Bottled Up

by Liberty Stowe

381 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 28, 2026

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

[Jodi Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liberty Stowe has done it again!

I hoped for a return to Vogel Springs, and by popular demand this author did it! Does this second book mean we get a full series! Because I must say , I am LOVING my trips to the Hill Country and the town I think my entire book club wants to move to!!!

Okay: The review: In terms of a small town romance, Liberty Stowe is the first author next to Lucy Score, who truly incorporates the town and its very well developed characters. She creates a cast you FALL IN LOVE with and book 2 did not disappoint! Anderson, Cal, Tiny, Martha, Conner and no spoilers, so I'll stop there! Just top notch how she incorporated them all in a way that served the plot and themes of book two so specifically. This book was just beautifully crafted, and if I'm being completely critical and honest... Liberty Stowe brings much more depth, research, and uniqueness to her stories than the Lucy Score "quirk" or "camp" and the tropey/I already figured it out same old set up we are consistently hit with. This is the second book in what I'm hoping will be a series. She's calling it her "Vogel Springs Collection," so fingers crossed. And it is my third book of this author's to read since her debut, Steady Now, book 1 of the Vogel Springs Collection.

Some highlights.... If you read Liberty Stowe, you know she writes spice well. I think, "Well done spice" is a tagline on most of my reviews for her. It's often hard for me to give small town romance five stars, but she just gets me every time. I ENJOY the ride, the anticipation, and identifying with her characters, so this second book gets a five from me as well. *You see the vineyard, and you think the plot or story is typical.... No way! This was so unexpected. MMC: August & FMC: Delilah are on a league of there own. Liberty Stowe gives these two an old soul sophistication that makes their spicy scenes ravenous. These two are true lovers. Welcome to romance without the cheesy stick!

Bottled Up is the most unique small town romance book I've read, yet it still honors its genre, hitting all the marks for why we covet and read this romance comfort staple so much. Who doesn't like exploring fictitious towns that welcome you with open arms? If there is any hope out there... Vogel Springs is real, and so are its residents.

This is the Texas Hill Country author, read, and hopefully full series you won't want to miss.

Sorry Small Town Romance authors, I'm afraid Liberty Stowe raised the bar with this one!

[Dana Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED the return to Vogel Springs, and loving that this will be a series!

Another home run for Liberty Stowe. After her debut of Steady Now she knocked it out of the park with her hit of a small town nestled in the Texas Hill Country .

Her extremely well developed characters are responsible for the appeal of Vogel Springs and I found myself curious as to how she would incorporate them into book 2. Wow. My expectations were exceeded. Bottled Up is top tier for small town romance and you'll fall in love with beloved Steady Now characters in a different way. That was genuinely a fantastic suprise...that and the plot!

Bottled Up was so unexpected and I enjoyed every turn along the back roads of Vogel Springs with its new to us FMC, DELILAH and MMC, AUGUST. I don't know how Stowe managed to craft these perfect strangers to fit in the town that we know so well from Steady Now... but she did an exceptional job. They might be my favorite couple in the series thus far if that's not speaking too soon off only book 2!
August and Delilah are so unique and stylized. They are a refreshing change to the typical tropes we read over and over... these two bring the steam, the anticipation and the individuality that makes them click as a couple as well as with the town. The spice is spot on in this book!!! Three solid, hot
chilli 🌶 peps from my end.

This small town romance has everything... a celebrity pastry chef presented in a way we HAVEN'T SEEN YET, AND the vineyard/winery element... not your norm or typical rom com experience... this wine maker MMC brings something new to the table you won't want to miss!!! The research that went into the MMC's specific skills and the interior thoughts of the FMC and the position she finds herself in... really excellent writing!

Don't miss this series. You don't have to read book 1 to enjoy Bottled Up, but I recommend you do for the enjoyment of Vogel Springs, as I highly recommend this series. As an avid Deveny Perry fan, I have to say, Liberty Stowe is becoming my new favorite Small Town Romance author!

[Sneha Jha · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Bottled Up* by Liberty Stowe was my first Liberty Stowe novel and it definitely won't be my last.

