Steady Now by Liberty Stowe a spicy, small town romance full of charm and humor. Wren is a city girl with secrets and stilettos who gets stranded in the middle of nowhere when her car breaks down. Hud is a brooding mechanic who is rough around the edges with a heart he’s trying to protect. Their chemisty is immediate and electric! I loved the way their relationship unfolds. It’s messy, tender, and undeniably real. The story was just the perfect balance of heat and heartfelt moments. I loved watching Wren slowly fall for the town and for Hud, even as she tried to pretend she wouldn’t. Such a fun book! I loved Vogel Springs.

I thoroughly enjoyed this small-town romance. I don't know if it's because it was set in Texas or because it was relatively fast paced but I tore through it in less than 2 days. I liked the characters and thought the storyline was new & fresh. Quite a few explicit sex scenes & drug use is discussed. Overall, a good romance with a HEA.

WARNING: This book contains intense descriptions of graphic sex.

Steady now, I'm writing my review, so don't get anxious!
This is a romance novel that begins with Wren having trouble with her Maserati, which forces her to spend the night in a small town on the highway and rely on the skills of the town mechanic to fix her car. The story begins based on this event.
But who is Wren, and who or what is she running from?
A fun and easy-to-read book with an original plot and certain touches of mystery that make it the ideal light read for a summer afternoon.
I thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

4⭐️ In this delightful small-town story, Wren and Hud are beautifully imperfect characters who exude loyalty and charm. Their romance starts off with a hint of insta-love, but the chemistry between them gradually develops into a slow-burning connection. I found their journey captivating and enjoyed how the plot unfolded. True to the small-town vibe, the supporting characters are just as memorable and add richness to the story. I especially appreciated the reference to Erin Brockovich in the dialogue, which ties into the land rights issue. Overall, this book was an engaging read that I really enjoyed. Thank you to NetGalley and RupertBossier for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I really wanted to love this book—the premise had so much potential, and there were definitely a few cute, sweet moments between Hud and Wren. 💞 Unfortunately, it just didn’t fully land for me.

The dialogue often felt a little forced, and the chemistry between the leads didn’t quite click. The Rosalee subplot also felt overly dramatic, pulling attention from the main story. And while Wren is meant to be quirky, she came off a bit too ditsy for my taste. 😬

As for the spice… it was there 🌶️—but the scenes were awkwardly written and sometimes cringey, which took me out of the moment.

A fun concept, but ultimately not the cozy, swoony romance I hoped for.

Steady Now was a fun, fast-paced, cleverly-written romp that established multiple likable characters, a couple of villains, and enough lingering story arcs to warrant a lengthy series of Vogel Springs books. FMC Wren is Fleeing Something Big and Emotional when her Maserati breaks down in the middle of backroads Texas, setting up a meet-grumpy with the local mechanic MMC and the antics of lots of mostly helpful small-towners. After a series of improbable coincidences connects Wren to this town full of strangers, several subplots involving supporting characters (and villains) get resolved neatly enough. The author and/or editors managed to reel in repetitive comedic plot points just this side of becoming annoying - such as multiple puns and wordplay around Wren’s bird-name that eventually become a blink-and-you’d-miss-it main theme. Of course, there was a bit of angst before the sexy times arrived. I’d return to read more about Alexander & Cal, the best friends of FMC & MMC, who also hook up fast and save the day faster. Surely their antics will continue as a renovated haunted B&B draws more characters to town. Lots going on but nothing too deep here, just a pleasant read.

This book was such an incredible surprise to me! A small town, a stranger with a very expensive car, and a very sexy car mechanic… what’s not to love?
Welcome to Vogel Springs, a very small town with a big heart.
I laughed, I cried, I may have thrown my Kindle a time or two, but I was absolutely all in from page one.
I hope there are more books to this series because I am already a huge fan, and I am already ready to pack my bags and move to Vogel Springs!

"Steady Now" by Liberty Stowe is a poignant exploration of grief, love, and human connection. The novel follows the story of a young woman navigating the complexities of relationships and loss. With lyrical prose and nuanced characterization, Stowe masterfully captures the emotional depth of her characters. The writing is evocative, and the storytelling is both powerful and intimate. This novel is a beautiful and thought-provoking read, offering a profound exploration of the human experience. Stowe's debut is a promising start to a literary career, showcasing her talent for crafting compelling stories that linger long after the final page.

