An Exaltation of Larks

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On September 11, 1973, eleven-year-old Alejandro Penda witnesses a military coup in Santiago, Chile, shattering his family and childhood. Alone in America, he is taken in by the Larks, a prominent family in Guelisten. Despite his unresolved grief for his missing parents, he becomes devoted to the Larks and eventually marries Valerie, one of their daughters. Fast forward to September 11, 2001: Javier Landes observes the terror attacks in New York City. As a successful male escort, he has always prioritized himself, but the events of 9/11 lead him to become the guardian of his orphaned nephew in Guelisten, forcing him to confront suppressed emotions. Alejandro, Valerie, and Javier first meet in their twenties, drawn to each other in a way that feels both strange and compelling. Reuniting in their forties, they find their bond remains strong, shaped by their distinct yet parallel experiences of trauma on different 9/11s. Their unresolved past will redefine their understanding of love, loyalty, and friendship. Spanning three decades and two continents, this novel delves into the complexities of attraction, the nature of family ties, and the transformative power of love. Publisher's Note: The series is often misclassified as Romance; it is, in fact, Literary Fiction/Contemporary Fiction/LGBT Fiction.