowe’s first novel I wouldn’t have believed them. Steady now is the quintessential slow burn romance. Although low key frustrating at times, I liked the push and pull between Wren and Hud. Throw in some ex drama, a land grab subplot, and a hilarious bestie in Anderson (not to mention some of the background characters like Martha and Cal) and the town of Vogel Springs and you have all the best ingredients for a great story. I really am looking forward to more from this author.

I loved everything about this book. The small town romance, the tension, Wren and Hud's stories and how they collide. I really enjoyed Wren's character strengthening throughout this book, and Hud is such a sweet heart with a fiery side. It was a fall-fast type of romance but with so much more to the story as you continue reading, so much background to each of them. But it made it all the better for when the love truly hit.
The author did a great job with immersing you into this small town, and made you love it and the characters as you read. It will give you all of the emotions while reading, so buckle up!
I did wish it didn't end so abruptly without an epilogue, but it was such a fantastic book with the story coming full circle!

Tropes:
-grumpy sunshine
-instalust
-small town romance
-forced proximity
-single dad
-mmc and fmc in late 20s/early 30s

This was a slow burn small‑town romance that was filled with warmth, humor and family drama.
It definitely got steamier than I was expecting (just a little FYI incase you’re into less detailed spiciness), but the emotional depth between Wren and Hud still carried the story. That said, I can see how fans of spicier romance will appreciate it.
I enjoyed the small‑town vibe and found it easy to fall in love with so many of the side characters as well. The town of Vogel Springs also filled me with nostalgia and reminded me of a little town I used to live in back in the Texas Hill Country.

Liberty Stowe's debut novel, Steady Now, is a heartfelt small-town romance about two people from vastly different worlds who find each other unexpectedly. Wren Baldwin, a wealthy woman running from her past, finds herself stranded in Vogel Springs, Texas, after her luxury car breaks down. There, she meets Hudson Bass, a hardworking mechanic and single father struggling with his own personal battles. Despite their different backgrounds, a powerful connection forms between them, forcing them to confront their fears about love and second chances.

Told from both Wren's and Hudson's points of view, the story masterfully develops a slow-burn romance. I particularly enjoyed how the forced proximity of Wren being stuck in town felt genuine and paved the way for some truly heartwarming found family moments. The exploration of the friendships (Wren's supportive bond with Anderson and Hudson's lifelong camaraderie with Cal) adds a wonderful layer of depth to the story.

If you're a fan of compelling characters, emotional journeys, and a satisfying slow burn, I highly recommend giving Steady Now a read.

Thank you to Rupert Bossier for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. This is my honest opinion but just one opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]

Sadly this one is not for me.
The plot seemed pretty great, the tropes are usually the ones I love but I couldn’t connect with the characters nor the development of the story. Both MC seemed to me a bit unbereable (sorry), too cliche, too plain. The sudden atraction between them is very forced and I’ve been the whole reading waiting for that magical moment when I could fall in love with them. Sadly it didn’t happen.
Sometimes I felt the writer didn’t know what to tell, the story navigates through a lot of situations that divert your atention and at some point the love story felt secondary.
I don’t think it a bad reading, simply it’s not for me