An earthquake has destroyed the center of a Sicilian town. Architect George Nobel is charged with creating a plan for its restoration. At about the same time, someone finds a mysterious piece of art in a South American jungle - a relief carved in slate. Art historian Charlotte Vermeer gets the assignment to catalogue the relief. Solace of Stone chronicles their separate stories. Charlotte is pregnant after a passionate love affair with an opera singer, a love affair she had considered completely improbable. Stretching to find new directions in new places, she learns once again to value her...