Steady Now

by Liberty Stowe

Welcome to Vogel Springs! Stay a while if you can!

From the sound of bacon frying and sliding meringue to coveted tractor emoji invitations this sexy, sizzling small town romance will make you glad you did.

Wren Baldwin isn’t running for her life. She’s running from it. Until her Maserati stops running near Vogel Springs, Texas—home to Hudson Bass, the only man in a hundred miles who can fix it. She hits town just as his life is spinning out of control. But, dammit, if he can’t keep his eyes off her. The mechanic who can fix anything but himself may have found the fix that will break him.

WREN

My car broke down. I felt an attraction to a stranger, and I fell in love with a quaint town. That’s all that’s happened here. Once I get my car back, things will look differently. One last glance across the street at the Pit Stop that comes up empty-handed, and I can’t pop out of bed fast enough. I’m out of here.

HUD

I can’t allow myself to have her because she’ll leave in a matter of days. But watching her hurt, all I want to do is erase the pain I’ve caused. I’ve got a legal battle looming and too much baggage for a pack mule to carry. How can I pile it on top of this delicate creature? Even though her heart is breaking right now, she’ll leave and forget a country boy like me in a week. It is what it is.

Genres: Romance, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance, Forced Proximity

437 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2025

About the author

Liberty Stowe is a Contemporary Romance Author who hit the map with her debut Small Town Romance, Steady Now.

Somewhere dancing at The Pink Pony Club or home, visiting... rocking on her grandparents' porch swing. With a heart split between the Piney Woods and the Hill Country, her mind often wanders to the footprints she left across West Texas, and the nails left in the walls of all her Manhattan, Birmingham and LA apartments. Love life: A Lana Del Ray song about Video games and Diet Mountain Dew, and a handmade spoon ring that could never truly be misplaced. If her Small Town Contemporary romance books had a voice… Yola or Sierra Ferrell. And there's never enough time to throw the dog his ball as many rounds as he wants or to water all the flowers she'd like to grow.

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lotta Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and RupertBossier for this ARC! All thoughts are my own!

🤍 Tropes 🤍
👥 Dual POV
🏘️ Small Town
🩷 Romance
🌱New Directions in Life
🤏Close Proximity
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family
👨‍👦Single Dad
🖤Dysfunctional Family
💋The Spice
⚠️ Toxic Ex
💰 Rich Bitch
⚖️ Legal Battles

⚠️ Warnings ⚠️ 
╰➤ Swearing
╰➤ Explicit Sexual Content/Language
╰➤ Public Sex
╰➤ Domestic Violence
╰➤ Parental Neglect
╰➤ Parental Estrangement/Alienation
╰➤ Child Abandonment
╰➤ Mention of Drug Use
╰➤ Threats of Violence/Fighting
╰➤ Gay Besties
╰➤ Adultery
╰➤ Pain Attacks/Anxiety
╰➤ Blasphemous Language
╰➤ Sexual Assault
╰➤ Mention of Suicide
╰➤ Mention of the Supernatural - Séance, Ghosts, Haunted House
╰➤ Death of Family Members
╰➤ Loss of Parents

This was a good time! I love the cover of this book and Liberty Stowe is a great writer in my opinion. She has great control over invoking the senses in her work. She uses a lot of visual, auditory and tactile cues to paint her scenes in the reader’s mind and I loved it!

There was also a lot of fun in the text playing around with the name Wren (FMC). The bird nicknames, references, metaphors and similes were fun. It was quite witty at times. I also love that she used a German name for the town Vogel - meaning bird. ‘My little Wren landed in a town named after birds.’ As a German speaker, I really liked that!

The small town vibe is so my thing! I love how the author always has a few plot points going on at once. In this book, there was a big legal battle over land and a difficult custody situation. I don’t normally like single dad tropes but I enjoyed Hud (MMC) quite a bit. I also liked how both the FMC and MMC had their own baggage and they came together and made it work. That seemed realistic to me. There was a little bit of bad communication between the two leads but I thought that was substantiated in the text so it did not bother me.

