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Six Strings
Riley Witt is running out of time.
Battling Alzheimer’s disease, Riley’s grandmother Mary suffers from memory loss, mood swings, and a tendency to wander off.
As senior year approaches, Riley has to face the reality that the one person she depends on most is slowly fading. Making matters worse, when Mary does remember the past, she tells tales of time travel and visions. As Mary’s version of the past gets more confused, Riley knows they are running out of time together.
But when Riley discovers a guitar belonging to a famous rock star at Mary’s house, the truth behind the crazy tales finally comes out.
SIX STRINGS tells the story of Riley’s journey back to 1973 where she enters a world of music, long-lost family, and first love. Her adventure is all about discovering her past, understanding her present, and figuring out how to step into her future.
Battling Alzheimer’s disease, Riley’s grandmother Mary suffers from memory loss, mood swings, and a tendency to wander off.
As senior year approaches, Riley has to face the reality that the one person she depends on most is slowly fading. Making matters worse, when Mary does remember the past, she tells tales of time travel and visions. As Mary’s version of the past gets more confused, Riley knows they are running out of time together.
But when Riley discovers a guitar belonging to a famous rock star at Mary’s house, the truth behind the crazy tales finally comes out.
SIX STRINGS tells the story of Riley’s journey back to 1973 where she enters a world of music, long-lost family, and first love. Her adventure is all about discovering her past, understanding her present, and figuring out how to step into her future.
204 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2014
1 person is currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Jen Sanya Williamson
1 book6 followersJen Sanya Williamson is a graduate of the University of Arizona where she received a BA in creative writing. She spends most of her time with her junior high students, teaching and talking books. When not in a classroom, Jen is writing, watching TV shows from the ‘90s, or cheering on the Wildcats with her husband and children in her adopted hometown of Tucson, Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 25, 2014
I hope the author is working on the next book, because I'm very anxious to see how this story pans out! There were a couple of editing errors that we're distracting for half a second, but the story is strong enough to look past those. I really enjoyed the original story, the real characters, and the escape the story provided the reader...not to mention it's set in my hometown, which was cool to see through someone else's eyes. I can't wait to see where the main character, Riley, goes next!!!
January 26, 2015
Can't wait for the next volume! Fast, fun and entertaining! Enjoyed the characters and their interaction and the location! Pleased to see Mary's illness so realistically depicted. Looking forward to traveling with Riley again!
May 16, 2019
Six Strings by Jen Sanya Williamson
I've read plenty of books and recently I seem to be seeing a lot of time travel novels. So when someone in Goodreads suggested that this book was well written with believable characters and some jaw dropping twists; I had to give it a try.I first read the sample and of course ended up buying the e-book and finished reading it in one sitting. This novel was so awesome it kept me in the story right to the end.
Riley Witt is a time traveler but she doesn't know it yet. Her Grandmother,Mary, also is and it's her duty to pass this information to Riley to prepare her for the whole journey. The problem is that Mary has Alzheimer's and her memory loss, mood swings, and generally poor behavior are masking the truth. After experiencing severe episodes Mary has been moved into Riley's family home but her continued episodes are wearing on everyone and there is talk of institutionalizing her. The first part of the book deals with Riley's relationship with Mary and her attempts to ensure that Mary doesn't get put in a nursing home while Riley begins to suffer in her studies at school and her patience begins to run thin. Riley has her long time friend Nathan who has been somewhat helpful and in some ways without Nate she'd be in worse shape.
Riley loves music and she would like to study music in college. This means the reference to Invisible Man is likely to the Ralph Ellison book not the HG Wells. Riley's mother doesn't support her interest in music and she is constantly reminding Riley that she needs to go to college for practical skills for a good foundation in her future life. But what is really happening is that her mother has some secrets[unrelated to her grandmother's time travel secret] that have biased her against her daughter's pursuit of musical talent.
So now there are two secrets and just as a potential spoiler I'll mention that the Time Travel is a genetic thing that skips a generation and has been going on for quite some time. This means that Riley's mother does not have the gene and has a different secret:Riley has the gene. But the time travel aspect all sounds so fantastic that it makes her mothers secret, which is equally incredible in its own way, seem mild in comparison. Time is running out for Riley, even though she doesn't yet have a clue and even though eventually it might seem that time will appear to be at her beck-and-call.
Music, family, and love-at-first-sight are key elements in this story beyond the secrets. The secrets and the pain they cause help define the characters in the story, but the real heart of the story deals with music and how it influences Riley and eventually how that is tied to the time travel and how it takes her to a place that begins to answer some questions she has about the mysteries and brings her to a face to face encounter with an understanding of what love-at-first-sight looks like.
In its own way this novel is the strangest of time travel novels when it comes to history in that it's one of those that doesn't rely a lot on real history from what I could tell. A majority of the historical background seems to only need to be internally consistent within itself and even so there are a couple of paradoxes within it that show up: the first one being that since each traveler has to find the right note to musically open the time portal and future Riley has shown past Mary her's while in the past; then present Mary shows the note to present Riley so that Riley doesn't need to experiment to find the proper note.
