Can't Leave Love

by Kimberly Cooper Griffin

Sophia McGovern can’t seem to settle down. Memories of all her bad decisions refuse to leave her alone. So, she moves from town to town, from one dead-end job to another, keeping to herself, which serves her well—until she arrives in Ft. Devlin, Colorado. From the first day, Ft. Devlin was different. Maybe that’s why she says yes to teaching a car maintenance class at the local high school.High school literacy teacher Pru Glynn is happy with her life just as it is. She has a great job, close friends, and a loving family. She’d like to find a wonderful woman to share it with, but she isn’t about to settle for just anyone. When beautiful Sophia McGovern swings into town, Pru can’t deny an attraction, but Sophia’s itinerant lifestyle doesn’t fit in with her deep-set roots and strong ties to family and friends.Sophia and Pru have no intention of falling in love, but sometimes love happens when and where you least expect it.

Genres: LGBT

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2021

About the author

Kimberly Cooper Griffin is an award-winning author of contemporary romance novels in the sapphic genre and the award-winning non-fiction Inkslinger series for writers. Born in San Diego, California, Kimberly joined the Air Force, traveled the world, and eventually settled down in Denver, Colorado, where she lives with her wife, the youngest of her three daughters, and a menagerie of dogs and cats.

Her fiction explores the complexities of building relationships and finding balance when life has a tendency to get in the way, and her non-fiction guides writers through the often complex writing process.

You can find her books at:

http://author.to/KimberlyCooperGriffin

Reviews

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely romance without much angst or conflict. I really enjoyed this small-town romance for the simplicity of the story.

Sophia McGovern has spent the majority of her life traveling from town to town. She never stays too long in any one place and seems to like it that way. Pru Glynn, on the other hand, has lived in Ft. Devlin, Colorado all her life and has no plans of ever leaving. The two meet soon after Sophia takes a job as a mechanic in Pru’s hometown.

This is one of those books where if you’re looking for a lot of action, you should look elsewhere. This is a love story of two ordinary women in their 40’s meeting and falling in love despite knowing they shouldn’t. Pru is aware Sophia doesn’t plan to make Ft. Devlin home but she can’t stay away from her. The attraction and chemistry between the two is immediate though they both fight it as neither one are looking for a casual hookup.

I really liked that both main characters are capable of communicating and acting like mature adults. I said before that there isn’t much angst, and there isn’t in their relationship. There is emotional turmoil and several other things going on, but it’s either personal or other outside forces. Luckily, Sophia and Pru are both good at talking with each other so it doesn’t affect their romantic relationship

Everything about this felt natural and organic, there were no moments where I was rolling my eyes because of the writer forcing conflict when none was needed. The romance isn’t slow burn but it isn’t insta-love either. Sophia and Pru take the time to get to know one another and everything moves at a natural pace.

My favorite thing about Can’t Leave Love is that Griffin skips the seemingly mandatory break up scene at the 90% mark. I kept getting nervous and expecting it but it never happened and I was so happy for the lack of it. So, thank you Ms. Griffin for that!

I highly recommend this to fans of romance.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you just need a romance that will melt your heart, bring a tear to your eyes at least once or twice, and leave you with a warm, happy feeling at the end. Add a couple of the cutest dogs, and you have a wonderful story. That is exactly what I found in Can’t Leave Love by Kimberly Cooper Griffin.

Besides being a beautiful love story, this book deals with some serious issues which is where the occasional teary eyes may happen. This is a tale of two women (Sophia McGovern and Pru Glynn) who meet in small town Ft. Devlin, Colorado. Pru has lived here all her life. Sophia moves to town to work as a mechanic. Sophia is very upfront to everyone about her wandering ways. She never stays anywhere for long, and Pru has no desire to live anywhere else. Both realize they should not try to be a couple, but the attraction they have can’t be denied.