I really liked the FMC! She is a sweetheart. At the start of the book, the FMC - Wren - is on the run from a bad break up and seems extremely keen to avoid life completely! She is apparently a runaway person when things get tough. I can totally understand that. BUT THEN … the noble stead Maserati breaks! Delirium clearly sets in as FMC starts talking to hay bales and the hale bales don’t respond. So funny. FMC is from a rich family just FYI. I loved Wren’s character. She is very warm, a tad on the anxious side as she suffers with panic attacks, and is really trying to find her place in the big world. I felt a lot of sympathy for her and could relate in many ways. Her character arc was good I thought, you do see her gaining strength in order to face her past and help out the MMC. I liked that!

The MMC and FMC are clearly attracted to each other straight away but it was not immediate insta-lust in my opinion which I liked. For my tastes, they do get a bit hot and heavy too soon but oh well! There is quite a lot of THOSE scenes in this book too. A little too much for my tastes but they are well written, but just an FYI.

I thought Rosalee - the ex from Hud (MMC) was a great antagonist in this book and I enjoyed the legal drama coming from a legal background myself.

I thought both the backstory of the MMC and FMC were well written and thought out! I am definitely going to put up the next book that comes out from Liberty Stowe!

Thanks all for reading!

🤍🤍🤍

Side Note: I did find it funny that they treat Wren’s dad at one point like Voldemort. ‘Don’t say his name.” That made me chuckle.

[Kimberly Carrington-Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mñe. Como muchos, parecía que iba a ser una cosa y al final fue otra (para mal). Una pija rica a la que se le estropea el cochazo en un pueblo perdido de la mano de Dior donde un mecánico buenorro pero con una vida complicada le va a arreglar los bajos al coche (y a ella). Pero esto acaba derivando en una historia de presiones de grandes corporaciones, juicios y custodias. No es que sea una cosa loca, es que es aburrida y sin sentido.

[Bharath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice feel-good romance. The middle sections are a bit of a pain - going nowhere; but otherwise a charming story with loveable characters.

Wren is driving around in Texas in her expensive Maserati. Her friend Anderson calls her, asking her to join him in South Padre. Her car however develops a problem; AAA directs her to Bass Pit Shop in Vogel Springs which is close to Rockridge. There, she runs into the handsome owner & mechanic Hud. The attraction is mutual and immediate, but then what is the point – when this will be a short meeting. As it turns out, Wren has to prepare to stay a few days as a part has to be imported from Italy. Hud has some other property related problems he is dealing with.

Both Hud and Wren are nice characters to follow. Vogel Springs as a charming small-town is a good backdrop to the story. There are a few other characters who fit well in the story. After the initial sections where Hud and Wren meet, the middle sections deal with their hesitations & doubts, and this drags on and on, which I found quite boring. The story regains its charm again later thankfully and finishes well.

My rating: 3.75 / 5.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher RupertBossier and the author for a free electronic review copy.

[Amee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steady Now is Liberty Stowe’s debut novel set in a quant Texas town called Vogel Springs. Rich socialite Wren finds herself stranded when her Maserati breaks down and the only mechanic in town is broody Hud. Serious sparks fly from these two right off the bat and continue on as they wait for her part to come in. Though they are from very separate worlds, and they are each battling some family issues, they gravitate towards each other. Yes, the sparks flew early, but it’s still a slow burn for the declarations of love to set in. I’m a sucker for slow burning romances and quaint, small towns so I was hooked once all the townspeople were introduced. Wren’s BFF comes to her rescue and he’s real comedy gold. There was a subplot with some land grabbing corporation, and ex drama happening pushing the pace along nicely. I hope this author stays with this location for any further books. So much potential for a series!
Thanks so much to NetGalley for this ARC and a chance to share my opinion.

[ahmeeka · Rating 2 out of 5]

[arc review] finished this and I’m not entirely convinced the main characters even know each others favourite colour. just insta love and no substance behind it.

for me it felt like hud was possessive over wren almost immediately despite only knowing her for ~24 hours. I’m also not a huge fan of when characters hook up so early in the book. where’s the yearning? the silent pining?

despite really liking the premise of the book, ultimately this story was not for me!

[Vanessa (bookfairy95) · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was actually so cute!! 🥰✨

In the beginning the story was a little slow, however, it got better and better and before I knew any better I was completely captivated by the story, the slow burn, the feeling, the characters, the adorable kid and this busy body small town and their drama.