So though this is a time travel novel and has a unique time traveling device the time travel part is about as important as the history, and this doesn't seem to be a historical novel. What it is is a well written character study of a young Riley Witt who is slowly discovering herself while at the same time uncovering the truths about her family. Riley Witt suffers from what I see as a common affliction of many youths and that's an inability to communicate with the people who could most easily answer her questions and though she often appears to be making subtle explorations in that direction it's difficult to say if she is breaking the ice or driving a wedge further between herself and the people most important to her. But Riley is still a teen and she still has to learn to assert herself, which is largely what this novel seem to be about.
Time travel may be her only way to get her answers before Mary declines to a place she will no longer be helpful; not to mention that it's not all that clear if time traveling is a choice or a given obligation to her life.
This is a great read for fans of dramatic romance and very light soft science fiction and time travel.
J.L. Dobias
I've read plenty of books and recently I seem to be seeing a lot of time travel novels. So when someone in Goodreads suggested that this book was well written with believable characters and some jaw dropping twists; I had to give it a try.I first read the sample and of course ended up buying the e-book and finished reading it in one sitting. This novel was so awesome it kept me in the story right to the end.
Riley Witt is a time traveler but she doesn't know it yet. Her Grandmother,Mary, also is and it's her duty to pass this information to Riley to prepare her for the whole journey. The problem is that Mary has Alzheimer's and her memory loss, mood swings, and generally poor behavior are masking the truth. After experiencing severe episodes Mary has been moved into Riley's family home but her continued episodes are wearing on everyone and there is talk of institutionalizing her. The first part of the book deals with Riley's relationship with Mary and her attempts to ensure that Mary doesn't get put in a nursing home while Riley begins to suffer in her studies at school and her patience begins to run thin. Riley has her long time friend Nathan who has been somewhat helpful and in some ways without Nate she'd be in worse shape.
Riley loves music and she would like to study music in college. This means the reference to Invisible Man is likely to the Ralph Ellison book not the HG Wells. Riley's mother doesn't support her interest in music and she is constantly reminding Riley that she needs to go to college for practical skills for a good foundation in her future life. But what is really happening is that her mother has some secrets[unrelated to her grandmother's time travel secret] that have biased her against her daughter's pursuit of musical talent.
So now there are two secrets and just as a potential spoiler I'll mention that the Time Travel is a genetic thing that skips a generation and has been going on for quite some time. This means that Riley's mother does not have the gene and has a different secret:Riley has the gene. But the time travel aspect all sounds so fantastic that it makes her mothers secret, which is equally incredible in its own way, seem mild in comparison. Time is running out for Riley, even though she doesn't yet have a clue and even though eventually it might seem that time will appear to be at her beck-and-call.
Music, family, and love-at-first-sight are key elements in this story beyond the secrets. The secrets and the pain they cause help define the characters in the story, but the real heart of the story deals with music and how it influences Riley and eventually how that is tied to the time travel and how it takes her to a place that begins to answer some questions she has about the mysteries and brings her to a face to face encounter with an understanding of what love-at-first-sight looks like.
In its own way this novel is the strangest of time travel novels when it comes to history in that it's one of those that doesn't rely a lot on real history from what I could tell. A majority of the historical background seems to only need to be internally consistent within itself and even so there are a couple of paradoxes within it that show up: the first one being that since each traveler has to find the right note to musically open the time portal and future Riley has shown past Mary her's while in the past; then present Mary shows the note to present Riley so that Riley doesn't need to experiment to find the proper note.
So though this is a time travel novel and has a unique time traveling device the time travel part is about as important as the history, and this doesn't seem to be a historical novel. What it is is a well written character study of a young Riley Witt who is slowly discovering herself while at the same time uncovering the truths about her family. Riley Witt suffers from what I see as a common affliction of many youths and that's an inability to communicate with the people who could most easily answer her questions and though she often appears to be making subtle explorations in that direction it's difficult to say if she is breaking the ice or driving a wedge further between herself and the people most important to her. But Riley is still a teen and she still has to learn to assert herself, which is largely what this novel seem to be about.
Time travel may be her only way to get her answers before Mary declines to a place she will no longer be helpful; not to mention that it's not all that clear if time traveling is a choice or a given obligation to her life.
This is a great read for fans of dramatic romance and very light soft science fiction and time travel.
J.L. Dobias
May 2, 2025
This is a YA novel about a girl who learns that she can time travel by using a guitar left by her real father. Her ailing grandmother serves as a guide. I connected so much with the main character (radiohead fan, ap lit assignment:invisible man, loves music, doesnt get along with mom, That was fucken me at 17 despite the gender difference). She time travels back to 1973 Tucson music scene and a great story ensues. I really enjoyed this book, it had been years since I read a YA novel. Pretty great for any age who occasionally looks upon their past with longing. Deep but fun too!
August 19, 2014
I must say, when I was first offered to review this book I leapt at the opportunity. I had never heard of it, yet I was intrigued by the synopsis. I haven't really read a book quite like this one and I have to say it was not what I expected.
When I started the book I have to admit that I was in the midst of (as many avid readers will understand) a reading slump, so it took me longer than usual to get into the book, but I have to say, it certainly proved me wrong.
