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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
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.
An ARC from NetGalley.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
This was a great read, I really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed all of the different characters, to me they were all well developed. They each had their own uniqueness, things that made them individuals.
This is a small town, dual pov, spicy, single dad, found family story. Wren Baldwin is running from her problems and finds herself stuck in Vogel Springs and falling for its charm, and auto shop owner Hudson Bass.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this one.
I really enjoyed all of the different characters, to me they were all well developed. They each had their own uniqueness, things that made them individuals.
This is a small town, dual pov, spicy, single dad, found family story. Wren Baldwin is running from her problems and finds herself stuck in Vogel Springs and falling for its charm, and auto shop owner Hudson Bass.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this one.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to Netgalley and RupertBossier for a free copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
This book is the epitome of the Country song "Good Directions," But if it kept going. The entire time I was reading, that song kept playing in the back of my head.
I really liked our FMC, Wren. She is down to earth despite her upbringing and when she accidentally lands in a small town in Texas, she can't help but fall in love with its charm... and its mechanic. Even with a rocky start in the town, she quickly makes friends and carves out her own little place while waiting on her car to be fixed. She was realistic and optimistic despite the past that she was running from.
Hudson, our MMC, was a bit harder to fall for. He was gruff and grumpy, which is always a plus, but absolutely refused to have an adult conversation. He refused to let himself get close to Wren because "she'll be leaving soon." even though it was clear she was growing attached to the town and its people. He is the source of miscommunication, but its just because he never wanted to talk, even to his own best friend. Of course, the fault doesn't just lay with Hudson, as even Wren had moments of not just saying what she was feeling/thinking.
The side characters of Anderson and Cal stole the show every time they were on the page. I absolutely fell in love with them and their own budding romance. They brought sass and charm and humor to the page, which was needed due to the tension between our main couple. I loved Anderson trying to carve out his own place in the world by buying and restoring an old Victorian era home into a Bed and Breakfast, and even poaching who may be the very best cook in Texas to run the kitchen.
I will say that this book has its moments of being absolute perfection. I mean.... Tractor, and even the way that Wren interacts with Connor. The more tender moments between Wren and Hud, especially revolving around her panic attacks were swoon worthy. However, I feel like the best part of this book is the way the author portrays the friendships. Anderson gave Wren a reason to stay in Vogel Springs by having her work on the B&B. Cal tries to get through Hudson's thick skull to show that his ex, Rosalee, is manipulative and to help him get custody of his son. They had each others backs and were trying to do what was best for everyone. It was just so beautiful and my favorite part of the story.
The climax of the book didn't feel rushed like so many others do. It felt like the author drug everything out with tension in a way that felt natural. The problems weren't solved in a day, it took time and I LOVED that aspect of it. I always feel like the Climax happens and is resolved in a chapter with most books I read.
This was a cute Rom-com even if it did start off with a bit of Insta-love.... It just needed some Turnip Greens.
This book is the epitome of the Country song "Good Directions," But if it kept going. The entire time I was reading, that song kept playing in the back of my head.
I really liked our FMC, Wren. She is down to earth despite her upbringing and when she accidentally lands in a small town in Texas, she can't help but fall in love with its charm... and its mechanic. Even with a rocky start in the town, she quickly makes friends and carves out her own little place while waiting on her car to be fixed. She was realistic and optimistic despite the past that she was running from.
Hudson, our MMC, was a bit harder to fall for. He was gruff and grumpy, which is always a plus, but absolutely refused to have an adult conversation. He refused to let himself get close to Wren because "she'll be leaving soon." even though it was clear she was growing attached to the town and its people. He is the source of miscommunication, but its just because he never wanted to talk, even to his own best friend. Of course, the fault doesn't just lay with Hudson, as even Wren had moments of not just saying what she was feeling/thinking.
The side characters of Anderson and Cal stole the show every time they were on the page. I absolutely fell in love with them and their own budding romance. They brought sass and charm and humor to the page, which was needed due to the tension between our main couple. I loved Anderson trying to carve out his own place in the world by buying and restoring an old Victorian era home into a Bed and Breakfast, and even poaching who may be the very best cook in Texas to run the kitchen.
I will say that this book has its moments of being absolute perfection. I mean.... Tractor, and even the way that Wren interacts with Connor. The more tender moments between Wren and Hud, especially revolving around her panic attacks were swoon worthy. However, I feel like the best part of this book is the way the author portrays the friendships. Anderson gave Wren a reason to stay in Vogel Springs by having her work on the B&B. Cal tries to get through Hudson's thick skull to show that his ex, Rosalee, is manipulative and to help him get custody of his son. They had each others backs and were trying to do what was best for everyone. It was just so beautiful and my favorite part of the story.
The climax of the book didn't feel rushed like so many others do. It felt like the author drug everything out with tension in a way that felt natural. The problems weren't solved in a day, it took time and I LOVED that aspect of it. I always feel like the Climax happens and is resolved in a chapter with most books I read.
This was a cute Rom-com even if it did start off with a bit of Insta-love.... It just needed some Turnip Greens.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Steady Now by Liberty Stowe
What its About: Wren Baldwin is running from her problems when she gets stuck in Vogel Springs after her Maserati breaks down. While waiting for a car part from Italy, she comes to know the locals and falls in love with the town. Including the Bass Pit Stop owner, Hudson Bass, where her car is being fixed. Hudson Bass is six foot something tall, dark handsome with Grey eyes. He is not what she expected and she is definitely not what he needs at the moment while dealing with potential loss of his land and ex with his son.
