Customer Reviews

Pleasure and Purpose (Order of Solace, Book 1)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Set in a vague fantasy world, Pleasure and Purpose consists of three novellas. Each of them centered around a member of the Order of Solace. A place where women are trained to bring a person to complete solace. According to their religious beliefs, each time they bring a person to complete solace another arrow fills the quiver, bringing the Holy Family one step closer to returning to the land once again.

Pleasure and Purpose is based around three friends. For years they've been the best of boon companions, enjoying the sins of the flesh, indulging in drink and drugs, but then tragedy strikes and their lives are forever changed.

In the first novella, Stillness is sent to Edward. Guilt has been riding him for years since the night of the terrible accident. He hopes to find solace with her, and who better than the handmaiden called Stillness to still the guilt that has consumed him. This one was the hottest of the three. A little menage action in this one.

The second is Honesty. Honesty is requested by the Prince, Cillian. He has seen what the handmaiden Stillness did for his estranged friend Edward and wants that too. Because within him lies pain from the loss of his friend as well as the unfortunate event years ago. He is spoiled, and with Honesty she opens his eyes, causing him to be honest with himself and to see that his way of life isn't what he truly wants.

The handmaiden Determinata is requested by both Edward and Cillian for their lost friend Alaric. He wasn't directly affected by the event that took place years ago with Cillian and Edward, but indirectly, he's been affected. Now a woman has caused him to hit rock bottom, but with the help of one very determined handmaiden named Determinata, Alaric is soon on his way to recovery and acceptance of himself. You see Alaric is Submissive and Mina is a Dominant, and together they are perfect!

I loved the way this book was put together. Even though it was three novellas, it felt like one story with three happily ever afters. You can't get much better than that! I've read a few of Megan Hart's Spice books, and I find them to be extremely emotional, but Pleasure and Purpose did not have that intensity. Which was perfect because it allows you to enjoy the eroticism that fills nearly every page! The emotional level may be turned down in this one, but the heat level is near scorching.

I am very much looking forward to reading No Greater Pleasure next month!

I actually read the books backwards. I read "No Greater Pleasure" first, then this one. I really liked "No Greater Pleasure," for the most part. It didn't have many romantic scenes in it, which I was disappointed about. However, "Pleasure & Purpose," on the other hand, has romantic scenes nearly every few pages. Quite few of them are unbelievable or downright corny.

In my opinion, the 1st "novella" was the best one, as far as characters. I do wish more story line/plot was developed with this one. It seemed to go from sex scene to sex scene almost non-stop.

The 2nd "novella" was alright. It was probably my 2nd favorite story or a close tie w/ the 3rd one, mostly because I wasn't big on the Prince's character.

The 3rd "novella" was my least favorite. I liked Determination's character enough, and the plot was developed a little more, but I wouldn't say it was developed BETTER. There were a lot of "bones" thrown out there that didn't make sense and/or didn't add anything to the story.

The Handmaidens of the Order of Solace are name for the exquisite services that best reflect their true Calling. Their greatest pleasure is granting solace--devoted as they are to fulfilling the desires of the mind, the needs of the soul, and the cravings of the body.

Megan Hart delivers another enthralling, emotionally driven read. This one was hard to put down. Pleasure and Purpose is the first book in the Order of Solace series. Three beautifully written stories. This book is about three friends whose lives are turned around by three women of the Order of Solace. Not only are these stories about finding solace, but they are also about friendship, forgiveness, trust and love. I have to say I was absolutely blown away by this book, and I highly recommend it.

I only picked this one up because of the price. Tightening the belt in this house included my book purchases <sigh>.

I didn't really know what the book was about let alone it's a three-in-one. Novellas that is. I love Megan Hart's work. Her characters are fleshed out and realistic. Her style is just...real and gritty. You might not relate to her characters but you oddly find yourself cheering them on.

This first book in the series could be considered historical BDSM lite. The three stories are connected and need to be read in order. <And heck, if you're not into BDSM you just may be once you've read this!>

A wonderful addition to your Megan Hart collection.

PLEASURE AND PURPOSE is a compilation of three novellas set in a futuristic/fantasy world where men are able to request solace from females. A business transaction becomes so much more in these three novellas as Order of Solace maidens Stillness, Honesty, and Determinata are requested to bring solace to three very different gentlemen.

"Stillness"

Stillness has been with the Order of Solace for a long time. She knows exactly what she needs to do in order to bring solace and tranquility to her master. Stillness has been requested by Edward and when she arrives, she finds her job difficult at first but when she is able to read Edward and find out why he requested her, she is able to work her magic. Stillness does her best not to fall in love with Edward - that is forbidden by her Order, but fate has other ideas.

Edward's guilt was predominant in this enchanting novella. He refuses to believe in redemption and it isn't until the thought of being without Stillness or Nessa, that Edward really takes a look at his life. He comes to a decision and he knows that his life means nothing without his Nessa in it. His redemption and forgiveness of himself was a long way in coming but I couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to his guilt. He was sexy, tender, and the perfect partner for Stillness - add in a bit of ménage action and this novella shined.

"Honesty"

Honesty is just like her name. She is honest to a fault and if anyone doesn't want the truth then they don't need to ask her a question. Honesty comes from the Order at the request of Prince Cillian. He requested a maiden because he sees what a difference Stillness made in his friend's life. Cillian wants that sanctity for himself but when he meets Honesty he is disappointed. This lasts all of about ten minutes because Honesty has the hidden talent of making Cillian take a look at his own life and what needs to be changed. She does this seemingly effortlessly until Cillian has to be honest and admit that he can't live without her.