This is a well-written romance with well-developed characters (both human and canine), set in a lovely small town, with just the right amount of angst to make the story interesting. It is exactly the type of romantic tale that I love to read. In fact, I think I’ve found a new author to add to my list of favorite romance writers. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

[Jo reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kimberly Cooper Griffin newbie here! And looking forward to any further books by this author.

'Cant leave love' is an emotional rollercoaster of a read, I found in areas of the story I would have tears appearing, very touching, and very well written. You can tell that plenty of research has been done for the storyline. I love how the town is described, it's a close-knit community. It makes the storyline feel a lot cozier and gives off a warm feeling even tho there is quite a bit of angst in the story. There are a fair few characters in this story, normally this would be off-putting for me, I prefer just a few, but all the charters had a purpose, and without them, the story wouldn't have blended so well together. The two main characters tho, Pru and Sophie, there's a bond there from the start...

'Can't leave love' is a really good read! I've given it a 4 * Have some tissues ready!

[Della B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia never settles too long in one place. She drifts from one auto repair shop to another. Pru is perfectly happy living in the town she was born in and teaching in the local high school. When the two meet and the attraction is undeniable something will have to give.
If you are looking for a romance with an emotional angst filled story then this is for you. The story keeps you guessing as there are a number of secondary plots occurring which will impact both of the main characters.
The writing is enjoyable to read as it alternates between both main characters point of view. The characters are captivating and appealing which places you firmly in their corner and cheering them on.
The storyline deals with some darker issues but with a delicate hand. A number of plot twists definitely caught me by surprise and made Can’t Leave Love a very gratifying read.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you just need a book that is a fun and easy romance, Can't Leave Love offers you that.
That is not to say this book doesn't have any angst, because it does, but not when it comes to the romance.

Sophia and Pru are both in their early forties but that is where their similarities seem to stop (aside from them being lesbians). Sophia has been running from her past, not staying in a town for longer than a year or two. Pru has never left her hometown of Ft. Devlin. She became a teen mom, like many of the girls there do, raised her girl, attended college and now teaches English Lit at the local high school. Sophia comes into town as the new mechanic, she gets roped into teaching some car maintenance lunch classes. Sophia feels at home and for the first time in her life she doesn't have the impulse to run.

Slowly we get to know more about what Sophia is running from. She internalises a lot of it, but at some point she does start speaking to Pru about it. And while on the point of communication, this book is one of those unicorns in lesfic that has terrific communication, always refreshing to come across one of those. Pru is scared to verbalise all her thoughts, afraid to make Sophia run, but of course she cant contain herself and they do talk about lots of things.

I really liked both characters, they have their own struggles and fears that they are working through, they support each other while remaining themselves. The supporting cast is great fun as well, you don't see a lot of them but you get a real feel of them, very well done.

This is just an easy romance with good communication, angst in some other parts of the story, all in all a comfortable and easy read, 4.5 stars.

*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*

[Agirlcandream · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Local teacher Pru Glynn can’t imagine living anywhere other than Ft. Devlin. She has a great job and a warm and supportive family. When Sophia McGovern arrives in town to work as a mechanic in a local shop she has no interest in making any long term commitments, not to her boss and not to Pru. Sophia is a rolling stone making Pru question whether they could ever be more than friends.

This is a low angst romance with many sweet moments between Sophia and Pru. I wouldn’t call it slow burn as they are attracted to each other from their first encounter but the pace of their budding romance is slow. Pru is an open book but closed minded regarding the possibility of ever leaving F. Devlin. Sophia holds much of her past and her need to keep changing locations to herself. I liked these two women and their mostly open communication but the plot seemed a bit too thin for a book of this length. This might just be me as I seem to have topped out my WLW romance tank for the year and am looking for deeper reads at the moment. If you love a light read with the expected HEA and a lot of nice and caring folks the mains meet along the way, this might be the read for you.

