3.75⭐️ *NetGalley read*

I got this ebook from NetGalley! I really enjoyed this small town romance! Loved all the characters! Wren Baldwin is driving to where she doesn’t have a clue , then her Maserati breaks down and gets towed to a shop located in a small town, Vogel Springs! The shop owner, Hud has to order the part and helps Wren when she’s freaking out trying to find a place to stay. They both are immediately attracted to one another but try hard not to show it. Hud knows Wren will be gone as soon as the car is fixed and Wren doesn’t think Hud would ever go for someone like her! Steady Now you need to read this one and find out where they end up! It’s a fun read, great spice and a great ending.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, it was a fun read!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC
I thought this was a nice quick read. I will admit I was not the biggest fan of how quickly the main characters hooked up but it made sense throughout. Love the small town romance books as always
The writing style was wonderful and the pacing was good and as a debut author, this was rather done nicely, and the micro tropes thoughout this.
Overall, I would rate this a solid 3.75 ⭐️

i absolutely loved this book. Hudson and Wren's story was amazing and come to find out hes a single dad???? LOVED IT!

Cars for grownups _

Steady Now had strong Radiator Springs feelings throughout. In a good way :)

Maserati driving city girl, Wren, is running from something and broken down in a small town not that far from a big town in Texas.
Fortunately for her, the local bred single dad Hud, is a gentleman and a damn good machanic. Vogel Springs inhabitants were a cast of cosy sweeties, whose love language was definitely food. The BFFs Anderson and Cal stole the show for me.

This read like a midday Hallmark movie. Enough angst to make the drama but not edge of your seat tension. The OW drama was a bit anticlimactic. I quite enjoyed Vogel Springs but I'll only be returning for dinner at the diner.

With thanks to the author, Liberty Stowe, RupertBossier publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to participate in Camp NetGalley this year.

I’m a sucker for slow burning romances and quaint, small towns so I was hooked once all the townspeople were introduced.This book is beautifully written with lovable, imperfect characters, a touch of small-town magic, and a romance that will make your heart flutter.

Steady Now was such a fun read! It was sweet, funny, and inspiring. I loved Wren Baldwin and her passion for life. She is a force to be reckoned with and incredibly bubbly and kind with everyone she meets. Honestly, even when she is stressed and unsure, she is a kinder than I would be! And, I am obsessed with Hudson "Hud" Bass! He is everyone go to guy. There to help anyone and everyone... but something about Wren... She just gets under his skin! Their relationship is definitely a little stop and go at first despite their evident attraction.
Knowing the full story, Its hard to not want to write spoilers! I looooved the stained glass moment and the "tractor rides" - wink wink.
Overall, I think Liberty's debut romance was a great read and I so can't wait to read more of her work!

What an adorable small town romance! Hud was the definition of a grumpy mechanic single dad and Wren of sunny rich girl! I loved the descriptive writing of the small town and what each shop looked like! I could totally picture the Vogel House it all its purple glory!

The spice was spicing and boy did these characters want each other without admitting to themselves fast enough 😂 and that tractor scene 🤭 delicious!

Things I didn’t love? Hud calling himself a p*ssy for falling for a girl. Really unnecessary! Wren calling it a “meltdown” girl, that was a panic attack. Call it what it is!

There were few times that the writing felt uneasy or out of balance at the start but it all made sense in the end!

Great first book for Liberty Stowe! I can’t wait to see what you write next!

Thank you to NetGalley and RupertBossier for the E-arc!

Since I’m in my small town romance era this summer I was excited to read this story. Grumpy mechanic meets rich girl escaping from her past. Yes, Please! But this book feel short for me. For Wren and Hudson there was little character development and at times they felt one dimensional to me. I wish there as earlier discussion on why Wren was fleeing her old life, I felt that would have lead to character development for her so the readers would connect with her more. And as much as I love a grumpy MMC, Hudson grumpiness at times seemed misogynistic. And I would categorize the relationship between Wren and Hudson as insta lust. Yes there was attraction between them, but because there was a lack of relationship development, I didn’t feel an emotional connection between them. Even wren said “We have never spoken about his private life or anything substantial. Also instead of the miscommunication trope, there was a lack of communication between Wren and Hud. I feel like with the addition of the Rosalee, land and B and B plot lines took away from the romance plot line and made the plot line feel clunk. The pacing of the book felt of, I wish their was more buildup for the ending because the ending felt abruptly. This book had potential. Thanks NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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!