"Honesty" was a hard novella to read. Not because it wasn't good - it was excellent. It was almost tragic how Cillian was so messed up inside. I worried he would never be redeemable but he was and for that I have to thank the handmaiden Honesty. She took Cillian's life and turned it around for the better and in doing so, saved her life as well. Their love scenes were erotic and emotional - the heat was often intense and I hated for this novella to come to an end.

"Determinata"

Edward and Cillian both have fallen in love with their Order of Solace handmaidens. Their lives are better and because of this, they request a maiden from the Order for their friend Alaric. Alaric has been devastated by a series of events involving a woman and has been unable to shake his depression. Determinata will have no man feeling sorry for himself on her watch and so she sets out to awaken the man that is Alaric. And she does. Quite dominantly.

Mina was exquisite in her determination to reach Alaric. Uncomfortable with his needs almost, Alaric desired a special type of woman - a dominant one. He needed a firm hand to breech the fort in which he held his heart. Let's say that Mina was exactly what he needed and she gave his exactly what he wanted. The results were scorching hot and very, very beautiful.

Three women, three men, three very different novellas. The tie in between the three was the friendship of the men. Each story was intertwined and effortlessly flowed from one novella to the next without a plot break like so many other anthologies. Megan Hart has penned a gripping and outstanding novel with PLEASURE AND PURPOSE. It was fantastical in its setting but realistic in his characterizations. The hero and heroine of each story shined and quite frankly, that's all I can ask for in a novel. When one makes me think about it after finishing, then I know it is a novel of worth - PLEASURE AND PURPOSE is such a novel. Megan Hart firmly establishes her way onto my keeper shelf with this one!

Natalie S.

"Stillness". The Handmaidens of the Order of Solace send Stillness to provide comfort to Edward who is overcome by guilt and remorse for what he did to friends and family. She realizes what a handmaiden provides normally will not be enough to fulfill his need; to do that she must show him that even he can receive love, but for her to offer her love means leaving the Order and its five guiding principles.

"Honesty". The handmaiden knows it is time to move on from the Order she has served in for years. She agrees to take on one last needy client. Spoiled Prince Cillian expects everyone to obey his commands though he insists he wants what Edward has, but Honesty plans to show him that love is greater than obedience.

"Determinata". Alaric has become an uncaring person even failing to care for himself as he turns to drugs and sex to hide his pain. His friends Edward and Cillian are worried about him. Dominant Handmaiden Determinata is sent to mend his broken heart and end his depression by dominating this submissive

These three enjoyable erotic romances are entertaining Order of Solace tales, but as one expects from Megan Hart also contain strong characters and intriguing somewhat interrelated plots DEEPER than what one would expect of sub-genre novellas.

Harriet Klausner

The Handmaidens of The Order of Solace provide solace for their patrons by giving them pleasure, fulfilling not their wants, but rather their needs.

In "Stillness", the handmaiden so named is sent to Edward to help ease his guilt for a past secret that destroyed lives and friendships. She realizes he truly needs unconditional love, but by loving him she'd leave behind the Order she's long served.

Having served a long time within the Order, Honesty takes on one last assignment - a spoiled prince who wants her to bow to his every desire. She shows him that he doesn't need another puppet, but a woman willing to love him unabashedly, in "Honesty."

Heartbroken, Alaric succumbs to drug addiction and apathy. A Handmaiden is there to pull him out of his depression, dominating the male submissive into the solace he never thought he'd find again, with "Determinata."

Hart's uncommon tales of love discovered are part fantasy, part BDSM. Impressive worldbuilding and fluid conflict throughout the stories makes this an engaging read although some might find the premise of a sex-based religious order off-putting rather than arousing.

Original and fantastical, Megan Hart takes erotic fiction to a new level. In the Order of Solace series she created a world, a religion and a people that are not only completely believable, they do not require 200 pages of droll blah-di-blah to render exposition. The tease is as good as the sex, the men are nearly Darcy-worth, and the ladies are strong and intelligent and astoundingly insightful.
A note to all other authors in this genre: please, please, please follow her example; don't confuse eroticism with porn. Those of us that read erotic fiction READ for a reason. We like good writers.
Oh, and a warning - this series does contain light to heavy BDSM elements and some menage and a little bisexuality, all of which are tasteful and, frankly, really hot.

P.S. I recycled this review from the one I wrote for "No Greater Pleasure" (Order of Solace, Book 2) but it's all still true!

Set in a mythical world which feels vaguely Victorian - gaslights and trains, but also has servants, courts and small princedoms. Megan Hart has invented the order of Solace, which sends women out to give moments of perfect solace to their patrons, in order to satisfy their religious mythology. I really liked the 3 tales which had 3 very different heroines and 3 men who are old school friends, but floundering in their current lives. Edward finds Stillness. the Prince finds honesty - which I actually found the least believable/satisfying of the three tales, and Alaric found his Lady, which tale I liked the most. Megan Hart always writes well, and this book is written beautifully. I don't always like her stories, but all three here worked, and this counts as a keeper for me.

A small side note - I didn't get this on kindle, where they are charging $11.99 for a download - way more than I would ever want to pay, but I got it in paperback, where it's discounted to under $6. I really do feel that it should never cost more on kindle than it does for a paperback, because there are none of the extra paper costs. But for $6 it's very reasonable and good value.

I love, love , love this book and it's sequel, No Greater Pleasure.
These are something I have never run across, fairy tales for grown-ups. I read a lot of erotica, romantica, etc., and this is a new kind of book. I was enthralled, and completely involved with the characters. I always know if Megan Hart writes it, I have to read it, but she has really outdone herself with this new set of books. I can't wait for the next one, and these will be keepers, for sure.