This book was everything I want in a contemporary romance. It had heart, chemistry, emotional depth, memorable characters, and a setting so beautifully written that I never wanted to leave. From the very first chapter, I found myself completely immersed in the world of Vogel Springs.

One of the strongest aspects of this novel was the characterization. Every single character felt real, layered, and thoughtfully developed. It's rare to find a book where even the supporting cast leaves such an impression, but Liberty Stowe managed to do exactly that. I became so invested in these characters that I genuinely felt like I was part of their community.
And can we talk about Vogel Springs? The world-building was phenomenal. The vineyard, the town, the people—it all felt so vivid that I honestly wanted to pack my bags, move to Vogel Haus, and start making wine myself. That's how immersive this story was.

August and Delilah were absolutely wonderful together. Their chemistry was effortless, and every interaction between them had me smiling. Delilah was such a strong, resilient heroine who carried the weight of her past while still fighting for her future. And August? Swoon-worthy in every sense of the word. Supportive, charming, handsome, and impossible not to fall in love with.
By the time I reached the final pages, I wasn't ready to say goodbye. I loved these characters, this town, and this story so much that I wanted it to keep going. *Bottled Up* is the kind of romance that wraps around your heart and stays there long after you've finished reading.

A truly wonderful contemporary romance and one of my favorite reads of the year.

[Crystal Gritzmacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley & RupertBossier for the e-ARC!

Bottled Up by Liberty Stowe was a delightful surprise and an easy 4 ⭐️ read for me. As someone who typically reaches for horror and thrillers, contemporary romance isn't my usual genre, but this one completely won me over. The story follows Delilah, an award-winning pastry chef whose world is turned upside down, sending her back home to Vogel Springs to regroup and figure out her next chapter. On her way there, she crosses paths with August, a talented winemaker with a complicated family history, and what begins as a chance encounter quickly becomes something much more significant.

I flew through this book in just a few days. The chemistry between Delilah and August was undeniable, and I loved their push-and-pull dynamic as they tried to resist the connection growing between them. The small-town setting, complete with the Vogel Häus bed and breakfast and vineyard, gave the story a cozy charm, while the wine-making backdrop added a unique touch. And yes—there is plenty of spice for readers who enjoy a steamier romance.

At its heart, Bottled Up is a story about starting over, finding yourself after disappointment, and discovering love in the most unexpected places. I found myself completely invested in both Delilah and August and rooting for them every step of the way. If you're looking for a heartfelt contemporary romance with wonderful chemistry, plenty of emotion, and a touch of wine-country magic, this is definitely one to pick up.

[Lisa Hemming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things are heating up as we return to the small town of Vogel Springs, Texas! Delilah, an award-winning pastry chef, just wants to hide out and be left alone in her hometown after her life and career blew up in her face. August, a successful wine maker, was itching to get his hands on the delectable grapes that would become delicious and sought-after wine. Their meet-cute at the airport was perfect; lusty, dreamy and full of promise. Unfortunately, when they saw each again in town, and Delilah found out who August really was, she wanted nothing to do with him. Why oh why did August have to work in the industry that she was now hiding from? He would attract all kinds of publicity she was trying to avoid, but could she ignore how he made her feel? Regardless of his appeal to her, Delilah moved him to the back of her mind as she worked on getting her life in order. August wasn’t sure he made the right decision in coming to Vogel Springs, but he would never regret meeting Delilah. Her beauty, feistiness and devotion to her town was an aphrodisiac for his lonely soul. He was tired of being cast aside by important people in his life, but he wished he knew why Delilah was so against him. That didn’t matter in the greater scheme of things because he had his work cut out for him when it came to bringing the vineyard back to life. I would find it hard to resist August with his rugged good looks, sexy winks and his thoughtful and kind personality. Delicious and velvety tasting wines go with everything; appetizers, entrees and heavenly desserts created by a desirable pastry chef who August couldn’t stop thinking about. Will Delilah give August a chance to show her that they go together like the sun and the moon, the stars in the sky and grapes in the vineyard?

[Shab Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bottled Up had an intriguing premise and a setting that drew me in, but ultimately this one didn't fully work for me.