The first thing I truly loved about this book was the characters. I know I say this so often, but everybody loves a hero/heroin they can look up to and relate to. I am a strong believer that people decide their favourite characters based on people who simply remind them of themselves. As for the protagonist in Six Strings? Riley was so relatable in the way that she hated missing school, was the typical 'good girl' and constantly had to remind herself to 'be brave'. I loved her spirit and her viewpoint of the world. I not only love Riley but I adored all of the characters in their own ways.
Jen Sanya Williamson deserved massive praise on her perfect balance when describing characters. We were given great factors of the characters but not lengthy detail so that our imaginations were left with no work.
Another thing I loved about the book was the fantasy aspect. The ideas, although breached before were different and unique, giving the book a refreshing and fun story to read. I loved the fast-pace of the book, giving you no time to get bored.
The next thing I want to mention is the romance. I am a sucker for books with romance in and I find that the books I most enjoy have at least a small aspect of romance in this. Jen Sanya Williamson made a 'simple' romance into something quite beautiful and although it was a powerful thing, it didn't totally dominate the story and the fantasy and other threads to the story were not overpowered.
The relationships between all of the characters were so accurate and amazingly portrayed. The hints of romantic chemistry, the hostility and unconditional love were measured out almost perfectly and I thought that the characters never overreacted or under reacted which sometimes happens in a book where there are so many different relationships and such life-altering things threatening to jeopardise them.
The plot of the book got better and better and I really enjoyed how the story played out. my one criticism would be that at the beginning, I wasn't as hooked as I would have liked to have been. However, I finished the book hungry for more.
I have to say, I didn't realise how much I was enjoying the book until I realised I had been reading it for 2 hours straight and as I looked down and realised I had devoured 88% of the book I was utterly annoyed and frustrated as I simply didn't want my reading experience to draw to a close so soon.
I'm not sure whether Six strings is going to have a sequel but I sincerely hope it does. I am intrigued and excited by Riley. Mary and their adventures. This book deserves hype and I would certainly recommend it to anyone.
Happy reading,
Hebe x
When I started the book I have to admit that I was in the midst of (as many avid readers will understand) a reading slump, so it took me longer than usual to get into the book, but I have to say, it certainly proved me wrong.
The first thing I truly loved about this book was the characters. I know I say this so often, but everybody loves a hero/heroin they can look up to and relate to. I am a strong believer that people decide their favourite characters based on people who simply remind them of themselves. As for the protagonist in Six Strings? Riley was so relatable in the way that she hated missing school, was the typical 'good girl' and constantly had to remind herself to 'be brave'. I loved her spirit and her viewpoint of the world. I not only love Riley but I adored all of the characters in their own ways.
Jen Sanya Williamson deserved massive praise on her perfect balance when describing characters. We were given great factors of the characters but not lengthy detail so that our imaginations were left with no work.
Another thing I loved about the book was the fantasy aspect. The ideas, although breached before were different and unique, giving the book a refreshing and fun story to read. I loved the fast-pace of the book, giving you no time to get bored.
The next thing I want to mention is the romance. I am a sucker for books with romance in and I find that the books I most enjoy have at least a small aspect of romance in this. Jen Sanya Williamson made a 'simple' romance into something quite beautiful and although it was a powerful thing, it didn't totally dominate the story and the fantasy and other threads to the story were not overpowered.
The relationships between all of the characters were so accurate and amazingly portrayed. The hints of romantic chemistry, the hostility and unconditional love were measured out almost perfectly and I thought that the characters never overreacted or under reacted which sometimes happens in a book where there are so many different relationships and such life-altering things threatening to jeopardise them.
The plot of the book got better and better and I really enjoyed how the story played out. my one criticism would be that at the beginning, I wasn't as hooked as I would have liked to have been. However, I finished the book hungry for more.
I have to say, I didn't realise how much I was enjoying the book until I realised I had been reading it for 2 hours straight and as I looked down and realised I had devoured 88% of the book I was utterly annoyed and frustrated as I simply didn't want my reading experience to draw to a close so soon.
I'm not sure whether Six strings is going to have a sequel but I sincerely hope it does. I am intrigued and excited by Riley. Mary and their adventures. This book deserves hype and I would certainly recommend it to anyone.
Happy reading,
Hebe x
August 13, 2014
Originally posted at: http://ethpages.blogspot.com/2014/08/...
This book surprised me- in a really good way. Based on the blurb, I didn’t think this was a time-traveling novel, and I still didn’t believe it until she, well, actually time-traveled. LOL. I really liked how that time traveling aspect was played out. Time-traveling in this book wasn't for some mission to save human-kind, but rather time-traveling is very personal for the traveler. I’m still not sure as to why she leaps back (there are a few hints), but I’m assuming that will be cleared up in future books (which I am ANXIOUSLY waiting for!!). The book started off kind of slow, but it picked up its pace as it went on, and in fact, towards the end, I began nervously counting down the pages I had left. This book ended too soon!!
