"I swear. Give me one more chance and I will make the most of it." 
 Reading this book made me a better person. I can't find the right words to describe this magnificent story! I'm not eloquent enough. I want to be Suanne Laquer's best friend. Read this book. It will change your life. Very few authors have a way with words like Suanne Laquer. She reaches in and grabs your heart and doesn't let go. 
 "I think love is a big wisdom made up of small understandings." 
 This book tells the interwoven tale of several main characters. Geno and Carlos were twins and enjoyed an unbreakable bond as many twins do. Fairly early on in the story, Geno is subject to the most awful kind of abuse which would have broken most people. And for a while, it seems as though Geno will never recover from his terrible ordeal. Geno copes with the agony of his assault by turning to an alter-ego that was based on his twin brother Carlos. 
 "Carlos was Los. Geronimo was Mos. Los and Mos lived in the starry world of Nos, Spanish for we. Nos rhymed with dos, Spanish for two." 
 Geno was a gorgeous soul who was turned into an empty shell by acts of pure evil. I could not imagine how he would ever climb out of the black hole of despair that he was in. But this is ultimately a tale of hope and beauty, even though the author does not shy away from a difficult, agonizing and painful subject. My heart broke for Geno and his family. 
 Steffen Finch is an art therapist who seems to be the only person who can get through to Geno. At the same time, Stef and Javier Landes begin a relationship together that can only be described as pure bliss. And just in case you think this book is only filled with treacherous story lines and complete tragedy, it is not! Suanne Laquer is very funny and she works in many lighthearted moments. This book is very much like real life, mixing in the gritty moments with the funny ones. 
 "Hi," Jav said. 
 "Hi. If I kiss you outside my mother's bedroom, I'm going to need therapy." 
 "How about the closet?" 
 And so, Stef, Javier and Geno's stories slowly become intertwined as Stef begins to treat Geno with art therapy. We get to experience the healing process as well as the gorgeous blossoming relationship between Stef and Javier. Everything in this book unfolds with perfect timing, and nothing is ever rushed or forced. Even after finishing this book months ago, I still feel as though all of the characters were real. And that is quite a feat for an author to accomplish. At the risk of rambling on and on, I will also say that I highlighted huge portions of this book. And that I LOVED all of the supporting characters. 
 The chemistry between Stef and Jav was absolutely off the charts. They both had insecurities going into their relationship which made them both all the more believable. This felt like a genuine partnership. No insta-love, but instead a rich and nuanced passion for each other. 
 "Tonight their bedroom overflowed with magnificent sex. Death by sex. Grandiose, over-the-top sex. They were making love like architects of the universe. Fucking like mathematicians. Multiplying, dividing, canceling each other out and starting from zero. 
 I am simply in awe of Suanne Laquer. This book is breathtaking! Although it can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you first read 'An Exaltation of Larks' - which is only 99 cents at the time of this review. If you only read a few books a year, make 'A Charm of Finches' one of them. Filled with rich imagery, passion and pure emotion, it is unforgettable. 
 "I want this feeling I have with him. When I'm around him I feel honest. I feel authentic. I feel myself and I see so clearly who I want to be and the life I want to lead. And the kind of person I want to have with me on the ride. A curator and sailor. A person who makes me feel like this. I want to be who I am when I'm with him. 
 A Charm of Finches, the second book of the Venery series, releases on November 1st and is available here: 
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