This book was sweet and fun. A fast read and surprising twists. I loved some of the characters more than others. I could almost picture it in rom com movie format. Entertaining read. A little spice, but not too, too bad. Would recommend.

title: Steady Now

author: Liberty Stowe

publisher: Rupertbossier

publication date: August 1, 2025

pages: 440

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: suicide (mentioned), parental neglect, child abandonment, and drug use (mentioned)

summary: When Wren's Mazarati breaks down in the middle-of-nowhere, Texas, she ends up stranded in a small town with Hud, a mechanic who really grinds her gears. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) When her best friend Anderson decides to buy and renovate an old mansion in town, she ends up staying longer than planned.

tropes:

small town
stuck here
gay best friend
horrible ex
has a child

what I liked:

cute kid
strong best friend relationships

what I didn’t like:

They go from 0 to 60 without enough steps between. They don't spend enough time on page together for them to be as in love as they claim to be.
There's an odd amount of product placement, like she's trying to sell Coca Cola, Mountain Dew, etc.
Male main character assumes (repeatedly) that female main character is a heart-breaker, a love-em-and-leave-em type, but never with any evidence.
male main character makes a lot of toxicly masculine claims about needing to do things by himself to feel like a man, and nobody questions him.
We don't learn what's really up with her father until 90% of the book. it felt too late this way.

overall rating: 2 (of 5 stars)

As always, you can click on the photo above if you want to buy the book.

Absolutely devoured this book. It gripped me right away. I loved that its told in 2 points of View, from both Wren and Huds perspectives.

Wren drives a very fast, very expensive, and very white Maserati. As she she driving through the middle of Texas, the car breaks down and the only garage for miles around is owned by Hud. They instantly dislike each other, but this is a slow burn and you discover that each of them have secrets and trauma that make them both prickly and distrustful.

Set in a quanint little town called Vogel Springs, this is crying out for a sequel or 6. There are many other characters the author could write about and give us more updates on Wren and Hud in the future.

Loved it, solid 5 stars for me, easy reading palete cleanser. I normally read heavy fantasy and i had forgot how enjoyable these light romances can be.

This was a feel good, small town romance. It was funny and real and tender with spicy moments and a happy ever after. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one because it started off a little bit cheesy but it quickly turns into something so much more than that and I really enjoyed the relationship between Wren and Hud. Cal and Anderson also have a great little story and I definitely see potential for a second book with them. I will never look at a tractor the same again *wink*.

There were two small, almost insignificant issues I had with this book but I still loved the story. First off, Wren drives a $300k car but buys snacks at the Dollar General? Seems a bit out of character to me but maybe she's just a down to earth gal. *shrug* (Dollar General is also mentioned 14 times in this book which seems a bit much.) Secondly, the B&B being bought and construction starting almost immediately seemed far fetched to me. I know that money can do a lot of things but this happened in record time! Just my 2 cents.

Thank you to NetGalley and RupertBossier for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a cute read. Small town boy, big city girl romance. It didn’t suck me in, so it took me a bit to finish it.

Hey, hey, my favorites 😁💚. #annieethebookiee is back with another book review.

⭐ Rating: 3/5 stars

Steady Now had its moments, but it didn’t completely hook me. The characters had potential, and I appreciated the premise, but I found myself wanting more depth and emotional payoff. Still, it’s a solid read if you're in the mood for something mellow and introspective.

🙏🏽 Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this one!

This is an ARC review. I want to thank Liberty Stowe and RupertBossier for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day!

Being from Texas, this was a book I was excited to read. This town, I got the full picture of what it looked like and wanted nothing more than to visit it. It was described perfectly as well as the overly friendly vibe of the people from the town drew me in even further.

Wren and Hud met and the banter immediately occurred! I LOVE the banter so much between Wren and Hud. Getting past the tension and the forget it moment the spice was spicin! I don’t know if I’ll look at a tractor the same again. Iykyk. I also happened to really enjoy the best friend’s Cal and Anderson. Both are fiercely loyal to their besties and everyone deserves friends like them.

This was such a good palate cleansing book. It was wholesome with a bit of cursin and spice. I truly enjoyed the writing style and the pace of the plot. Overall, such a good southern love story.

Steady Now.

El romance surge de la nada, y ni siquiera puedo llamarlo instalove, porque ni eso logra ser. En su primer encuentro, ella lo ve como un sucio mecánico y él piensa que ella es una princesa mimada. Después tienen algunas interacciones en las que él la ayuda, como cuando ella se pone a llorar porque su auto se descompuso y tendrá que hospedarse en un hotel "feo", en lugar de simplemente llamar a alguien que la recoja, considerando que es millonaria. Prefiere hacerse la víctima.
De pronto, ella empieza a verlo como un "buen hombre en quien confiar" y, cuando él intenta alejarse, ella hace un berrinche… y luego se están besando. Todo es muy forzado y sin lógica.

