Jennifer Armintrout
Author of The Turning
About the Author
Image credit: Contributed to Author's official home page by Cheryl Sterling.
Series
Works by Jennifer Armintrout
Her Billionaire Boss 1 copy
Her Billionaire Boyfriend 1 copy
Sex, Lies & Inventions 1 copy
The Ex 1 copy
Associated Works
The Feminist Utopia Project: Fifty-Seven Visions of a Wildly Better Future (2015) — Contributor — 171 copies, 2 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Armintrout, Jennifer L.
- Other names
- Armintrout, Jennifer
Barnette, Abigail
Trout, Jenny - Birthdate
- 1980-07-15
- Gender
- female
- Short biography
- Jennifer Armintrout was born on 15 July 1980. She has been obsessed with vampires since age four, and her first crush was on Vincent Price. Raised in an enormous Catholic family, Jennifer attributes her interest in the macabre to viewing too many funerals at a formative age. Her debut novel, Blood Ties Book One: The Turning made the USA Today Bestsellers list in 2006. When not writing, she can be found in front of the Playstation. She resides in Grand Rapids, a small, rural community in Michigan, with her husband and children.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Martinsburg, West Virginia, USA
- Places of residence
- Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
I really really liked this.
It's choppily paced since it started life as a serialised story and I'm not too keen on the ending due to this, but otherwise it was great fun to read. It's essentially Abigail Barnette/Jennifer Armintrout going "Hey, EL James. You think you know shit about erotica and BDSM? Think again, sweetie". It's full of knowing winks, genuine humour, characters you don't want to punch in the face, sexy sex and consent! The last one shouldn't be as big a deal as it is but show more there you go. Neil and Sophie actually discuss the things they're comfortable with in their relationship, she's as into it as he is and there's no deep seated emotional angsty back story explanation to justify why the love interest likes it kinky. He just does. After the painful success of 50 Shades, you have no idea how refreshing it is to just see this done well. Check it out. I got it for free when Armintrout was giving it away but it's worth your money. show less
It's choppily paced since it started life as a serialised story and I'm not too keen on the ending due to this, but otherwise it was great fun to read. It's essentially Abigail Barnette/Jennifer Armintrout going "Hey, EL James. You think you know shit about erotica and BDSM? Think again, sweetie". It's full of knowing winks, genuine humour, characters you don't want to punch in the face, sexy sex and consent! The last one shouldn't be as big a deal as it is but show more there you go. Neil and Sophie actually discuss the things they're comfortable with in their relationship, she's as into it as he is and there's no deep seated emotional angsty back story explanation to justify why the love interest likes it kinky. He just does. After the painful success of 50 Shades, you have no idea how refreshing it is to just see this done well. Check it out. I got it for free when Armintrout was giving it away but it's worth your money. show less
While the review indicates a 2017 read date, I have read it dozens of times since then.
This was a wonderful book. I'm a wannabe playwright and I plan to read this book often if my career flourishes--using this as a 'what not to do' manual. If my career doesn't take off, I am still going to read this often.
I opened up the book eagerly and by page three or so, had started to giggle. I've been reading Jenny's blog since 2012, and cheered at the references she makes throughout the novel. If show more you're not familiar with her blog, you'll still get the story. This book was very well-put together--the flashbacks worked well, even though there were times I had to flip back and forth to be fully up to speed. I would like to point out that there is a fourteen-page erotic scene in this book, and I was -impressed-. It flowed normally, never dragged, the details were all enriching, and I felt like every word in the scene did its job. Another point in the "this book was written well" count. The -way- Jessica's emotions, and jealousy in particular, were threaded throughout the book were terrific. It's understandable--ex finds somebody new and you work in the same circles.
I wished I could have seen more of Jessica's and Sherri's friendship, but whenever I did, I cheered them on. It seemed like such an easy friendship, and was a wonderful balance.
Recently, I left a job where my supervisor was a lot like Lynn, so I was on Jessica's side maybe more than I should have been? Don't care. It was -wonderful- to read about the decline of someone who starts out with huge smiles that flicker and freeze when she's upset, to full on 'Still Life with an Angry Tomato'. That isn't an exact quote. I'll have to find it. The descriptive phrase made me laugh so much I thought I'd break a rib. However, the actions Lynn chooses to take that result in certain outcomes for Jessica...also reminded me of my former supervisor. It just makes me more glad I left. I know Lynn was modeled after a particular diva author, and I enjoyed seeing that diva-ness in the book. It wouldn't have been so enjoyable if there weren't the other characters to call her out.