I was able to really loose myself in the story and this is exactly what I want and need from a book, so "Steady Now" ticked all my boxes in terms of emotion, feeling, spice, great conversations and character development and setting. 🥰

A couple things could have been a little more flashed out or maybe introduced a little earlier, but all in all "Steady Now" was a very entertaining small town romance with some twists and a little drama woven in. ✨

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating ⭐️: 4.25/5
Spice 🌶️: 2.75-3/5
Expected Release Date:August 1st 2025

I genuinely loved this book. After being stuck in a major reading slump for the past few months, I was completely pulled in from the very first chapter.The characters immediately grabbed my attention. Wren's personality was absolutely captivating. She is THAT girl. Honestly, she might be one of my favorite characters I’ve ever read. There was also some comedic elements which I really enjoyed. The author did an amazing job portraying Wren’s growth, right down to the subtle detail of her hair changing between the city and the small town. I do think there was a little bit less character development for Hud then there was for Wren but I still feel like I got to know Hud really well.

The author’s writing style was incredibly captivating. She did a great job making the storyline flow smoothly. The reason I gave it a 4.25 rating instead of something higher is because there were a few different plot lines, and since the book was on the shorter side, I found myself wanting more development in certain areas. While epilogues can be hit or miss, I really wish this book had one. I am excited to read more books by this author and hopefully this world continues to expand. Maybe there will be an Anderson book someday?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Agnes Odek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liberty Stowe makes an appearance with the charming small-town romance. Faced with a difficult past, they're forced to share their truths as their attraction for each other grows. Wren is notorious for running from her problems. It was what she was up to when her car broke down. Vogel Springs, the closest place with a mechanic, becomes her refuge. What she didn’t expect was to find a handsome, unavailable man by the name of Hud. Hud, having a lot on his plate, doesn’t deter him from being attracted to Wren. His emotional unavailability comes from a looming legal battle over two things that matter to him. He also drew the conclusion that she would be leaving either way. Romance readers who enjoy reading sexy, sizzling small-town romance will be satisfied with this book. I highly recommend it. The chemistry and yearning between the two were well laid out and intense.

An ARC from NetGalley.

💕

[meghin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

Small town, single dad, mechanic MMC.

The idea of a mechanic shop meet cute was sweet and I didn’t mind the setting of the story.

The characters however lacked communication skills in my opinion. This story was very wordy and went around in circles a lot while also leaving the readers to guess about the characters’ backgrounds.

[The Sewist's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ 4
🌶️ 2
🥵 Spicy chapters: 11, 31, 33, 37, 39
📚 Tropes/Themes: small town, insta lust, forced proximity, single dad, slow burn, small town, starting over, city girl/country boy, lawyer X mechanic
👀 Dual POV 1st person
💔 Triggers: parental neglect, child abandonment, drug use

💬 Well this little book came out of nowhere! I thought it was going to be a cute little fun, easy read to finish out my July ARCs but apparently that was not the case. I mean it's definitely cute and fun and light- hearted but when you really get into the meat and bones of the story, there's a lot more there.

I read a similar book earlier this year and it relied more on being goofy and silly and I didn't really like it a whole lot but I really enjoyed this one. There was a lot more substance to it. The chemistry between Hudson and Wren initially was a little bit too instalusty for me but then it redeemed itself.

The side characters, especially Anderson and Martha were really fun and I loved the small Town vibes. And when the relationship between the MCs really got going. It was sweet, and swoony and everything I look for in a romance novel.

I also really love how you get to learn the meaning the phrase Steady Now holds for Hudson, and how he "gifts" it to Wren as well including all the little occurrences throughout the book.

My only complaint.... Is a wish that Hudson hadn't done the "she's obviously going to leave me no matter what and it's going to break my heart". Sigh. I guess I'm glad that it's the guy who's super insecure this time, but turns out I still hate it lol. Maybe because it's miscommunication trope lite? Either way, that's the only thing that really bugged me about the story. Everything else was enjoyable and I blazed through this book pretty quick.

Oh! And there wasn't an epilogue! I don't think I've read a romance novel that doesn't have an epilogue. It wasn't bad, just... surprising? But I did appreciate the little treat the author left us at the end 😏

[Andrea Griggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Hannah Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“ ‘Steady Now’ was my father’s mantra any time you had to do something you didn’t think you could do.”

Hudson “Hud” Bass is the man everyone goes to when they need help. He’s Vogel Springs resident mechanic and the fact that he’s hot and single? Well, many have tried but nothing seems to stick. That is. Until Wren Baldwin comes crashing into his life like a tidal wave.

