Essence — Jan Moran

An old family secret. A handsome Formula 1 race car driver. Can Dahlia handle the dangerous curves ahead when their worlds collide? When indie perfumer Dahlia Dubois steps in to lead the iconic, international perfume house her grandmother founded, she soon discovers that nothing is as it seems -- including the intriguing man she met in Cannes, France. Soon, tensions rise in Monaco, where Dahlia juggles a search for her missing mother, a corporate takeover, and a volatile, passionate relationship with Alain, a legendary Formula 1 race car driver -- all just days before the glamorous Monaco Grand Prix race. As long-held family secrets emerge and threaten her future, Dahlia must find the courage to face the dangerous truth. Essence is the fourth book in the Love, California series of linked, stand-alone novels that can be ready in any order. Set in Southern California with international travel, this fun, heartfelt series features a group of best friends determined to live the lives of their dreams while navigating the turbulences of dating and family life. Tasteful romance/women's fiction.