Pleasure and Purpose

Written by Megan Hart

Narrated by Rose Holmes

Three women, bound to serve so that they might bring their patrons absolute solace.

Stillness, Honesty and Determinata, all Handmaidens in the Order of Solace, and all women in their own regard.

Edward, Cillian and Alaric, three best friends torn apart by the tragedies of their youth, each unable to find the solace they crave.

Each Handmaiden must do her best to provide peace, passion and optimism to the man she’s been sent to soothe – no matter how they are fought or discouraged or refused. Love is not the endgame in this war for solace, yet it’s entirely possible that in the end, love might be the only real victory.

Five Principles of the Order of Solace

1. There is no greater pleasure than providing absolute solace.
2. True patience is its own reward.
3. A flower is made more beautiful by its thorns.
4. Selfish is the heart that thinks first of itself.
5. Women we begin and women we shall end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Publishing
• Release date: May 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094418988

Megan Hart

Megan Hart is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than thirty novels, novellas and short stories. Her work has been published in almost every genre, including contemporary women’s fiction, historical romance, paranormal and erotica. Learn more at www.meganhart.com.

Reviews for Pleasure and Purpose

[Angeline Snook · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The person reading the ausiobook was so cringe and the accents so bad I stopped in the 1st 5 mins. Pass.

[Natale Michaud · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There is romance and some sex, but not very erotic. It is a different take on Handmaidens, as they aren't forced to be that or have sex.

[Carol Bethea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This audiobook tells three different stories about three different couples. Each has requested a “handmaiden “ in a search to find solace and peace. The narration is great. It’s a bit long winded but nessasary to plot.

[ZizaCal · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a fun erotic listen with enough plot to move the stories along.

First Story: BDSM female service/sub and male Dom.
Second Story: sweet and vanilla
Third Story: BDSM female Domme and male sub.

[Bill Hair · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Is this a multi-part story? Yes
Does it end in a cliffhanger? No
Genre(s) : Romance, Drama
Instalove? No
Was cheating involved? No
Any major triggers to be aware of? No

3 Stars for me!
My rating range of this story... 1.5 - 3.5 Stars
If significant, why? The Prince demand scene
Biggest deduction? 1 Star

Main Character Ratings...
H (3 Different Heroines) = 6/10, 7/10, 7/10
h (3 Different Heroes) = 7/10, 5/10, 5/10
TSTL Moment(s)? No

Narrator Rating(s)
M () = n/a
F (Rose Holmes) = 7/10
If below 5/10, why?

If Comedy... Type? n/a
Funny, Cute, Cringe Inducing, Mixed or Just No!

Angst Level? Moderate to Heavy
Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop
3 Stars for me!

Internal Monolog/Dialog? Moderate to Heavy
Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop

Scenes with heat... Yes
What point does it start? 25%
How much of the story? 15%
Anything beyond M/F? 1 sort of MFM scene
If yes, explained: Masochist Scene - note only one through book 4

Heat Rating... 7/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above

Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? No

The back story... Read the blurbs

Romance or Gist: All 3 stories follow the same pattern. The h is a Handmaiden who is assigned to a new H. Their job has them submitting to the man they are working for in any way to bring them solitude.

The drama explosion... N/a to much to list

Final Notes... There were many reviews that felt that the women were submitting themselves to be sexually assaulted or abused. The Prince scene did feel like abuse but I also don't understand the need to beat a person or submit to being beaten to a point where blood is drawn. I didn't see it that way and, putting the story into historical perspective, read on. The first story was the most uncomfortable of the three in this book.

HEA or HFN? HEA?
Book Source: Scribd

[amf0001 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set in a mythical world which feels vaguely Victorian - gaslights and trains, but 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, b ut 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.

[merumo3o_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The first story is absolutely *perfect*, both as erotica and as a romance. I wasn't much "convinced" by Hart's sex scenes in some of the novels she wrote for the Spice imprint, so it is really *great*. As to the other two stories, I'm afraid I wasn't captured by them at all. I found absolutely no chemistry between the characters, the sex scenes were unimpressive, the female characters not very likable. In the end I found myself wishing for some M/M action instead... I think it would have been wonderful if at least one of the three stories featured a M/M couple, but I guess the world is not ready for that, yet. Still, I'm very glad I bought the book. The first story is so perfect it's worth alone the price of a trade paperback.

[Amanda Rooney · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I’m sure if you like BDSM in the bedroom this book would be enjoyable but that is not my preference and so, after only 3 chapters, I quite listening.

[vampiregirl76 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.