I'm so glad that I cruised into Vogel Springs with the main character, Wren. It turned out to be such an enjoyable few-day stay. The story unfolded smoothly and was an easy read, minus the bumpy narrative and dialogue that sometimes waylays the flow of the tale. It was light on the love interest push and pull that sometimes gets too drawn out to the point of frustration. While there was some element of Wren and Hud assuming they were going in different directions, there wasn't event after event creating what seemed like an insurmountable divide. I immediately liked not only the main characters but their friends and the townspeople that we met. I even appreciated the people who were not what you'd consider likable because of how they were presented. Overall, Steady Now was pretty predictable, but I didn't find that detracted from my appreciation of the fact that it made me feel good to get to spend time in Vogel Springs. I so hope that I will be able to take a future mini-vacay to Vogel Springs again by way of a sequel; more Wren and Hud, as well as telling more of the story of the other residents and their friends.

This was a lighthearted romance book. There was some back trauma that happened off-page/off-book, so please read the author's CW/TW. I breezed through this book - it was fun, had some splashes of tension and romance, and I wanted to know more about the side characters and Vogel Springs. I think some things were a little glossed over in the effort of page space/book length, but overall I think it was a solid book.

Thank you to NetGalley and RupertBossier for the ARC!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The overall premise sounded intriguing, until I started to read it. This book feels very much like it was written with the use of AI, and if that’s not the case, I apologize for assuming. I say that because the dialogue between characters was so awkward and almost felt robotic. I couldn’t immerse myself into this unfortunately.

Wren Baldwin is running away from the disaster that her life has become. Driving through the backroads of Texas, her fancy car breaks down. There is only one mechanic that is close by, luckily he is nice to look at.

When Wren's sports car is towed into Hud's shop, he can't help but wonder what a rich girl like her is doing in Vogel Springs. He just wishes that she would stay to see if anything would come of their attraction.

As Wren realizes that Vogel Springs feels like the home she has never had and her best friend decides to buy an old Victorian house and turn it into a Bed and Breakfast. She starts to wonder if she really could stay here.

A great story with wonderful characters and a great plot! I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

This was a great book!! The premise and the love story of it was one of the best ones I have read this month !! Would recommend this book!

I chose this as a Camp NetGalley read but unfortunately it really wanted for me. Trigger warnings aside, I felt the writing was very immature and not being able to go a single page (sometimes every paragraph) without using expletives as part of everyday vocabulary just really put me off.

Thank you to NetGalley and author Liberty Stowe for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. I’m so glad I got to read it.

An engaging, nostalgic, and delightful read, tailor-made for anyone who loves a good slow burn romance with all the charm of a small town. The story follows Wren Baldwin, a runaway heiress whose Maserati breaks down in the middle of nowhere, more precisely, in Vogel Springs, a tiny Texas town where time seems to slow down. It’s there she meets Hudson Bass, a broody, introspective mechanic who carries more emotional baggage than tools in his garage.

Told in dual POV, the narrative allows readers to dive deep into the feelings and inner conflicts of both protagonists. The romance between Wren and Hudson unfolds gradually, with a purposely slow pace that heightens the tension and undeniable chemistry between them. The story is filled with humor, emotion, and plot twists that, even when a bit predictable, keep you turning pages until the very end.

If you're looking for a light, steamy (in every sense of the word) read, full of romance, lovable characters, and that summer vibe that blends heat, nostalgia, and longing, Steady Now is the perfect choice. It might come off as a bit cheesy at first, but trust me, it’s the kind of book that will live rent-free in your heart for a long time.

This had so much potential that sadly just fell completely flat. The characters are one-dimensional, the emotional connection between Wren and Hud was nonexistent, and the only thing realistic about it was the corporate greed of VoltEdge.

The writing is easy to follow, even while being clunky, but it fosters no emotion. The insta love is truly INSANT in this book and they never have a single deep conversation or truly know anything about each other before becoming completely infatuated with each other. Physical attraction? Lust? Sure. Falling for someone in 4 seconds without even knowing their last name? No. Their connection that just felt so right was completely unbelievable.

