On Little Wings

This book is full of human heartache that stems from the harsh realities that life brings. The pain of loss, the loss of love, mistakes made, forgiveness withheld. So many secrets that carry such a burden, as most secrets do. Jennifer finds herself in the middle of all these things without fully understanding any of it.

This is what my husband would call a full-on drama. Yes, On Little Wings was most certainly a drama. It reminded me how fragile yet strong human emotions can be. What a waste of time it is nursing hurts and grudges. So many people lose out. The writing drew me in and made me a part of every emotion surrounding Jennifer.

Jennifer's strength and determination to find answers and heal relationships is admirable. I enjoyed the journey she went on through this book. Every person she met played a part in her growth and learning. Even for all the heartache that surrounded her, in every person, there was also a little hope to be found. Thank goodness.

I loved the coastal setting in Maine. The descriptions were rich and filled my mind with such pretty pictures. I'd love to travel the coast of Maine one day.

My favorite smile moment in the book was this: "I got some Baklava, if you want some. My nephew sent it. He gets my birthday wrong every year, poor idiot."

Content wise there is some mild swearing.

Honestly, I loved this book. It had so much to it: great characters, beautiful language, scenery that makes you want to hop a flight to Maine right now, and a great story of love, not always conquering all but hope that it might. Sirois uses beautiful imagery to describe both the scenery and the emotions of her characters. But, beautiful language alone does not a good book make. The story of sisters, separated by fear, hate and misunderstanding drew me in. I wanted to see them come back together, but the years apart and the hatred that had been nursed in hearts seemed too much to overcome.

Jennifer is another story, she is discovering the joy and pain that comes with first love. When you don't know what the other person is thinking, do they care as much as she does? Sirois gives us a great understanding of how this really feels. It brought me back to my days in high school when I fought that same battle.

On a personal note, this book touched home. I grew up hearing of the beauty of Maine. I did visit once, when I was 18 months old, so all I have of that vacation are photos; no memories. My grandfather was born and raised in Maine. While somewhat faded, his Maine accent is one of the things I remember most about him. The reference in On Little Wings to the Maine accent brought memories of my late grandfather rushing to my mind.

If you are looking for a book that will make you smile, laugh and maybe even shed a tear or two, this is a great one.

Regina Sirois' first novel is breathtaking. From her poetic descriptions to the gripping plot, this is a MUST READ!!! The characters are so three-dimensional, you could almost swear that a trip to Maine would reveal these same people, this same story in real life. You will be begging for more before you reach the last page. LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT!!!!!

Be prepared to read this in one sitting because you will not want to put it down! In her debut book, and I hope there are more to come, Regina Sirois paints scenery and characters with the seasoned eloquence of a best selling author. Be ready to discover all that Jennifer does when she learns a family secret unveiled after sixteen years. Travel with her from the golden fields of Nebraska to the cool waters of Maine where a new family and first crush await her. No one can touch Ms. Sirois style or voice. Be prepared to love On Little Wings.

I grew up in a small town in Idaho. Small towns are charming, but secrets don't stay secret for long.They have such a unique flavor that they draw you back, many years after you have left. The setting of On Little Wings, is a small town in Maine. Main character, Jennifer, stumbles upon an explosive, family secret that threatens to tear her world apart. Jennifer finds out that her parents haven't told her the truth about not having any extended family members. She has an Aunt Sarah, whom she eerily resembles, more than her own mother. Jennifer sets out, on her own, to contact her Aunt and go visit her in the town of Smithport, Maine. While there, Jennifer learns about life and love.

This story is beautifully written. The town is brought to life with amazing descriptive writing. You could almost feel the wind blowing the ocean water on your face, and smell the salty fragrance of the sea. It is so captivating as you fully experience this journey! I also loved how all of the characters are so well developed. You meet a neighbor boy, Nathan, who Jennifer starts to fall for soon after arriving there. He is a complicated character for being only an 18 year old young man. I loved Aunt Sarah, and her willingness to love so many people unconditionally, even her long, lost niece. The old woman, Little, a former actress, who carries many hidden stories within her own soul, but willing to help Jennifer heal wounds in her family. You also can't help but be amused by the old men, The Jacks, who spend all of their time in a fishing boat. They made me laugh many times. You can understand why Jennifer is pulled into the drama of this quaint town, and doesn't want to leave.

The best part of the story is when you see the healing that takes place in her family. There are so many broken hearts from life happenings and misunderstandings. You will also be surprised at who's the catalyst behind this coming together of family.

I really loved, On Little Wings! Teens and adults, will find this book to hold many messages, as you reflect on your own life and family relationships. This is a clean book, funny characters, and also a few tears shed as Jennifer grows and changes. You won't want to miss reading this YA literary fiction.

Sometimes you find a book that thrills you on the first few pages and then peters out after a while, leaving you disappointed, yawning, and reaching for a different book. However, once in a great while you encounter a novel that entices you on the first page and beguiles until the last word. "On Little Wings" by Regina Sirois is such a book. Published in 2011 by CreateSpace, it's the debut novel of a writer who creates unforgettable characters and dresses their story in exceptionally well-crafted prose that sometimes borders on poetry.