Bottled Up has so much going for it: a small-town setting, a vineyard, food and wine, and a romance between two people carrying around more emotional baggage than they're willing to admit. Honestly, it felt like it was written specifically for readers who love cozy small-town romances.

And the small-town vibes? They were absolutely vibing.

What worked best for me was the banter. The conversations felt natural most of the time, the chemistry was there, and the slow unraveling of each character's walls made sense given everything they'd been through. Watching them learn to open up or "uncork" was genuinely satisfying.

The spice was definitely spicing, too. 🔥

That said, while I enjoyed my time with it, I never quite fell head over heels. I liked the story, I liked the characters, and I can absolutely see why others will love it. I just found myself wanting a little more emotional depth to fully connect with it.

Still, if you're looking for a cozy small-town romance with vineyard charm, good banter, and plenty of heat, this is an easy one to toss in your beach bag.

⭐⭐⭐

[Andrea Griggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ARC review. I want to thank Liberty Stowe and RupertBussier for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day! After reading Stead Now I was so excited to read the next in the series and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

Vogel Springs, Texas in Texas Hill Country sounds like a dream that I need to visit. It can’t be that far of a drive from Houston! It truly just reminds me of all the Texas small town charm I can never get enough of!

Deliah Mueller…I want to taste every single goodie made throughout this book. I’m jealous of everyone who got to taste such extraordinary food! Who should NEVER get a taste of anything good again is her ex-boyfriend, Julian. This man never deserved her and shouldn’t be able to be in the same industry.

Running into August Montenegro was a pleasant surprise. Well at least the first run in. There was a lot of tension and push and pull between these two once they had their second run in. When I tell you their sexual tension was at an all time high. I’ll never look at a lake the same again!

I am happy Delilah finally allowed herself to not live in fear and run and hide from her problems. She deserved someone, herself, to show up for her. August also thankfully did the same. When both of them finally stopped running away they were able to run to each other. What an amazing story! Thank you for sharing!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic story from author Liberty Stowe. This is a sequel to her debut novel, Steady Now, and is set in the same charming small town of Vogel Springs, Texas. While I highly recommend reading the first book to get a better sense of the characters and setting, this book introduces two new main characters to the town. Delilah, a former resident of Vogel Springs, has become a renowned pastry chef in New York. August, a wine maker, is persuaded to relocate to Vogel Springs from Anderson, the owner of Vogel Haus. Their paths cross at the airport, and despite an initial awkwardness, their relationship blossoms quickly. The book delves deep into the lives of each character and weaves a captivating suspense plot centered around the business dealings of Vogel Haus and the vineyard. This is a truly engaging and spicy open-door book that I highly recommend checking out.

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

[Brady Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welp folks, she did it again! Liberty Stowe is back with another Vogel Springs story and this one is just as awesome as the first!

I LOVED getting to hear from Anderson more and get. a peak inside his mind, while also exploring this new story with August and Delilah! I highly recommend reading book 1 before jumping into this one, if you have not already.

Liberty Stowe does a delightful job at making fun, hilarious characters that feel so realistic. The MMC is strong, capable, and of course grumpy. But the FMC is also strong and has her own remarkable capabilities. These characters are so warm, so real, and so awesome. The spice in this one is perfect- both tender and passionate!

Vogel Springs is the kind of place that just wraps you in it's arms and makes you want to stay forever. The found family and friendships in this story are amazing and truly so special.

I sooooo hope we are coming back to Vogel Springs in the future. I can't wait to read more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for the opportunity to read this title in advance of it's release.

[Heather Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you RupertBossier publishing for allowing me to read this ARC. I enjoyed this book more than Steady Now. I loved the incorporation of all of our book 1 characters were in this new couple’s story. We get to see how Vogul Häus is thriving and the drama of running it. I could not put this book down. A FMC whose running from her old life to try and hide in her small hometown and a MMC who refuses to be tied down to a job/area with his own tragic childhood trauma he’s trying to stay away from reliving. Will they, won’t they? I got so angsty just waiting to see how it played out! I loved how the couple’s character’s stories were so different from book one and that the author stayed away from a typical series storyline. The epilogue had me a bit scared because they are normally happy-go-lucky to tie everything up, but this one still had the HEA. I hope there is more to this series because I will for sure read it too!

