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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Steady Now is a quick, trope-filled read that has its charm, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The pacing felt rushed, and I wish there had been more time spent developing the characters. I never really got the chance to connect with them. If you enjoy familiar romance tropes and don’t mind a lighter touch on depth, this could still be an enjoyable weekend read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
When Wren's Maserati breaks down in a small Texan town she must rely on the help of Hudson Bass the local mechanic. The Italian parts for her car will take a while to arrive and Hud takes it upon himself to find her a place to stay over the local diner. As they see each other frequently to discuss her vehicle and the timeline to get it fixed things begin to heat up between them. Things get more complicated when Wren's best friend decides to buy a gorgeous old farmhouse in the small town to turn it into a B&B and vineyard, while signing Wren up as his decorator.
Meanwhile Hud who is usually a local favorite has the townsfolk turn against him as he refuses to sell the land that's been in his family for generations so that a factory can be built there which would bring more jobs to the area. He suspects the company really just wants his resources, plus they're known for dumping toxic waste, something he doesn't want anywhere near his land or the community. With less work at his mechanic shop he agrees to cut the fields for Anderson, Wren's bestie, and prep the land for the vineyard to go in.
Things get even more complex when Hud's ex shows up with their son demanding he sell the land so she can take advantage of his extra income and force him to pay more child support.
Will Hud manage to hang on to the family land? Will his ex take his son and run? Will Wren's car ever get fixed so she can get out of this small town?
Meanwhile Hud who is usually a local favorite has the townsfolk turn against him as he refuses to sell the land that's been in his family for generations so that a factory can be built there which would bring more jobs to the area. He suspects the company really just wants his resources, plus they're known for dumping toxic waste, something he doesn't want anywhere near his land or the community. With less work at his mechanic shop he agrees to cut the fields for Anderson, Wren's bestie, and prep the land for the vineyard to go in.
Things get even more complex when Hud's ex shows up with their son demanding he sell the land so she can take advantage of his extra income and force him to pay more child support.
Will Hud manage to hang on to the family land? Will his ex take his son and run? Will Wren's car ever get fixed so she can get out of this small town?
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the town of Vogel Springs! While I don't always go for insta-love, Wren and Hud and immediate, believable chemistry and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop as they got to know one another. I also liked that they both had some baggage, but we uncovered pieces of it throughout the book as the story played out instead of it being dropped on us. The side characters really rounded out the story too. A great, charming (but spicy) small town romance for summer!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A cute romance with mostly likeable characters. I do wish that we got to see more of Hud's son, Connor, and that Wren had more interaction with Connor, though I enjoyed their relationship in general. The bad guys got what was coming to them, and everything ended in a happily ever after, which is always nice.
Thanks to Liberty Stowe, RupertBossier, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.
Thanks to Liberty Stowe, RupertBossier, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC review of Steady Now
Pub date: 01 August 2025
4/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️
My first from the author! There is so much sweetness in this debut story. A small town romance with found family elements, lots of history, and loyal friendships.
Wren and Hud had chemistry from the start and boy I loved the teasing. Both wanted each other and tried to fight it and I was so ready when they finally gave in 😗 Beautiful!
The story kept me engaged and I was rooting for everything to work out because PLEASE I needed Wren and Hud. TOGETHER.
Thank you to the author, Liberty Stowe, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions in this review are my own.
Pub date: 01 August 2025
4/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️
My first from the author! There is so much sweetness in this debut story. A small town romance with found family elements, lots of history, and loyal friendships.
Wren and Hud had chemistry from the start and boy I loved the teasing. Both wanted each other and tried to fight it and I was so ready when they finally gave in 😗 Beautiful!
The story kept me engaged and I was rooting for everything to work out because PLEASE I needed Wren and Hud. TOGETHER.
Thank you to the author, Liberty Stowe, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions in this review are my own.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Despite starting with a bang, it took a long time to build, and then the ending felt rushed, with everything happening in the last few chapters.
Thank you to NetGalley and RupertBossier for the electronic Advanced Reader Copy, and for WeAreBookish (and NetGalley) for running Camp NetGalley this year.