>.<
I was a bit indifferent towards the main characters in the beginning because there was a lot of telling, rather than showing, but as the book progressed, they all grew on me. Riley was an interesting character because she does grow throughout the novel, but I feel her real growth is still to come in the future books. This is just the beginning- and I'm so excited for that future awesome character development!! :) (In fact, I felt this book in general was really just to set up the series and to help set up the future books and the characters. Not a bad thing- except for the fact that I need more D':)
I sort of sense a love triangle between Nathan and Lucas- and I have really complicated feelings about this (LOL). For one thing, Lucas is in the past, so I don’t know how that’s going to work?? But they actually had a great chemistry, and it wasn't insta-love (YAY!). I liked their relationship, and while they’ve only known each for a few days, there was like this connection between them. This couple had this feeling of those first few days when you first fall in love. :) With Nathan, he and Riley had been friends since they were young, and I felt his development was a little lacking. I think this had to do with the fact that there was a lot of telling and not so much showing in the beginning of the novel; also, because they were childhood friends, we were supposed to just assume that they were close. I REALLY hope we do get to see more of Nathan’s and Riley’s relationship in future books. As for the love triangle in general, I am not a big fan of them because they are tricky. BUT I have seen some great love triangles (even though I thought that that was NEVER possible), and I’m just assuming that there might be one here; I won’t know for sure until I get my hands on that second book… D:
Final thoughts: This book has a warm feeling to it. I didn't really address this in the review because this warm feeling was more towards the end (even though it did sort of permeate throughout the book I guess?). It's kind of hard to explain, but I think this warm feeling comes from the fact that this book is a lot about relationships and possibilities- and there’s always something about those two things that gives me a sense of hope. ;)
Thanks for reading! :)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
This book surprised me- in a really good way. Based on the blurb, I didn’t think this was a time-traveling novel, and I still didn’t believe it until she, well, actually time-traveled. LOL. I really liked how that time traveling aspect was played out. Time-traveling in this book wasn't for some mission to save human-kind, but rather time-traveling is very personal for the traveler. I’m still not sure as to why she leaps back (there are a few hints), but I’m assuming that will be cleared up in future books (which I am ANXIOUSLY waiting for!!). The book started off kind of slow, but it picked up its pace as it went on, and in fact, towards the end, I began nervously counting down the pages I had left. This book ended too soon!!
>.<
I was a bit indifferent towards the main characters in the beginning because there was a lot of telling, rather than showing, but as the book progressed, they all grew on me. Riley was an interesting character because she does grow throughout the novel, but I feel her real growth is still to come in the future books. This is just the beginning- and I'm so excited for that future awesome character development!! :) (In fact, I felt this book in general was really just to set up the series and to help set up the future books and the characters. Not a bad thing- except for the fact that I need more D':)
I sort of sense a love triangle between Nathan and Lucas- and I have really complicated feelings about this (LOL). For one thing, Lucas is in the past, so I don’t know how that’s going to work?? But they actually had a great chemistry, and it wasn't insta-love (YAY!). I liked their relationship, and while they’ve only known each for a few days, there was like this connection between them. This couple had this feeling of those first few days when you first fall in love. :) With Nathan, he and Riley had been friends since they were young, and I felt his development was a little lacking. I think this had to do with the fact that there was a lot of telling and not so much showing in the beginning of the novel; also, because they were childhood friends, we were supposed to just assume that they were close. I REALLY hope we do get to see more of Nathan’s and Riley’s relationship in future books. As for the love triangle in general, I am not a big fan of them because they are tricky. BUT I have seen some great love triangles (even though I thought that that was NEVER possible), and I’m just assuming that there might be one here; I won’t know for sure until I get my hands on that second book… D:
Final thoughts: This book has a warm feeling to it. I didn't really address this in the review because this warm feeling was more towards the end (even though it did sort of permeate throughout the book I guess?). It's kind of hard to explain, but I think this warm feeling comes from the fact that this book is a lot about relationships and possibilities- and there’s always something about those two things that gives me a sense of hope. ;)
Thanks for reading! :)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
August 26, 2016
4.5 stars
*This review contains some spoilers*
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
There are certain books where I simply have to fangirl over every single aspect of the plot, characters, romance, etc. Six Strings is one of those books.
Right from the beginning, I was totally into this book. I never lost interest once; when I finished, I was in a mixed state of bliss and sadness, because the story was wonderful, but I wanted it to go on longer.
Riley was a great main character. She was relateable, she was likeable, and her passion for music was awesome to read about. She had a well-developed personality, and I couldn't help but like her. Her friend Nathan was also really cool; he also has a passion for music, but yet he couldn't play any instruments to save his life, which I thought was interesting. I felt his struggle because I love music but I can't even play the stupid recorder. *blushes*
But Lucas Cooper...Lucas Cooper was just....sigh. I fell in love with him. He and Riley had the best relationship ever. It happened fast, true, but it never felt like insta-love to me. Their relationship actually blossomed, albeit within a short period, instead of just being there from the time that they met. They really work with each other, instead of being two 'hot' characters that the author just threw together for the sake of romance. Which is really awesome and really frustrating at the same time, because they basically are doomed from the start; if long distance relationships are difficult to maintain, I hardly think that a relationship where two people are from different time periods will work out. But at the same time I will hold out hope, because I really love them together.
