Cover Image: Can't Leave Love

Can't Leave Love

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Member Reviews

Can't Leave Love will be Kimberly Cooper Griffin's breakthrough book of her career. This book introduces us to Sophia McGovern who is constantly on the move. Sophia is a forty-two year old automobile mechanic who we discover doesn't stay in one town or one job too long before she begins to feel unsettled and anxious to move onto the next location. Needless to say she doesn't form too many deep connections with others. She has arrived in Ft. Devlin, Colorado, where she has a mechanic job lined up at Willie's garage thanks to her previous employer in Austin, Texas. She owns her truck, her fifth wheel where she lives, and her dog Sammy is her constant companion.

Pru Glynn is a high school English teacher. Pru is divorced from her husband, Gavin, and she had her daughter, Sawyer, when she was fifteen years old. Sawyer is twenty-six and lives on her own in Denver. Pru's constant companion is her dachshund, Rosie.

Pru, Rosie, Sophia and Sammy meet at a picnic by the lake where the locals try to befriend Sophia. Sophia is also introduced to Pru's ex, Gavin, and he asks her to consider teaching a car maintenance class at the local high school.

I would highly recommend this book to other readers. It impacted me on so many levels. First of all, the writing and character development is very good. Each of the main characters has obstacles that they have to overcome to be happy in their lives and that makes the story quite interesting. For Sophia that main obstacle is how not to run from Ft. Devlin the first time something gets difficult in her life.

The chemistry between Sophia and Pru evolves over time from first strangers, to acquaintances who immediately notice each other at the picnic, to friendship, and eventually a physical relationship. The writer did a stellar job of letting their chemistry develop naturally with words, a simple touch, a too long gaze at lips. 5 stars.

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

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Thank you for the advanced copy, this is my first book by this author.

Well written, great storyline. Central characters and how they meet with one running from her past but manages to reconcile with it is always a good plot.

Recommended

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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.

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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. ***

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Sophia goes from town to town with her dog Sammy because she doesn’t want to get too attached to anyone because she thinks if she doesn’t stay long she won’t be a disappointment to anyone but she starting to realize she doesn’t want to disappoint herself. She moves to a town Ft. Devlin, Colorado to start a job as mechanic until she has that feeling of wanting to leave what surprising is how the folks are so welcoming in town.


Pru is a English teacher she everything she wants she loves her job great friends and daughter who shock her with a announcement. She meets Sophia when she gets a drink and they both catch each other eyes but they are cautious about acting on it because Sophia doesn’t stay long in one place and Pru doesn’t want to get her heart broken. They grow closer when Sophia starts to teach a class in auto mechanics because her boss couldn’t do it what surprises Sophia is that she doesn’t have that feeling of wanting to run even when she gets shock news herself she wants to run but find that she doesn’t have to or want to. Great read low on angst which is always a plus the characters have good chemistry and dialogue was good.







I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

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Story of 2 women meeting, one a wanderer who can't settle and one who has hardly been away from her small home town. Of how they come together and what transpires. How they connect with their families and meet new (old) family. No real angst or perceived betrayal. A nice story to read.

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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-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. And 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.

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Sophia is a woman with a mysterious past who finds that when she feels the need to roam she hooks up her 5th wheel and takes off for a new town. Sophia move from Texas to Colorado and starts to work as a mechanic. Sophia, while teaching a high school class, meets a teacher named Pru. Pru has a daughter and is well established in the town. Sophia and Pru start to date and Sophia starts to open up to Pru and the residents in the town. Over time Sophia and Pru being to trust each other and the possibilities start to open up for a future.

The book is very well written. The storyline is beautiful and it’s filled with grace and humor.

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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 her last 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!

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