Tranquilla Caden (Quilla) is a handmaiden in The Order of Solace, a quasi religious order of women who exist for the sole purpose of restoring joy to the clients who hire them. Quilla's latest client, alchemist Lord Gabriel Delessan, has requested her services as a mock housekeeper of his laboratory and a conversation companion -- not for physical pleasure he reminds her. Her patron is married so Quilla complies with his wishes and performs the tasks she has been assigned in admirable fashion. She soon learns from the cook that all in the Delessan house is not well. It appears that Gabriel's a wife has an affair and conceived a child who Gabriel doubts is his. And although he won't discuss the details with Quilla, he does confide in her about his feelings about marriage and commitment. Gabriel is emotionally distraught, driven by anger and refuses to accept either joy or solace. His mother cheated on his father and bore his half brother, his wife Saradin has cheated on him, and he has trust issues. Quilla finds herself in a most disconcerting position with a patron who doesn't want the pleasure she offers, and one she's falling in love with. Gabriel's jealous abusive wife considers her a whore and wants her out of the house and away from her husband. How will Quilla resolve the challenges she faces? This is the third book in The Order of Solace novel series, each of which explores various aspects of physical and emotional pleasure through a different handmaiden. Having not read the previous books, this reviewer had questions about The Order and found this distracted a bit from the story. Also, given the titillating idea behind The Order of Solace, and the "Devoted to his service bound by his desire" quote on its cover, one would expect lots and lots of, well, sex. But a reader who picks up this book with that expectation will be disappointed since there's not a lot of sex, and when it occurs it's more than half way through the book. However, what one can expect are characters with emotional depth, good writing, and an interesting story about true love, emotional pain and forgiveness. This book won't disappoint and readers should find that they look forward to future installments.

Book Summary

From the national bestselling author of Pleasure and Purpose, a provocative new novel of a woman who lives to serve...

It was at the request of Lord Gabriel Delessan that a handmaiden of the Order of Solace be delivered to his manor house. For young and ingenuous Tranquilla Caden, it would be her new position of service-devoted as she was to fulfilling every demand of her new master, to stimulating his mind, stirring his soul, and arousing his body. Yet something happens that Quilla never counted on: she was falling hopelessly, dangerously in love with the enigmatic-and very married-man she was required only to service.