I loved how different this was from the usual time travel novel. It's more paranormal then science fiction. But it has absolutely NONE of the paranormal tropes in it. The author explains time travel in this book in a unique way, with different rules then I have ever seen in any other book. It's totally refreshing and new. Six Strings doesn't follow a set formula, it makes its own story. And I loved that. I loved it, I loved it, I loved it.
The plot is really awesome. First off, the way that music and time travel were intertwined worked really well. I love that Riley got to meet Jonah and Elisa as their younger selves, but I especially love that she got to meet the younger Mary. When readers are first introduced to Mary, she is old and has dementia. It is nice to see how she was back when she was younger.
I can't wait for the next book to come out. This series has definite potential to become one of my favorites.
*This review contains some spoilers*
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
There are certain books where I simply have to fangirl over every single aspect of the plot, characters, romance, etc. Six Strings is one of those books.
Right from the beginning, I was totally into this book. I never lost interest once; when I finished, I was in a mixed state of bliss and sadness, because the story was wonderful, but I wanted it to go on longer.
Riley was a great main character. She was relateable, she was likeable, and her passion for music was awesome to read about. She had a well-developed personality, and I couldn't help but like her. Her friend Nathan was also really cool; he also has a passion for music, but yet he couldn't play any instruments to save his life, which I thought was interesting. I felt his struggle because I love music but I can't even play the stupid recorder. *blushes*
But Lucas Cooper...Lucas Cooper was just....sigh. I fell in love with him. He and Riley had the best relationship ever. It happened fast, true, but it never felt like insta-love to me. Their relationship actually blossomed, albeit within a short period, instead of just being there from the time that they met. They really work with each other, instead of being two 'hot' characters that the author just threw together for the sake of romance. Which is really awesome and really frustrating at the same time, because they basically are doomed from the start; if long distance relationships are difficult to maintain, I hardly think that a relationship where two people are from different time periods will work out. But at the same time I will hold out hope, because I really love them together.
I loved how different this was from the usual time travel novel. It's more paranormal then science fiction. But it has absolutely NONE of the paranormal tropes in it. The author explains time travel in this book in a unique way, with different rules then I have ever seen in any other book. It's totally refreshing and new. Six Strings doesn't follow a set formula, it makes its own story. And I loved that. I loved it, I loved it, I loved it.
The plot is really awesome. First off, the way that music and time travel were intertwined worked really well. I love that Riley got to meet Jonah and Elisa as their younger selves, but I especially love that she got to meet the younger Mary. When readers are first introduced to Mary, she is old and has dementia. It is nice to see how she was back when she was younger.
I can't wait for the next book to come out. This series has definite potential to become one of my favorites.
August 21, 2014
Six Strings is an intriguing young adult novel with a time travel twist that engages the reader to follow Riley Witt's journey of self-discovery and uncovering the hidden dynamic and secrets of her family.
Author Jen Sanya Williamson weaves a wonderful story about the special bond between high school senior Riley Witt and her grandmother Mary, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Before the disease takes away all of her memory, Mary tells Riley that they share the gift of being a time traveler, and that by finding the right musical note to open the time portal, Riley will be able to discover the secrets that hold the keys to their family's past, present, and future. Riley's time travel journey back to 1973 will lead her on an adventure of self discovery and a clearer understanding of her family dynamic that will change the way she views their life.
Six Strings was a fascinating story that easily drew me into Riley and Mary's story. The author engages the reader to follow Riley's amazing journey utilizing the key elements of music, family, and first love. I loved how the story intertwines the love of music and the intricacies of the family dynamic with time travel. While the time travel back to 1973 was like taking a walk down memory lane, what I loved most about the story was the special bond between Riley and Mary. It is a special bond and relationship that tugs at your heartstrings, I loved Riley's spirit and Mary's determination to pass on their share gift before her memory is forever lost to the effects of having Alzheimer's disease.
Six Strings is a thought-provoking and beautiful story about family relationships and personal growth that will leave you yearning for more. This is the first book in the Six Strings series.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Author Jen Sanya Williamson weaves a wonderful story about the special bond between high school senior Riley Witt and her grandmother Mary, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Before the disease takes away all of her memory, Mary tells Riley that they share the gift of being a time traveler, and that by finding the right musical note to open the time portal, Riley will be able to discover the secrets that hold the keys to their family's past, present, and future. Riley's time travel journey back to 1973 will lead her on an adventure of self discovery and a clearer understanding of her family dynamic that will change the way she views their life.
Six Strings was a fascinating story that easily drew me into Riley and Mary's story. The author engages the reader to follow Riley's amazing journey utilizing the key elements of music, family, and first love. I loved how the story intertwines the love of music and the intricacies of the family dynamic with time travel. While the time travel back to 1973 was like taking a walk down memory lane, what I loved most about the story was the special bond between Riley and Mary. It is a special bond and relationship that tugs at your heartstrings, I loved Riley's spirit and Mary's determination to pass on their share gift before her memory is forever lost to the effects of having Alzheimer's disease.