““Steady now.” He takes a deep breath and whispers them in my ear. “Steady now. You’re okay.”

Wren Baldwin is a ball of chaos and sunshine. Running when things get hard is what she’s known for and running from home… well it was necessary. Not that her father would care. So when she finds herself stuck in small town USA, aka Vogel Springs, she’s doesn’t understand why the need to fly away isn’t there anymore… and why can’t she keep Hud out of her thoughts.

The tension between these to crackles off the page from the word go! 🔥 Of course they fight it - he’s got enough trouble in his life right now and she’s only passing through. Once her car is fixed, she’ll be gone… right?

With a few twists and turns you don’t expect, some side characters that will make you laugh and wish you could hug them, and the best blueberry muffins, I think you’ll enjoy Vogel Springs just fine!
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#vogelsprings #libertystowe #debutauthor #netgalley #thanksnetgalley @netgalley #happyreading #smalltownromance #hotmechanic #steadynow #tractorrides

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jenna La Bollita · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book
Small town romance
Loved the storyline
Adored the characters
I hope there’s more to come!

[Madeline Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[My Book Nuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a single father who runs his own auto shop and by coincidence Wren (FMC) experiences a mechanical failure with her Maserati 😉

A run in with a random stranger who stops in town by coincidence leads to a slow burn with really good character development. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

Thanks for the ARC @netgalley ❣️

[Kourtney K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️
*thank you to NetGalley for the ARC*

A cute summer romance, but a little too heavy on the insta-love for my taste. The chemistry was sweet, but the connection between the characters felt rushed and underdeveloped.

Some editing issues (repetition, awkward transitions) popped up too often, which took away from the flow.

[Kerry | KerryGetsLiterary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for my ARC.

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 has inconsistencies, is clunky, and 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 what she does for a living? 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.

I had more issues with the writing and diction, but I just cannot go back and look at it again, and I'm sure you get the point.

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

[long2 -`♡´- · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️½ — Just okay, nothing more.

A small-town romance set in rural Texas, told through dual POV. Wren Baldwin, the FMC, is on the run from a controlling father and ends up in Vogel Springs after her Maserati breaks down in the middle of nowhere. There, she meets Hud Bass — a broody, working-class mechanic who reluctantly lets her into his life.

At first glance, this looked like a classic “heiress x mechanic” romantic set-up: slow burn, class tension, summer heat, and small-town charm. But in reality? It’s filled with over-the-top drama and soap-opera-level side plots.

Tags: Texas / mechanic hero / small town / insta-lust / car trouble / rich-girl-meets-blue-collar-boy

📖 Plot
After fleeing her father’s control, Wren’s road trip takes an unexpected turn when her car breaks down. She ends up stuck in Vogel Springs, where Hud is the only mechanic in town. The two are forced into close proximity while waiting for the parts.

Their initial tension quickly turns to attraction — but chaos soon follows: a dramatic ex returns, her wealthy friend suddenly buys property and starts a business in town, the locals are split over a sketchy land deal, and Wren’s unresolved family issues continue to haunt her. Things escalate… fast.

📌 Thoughts
I like reading fluffy romances between heavier books, and I assumed this would be one. Sadly, it wasn’t. It had all the makings of a sweet small-town romance but leaned hard into the drama — and not in a good way.

The romance moved too fast. Hud and Wren barely knew each other, and yet within 24 hours he was possessive and they were already hooking up. There was way more internal monologue than actual dialogue, and very little time spent building emotional intimacy. It was insta-love without the necessary depth. Where’s the slow burn? The tension? The longing?

The side characters were also overly dramatic (Rosalee’s plotline in particular), and some of the events were just plain unrealistic, like Wren’s rich friend buying a house in a town he just showed up in because her car broke down there? Or the entire town being fine with corporate developers taking someone’s land? It felt like drama for the sake of drama.