For example: "The moon had come out of her dressing room arrayed in a streaming, white gown. A dark circle surrounded her in the sky where no stars dared to stand too close... The haughty moon glared through her round crater eyes and I felt the chilly breeze as she brushed her brilliant skirt aside to avoid me as she stepped across the night."

Who writes like that anymore?!? Not enough authors! This book is virtually devoid of clichés. Readers sometimes skip narrative passages to get to the dialogue and find out what happens next. That would be a mistake with this book because the narrative passages and descriptions deserve to be savored and pondered. Sirois has woven a complex, believable plot skillfully with threads of exceptionally delicious prose.

"On Little Wings" is a first-love coming-of-age story that has interesting teenage characters just as complex as the complicated adults who populate the pages of this book. Sixteen-year-old Jennifer, an only child, finds an old photograph in the back of a book while researching in the family library for a school assignment. It is the beginning of her discovery of family secrets. When her family was torn apart by death twenty years before, Jennifer's mother Claire left home, and never spoke to, or about, her sister Sarah again. Now the picture of a young woman who looks a lot like Jennifer opens the door to the unknown world of her mother's childhood.

Abandoning her comfortable life with her parents and best friend in the wheat fields of Nebraska, Jennifer seeks her Aunt Sarah in the fishing village of Smithport on the untamed coast of Maine where she struggles to understand why her mother lied to her for sixteen years. Across the grey, rocky cove Jennifer meets Nathan Moore, a young reluctant genius surrounded by women who need him to be their brother, father, friend, provider and protector. In this dramatic setting, with this fascinating, sometimes brooding young man, Jennifer also finds her first love.

Assorted hilarious as well as heartbreaking stories of the people she meets in Smithport--people who knew her mother as a child--combine to teach Jennifer more about herself as she pieces together her mother's history. But the real reason why her mother left is still a mystery until Jennifer manages to do what has always seemed impossible--bring her mother home.

As the teenage and adult worlds collide, both are turned upside down, but both eventually find a satisfying grownup resolution. I'm giving this book as many stars as possible.

This book was so wonderful! For every laugh, there was a tear. Every flowing paragraph was simply written and at the same time, full of depth. Please, please please write more! Every lucky person has felt new love, fresh loss, false healing, and true healing. This has it all and yet doesn't become sappy and sticky sweet. You'll find some characters you will long to meet. If I had words in my soul I could perhaps do a better job of writing this review, but I'll leave it at this: Get this book! You'll be glad.

A nice easy read. There were several different plots going on at once. They were intertwined well. I very much enjoyed this book. The summer we all had our first love, but it's so innocent unlike so many of today's sex filled trash. Then there is the family and how that all comes together. Then there is "Little". I think everyone needs a "little" in there life. Wish it hadn't ended, wish there was a sequel, wish this author had more books. She has a great style.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: First off, I'd like to thank Tristi for setting up these tours and tell her how much I enjoyed being a part of them.

Now, for my review. I went into this novel with average expectations. I thought it would be a decent read, but that it wouldn't be anything special. And let me tell you how wrong I was. I started reading this without expecting this book to blow me away. I got to page twenty and I realized how wrong I was.

This book was absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. The more I read, the more I loved the story. I loved the characters, the writing, the plot, and basically everything about this novel. It was so beautiful.

This book is about families who are struggling to stay together, the sense of loyalty one feels to family, the fear of letting yourself feel too deeply, the fear of leaving, and the bonds that can't be broken.

I loved Jennifer. She was absolutely one of my favorite characters I've read about recently. And then there was Nathan. I really liked him from the moment he entered the novel. I also loved Claire and Sarah and Little. Basically, I'm going to stop myself there, but I could easily go on for a very long time in order to list all the characters I loved. Let's just say I loved all of them.

And then that ending, it was so perfect and yet it left me so infuriated and excited at the same time. The ending fit the novel, and yet I don't want it to be the end of Jennifer, Claire, Sarah, and Nathan's story.

This book was one that resonated within me; one that I know will stick with me long after I turned the last page. I loved loved loved this novel. It comes highly recommended.

In Summary: It's been awhile since I've read a novel this touching, this poignant, this beautifully written, and this compelling. Excellent work and I'll be keeping my eye out on this author.

This novel is a heartwarming multi-generational tale of loss, grief, first love, and forgiveness.

I was lucky enough to review it as part of the ABNA contest last year and I couldn't believe it when it won the whole young adult category...and yet I can.

When 16 year old Jennifer sets out to find the aunt she never met, she starts a remarkable transformation within her family. She sets off across the country and finds new friends, a loving aunt, her first love and secrets. With her new friends' help, she is able to bring her mother back home to Smithport to make amends with her estranged sister. Both the sisters and the family next door are brought closer together through Jennifer's actions and though things conclude far from perfectly, hope in many forms dominates the end of Jennifer's story. Quotes from famous poems and written works are also woven into the tale, helping characters express difficult emotions and pulling readers deeper into this thoughtful tale of reconnection and redemption.

A tale that takes its time to unfold, but will draw readers in nonetheless.
Recommended for Nicholas Sparks fans.