The Essence of Love

by Candice Poarch

Given a second chance after being wrongly accused of fraud, Cleopatra Sharp's new aromatherapy shop is the target of a rash of events that threaten to destroy her credibility, and postal inspector Taylor Sharp is convinced that she is involved in illegal activities, until he realizes that this gentle woman has stolen his heart. Original.

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

About the author

Even as a child Candice Poarch was a dreamer and created scenes in her mind. She quickly fell in love with writing stories centered around families and romance. The quest for love is universal, she says. Being familiar with rural Virginia, she portrays a sense of community and mutual support in her novels, many of which are set in small-town America.

Candice grew up in Stony Creek, Virginia, south of Richmond, but now resides in northern Virginia. She has been married for thirty years and is the mother of three children. A former computer-systems manager, she has now made writing her full-time career.