[Mini Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐

I loved the first book and this second book did not disappoint! I loved being able to continue with all of our lovely characters lives while immersing with new characters.

This book follows Delilah Mueller who is a world renowned pastry chef and August Montenegro a generational winemaker.

Delilah gets burned by her ex Julian and flees back home to Vogel Springs. She's trying to stay away from the cameras but the cameras are always following.

August comes from a family of winemakers. He escapes his toxic family and is constantly on the run. He refuses to plant roots unless they are for grapes.

These two come together in a swoony, healing relationship. He's leaving after the harvest and she might stay here where she calls home.

There's banter, tension, healing and a found family. There's nothing you won't love.

Thank you so much NetGalley and RupertBossier Publishing for this amazing ARC! I can't wait for the next book in this series!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very sweet read. Returning to a hometown brought the nostalgia, sparks flying between characters brought the romance, winemaker and baker/pastry experts brought the education, and all the characters from Book 1's Steady Now brought the humor and distractions. Although this *could* be read as a standalone novel, I HIGHLY recommend reading Book 1 first to get bearings on character, setting and town-issues backgrounds. Trigger warnings include emotional abuse, generational trauma, alcoholism and narcissistic pricks (both male and female) :). If you are looking for a summer read or vacation book to take you away for a little bit -with nothing complicated about the writing- I don't think you'd regret jumping into this series one bit.

*Thank you to RupertBossier Publishing (and NetGalley) for the ARC!*

[Agnes Odek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vogel Springs collection keeps getting better. Having read Steady Now and enjoying it, I would love to say Bottled Up embodied its predecessor. 

With high tension between the protagonists, their connection is progressive as trust is built. All having difficult pasts, assumptions and misunderstandings are made while love prevails. While Delilah’s solution to her problems is to run from them, August’s past makes it impossible to stay in one place; at least that’s what he believes.

I am no book expert, but I read enough books to say that this book unraveled at a steady pace. It gave room for the characters to exist with their quirks and differences. I hope the author writes Anderson's and Cal’s story. Anyway, I found myself fully immersed in the story. The wordplay between the book’s name and the main characters as well as the winery is wholesome. I highly recommend this easy, fun read.

[Jennifer Rupert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so so much. This is number two in the series and I can't wait to see who is up next. I hope it's May Beth. Anyway, this book follows August and Delilah. Delilah is hiding from her recent fall from grace... more on that later. August has been hired by Anderson (from book one) to add a vineyard and winery to Vogel Haus.

August and Delilah are absolutely combustible. First like two opposing magnets and then they are drawn together.

I loved how the characters from the first book were interspersed in the perfect amount. You got to see more of them but it wasn't too much where it ruined the story at hand.

This story had some twists and turns that I did NOT see coming. I don't want to spoil any of it for anyone so JUST GO READ THIS.

You don't need to have read the first one, but it helps. Read that one too.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delilah and August have both come to Vogel Springs for separate reasons, but are unable to deny the instant attraction they feel. Are they too stubborn to give in?

***Small town romance
***Dual POV
***🌶️🌶️🌶️

Book 2 of the Vogel Springs Collection, though this can be read as a standalone. ( I did love Book 1 Steady Now and recommend reading it!). This was a great small town romance with lots of banter, flirting, and hot spice! I loved the vineyard setting; fits right in with a summer/beach read vibe.

Really enjoying this series - looking forward to future works!

Thank you to RupertBossier and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel ; all opinions expressed are my own.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I choose this book solely because of its cover, so I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into. This small town, slow burn romance was such an enjoyable read.

Delilah has headed back to her home town after being away for a number of years. In the airport she crosses paths with August as they squabble of a bag of m&m’s. August shows up in her hometown as a new hire by the local B&B.

I loved the entire cast of characters. This was the second book in the series. I missed the first one so will definitely go back k and read Wren and Hud’s story.

If you enjoy small town, slow burn, with an enemies to lovers feel you should definitely read this.

*I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.