One of my least favorite tropes was also over utilized: miscommunication. Except it wasn't even miscommunication, but a complete lack of it. Since they had no meaningful conversations, they barely had ANY dialogue at all, and when they did it was awkward. They made assumptions about each other without speaking. Just talk to each other! You're adults! Ugh,

The pacing was off as well. Everything between the MCs was kept hidden, but even the reader misses out on the characters' backstories. Things finally get revealed toward the end, but by then it's too late, and I was already bored long before they open up. There's no depth, and the story is underdeveloped. I was often confused about what the point was. The ending was also so abrupt after all that non build up to rush the end that I simultaneously thought "that's it?" and "finally."

And if Wren was described as sooo small one more time I felt like I was going to toss my kobo across the room. Her TINY hands. Her TINY waist. Her LITTLE hands around Hud's eggplant. "He's so big in my TINY hand." She's an adorable, TINY human. "She is so SMALL." Please stop, good god. How cliche.

Minor spoiler ahead: If that wasn't enough, I was turned off by how Hud kept referring to the mother of his child as a "bitch" and a "whore." This woman is actually the worst, but that was unnecessary. At least he didn't say it in front of his kid.

If this wasn't for Netgalley, I would have DNFed.

Steady Now written by Liberty Stowe is one of the most perfect slow burn romance novels I have read in such a long time. I had so many different emotions while reading this book, I smiled, I kicked my feet up in the air giggling, I cried, and I swooned all on the same page. At first, I thought this book was super cheesy, but as the story went on, it became one of the best debut novels I have read in 2025, it might be a cheesy romance, but it was so perfect and just the best palette cleanser I needed. Steady Now was perfect, beautiful, raw, pure, heart breaking, real, sad, funny, emotional, nostalgic, cheesy, and euphoric. I never wanted this book to end, I had the best time and loved every single minute of it. The slow burn was slow burning and spicy, I had to stick my face in the freezer to cool down. I love love love dipping my toes into a cowboy romance novel, let me just say I need a hot grumpy cowboy in my life right now. If you are looking for the perfect book to read by the pool side this summer, Steady Now better be in your beach bag. If you are looking for a cowboy romance that will sweep you off of your feet, mark your calendars for August 1st, 2025 because this is one of the best slow burns that you won't want to miss out on. Can I just say that the cover is so beautiful and aesthetic because my heart was racing waiting to get to the happy ending. Steady Now will forever live rent free in my heart.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND RUPERTBOSSIER FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!!!

TRIGGER WARNING'S
Parental Neglect
Child Abandonment
Mentions of Drug Use

MUSICAL PLAYLIST
Ride Out In The Country- Yola
Paris, Texas- Lana Del Rey
Ready To Let Go- Cage The Elephant
A Thousand Miles From Nowhere- Dwight Yoakam
Thumbing My Way- Pearl Jam
Amarillo By Morning- George Strait
Nose Dive- Post Malone ft. Lainey Wilson
You Proof- Morgan Wallen
Where I Find God- Larry Fleet
Trouble- Cage The Elephant
Ready To Run- The Chicks
Fishin' In The Dark- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
In Color- Jamey Johnson
Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On- Mel McDaniel
Ocean Front Property- George Strait
Shoes Under My Bed- Buck McCoy
You And Tequila- Kenny Chesney ft. Grace Potter
Deeper Than The Holler- Randy Travis
When You Say Nothing At All- Alison Krauss
I'm Still A Bad Guy- Brad Paisley
I'll Take Care Of You- The Chicks
Now That You Are Gone- The Raconteurs
Come Back- Pearl Jam
Steady Now- Nilu
Something In The Orange- Zach Bryan
Gentle On My Mind- Johnny Cash ft. Glen Campbell
Danny's Song- Anne Murry
Hide My Gun- Post Malone ft. HARDY
Just Breathe- Willie Nelson ft. Lukas Nelson
Pink Skies- Zach Bryan
Take Me Home, Country Roads- Lana Del Rey
I Need You- Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill

"Chickie, you get thrown, you get right back in the saddle. Or whatever bullshit you Texans say".