Thank you to NetGalley and RupertBossier for the electronic Advanced Reader Copy, and for WeAreBookish (and NetGalley) for running Camp NetGalley this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
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.
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.
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC REVIEW
When Wren’s car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, Vogel Springs, Texas, she meets Hud, a single dad and the only mechanic in town. He has a fixer mentality but ironically can’t seem to fix himself. What follows is a story about two people falling in love while navigating the complexities of adulthood: land lawsuits, child custody battles, and emotional baggage.
The premise pulled me in right away, it was engaging and had a lot of potential. There’s some light flirtation between the two leads, all set against the charming backdrop of a small town that felt warm, cozy, and alive through Wren’s perspective. I really enjoyed the depth added by their individual stories, which gave more dimension to both characters.
That said, I feel like the book tried to do too much at once and lost focus along the way. The romance didn’t quite land for me. There were cute, sweet, and even steamy moments, but stepping back, it felt like Wren and Hud barely knew each other. Their emotional connection didn’t have enough time to fully develop, and what we got felt like insta-love, which isn’t really my thing.
After about 50% into the story, their interactions became minimal as each dealt with their own struggles (especially Hud). I thought the pause in their romance would allow for more natural development, but instead, several chapters passed with little to no interaction between them. Hud’s early protectiveness felt unjustified and, at times, possessive. While he clearly cared for Wren, his actions were often self-centered. The miscommunication between them was frustrating. Just talk to each other! You’re adults. Don’t make assumptions and decisions in your head without even having a conversation.
We also didn’t get enough meaningful insight into Wren’s life before she ran away, and what little we got felt shallow. In contrast, Hud’s backstory was more developed, but the way it wrapped up felt rushed.
And one final note: if Wren, a grown woman, calls her estranged father “daddy” one more time, I will gladly sell my soul to Matilda.
Overall, this is a decent debut. I enjoyed it for what it was: a feel-good and funny novel with cozy vibes and heavier themes sprinkled in. I especially appreciated that it wasn’t just a fluffy romance, instead it touched on real-life issues. I just wish that everything had been more balanced.
When Wren’s car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, Vogel Springs, Texas, she meets Hud, a single dad and the only mechanic in town. He has a fixer mentality but ironically can’t seem to fix himself. What follows is a story about two people falling in love while navigating the complexities of adulthood: land lawsuits, child custody battles, and emotional baggage.
The premise pulled me in right away, it was engaging and had a lot of potential. There’s some light flirtation between the two leads, all set against the charming backdrop of a small town that felt warm, cozy, and alive through Wren’s perspective. I really enjoyed the depth added by their individual stories, which gave more dimension to both characters.
That said, I feel like the book tried to do too much at once and lost focus along the way. The romance didn’t quite land for me. There were cute, sweet, and even steamy moments, but stepping back, it felt like Wren and Hud barely knew each other. Their emotional connection didn’t have enough time to fully develop, and what we got felt like insta-love, which isn’t really my thing.
After about 50% into the story, their interactions became minimal as each dealt with their own struggles (especially Hud). I thought the pause in their romance would allow for more natural development, but instead, several chapters passed with little to no interaction between them. Hud’s early protectiveness felt unjustified and, at times, possessive. While he clearly cared for Wren, his actions were often self-centered. The miscommunication between them was frustrating. Just talk to each other! You’re adults. Don’t make assumptions and decisions in your head without even having a conversation.
We also didn’t get enough meaningful insight into Wren’s life before she ran away, and what little we got felt shallow. In contrast, Hud’s backstory was more developed, but the way it wrapped up felt rushed.
And one final note: if Wren, a grown woman, calls her estranged father “daddy” one more time, I will gladly sell my soul to Matilda.
Overall, this is a decent debut. I enjoyed it for what it was: a feel-good and funny novel with cozy vibes and heavier themes sprinkled in. I especially appreciated that it wasn’t just a fluffy romance, instead it touched on real-life issues. I just wish that everything had been more balanced.