As for the spice: 🌶️ It was there, but the scenes felt awkward and took me out of the moment.

read more: blog / instagram / Red小红书

[fifi fae · Rating 2 out of 5]

grateful to NetGalley for granting me the e-ARC of this book.

i really need to just start trusting my gut and stop giving books like this the benefit of the doubt. this was a poorly written story with a poorly curated plot and a plethora of one-dimensional characters. the romance was a perfect example of insta-love plus insta-lust blended with a hint of misogyny from the mmc. there was no foundational basis for the characters, their behaviors/motivations and their relationship. the slightest bit of emotional connection that could have been shown between the main characters was overshadowed by lust and intense sexuality, and that made their entire ‘relationship’ completely unbelievable. there was also a huge case of miscommunication or rather, a complete lack of communication whatsoever; it was irritating.
the writing in itself was also completely directionless and baseless with a distorted and confusing format, and unnecessary senseless text message excerpts. the cringe was exceptionally showcase in the unnecessarily many sex scenes and sexual dialogue. the male main character also made a point to remind us of how much of a ‘bitch’ his baby mama is (she kind of is but he didn’t need to do all that), how perfect the fmc’s white skin is and how tiny she is; it was jarring to say the least. the side characters were also pointless, baseless and quite corny/tropey for no reason. overall, this was a meaningless and hard read for me, unfortunately. i wouldn’t recommend at all.

[scribsbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steady Now is a small town romance that takes place in Vogel Springs. The story is engaging and the characters are so well crafted and written. Wren stumbles upon the small town when her car breaks down and only place that has a mechanic close enough to her location is Vogel Springs. Hud has lived in Vogel Springs his whole life and under the gruff no nonsense exterior is the man who people love and care about. What was supposed to be a quick(ish) repair takes longer and soon Wren is finding more about the town of Vogel Springs and Hud.

It’s rare for me to not get irritated by small town romances despite enjoying them but this one definitely hits the spot. I loved this because regardless of how small Vogel Springs is and how tight-knit the community is, everyone still just does their thing. No one is unnecessarily pushy or nosy and the care the community has for one another is evident. Wren and Hud’s evolution is so beautiful and fun to read. The presence and influence they have in each other’s lives is just what the other needs.

If you want a sweet small town romance with the most wonderful group of found family then I highly recommend this one. I didn’t think I’d be adding to the book boyfriend list but…here we are 😅

Thank you to NetGalley and Liberty Stowe for the gifted ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be good for Lucy Score fans. It was a great debut novel. Set in a small town, the story follows Wren when her car breaks down near Vogel Springs and she ends up at mechanic Hud’s shop. Wren is running away from something, but ends up falling in love with the town. Her best friend shows up and they start making long term plans. Included in those plans are Hud and his best friend Cal. Problem is, Hud has a lot of drama going on and is scared to get involved with Wren. This story would have been a 5 star for me, but I found the plot line of why Wren was running not really clear. I also felt like this could have used an epilogue, but that’s just personal preference. This story is open door and had a few spicy scenes. Definitely worth checking out.

Thank you, RupertBossier, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[kyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

if you're into small-town romance and insta-lust tropes, this one might be for you.

the push and pull felt too long that there are times where i sigh after reading parts that result in them distancing themselves from each other. personally, i found the last few chapters to be the best part of the novel - it had all the action! what i appreciate the most though was her profession - we love a boss lady 😎

another pet peeve of mine were the text messages!! tell me why they were conversing in emojis?? 😭

overall, i found myself becoming more interested in the side characters and the part they played in the story instead of the wren/hud's romance. cal, anderson, and connor, y'all stole the entire show in my book ❤️
thank you netgalley for sending over an eARC copy!

[Hillary · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Kirsten Van Hooland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley for this ARC.
Uhm here we go I guess. Did the characters even have a normal conversation that was not about the Maserati or sex? I'm pretty sure they don't even know each other in a non-sexual way. It was too insta-lust/love for me. The pacing of the story was really strange with these very weird time jumps. "They just met each other, the next morning they are all sad because one thinks the other is mad and suddenly they are having this inner monologue about how much they love the other person"?
I thought about DNF'ing this one when I as 30% in, but eventually I finished it. The story in the last 15% was decent.

[Lira]

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.

[Mini Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved watching the love story between Wren and Hud. They both have a past they are working through and come together to work through it together.

Wren is a woman who has it all only to find out the man she loves didn't choose her. She runs away in her Maserati that breaks down near Vogel Springs. She meets her found family and her future here.

Hud is a hard working country boy who just wants to take care of those he loves. A big company comes through and tries to take everything away from him. Sometimes, all you need to do is ask for help.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.