La reacción de Wren al enterarse de Connor y Rosalee fue completamente exagerada. Se sintió traicionada porque él tuvo un hijo con su ex pareja y Hudson terminó disculpándose por haber vivido su vida antes de conocerla. Absurdo.

La razón por la que Wren está huyendo tampoco ayuda: salía con un hombre casado y, cuando el infiel decidió quedarse con su esposa, ella simplemente escapó.

Otro problema: a Wren, todo el pueblo la adora con solo verla, mientras que a Hudson, a quien han conocido toda la vida y se supone que estimaban, de la nada comienzan a darle la espalda, al punto de unirse para lograr que le expropien su terreno y dejar de llevarle sus autos. Incoherente por completo. Quien necesita enemigos con esa gente.

Pero lo que más me indignó fue saber que Connor vivía con su madre adicta. ¿Por qué Hudson no hizo nada? Sé que el niño pasaba más tiempo con sus abuelos, pero ¿por qué exponerlo a eso? ¿Por qué no pelear por su custodia? Se la pasaba reclamando y quejándose, pero no era capaz de actuar. Y sí, lo intenta en los últimos capítulos, pero pasaron años para que hiciera algo.

No sabía que este era el debut de la autora, pero se nota bastante.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

From the beginning "Steady Now" grabbed my attention. I thought the writing was simple but enjoyable. I would say this is a great palate cleanser when you are in-between longer or heavier books. Totally bingeable.

There were times where I was annoyed with how the plot was going. Almost everything with Hud's ex annoyed me. Not necessarily the situation but how it was written and explained. Some of it seemed very dragged out or didn't make sense. Also, the communication between our main characters wasn't that great. Things could have been cleared up a lot sooner if these grown-up adults would just sit down and talk. I do not enjoy a miscommunication trope at all unless it is done well.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this arc!

A heart-stealing story full of charm, laughter, and slow-burn romance. When Wren’s glamorous life falls apart, she finds herself stranded in the cozy little town of Vogel Springs, Texas. She rediscovers joy, purpose, and maybe even love. Hud, a rugged single dad fighting to protect his land and his son, never expected a woman like Wren to crash into his world (literally). She's funny, warm, and impossible to ignore. This book is beautifully written with lovable, imperfect characters, a touch of small-town magic, and a romance that will make your heart flutter.

💕 ✦ 𝒮𝓂𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒯𝑜𝓌𝓃 ℛ𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 ℛ𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 ✦ 💕

𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑁𝑜𝑤
by Liberty Stowe

Standalone ✦ 384 pages
Publication date: 1 August 2025
*debut*

ARC: @netgalley

𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑃𝑙𝑜𝑡 + 𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒
𝑂𝑛𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 🚜😉
𝑇𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠

Stunning cover and a fabulous debut!!

This was the perfect palate cleanser. I finished this book in one day. I couldn’t put it down. An absolutely irresistible tale with a perfect blend of captivating plot and slow burn romance.

𝐖𝐫𝐞𝐧 is running away from a breakup/life and her car breaks down near this super cute small town of Vogel Springs, TX. She falls in love with the town, finds a purpose in life, finds what makes her happy and maybe even a tall, dark and handsome guy.

𝐇𝐮𝐝 owns a lot of land in Vogel Springs that has been passed down in his family. The last thing he wants to do is sell but this corporation will stop at nothing to fight for it. And, on top of dealing with this legal mess, he is trying to fight for custody of his son. And, on top of that, here comes Wren and her Maserati being towed into his shop in need of repairs. Wren is absolutely hilarious, and it is hard not to like her. Hud is your next book boyfriend. Period.

Liberty Stowe has written an artfully crafted story and created characters that are so raw and real; they are far from perfect, but that makes them human and makes you want to root for them. 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑁𝑜𝑤 is a remarkable debut with an unforgettable cast of characters, an intriguing plot, and swoon-worthy romance. Add to your tbr now, you don’t want to miss this one!

✦ Y’all, the tractor scene. 🔥 Chapter 31!
Rating: 4.5/5

It was fine . Good writing good story line .
Thank you met galley for allowing me to read this book as an arc! Review to come