A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for review.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophia arrives in Fort Devlin carrying more than just the entirety of her belongings but is also toting around 20 years of baggage that she seems content to be weighed down by. She is an itinerant mechanic, only staying in one place for a few months before moving on. On her first day in town, she meets Pru, a teacher at the local high school. Both are attracted to the other. Sophia’s problem is that Pru isn’t interested in a one-night stand nor does she want a short-term fling. But Pru is falling for Sophia and is having a hard time keeping her mind from thoughts of forever.

Griffin has created a complex and fast-moving storyline that will have her readers reading far into the night. Her characters are well-drawn, multi-faceted, and intelligent women who readers will remember for a long time after they’ve read the last page of the book. Her writing is awfully good, and Griffin does not let her story get bogged down with pages and pages of angst. She allows her characters to acknowledge their issues and then her readers get to see and understand how those issues are resolved.

If you’ve been looking for non-stereotypical LesFic novel, put this book at the top of your TBR pile.

My thanks to Bold Strokes Books for an eARC.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every minute I spent reading this book. Sophia McGovern doesn’t want to get too comfortable in a town. She lives in her fifth-wheel trailer with her beloved dog Sammy. She starts her new job as a mechanic in the small fictional town of Ft. Devlin, Colorado. She’s 42, friendly and has good work skills. She plans to stay until she feels the need to move along. The locals befriend her and welcome her to town. She even agrees to teach a lunchtime auto maintenance class at the high school. English teacher Pru Glynn catches her eye but she’s not looking for anything casual. The author does great at creating heat just by the conversations between the two. With side glances at lips, the tension builds at an easy pace until you know a spark is going to become an infernal. There is some real issues that come up but you know these mature women, who can use words to discuss feelings and concerns, are going to come through everything fine. This was a delight to read. As a personal note for me I read this while vacationing in Colorado making the book even more memorable. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennabeebs79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kimberly Cooper Griffin is one heck of a writer. I was enamored with her last book, In the Cards, and am so in love with this book. This book is completely different than that book but the quality of the writing is the same, if not better. In Can’t Leave Love, Sophia rolled into town and set up her 5th wheel behind her new job at Willie’s Garage. As a self-proclaimed runner, she was immediately embraced by all of the locals in the small Colorado town of Ft. Devlin. Her relationship with local teacher Pru developed at a slow, believable pace. The dialogue between the characters was engaging and quite natural. The story flowed effortlessly and was honestly just really nice. There were a lot of different dynamics coming from all directions, but the story never got jumbled or overwhelmed. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. The characters were believable and likable and the plot and subplots were engaging and entertaining. Thanks for another really fantastic read!

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. Can't Leave Love is a midmorning sip of dark roast coffee on a no-plans Saturday. Plus, there are dogs. It's not perfect, but I liked it enough not to dwell on ways it's not. A lovely surprise from a new-to-me author!

[Judit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure what is about small town romances but I just love them and this book didn't disappoint.

I really enjoyed meeting the characters and found them very likeable. Sophia's subplot made things even more interesting.

This is my first book by the author so looking forward to read some more.

[Finnian Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The genuine respect and caring between two absolutely decent main characters was refreshing and lovely in this book. The story was interesting and fun to read - the addition of dogs and a huge, loving family of support made this a really loving book. I especially loved that the main characters communicated - mostly, the conflict in their lives came from the outside world and they faced it together.

[Domi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia is a wanderer, always moving from job to job with her dog Sammy to outrun decisions from her past. At one point she ends up in Ft Devlin, Colorado and meets Pru, a local schoolteacher with a loving daughter,family, friends and community who has never left the state. Even though they both know it's not smart to start something due to Sophia's inevitable leaving at some point, the attraction is ultimately too strong.
I liked how the relationship developed naturally, there was dialogue, getting to know one other and open communication. And you could see Sophia slowly becoming integrated in the community, maybe the end wrapped up a little too quickly and easy, especially considering the big events that happened, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of this book. Well worth the read for any reader who likes romance, but doesn't need the whole rollercoaster ride filled with angst and drama.