My Thoughts: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. Such a cute, wholesome book! I enjoyed every minute of reading it. Hudson is lovable and sounds like someone i would be all to happy to meet. Wren and him together are just perfect. I love Anderson her best friend. He brings a level of sass and humor to the story. Small town stories just make me smile. And I loved the ending.
Spice rating: 🌶🌶🌶. Appropriate level of plot to spice ratio. But dang the garage and tractor scene. Guys, it was super hot!
What its About: Wren Baldwin is running from her problems when she gets stuck in Vogel Springs after her Maserati breaks down. While waiting for a car part from Italy, she comes to know the locals and falls in love with the town. Including the Bass Pit Stop owner, Hudson Bass, where her car is being fixed. Hudson Bass is six foot something tall, dark handsome with Grey eyes. He is not what she expected and she is definitely not what he needs at the moment while dealing with potential loss of his land and ex with his son.
My Thoughts: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. Such a cute, wholesome book! I enjoyed every minute of reading it. Hudson is lovable and sounds like someone i would be all to happy to meet. Wren and him together are just perfect. I love Anderson her best friend. He brings a level of sass and humor to the story. Small town stories just make me smile. And I loved the ending.
Spice rating: 🌶🌶🌶. Appropriate level of plot to spice ratio. But dang the garage and tractor scene. Guys, it was super hot!
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*My thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.*
I didn't hate this book. I quite liked the ideas and the characters and some of the execution. But it really needed another round or two with a capable editor, just to clean up the rough edges and smooth out the messiness the can linger after the first draft stage.
Some of the transitions came out of left field, some didn't get wrapped up very well. Some of the plot points should have been more important, but they were shoved in the background and didn't come back at all. Or if they did, it was well after the narrative seemed to have forgotten about it. It was also hard to have a good sense of place and setting. Small town, sure. But I've been in plenty of small towns that sound like Vogel Springs and NONE of them could reliably support a B&B or a Dollar General (hard to imagine for city folks, but there are indeed run-down clumps of buildings trying to be a town that even DG wouldn't dream of going to).
I still like the premise and the characters. It just needed a little tightening up in the editing phase.
I didn't hate this book. I quite liked the ideas and the characters and some of the execution. But it really needed another round or two with a capable editor, just to clean up the rough edges and smooth out the messiness the can linger after the first draft stage.
Some of the transitions came out of left field, some didn't get wrapped up very well. Some of the plot points should have been more important, but they were shoved in the background and didn't come back at all. Or if they did, it was well after the narrative seemed to have forgotten about it. It was also hard to have a good sense of place and setting. Small town, sure. But I've been in plenty of small towns that sound like Vogel Springs and NONE of them could reliably support a B&B or a Dollar General (hard to imagine for city folks, but there are indeed run-down clumps of buildings trying to be a town that even DG wouldn't dream of going to).
I still like the premise and the characters. It just needed a little tightening up in the editing phase.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️ // Steady Now by Liberty Stowe
The premise was there—a woman running from her past, her Maserati breaking down in the middle of nowhere, and a small-town mechanic who just might be her fresh start. 🏎️➡️🚜
But unfortunately, it just missed the mark for me. The romance moved too quickly, going from “she’s hot” to “she’s rubbing my back, let’s kiss” without enough emotional connection to back it up. I was hoping for more tension and a deeper bond before the spice kicked in. 💨🔥
If you love small-town settings and emotional healing arcs, this might still be worth a read—but it didn’t fully land on the romantic front for me.
✨ Tropes:
🌍 Opposite worlds
🏡 Small town vibes
⚡ Insta lust
🌞😒 Grumpy sunshine
🚜 One tractor (yes, really)
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Hud definitely judged Wade way too quickly off the bat. The minute he heard it was a Maserati car, he assumed the worse and let that determine his attitude towards her. Whether her attitude or not, it felt a bit dramatic to have that automatic assumption.
Wade herself was also way too judgemental at the beginning of the novel in terms of the town, the Triple A assistance, etc. Anderson up and buying a home sight unseen is super risky in a tiny town and just shows how rich he is that the money doesn’t matter. Feels like such an over compensation in trying to help Wren. He could have been a better friend and actually helped her figure out her issues, stop her from running, etc, but nope, buying a house and starting a new adventure she didn’t want is the plan.
I hit 40% and this book is going nowhere. Same run around between Wren and Hub and I do not care about the whole Anderson house plot line. It’s wild and doesn’t make sense! We’ve gotten know backstory for Wren and why she is running, changing things up, and we have some backstory with Hub but not a lot either. There’s so much going on plot wise that neither of the characters want to talk about, but it’s teasing us with information that would make the story ten times better.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Small town
InstaLust
Single dad
I enjoyed this small town romance. I liked the characters and the storyline. I do wish the characters had gotten to know each other a bit better but with the instalust trope it is expected. Great supporting characters. Spicy fun read.
InstaLust
Single dad
I enjoyed this small town romance. I liked the characters and the storyline. I do wish the characters had gotten to know each other a bit better but with the instalust trope it is expected. Great supporting characters. Spicy fun read.
Steady Now is a standalone title written by Liberty Stowe.
What to expect:
*Single dad
*FMC on the run
*Small town drama
This book is full of instalust, miscommunication, and small town drama. Wren is fleeing her cheating ex-boyfriend and neglectful family when her car breaks down leaving her stranded in Hudson’s small town.
Hudson has his own problems like fighting for custody of his son and trying to save his family’s land from being sold off. His small town is slowly turning against him.
There is a lot of OW/OM drama from the ex-girlfriend of Hudson and the ex-boyfriend of Wren, both make several attempts at causing problems. No cheating or third act breakup.
Thank you to NetGalley and RupertBossier for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: Wren (FMC) & Hudson “Hud” (MMC)