"It's the choices we make that define a person".

"Time heals everything".

"A goodbye kiss would make both of us more miserable".

"If you are not looking for me, I'm not looking for you".

"I told you, you do you best work on a tractor".

"To love and trust someone with everything you think you have, and have them look at you and tell you, it's not enough- that they are choosing something- that's not about them. It's about me".

"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today".

Wren Baldwin is one firecracker, badass, and independent woman that has the best attitude. Wren only has one constant in her life and that's her best friend, Anderson Sofitel. I absolutely loved their friendship, their banter was always so funny and adorable, but Anderson was the best, he always made sure Wren was okay and safe no matter where she was. Wren is from Dallas, Texas, but when things take a wrong turn or they go downhill, Wren is the type of person who runs away, so she finds herself driving in nowhere particular when her Maserati breaks down in the middle of nowhere Texas next to a charming hay bale. When Wren finally finds a bar of service, she uses the last juice of her phone battery to try and find a two service, but the closest one is ninety minutes away, well lucky for Wren, a tow truck shows up. Wren is very good at not hanging around where she's not wanted, so after shit hits the fan, Wren runs away. Wren and her ex-boyfriend Phillip Hughes had a covert relationship that never saw the light of day or only the inside of her father's law office, well Phillip chose his job over Wren, so she ran away. Wren used to be a cor[prate lawyer in Dallas, Texas until she ran off. Wren has wild strawberry blonde hair, she hates being called darlin', and she's very vulnerable, but Wren will never let it show. Wren ends up in Vogel Springs, Texas, which is now the home Wren has never known. Momentous moments in Vogel Springs revolve around food, bacon frying, and tractor emoji invitations. Anderson also bought a Victorian house in Vogel Springs and wants to turn it into a bed and breakfast, and he wants Wren to be his business partner.

Hudson Bass is a grumpy, handsome cowboy that has a big heart and someone who loves selflessly. Hudson is the owner of Bass Pit Stop which is a mechanical shop in the small town of Vogel Springs. Hudson is grumpy, he's an asshole, he's handsome, but he has a sense of humor that will have you laughing nonstop for hours on end. Hudson's family has been in Vogel Springs for four generations, but VoltEdge which is a a company that makes batteries for electric cars wants to build a plant on Hudson's property for whatever reason, but Hudson doesn't want to sell land that's been in his family for over a hundred years to this wacky company. Hudson is the type of person that rises and shines at 5:30am every single morning. Hudson also has a best friend named Cal Cooper, Cal is just the funniest best friend with the biggest heart. Hudson and Rosalee were high school sweethearts, and she's the mother to Hudson's son, Connor. Rosalee started hanging out with the wrong crowd of people and started doing drugs, she leaves her son with her parents, but she's really never around to watch Connor because she's always hooked on drugs, so Hudson drops the bomb that he wants full custody of Connor, so he's going to sue Rosalee for full custody of his child. Hudson is the hottest constant gentle giant. Hudson has his dad's mantra- Steady Now tattooed down his spine, his parents were in a car wreck when Hudson was just twenty-five years old, his mom died instantly, but his dad lived for a few days before he lost his battle and passed away. Hudson is so fucking afraid of getting his heart broken, but when Wren enters his orbit and they spend time with each other, everything changes so fast and beautifully.