***Thank you Netgalley and Bold Stroke Books for giving an ARC to read and review. ***

[Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy a good romance in a small town where acceptance is not an issue and in my opinion, this read fits. I was hooked from the beginning. Sophia McGovern, mother, high school literature teacher, with a strong sense of love for self and family. Finding a long term relationship would be wonderful. Pru Glynn, wandering mechanic dealing with past issues that will not disappear without facing them. And to face them she needs encouragement and support. She is not looking for any type of relationship.

It is the encouragement and support that is most appealing about this read. There are subjects in this read that are difficult but as presented, they do not take away from the romance but enhance it. The secondary characters are important to help the story move along and help the reader understand many aspects of this small town. Also, the pets in this read are wonderful and make you smile. A follow-up story would be nice.

ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley

[Rosi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story could be considered soft, although the topics it deals with are not so soft.  And the way it's written is pretty sweet too, making for a smooth romance. The two protagonists are very nice, not perfect, not double intention in their behavior, they are real and sincere.

Even though Sophia is new to the community Pru lives in, she is welcome even though she is not completely open about her past.  Nobody forces her or leaves her aside for that. On the contrary, she only receives acceptance and, despite her reluctance, everything pushes her to integrate into this new community to which she has just arrived.

Nor does the story dwell on the most controversial aspects of both the life and past of Pru or Sophia, which I personally appreciate.

So, overall, my kin of romance.

[Cameron Hiku · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was my favorite book by this author so far. The character development and overall story captivated me. I stayed up way too late in the middle of the week, knowing full well I had to get up for work in the morning, because I couldn’t put it down. The chemistry and buildup of the main character’s relationship was exciting and relatable. My favorite part was the matching chemistry between the dogs of the main characters. They were meant to be together!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the author's sense of humor

[Patty Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book. The romance between Sophia and Pru was very sweet, passionate, and caring. There were several different things happening in this book that made the story very riveting, and interesting. I liked how the story revolved around the two women's families and how each family dealt with the same issue in different ways. I really liked the character of Sophia she was such a gentle and caring person and Pru was a great character as well. I loved that the author incorporated animals into this story Rosie the dachshund was such a lovable diva sweet in her own way, but, Sammy the Pitbull mix was my favorite she was such a sweet, caring, and loving dog I just wanted to hug and pet her myself. I'm not going to say to much more about this book, because then I will be giving spoilers, you'll just have to read this book to find out what happens. I would definitely recommend this authors books to my friends and family and I look forward to what comes next.

[Michelle Schuler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written

This is the first book I read by this author. Kimberly Cooper Griffin is talented. I loved the story written, full of emotion. The chemistry is strong. Has passion and emotions go all over the place. You feel the emotions as the characters do. I look forward to more books.

[Doug Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is primarily a low-angst love story featuring two middle aged main characters who are a little reluctant to begin anything serious. There is a decent supporting cast. The story arc has a few dramatic moments and a big reveal which a careful reader might anticipate ahead of time. Overall a nice read ending with a large extended family moment.

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Story

I have to say... I've never read this author before but I will definitely be looking forward to reading more of her work. The story was interesting, the characters likeable and the dialogue real. The story grabbed me and never let go. Well done!

[Illustrious Illusions · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book, a little slow with not much drama, but sometimes that is just what's needed. I really enjoyed this and look forward to more from this author.

[AGC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the multilayered story and relatable characters. This is the third book I’ve read by this author and I’ll pick up another one soon.

[Ashuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and I must say I was impressed for its execution as a typical contemporary novel. It's a standard 'find yourself/face your fears' type of story. Sophia McGovern was a nice jack of all trades type of character. I loved how smart she was with her hands but also her brain. It allowed her to pair along nicely with the other woman lead, Pru Glynn, a teacher at the local school for a small town who helps Sophia find a place to belong right beside her in this close knit community. The emotional ups and downs both woman struggled to overcome were realistic and I felt myself constantly emphasizing with them, especially Sophia, who seemed more like myself than anyone else in the novel. The writing style was surprisingly refreshing to me and I even learned a few things from it! There was a bit of currently debated topics that seemed rushed at the end of the novel that I feel could have been integrated better throughout the book than lumped all at once, such as themes about abortion and suicide, but the important thing was that they talked about how to move forward and facing them together as a family. The book aimed to showcase the importance of forgiving and accepting oneself and the choices you make and how to be a part of family and overall it did a good job. I look forward to the next author's book.