Six Strings is a thought-provoking and beautiful story about family relationships and personal growth that will leave you yearning for more. This is the first book in the Six Strings series.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
July 7, 2014
Six Strings by Jen Sanya Williamson
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
From the fantastic opening chapter to the jaw-dropping ending, this novel is amazing! There wasn’t anything I didn’t love about Six Strings. All of the characters are perfectly created to make this unbelievable, time travel notion totally possible.
I don’t typically like time travel novels and can count on one hand the number I’ve read and actually enjoyed; I get so confused and hate trying to remember whether a character did something in the past or present, if it’s happened or not yet happened. They drive me crazy! But this one isn’t like that. It’s well-organized, and there aren’t a great deal of “rules” to the travel. The rules that do exist are pretty clearly spelled out (literally) for the reader as well as Riley. Normally, a lack of reasons, a back story as to why or how the characters can perform these exploits, would also drive me crazy, but this story is so captivating, suspending disbelief is easy.
The relationship between Mary and Riley is beautiful and tragic, and Riley’s feelings toward her mother hit home with me. Having someone you truly love tell you a lifelong lie is devastating, and Riley’s conflicted emotions are spot-on. I don't want to give away too much, but Riley's secret discovery is earth-shattering for her--for anyone. She NEEDS to follow her twisted path into the past to satisfy herself, and her personal growth is both believable and obvious. I loved Lucas Cooper, and I hope we see him again before the series finishes. I can’t wait to read the next one!
5 Stars
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
From the fantastic opening chapter to the jaw-dropping ending, this novel is amazing! There wasn’t anything I didn’t love about Six Strings. All of the characters are perfectly created to make this unbelievable, time travel notion totally possible.
I don’t typically like time travel novels and can count on one hand the number I’ve read and actually enjoyed; I get so confused and hate trying to remember whether a character did something in the past or present, if it’s happened or not yet happened. They drive me crazy! But this one isn’t like that. It’s well-organized, and there aren’t a great deal of “rules” to the travel. The rules that do exist are pretty clearly spelled out (literally) for the reader as well as Riley. Normally, a lack of reasons, a back story as to why or how the characters can perform these exploits, would also drive me crazy, but this story is so captivating, suspending disbelief is easy.
The relationship between Mary and Riley is beautiful and tragic, and Riley’s feelings toward her mother hit home with me. Having someone you truly love tell you a lifelong lie is devastating, and Riley’s conflicted emotions are spot-on. I don't want to give away too much, but Riley's secret discovery is earth-shattering for her--for anyone. She NEEDS to follow her twisted path into the past to satisfy herself, and her personal growth is both believable and obvious. I loved Lucas Cooper, and I hope we see him again before the series finishes. I can’t wait to read the next one!
5 Stars
September 8, 2014
It was lovely to read a wholesome refreshing book like this.
I'm no prude, but a lot of authors these days are using some vile language in books and making it so erotic it belongs on the top shelf!Somehow, there is a trend.
All has its place, but too much of a good thing can sometimes get boring [that's just me]
Just look at that cover, its unique, well thought out and is part of the story. To me as an avid reader and reviewer I tend to notice things MORE than what's written in the actual book. I think the packaging is something that has to appeal. Whatever you choose as your cover, if its dressed up nice, its attractive.
This has love, romance and yes its got a great storyline.
This book written by Jen Santa Williamson shows how a book can hold your attention . You know why? Because its a dam good, well thought out piece of elegance. True to life and very VERY real when it comes to Mary her Grandmother. I loved the relationship between Riley and her Gran.
The bit about time travel, I'm going to be honest, I wouldn't have freely chosen to read that, but I was helping out on a blog tour. I'm bloody glad I did as I would have missed this book and bypassed it because of that.
The title, Six Strings was a well thought out title. I thought this book was going to be another rock music book, but its not.
Riley the young lass is a fiesty headstrong girl with moral codes that guide her life. She's honest and true to herself. Nat her best mate who she grew up with is one swell fun guy. I laughed a few times at his antics.
Well written, well thought out read in MHO
The ending was amazing..........but there's more........
I'm no prude, but a lot of authors these days are using some vile language in books and making it so erotic it belongs on the top shelf!Somehow, there is a trend.
All has its place, but too much of a good thing can sometimes get boring [that's just me]
Just look at that cover, its unique, well thought out and is part of the story. To me as an avid reader and reviewer I tend to notice things MORE than what's written in the actual book. I think the packaging is something that has to appeal. Whatever you choose as your cover, if its dressed up nice, its attractive.
This has love, romance and yes its got a great storyline.
This book written by Jen Santa Williamson shows how a book can hold your attention . You know why? Because its a dam good, well thought out piece of elegance. True to life and very VERY real when it comes to Mary her Grandmother. I loved the relationship between Riley and her Gran.
The bit about time travel, I'm going to be honest, I wouldn't have freely chosen to read that, but I was helping out on a blog tour. I'm bloody glad I did as I would have missed this book and bypassed it because of that.
The title, Six Strings was a well thought out title. I thought this book was going to be another rock music book, but its not.