Wren and Hudson's physical and emotional love blossomed so beautifully. Wren and Hudson were just the cutest couple, their love story was oh so very beautiful. Hudson calls Wren his little nightmare. Hudson is just a giant teddy bear- he gave Wren the best hug while she cried in his arms- "Steady Now. You are okay". Hudson and Wren need to stay away from each other, but it's so impossible because their energy is so unmatchable when they are together, but Hudson needs to guard his heart around Wren because she plans on leaving and that will just wreck Hudson, they both have emotional baggage, but they smile so much their faces hurt when they are around each other. Boy oh boy, the tractor scene between Wren and Hudson was so spicy, I don't think I will ever be able to look at a tractor the same way ever again. In his own words- Hudson is a mindless fucker anytime he's around Wren, they are both irreversibly in love with each other. Wren and Hudson- "Thank you". "Thank you for what?" "For everything. For just....being you". Ugh, my heart can't handle this cuteness overload, I just loved and adored them so much. I love how over protective Hudson was over Wren- "Did I stutter? Don't touch her". This man was so grumpy, but he was so perfect. Now, let's talk about Connor, Hudson's son. Connor is just the cutest country pumpkin, he was way too mature for his age, he has the best mannerisms for an eight year old, Connor is just the most beautiful blue eyed sweet little boy that will just capture your heart. Also, the chapter head titles were so cutesy. Everything about Steady Now was just so cute and perfect, I loved everything. I will never forget Wren, Hudson, Connor, Anderson, and Cal. They will forever remain in my heart along with their stories. Hudson- Fatherhood is commitment. It's an unshakable, unspoken vow that says nothing and no one on earth is more important to me than you, my child. Hudson was just the best father to Connor, watching their bond was just so beautiful. Ugh, I'm getting emotional.

2.5⭐️
This was my Camp NetGalley pick so thank you to RupertBossier, Liberty Stowe and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Steady Now is a dual POV contemporary romance following Wren Baldwin, a runaway rich girl whose Maserati breaks down outside the small town of Vogel Springs, and Hudson Bass, country boy mechanic whose got enough drama in his life without adding a crush on a girl just passing through.
Will their attraction last more than a fling or is everything about to break down, just like Wren’s car?

When I originally read the synopsis, I loved the premise. Small town romance is always my jam especially with a grumpy MMC. And while the book started off strong, I lost interest pretty quickly. The insta love felt forced and the miscommunication trope ran rampant. When everything was finally revealed in the end, it really made no sense for these characters I thought I was reading about. Also with no epilogue I was left feeling like the story didn’t finish and left some unanswered questions.
Overall it was a quick read and I enjoyed the fun side characters but the relationship felt forced and I still feel like these characters don’t know anything about each other. Not one I’ll be recommending.

I loved the idea of this one - the rich entitled girl who just runs away from her problems when her expensive car breaks down in the middle of nowhere but it’s ok because a handsome mechanic is here to rescue her.
Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. To me it was poorly written and just didn’t flow. About half way through I felt myself skimming the pages. I didn’t DNF because I was invested enough in the plot to want to know the resolution but in the end I was disappointed by that too.

Hud and Wren had insta-attraction but they didn’t really have any tension between them. We didn’t know why Wren had run away but at the end there wasn’t much to it. Hud had lots of issues but miraculously they all get solved at the last moment when they could have taken the same action right at the beginning. Even Wren’s best friend deciding to come to the small town where she is and buy an old house to open a B&B there with no prior discussion or establishing any sort of business plan? Over all I just couldn’t look past the naive motivation of the characters. I feel like there was so much possibility here and perhaps if it had been edited better more of these issues I had would have been solved.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an E-ARC of this book.

This book was such an easy, enjoyable read in the best way possible. From the very beginning, I was hooked by the characters and their stories. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, eager to uncover the pasts of Wren and Hudson and see where their journey would lead.

The small-town setting gave off serious Gilmore Girls vibes, with a tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone’s business in the most charming way. If you’re a fan of dual pining and steamy romance, this one checks all the boxes.

Wren and Hudson’s chemistry was undeniable, and I loved watching their relationship unfold. The plot twist caught me by surprise in the best way, and the character development throughout was spot-on. Every side character added something special to the story, and I found myself wanting spin-offs for a few of them!

This was such a fun, heartwarming read that is perfect for summer. I truly couldn’t put it down, and I’m already hoping the author returns to this world with more stories.

An advance copy was kindly provided by NetGalley and the publisher; all opinions are my own.