[ROBIN RUIZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome back to Vogel Springs.
A small town rich with history and community, where there are no secrets and everyone remembers all the teenage mistakes you made
lol.
Delilah a highly successful pastry chef, returns home to heal her wounds and decide the next move in her life.
August is a renowned wine maker who takes a job at the famous Vogel Haus to create a signature wine.
Well, these two have an immediate connection, they are both too stubborn for their own good and fight it at every return.
This is book 2 in the series and to get the whole small town feel please start a book one!
I really enjoy the series and I look forward to many more trips to Vogel Springs!

[another one for the bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small town romance with wine and pastries, what more could you want? Thank you so much @rupertbossier for approving my request for this ARC ✨

Bottled Up is about a lady returning to her home town to escape the corporate life, the press and her ex. Whilst trying to lay low, she can’t help but notice the new wine maker in town but unfortunately for her the press has followed him to Vogel Springs…

This is one of my new favourite small town romances. The push and pull between old life vs current life vs future life was very well written, despite a couple of pacing challenges.

What I didn’t enjoy:

> The ankle bracelet didn’t resonate for me. The emphasis on it was misplaced and didn’t pack a punch.
> The pacing. Particularly at the end.

[Symone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so happy to be back in Vogel Springs! Seeing Delilah come back to her people, where she belonged, and August warm up to everyone was nice. They both really needed each other and the town. Their pasts definitely left them with some defense mechanisms (especially Delilah), but you could still clearly see the connection there from the way they were so caring towards one another. August with his protectiveness and Delilah through her acts of service. 🥰 Also i really i thought it was cute how the tractor emoji was mentioned 😉 iykyk. Those were some good times.

[Natalie Granatelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute story with some spice in the Vogel Springs series. My biggest complain with the first book was that the back stories took too long to flesh out. In this book, that wasn’t the case. The book opened up with an introduction to the characters by incorporating old and new. Character stories and histories played out along with the plot, which helped the pace of the book. Overall, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first. Certain character traits were a bit too dramatic, and the suspense honestly felt too forced. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

[Lisa Penninga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the setting of this book— small town vibes, back at Vogel Springs again! I felt like it started a bit slow and choppy, but once I got further into it, I really enjoyed the characterization and growth of August & Delilah. It’s fun to see the characters grow from her first book, and I adore Cal & Anderson’s relationship that ties everyone together. It’s the perfect vineyard & B&B summer read for anyone who has been forced to create roots despite a rocky childhood foundation.

[Catie Duckworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun food and wine-themed romance. It didn't need to be so long. Getting to that 50% mark where they finally kiss was a slow crawl. Like, I get it. You both think this is a bad idea. You couldn't possibly , but we all know you're going to...so just kiss already!

The plot was a bit too dramatic at times, but overall I enjoyed it. It's another book that thanks to relatively short chapters, feels like it moves quickly, even when the story isn't necessarily progressing.

[Cami Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a really entertaining book. I finished it in less than 12 hrs. I just feel like they jumped things but if you keep reading everything makes sense. Also I didn’t understand some of the wine language but that’s on me because I don’t know much of it.

[Kelty Duval · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to RupertBossier Publishing for this ARC!
I LOVE small town drama and this didn't disappoint. I also love revisiting fictional towns and their characters so I loved that we got to see Wren, Hud, Anderson and Cal again. I think that this one definitely can standalone, but I think it will make a lot more sense if you read Steady Now first. This book comes four years after Wren and Anderson settled in Vogel Springs, which was a bit of a time jump to adjust to. I thought the way that Delilah's secrets played out was good but also confusing at times. I really enjoyed August's POV. I thought his story was really interesting and I was guessing all the way to the end on how they were going to solve the problem. I have a feeling the next time we are in Vogel Springs, we will be seeing a lot more of May Beth, but I would also love to get more on the dynamic between Anderson and Cal.

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido.


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

[Kristin]

I would like to thank Netgalley and RupertBossier for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Lost interest.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved going back to Vogel Springs in this book.

Loved Delilah & August. Their slow burn. Enemies to lovers vibe.

Small town. Redemption.

Four stars ****

Pacing was little off for me it took awhile to really get into the book unlike the first book. But overall once it picked up it was good.

Thank you NetGalley & Rupert Bossier for this advanced arc invite.