Do you love small town romances with a slow burn? If yes, then this is the book for you!
Liberty Stowe gave us a perfect summer read that gives you the comfy feels of a loving community united together who is considered more family than friends. Wren and Hud are both scared of letting their guard down but learn to be vulnerable and accept help from friends, although some more than others. Their personalities give off grumpy and sunshine and after a good amount of side remarks and banter they come face to face with what they feel for each other. Their best friends Cal and Anderson are hilarious characters who really lift the mood in any situation. Besides the romance and hardships they have to face it is truly a comedy as well, it’s a novel where you will feel the love and frustrations, but you will certainly get a laugh. I could not put this book down towards the end, it is definitely my favorite scenes where there is legal action and keeps it very entertaining! For sure one of my five star reads!
Huge thank you to RupertBossier and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my thoughts!

5⭐️ for Wren and Hud’s story!
Review posted on Goodreads: 07/02/2025

Wren is on the run from her past when she breaks down in Vogel Springs, Texas. Hud has an interesting past of his own and doesn’t want to let Wren into his heart for fear that she will leave when her car is fixed. This story was adorable and Hud and Wren’s meet cute was the perfect blend of witty and shocking.

Anderson, Wren’s best friend has a great interest in seeing his best friend happy and schemes with Cal, HUD’s best friend to get the two of them together for good. The characters were wonderfully written, both the FMC and MMC as well as the supporting characters. This book kept me on my toes with plot twists left and right and definitely ends with a HEA🖤

I loved this book. Plain and simple. It feels like it should be a movie. She breaks down in the middle of nowhere. No one can fix her car but him. The chemistry is tangible from the moment their eyes meet. Wren is running, shell-shocked from a personal trauma while he’s dealing with own, very different kinds of battles. Recognizing their chemistry—he backs away almost immediately. Doesn’t want it. Denies it until he can’t. And the story that gradually unravels of what he’s fighting, I found compelling. I loved the supporting cast: Martha, Anderson, Cal and Aunt Tiny. And anyone who reads this will fall in love with Connor. You have to. Overall, I give this five stars out of five. Fun and sexy with depth.

This was a really good book! I found the characters lovable and the plot was well written and interesting. I would definitely recommend to others!

I enjoyed Steady Now, the debut book of Liberty Stowe. I immediately liked the premise of the book just from reading the blurb because I’m all about cars and Wren arriving in a Maserti, even a broke down Maserti, had me wanting to read her story. And I love the cover! I enjoyed the references to cars and the like but I would have enjoyed the read just a bit more if I could have connected with Wren and Hud more. It seemed like they spent a lot of time avoiding each other but then it felt like too much time was spent on the more detailed scenes that I could do without. Maybe I’m getting old, but a little bit of that goes a long way and I would much rather read a good story line developing the characters and their connection without all the graphic sex. It was a small town romance, but just not the one I was expecting. I’m grateful to NetGalley for having been given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I really enjoyed the bones of this book and felt it had so much potential to be a standout small town romance. A FMC on the run, a broken down car, a small Texas town, a hot mechanic, legal battles, a crazy ex back in town causing trouble, a controlling and manipulative father, lovable locals and hilarious side characters. All the pieces were well and truly there to make this an instant success. Unfortunately, the execution wasn’t quite there.

The attraction between our main characters, Wren and Hudson, was undeniable from the start. This in and of itself is not an issue. There are plenty of great fast paced romances out there where the main characters have this inexplicable connection right from the start. Where they are constantly drawn to one another despite their best efforts. However, with Wren and Hudson, it felt like the emotional connection just wasn’t there and they spent more time avoiding each other than actually speaking. There were very few moments where the characters truly got to know each other beyond surface level interactions. This made it hard to fully invest and believe in their relationship. There was no denying the spark, but the fire never caught.

Beyond the character depth of our leads, there was also a lack of depth to the side characters. I’ve read plenty of romances where the FMC is instantly and inexplicably welcomed by a small town. Usually, I am happy to suspend disbelief in these situations, but in this case the pace at which she was accepted felt rushed and unrealistic and the relationships did not feel earned. There is always the chance that there are plans for this to become a series and the author did not want to commit to any true depth to the characters that could lead to future plot holes. Even if that is the case, the story still would have benefited from stronger character foundations to make this book feel complete on its own.

The final 20% or so of the story was packed with backstory and explanations to things that had been alluded to from the very start, but again it all felt incredibly rushed. There was so much potential to slow things down and build tension. Instead, key moments were glossed over or delivered too quickly to fully land. At times it was even confusing and what should have been the most captivating part of the story lost impact as a result. With more buildup and room to breathe, these twists could have been genuinely shocking and deeply engaging.

Finally, the ending was so abrupt that I genuinely wondered if the ARC was missing a chapter. It lacked the emotional payoff I was hoping for. I wouldn’t say that it left more questions than answers (suggesting there is a book #2 in the works), but it did leave too many moments underdeveloped, making the conclusion feel more like a pause than a true ending.

Overall, the main theme of my review is that this book felt rushed. From the plot to the emotional connections to the ending, everything felt far too underdeveloped for a 437 page book (according to GoodReads). I truly believe with some key plot adjustments and stronger character development, this could be a fan favorite.