1.5⭐️
This one felt all over the place. The premise sounded cute and it had a lot of potential, but I didn’t care for a lot of things about it. The main characters didn’t seem to have a real connection and the all of a sudden instant love/lust aspect was weird because they didn’t even really know each other at all. You didn’t really learn anything about them and their backgrounds until way later in the book. Because of that lack of any background info, it felt harder to get invested in the characters. The romance was more like a fling vs a love story, there were many parts that just felt awkwardly written/gross, and there were also so many details/side plots thrown around and unclear character motivations/plot holes. The texting parts were also strange because no adult I know texts like that with only emojis. Overall, this one was a miss for me and I was not a fan. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

I had some trouble getting into a good summer read, but once I picked this up, I didn’t want to put it back down. Definitely recommend!

I loved this book so much! It had a lot of romance tropes I love and executed everything perfectly. The small town vibes were fantastic and I felt it both in the setting and how the characters talked and interacted. I quickly fell in love with all of the characters. Not just the two MCs but also the supporting characters. (I’m really hoping this is the start of a series because I NEED a Cal and Anderson book).

The two main characters though, WOW! The slow burn was PERFECT. I was eating up all the tension and yearning. I never got the feeling that it was dragging and the pay off was definitely worth it. My one critique is that the writing at times felt a little jumpy. A little more fluidity between scenes would have helped the readability.

Overall though, I loved this and immediately wanted to start it over the moment I finished. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for the next thing this author comes out with!

DNF at 50%. I really wanted to like this book, but the insta-love based on pure attraction was a total turnoff for me. If the story was plotted differently and had more tension, I'd be into it. I may revisit this in the future, but I'm shelving it for now. Also, the emojis as conversation were difficult to read on a Kindle...and does anyone even communicate like that? I just couldn't get into it enough and wasn't enjoying it. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Wren's Maserati breaks down in a small Texan town she must rely on the help of Hudson Bass the local mechanic. The Italian parts for her car will take a while to arrive and Hud takes it upon himself to find her a place to stay over the local diner. As they see each other frequently to discuss her vehicle and the timeline to get it fixed things begin to heat up between them. Things get more complicated when Wren's best friend decides to buy a gorgeous old farmhouse in the small town to turn it into a B&B and vineyard, while signing Wren up as his decorator.

Meanwhile Hud who is usually a local favorite has the townsfolk turn against him as he refuses to sell the land that's been in his family for generations so that a factory can be built there which would bring more jobs to the area. He suspects the company really just wants his resources, plus they're known for dumping toxic waste, something he doesn't want anywhere near his land or the community. With less work at his mechanic shop he agrees to cut the fields for Anderson, Wren's bestie, and prep the land for the vineyard to go in.

Things get even more complex when Hud's ex shows up with their son demanding he sell the land so she can take advantage of his extra income and force him to pay more child support.

Will Hud manage to hang on to the family land? Will his ex take his son and run? Will Wren's car ever get fixed so she can get out of this small town?

Thanks NetGalley and Rupert Bossier for a digital copy of this in exchange for my honest review!

@netgalley ARC Review out August 1st, 2025 by
Liberty Stowe
🌟🌟🌟.5
Wren Baldwin’s Maserati breaks down and lands her in Vogel Springs where she meets mechanic, Hudson Bass. These two can’t deny the attraction and tension between them but their guards are up. Will the city girl find a reason to stay with a town she is growing to love or run?

The story was predictable, Hudson definitely could’ve stopped putting his guards up so much but I enjoyed this small town romance.

I really liked this cozy, small town romance between Wren and Hud. Loved Wren's spunk and confidence right from the start. Who can withstand her charm and how bubbly she is. Was hoping for more spice between her and Hud but overall loved the book. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Okay, Steady Now completely surprised me in the best way. Liberty Stowe’s writing is intimate and emotional—like a friend quietly telling you a secret. Wren, a runaway in a Maserati, and Hud, the town’s emotionally constipated mechanic, had me hooked from the start. Their chemistry? Slow burn and totally worth it.

The small-town setting, lovable side characters, and just the right amount of spice (3.5/5) made this the perfect summer read. Yes, there’s a bit of miscommunication drama, and the middle dragged slightly, but the heart and payoff made up for it.

I love a small-town romance, and this one? Loved it. Hud and Wren, you’ve got my heart.

Rating: 4 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and RupertBossier for the ARC!