Selfish Is the Heart

To escape an arranged marriage, Annalise Marony finds a way out of her plight by becoming a Handmaiden of the Order of the Solace. Raised in the faith but long fallen away in its practice, Annalise is determined to play the part of a dedicated novitiate for as long as it takes to nullify her betrothal. But not just anyone is accepted into the Order, and Annalise finds herself thwarted at every turn -- particularly by a man who deliberately misleads her as she tries to gain entrance to the Motherhouse. It is all a ruse to test her dedication, for Cassian is an ex-priest who teaches classes on the faith.

Older than most of the girls, Annalise knows that she will be expected to please a patron in pleasures of the flesh -- and she is not shy about teasing Cassian. But it is in matters of belief that he challenges her. And as both play out the game of master and student, the secrets in their souls will either tear them apart -- or bind them together forever…