Riley the young lass is a fiesty headstrong girl with moral codes that guide her life. She's honest and true to herself. Nat her best mate who she grew up with is one swell fun guy. I laughed a few times at his antics.
Well written, well thought out read in MHO
The ending was amazing..........but there's more........
July 18, 2014
When I first saw the title of this book , I thought it was to do with Music and was another musician story but what captivated me the most was the amazing cover , as I loved the colour scheme of the purple and the turquoise - they are not normally two colours that you see together but they work well. This novel though turned out to be so much more as we first meet Riley and her grandmother Mary. Her Grandmother Mary has Alzheimers and is getting worst by the day but her grandmother has something very important to pass onto Riley and she must do before she loses her marbles completely. In Riley's family line, every second female has the ability to time travel six times to different times in their lives, past or present and when they travel , they must open the portal via a musical instrument. For Riley, she has been gifted a Jonah Wolff guitar. He is a famous singer who died when Riley was little but he is much more than that and now Riley must travel back to 1973 and discover the truth. This was an amazing book and it had us wondering what sorts of mischief Riley would get up to in 1973 and whether the people she met would leave an impact on her life in today's society. Six Strings reminded me of the TV series "Being Erica" with the scenes between Erica and Kai. My only qualm is that it ended on a cliffhanger and had quite an abrupt ending , so now I am hoping that later on we readers will discover whether or not that Jen will be writing a Book #2 as this book has a lot of potential and areas that it could spurn off to.
Six Strings is the Time Traveller's Wife for Teens and is for fans of time -travelling and discovery novels.
Six Strings is the Time Traveller's Wife for Teens and is for fans of time -travelling and discovery novels.
August 25, 2014
Let’s be honest here, I read this book in two nights. It was so good I couldn’t put it down. I got pulled back into my teenage years, but in a good way. I’m not saying that Riley had it easy though, because she definitely didn’t.
Riley’s summer leading into senior year is basically taking care of her grandmother who has Alzheimer’s. Riley and her grandmother were/are super close, so this is heartbreaking. Sometimes her grandmother is perfectly coherent, other times she wanders off and is in her own world. So when Riley’s grandmother tells her that Riley is going to have the ability to travel through time soon, Riley doesn’t know if it’s just her grandmother’s illness talking.
But it’s not, and Riley travels back to the 70’s. I loved it. I felt like I was back in time with Riley, living with the hippies. Riley meets a guy, well two guys in a band, but I’m not going to say much more because I don’t want to give anything away.
You guys should really read this book. It’s the first in a series, and it’s fantastic. Although the time travel is in there, it doesn’t feel like a fantasy, more like contemporary young adult, with a little romance added in. I can’t wait until the next one comes out!
My Rating: 4 ½ stars
***I need to disclose that I received this book free from the publisher, Booktrope. And I also work for Booktrope, but in no way did that sway my opinion on this book. I also receive no monetary gains from giving this book a good review. This review is based solely on my honest opinion.***
Riley’s summer leading into senior year is basically taking care of her grandmother who has Alzheimer’s. Riley and her grandmother were/are super close, so this is heartbreaking. Sometimes her grandmother is perfectly coherent, other times she wanders off and is in her own world. So when Riley’s grandmother tells her that Riley is going to have the ability to travel through time soon, Riley doesn’t know if it’s just her grandmother’s illness talking.
But it’s not, and Riley travels back to the 70’s. I loved it. I felt like I was back in time with Riley, living with the hippies. Riley meets a guy, well two guys in a band, but I’m not going to say much more because I don’t want to give anything away.
You guys should really read this book. It’s the first in a series, and it’s fantastic. Although the time travel is in there, it doesn’t feel like a fantasy, more like contemporary young adult, with a little romance added in. I can’t wait until the next one comes out!
My Rating: 4 ½ stars
***I need to disclose that I received this book free from the publisher, Booktrope. And I also work for Booktrope, but in no way did that sway my opinion on this book. I also receive no monetary gains from giving this book a good review. This review is based solely on my honest opinion.***
November 29, 2014
~~I received this in exchange for an honest review~~
I read this book thinking that this is about music. And in some aspect, I guess that it is. However, it isn't all about music. We meet Riley during the summer vacation before her senior year in high school. She has been put in charge if taking care of her grandmother who has dementia. Mary (her grandmother) starts telling Riley about her visions, and time travel. But Riley just thinks they are stories that Mary is telling her, for example, she met Mark Twain, years AFTER Mark Twain had passed away.
Riley knows that she is different that her family, for one, she loves music. She doesn't want to do cheer leading, or sports, she just wants to play her piano. When Mary tells her that she is a time traveler, and she has a guitar and a metal lock box to prove it, Riley has a huge decision to make. Will she travel back in time to find out what this is all about and believe Mary, or will she just continue to ignore Mary?
I so can't wait for Volume 2 for this series. I loved this book. It is light hearted and fun. You can take a trip down memory lane if you will. You will not be disappointed in this book at all!
I read this book thinking that this is about music. And in some aspect, I guess that it is. However, it isn't all about music. We meet Riley during the summer vacation before her senior year in high school. She has been put in charge if taking care of her grandmother who has dementia. Mary (her grandmother) starts telling Riley about her visions, and time travel. But Riley just thinks they are stories that Mary is telling her, for example, she met Mark Twain, years AFTER Mark Twain had passed away.