[Bee Sherrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a nice read. A simple love story that everyone likes to read every once in a whole. Pru Glynn loves her life even though she started a little early, having a baby when she’s only 15 yrs old. Luckily for her she had parents that always stood by her regardless of what that might involve. Including encouraging her to continue her education. It also helped that the baby's father stayed in the picture and their relationship now was that of best friends.
Now Pru was a teacher in the same school she attended years ago. She loves Ft. Devlin, her job and the fact that her family was so close by. Only problem she had was meeting women, not always easy in such a small town. So when Willie’s Garage hired a new mechanic she didn’t expect the new hire would be so beautiful.
Sophia McGovern worked all over the country as a mechanic. Moving from one place to another, never intending to stay too long, just looking for something she couldn’t put a name to. Now she finds herself in Ft. Devlin worked at a local garage, trying to settle in because this place felt like home.
Ms Griffin has given us a wonderful romance. Easy read with great MC’s and supporting cast. Very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This small town lesbian romance is sweet and sincere with a little bit of spice. Kimberly Cooper Griffin tells a sweet story with very real and honest main characters. They deal with some very real and difficult issues but the book doesn't feel heavy or overwhelming. There is no subterfuge or miscommunication. Just two women trying to navigate new feelings and a new relationship, honestly.

Sophia is a rolling stone, never staying anywhere too long. Taking her dog and her RV and constantly traveling to new cities and towns, working as a mechanic, never getting too comfortable, too open and vulnerable. She ends up in Ft. Devlin, Colorado and it immediately feels a little different. There, she meets Pru, a local teacher, and there is an instant attraction for both but at first they're unsure if the other is gay, straight, interested, single, etc. What begins is a friendship that slowly starts to evolve into so much more. Until they both realize that they're interested in each other.

But is Sophia leaving again? Or is she ready to stay for the right reason? Is Pru ready to risk her heart for the chance at something more?

And will their pasts, their families, their baggage make this all fall apart?

This was a good, easy ready with no unnecessary drama and foolishness. Just two adults working through real life and it was utterly relatable.

Thank you Netgalley and Bold Stroke Books for giving an ARC to read and review.

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although Sophia moves from state to state running away from her past, I liked that she’s open to staying and not in a permanent state of denial, makes the character more appealing to the reader. The other MC, Pru, is a highschool teacher that has a grown daughter with her best friend and a loving, supporting family. Everything that Sophia never had.
The relationship between the two is filled with humour and flirting and you can almost feel the chemistry between them. As such, it fells like a natural progression for them to fall in love and live happily ever after.
I loved that Sophia got to reconcile with her past and her family in the end.
A truly hart-warming story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very sweet story, despite the heavy issues the book touches on. It’s a romance involving both leads confronting (one to a lesser extent) their fears and deep seated issues. The chemistry between the leads is palpable and I love how they talk to each other, so I’m giving this book a thumbs up, overall.

I would also like to say (in response to a conversation in the book) that none of the characters in this book are native to Colorado, despite what they might think, despite what settler colonialism has them thinking.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pru is a teacher in the small town and Sophia is a woman who goes from town to town with her dog Sammy, never wanting to settle down in one spot really. Here she meets Pru. I liked how they were older and more mature in their relationship so you didn’t have the young adult conflicts.

I received this ARC through #netgalley and I am voluntarily reviewing this book

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
Loved this story! The MCs are well developed, interesting, and flawed, which makes them so very normal. The secondary characters are so good too. I was hooked from the very beginning. Sophia and Pru compliment each other so well that their love story just fit. This one goes onto my reread list.