Thanks to RupertBossier and NetGalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

THANK YOU NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! Just another fictional town I'd love to move to.

Wren Baldwin is running away when her Maserati has other plans. Stuck in a small town in the middle of nowhere, she finds herself embraced by the diner owner across the street from the surly mechanic who is working on her car.
Hudson "Hud" Bass can't believe he has to work on a Maserati, and is in denial about if he thinks the car or the girl is hotter.
Complete with a custody battle, a legal battle over land, overcoming trauma and obstacles from the past, leaning on friendships - this story was so sweet and wonderful!!

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

Hats off to my dear friend and fellow author, Liberty Stowe! I believe you have this summer's Small Town Romance on your hands!

Congrats on Hud & Wren! I ate every page up and was desparate for more Vogel Springs, Texas!

You have a true hit my friend!

Raye Murphy

This book is a great summer read. So cute and small town romance. Love the plot twist and characters development throughout this book. You will fall in love with the town and the people in the town. Bubble gum for the brain in the best way possible.

The premise was promising: a protagonist running from her past, a small-town Texas setting, and an unexpected connection with someone equally scarred by life. The writing is engaging, and there's clear potential in the character development and the cozy, small-town atmosphere of Vogel Springs. However, I ended up giving up at 37%. The main reason was how quickly the romance developed. I couldn't connect with the couple because their relationship felt rushed and unrealistic classic insta-love, which just didn’t make sense to me. I prefer love stories where the connection builds gradually and has more emotional depth, and I felt that was missing here.

I was really drawn in by the concept, cover, and overall setup of this story, it had all the makings of a standout romance. The premise felt fresh and full of potential, and I appreciated the unique outline and energy it promised.

That said, I found myself wishing for a bit more character development. The emotions between the leads escalated very quickly, and the enemies to lovers dynamic didn’t have quite enough tension or buildup to feel earned.

I do think there's a great story here with some rebalancing. With deeper emotional arcs and a slower burn, this could easily shine. I’m still interested to see what the author does next, and I think many readers who enjoy fast-paced romance might really enjoy this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and RupertBossier for the arc, in exchange for an honest review!

i found the “ex always showing up at the wrong time” concept kinda interesting? honestly kept me wanting more from each chapter so overall really good flow!

i loved how the title was incorporated into the storyline, i found that kinda cute and cheesy like your wanting from a romance especially one with western vibes. TONS and i mean tons of spicy scenes! Not for a young readers eyes but definitely perfect for a woman looking for a good time full of reading and a glass of wine🥰

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Overall Rating
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 Spice Rating

Thoroughly enjoyed reading both Wren (running from her past) and Hud’s (fighting to keep his land and son) povs in this book that had a bit of everything, including some spice 🌶️. The small Texas town setting was cute and the supporting characters all added to the story. Recommend if you’re after a small town romance.
Thanks to Netgalley and RupertBossier for the arc for review.

Steady Now is a beautifully layered romance that quietly pulls you in and holds your heart the whole way through.

Wren is cautious and emotionally closed off when we meet her—understandably so, given her past. But what struck me most was how much strength she carried beneath the surface. Watching her begin to trust, to let herself be seen and loved, was incredibly moving.

Hud, in contrast to his calm and grounded exterior, carries wounds of his own. He’s guarded too—not in the same way as Wren, but you can feel how his past has shaped him. His protectiveness, his hesitation, and the way he slowly opens up added so much depth to his character.

It was truly beautiful to watch both of them—so different, yet so alike in their fears—learn to trust again. Their connection felt genuine and hard-won. Liberty Stowe handled their emotional arcs with such care. The “opposites attract” dynamic wasn’t just a trope here; it was the foundation for real, meaningful growth on both sides.

The drama had weight but never overshadowed the heart of the story. Every moment of tension pushed the characters closer to healing. The pacing of their relationship was just right—slow, intentional, and incredibly satisfying by the time they let themselves fall.

By the end, I felt so deeply invested in Wren and Hud’s journey. This is one of those stories that stays with you—a quiet, powerful reminder of how love can be both a risk and a refuge.

Five stars out of Five Stars. Love the small town feel of this book and the chemistry between the two characters are amazing. The friends/family in this small town reminds me of Gilmore Girls because everyone knows everyone. If you love a book where both characters fall first and steamy as can be this is your book.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjnyLp2T/

An easy read in a good way. The characters captivate you and you want to keep reading to find out their past and what will happen for the two main characters.
Set in a small town in Texas, where there is a real sense of that small town vibe (think Gilmore Girls).
This is a slow burn romance book. With some spicy scenes too!

Steady now is a beautiful book, after Wren’s Maserati breaks down just outside Vogel Springs it brings her into Hud’s orbit, this is a great slow burn romance full of growth and healing from both their pasts. This is a perfect small town romance.

I really enjoyed reading this small town romance. The characters were layered and I loved Hud & Wren’s relationship. The sexual tension was nicely built and we all love a Byronic hero. Connor & Anderson’s characters brought some much needed comic relief. I found myself really rooting for Wren as she took back her agency and forged herself a new life. I hope we can get more from Cal & Anderson - maybe a book 2?

Dnf at around 40%
The characters felt very distant somehow, the plot felt very rushed and little explored. It had great potential.
Thank you so much for the arc in exchange of my honest opinion.