Riley knows that she is different that her family, for one, she loves music. She doesn't want to do cheer leading, or sports, she just wants to play her piano. When Mary tells her that she is a time traveler, and she has a guitar and a metal lock box to prove it, Riley has a huge decision to make. Will she travel back in time to find out what this is all about and believe Mary, or will she just continue to ignore Mary?
I so can't wait for Volume 2 for this series. I loved this book. It is light hearted and fun. You can take a trip down memory lane if you will. You will not be disappointed in this book at all!
August 1, 2014
I actually finished this book a couple of days ago, but had no Internet connection to write a review. First of all, I am a big fan of time travel. I have read many time travel romance novels and a few time travel novels that we're not romances. This novel is in the latter category. Riley is on a quest to use the gift she inherited to discover things about herself and the people closest to her. It gives her a chance to experience her grandmother when she was not under the influence of Altzheimer's disease. Since my own mother had Altzheimer's, I can appreciate the gift that that is. I think this is going to be a wonderful series. I love that there is music involved and that Riley is finding out just how much of a musician she is and where THAT gift came from. The story keeps moving. It doesn't drag at all. The characters are believable even though time travel may not be to some. It's a great story - I didn't want to put it down. I read it in just a few days. Excellent start to the series. When will the next one be finished?
August 27, 2014
http://paperboulevard.blogspot.com/2014/08/six-strings-by-jen-sanya-williamson.html
♫ ♪ ♩
Who does not want to have a gift of TIME TRAVELLING
A want that worth the lift of tripping
Enjoyable, agreeable
A master copy of characters, story,
everything bringing!
I'm fond of the exceptional bond
of Mary and Riley
70's and hippies
Baggies and quickies
Love and rove
Love and hove
All of my thumbs
goes of bumps
♭ ♬ ♮ ♪
♫ ♪ ♩
Who does not want to have a gift of TIME TRAVELLING
A want that worth the lift of tripping
Enjoyable, agreeable
A master copy of characters, story,
everything bringing!
I'm fond of the exceptional bond
of Mary and Riley
70's and hippies
Baggies and quickies
Love and rove
Love and hove
All of my thumbs
goes of bumps
♭ ♬ ♮ ♪
September 11, 2014
I received a review copy
Six Strings is a fantastic debut that brings up into Riley’s world and on a great adventure with her. The writing is fluid and makes it easy for readers to jump right in and get caught up with Riley and her supporting cast. The time travel aspect was fascinating to me, and there are definitely still many questions that are left to be answered, so I know I’m not the only one eagerly waiting for book two! A great book for YA/NA readers and even into the adult genre, I hope you can pick up this book!
Six Strings is a fantastic debut that brings up into Riley’s world and on a great adventure with her. The writing is fluid and makes it easy for readers to jump right in and get caught up with Riley and her supporting cast. The time travel aspect was fascinating to me, and there are definitely still many questions that are left to be answered, so I know I’m not the only one eagerly waiting for book two! A great book for YA/NA readers and even into the adult genre, I hope you can pick up this book!
July 1, 2014
Couldn't put it down!
Williamson's first book leaves you craving the next volume. With a little fantasy, a little romance and precise writing, Williamson takes the reader into a journey filled with smart teens, good music and family relationships. Riley is an interesting character, and I love that she is a gifted student and rule follower. Her relationships with her parents and friends are authentic and captivating. Can't wait for volume 2!
Williamson's first book leaves you craving the next volume. With a little fantasy, a little romance and precise writing, Williamson takes the reader into a journey filled with smart teens, good music and family relationships. Riley is an interesting character, and I love that she is a gifted student and rule follower. Her relationships with her parents and friends are authentic and captivating. Can't wait for volume 2!
September 15, 2014
This is a really truly amazing read.
This story is based on Riley and her grandmother Mary who has Alzheimer's. The relationship between these two is beautiful. I thought the author did a great job of portraying these characters as read. This has a great storyline with lots of twists and turns. Gripping read.
I will say that I don't normally read time travel books. I'm so glad that I got a chance to read this book.
Give this beautifully written story a chance- you won't regret it.
This story is based on Riley and her grandmother Mary who has Alzheimer's. The relationship between these two is beautiful. I thought the author did a great job of portraying these characters as read. This has a great storyline with lots of twists and turns. Gripping read.
I will say that I don't normally read time travel books. I'm so glad that I got a chance to read this book.
Give this beautifully written story a chance- you won't regret it.
August 15, 2014
First, I would like to thank the author Jen Sanya Williamson for giving me this book for an honest review. The story-line is good, I enjoyed reading this book. The characters are well developed and written. I look forward to reading more from this author.
July 12, 2014
Very good. Can't wait for the next one!
August 12, 2014
Review and Giveaway will be up tomorrow here:
http://cosyingupwithbooks.blogspot.co...
http://cosyingupwithbooks.blogspot.co...
August 11, 2014
What a great book, YA time travel, with lots of great twits, yeah, very good!
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