I read this book in one sitting. I look forward to doing that again. show less
This was a wonderful book. I'm a wannabe playwright and I plan to read this book often if my career flourishes--using this as a 'what not to do' manual. If my career doesn't take off, I am still going to read this often.
I opened up the book eagerly and by page three or so, had started to giggle. I've been reading Jenny's blog since 2012, and cheered at the references she makes throughout the novel. If show more you're not familiar with her blog, you'll still get the story. This book was very well-put together--the flashbacks worked well, even though there were times I had to flip back and forth to be fully up to speed. I would like to point out that there is a fourteen-page erotic scene in this book, and I was -impressed-. It flowed normally, never dragged, the details were all enriching, and I felt like every word in the scene did its job. Another point in the "this book was written well" count. The -way- Jessica's emotions, and jealousy in particular, were threaded throughout the book were terrific. It's understandable--ex finds somebody new and you work in the same circles.
I wished I could have seen more of Jessica's and Sherri's friendship, but whenever I did, I cheered them on. It seemed like such an easy friendship, and was a wonderful balance.
Recently, I left a job where my supervisor was a lot like Lynn, so I was on Jessica's side maybe more than I should have been? Don't care. It was -wonderful- to read about the decline of someone who starts out with huge smiles that flicker and freeze when she's upset, to full on 'Still Life with an Angry Tomato'. That isn't an exact quote. I'll have to find it. The descriptive phrase made me laugh so much I thought I'd break a rib. However, the actions Lynn chooses to take that result in certain outcomes for Jessica...also reminded me of my former supervisor. It just makes me more glad I left. I know Lynn was modeled after a particular diva author, and I enjoyed seeing that diva-ness in the book. It wouldn't have been so enjoyable if there weren't the other characters to call her out.
I read this book in one sitting. I look forward to doing that again. show less
Queene of Light is the first book in Jennifer Armintrout’s new series Lightworld/Darkworld. This time she focuses more on Fae creatures and the Faery Court than vampires, however (which suits me fine).
The book begins with Ayla in the middle of an assignment tracking a werewolf through a disgusting, stinky sewer. Armintrout does a very good job of setting atmosphere throughout the entire book—from the dank, dreary, and stench-ridden Darkworld to the only slightly better-off show more Lightworld—visually. Actually, I thought I could smell the sewers that are Ayla’s home at one point.
The world Armintrout builds is just this side of desperately bleak. Between the denizens of the Lightworld (who seek to re-take the above from humans by any means necessary) and the inhabitants of the Darkworld (who at least don’t want to eradicate humanity, but are nasty critters in a multitude of other ways), hope seems to be as foreign as sunlight. Selfishness, greed, violence, hatred...these emotions drive most of the characters’ actions.
Ayla and Malachi's relationship begins rocky, continues to be pretty rocky and manages to smooth out just enough so that they're not at each other's throats, at least. They don't go from enemies to "'Oh, my God, I love you!" quickly (thank goodness). In fact, Malachi spends a good deal of his time away from Ayla devising ways to kill her with his bare hands, and Ayla alternately hates him and feels guilty over his condition.
My favorite character, hands down, is Keller. He is a Bio-Mech (a human that believes that a body's everything can be easily interchangeable with mechanical parts...pretty much a cyborg, but seems to be more a way of life/belief) and helps Malachi out. He’s just plain fun—takes the world as it is and makes something from it. I wouldn’t say he’s an optimist, but he’s a good deal happier than almost every other character we meet.
A good start to the series, I’m eager to find out the consequences of the final chapter and see where the future shall bring Ayla (nowhere comfortable and happy, I’m willing to bet). show less
The book begins with Ayla in the middle of an assignment tracking a werewolf through a disgusting, stinky sewer. Armintrout does a very good job of setting atmosphere throughout the entire book—from the dank, dreary, and stench-ridden Darkworld to the only slightly better-off show more Lightworld—visually. Actually, I thought I could smell the sewers that are Ayla’s home at one point.
The world Armintrout builds is just this side of desperately bleak. Between the denizens of the Lightworld (who seek to re-take the above from humans by any means necessary) and the inhabitants of the Darkworld (who at least don’t want to eradicate humanity, but are nasty critters in a multitude of other ways), hope seems to be as foreign as sunlight. Selfishness, greed, violence, hatred...these emotions drive most of the characters’ actions.
Ayla and Malachi's relationship begins rocky, continues to be pretty rocky and manages to smooth out just enough so that they're not at each other's throats, at least. They don't go from enemies to "'Oh, my God, I love you!" quickly (thank goodness). In fact, Malachi spends a good deal of his time away from Ayla devising ways to kill her with his bare hands, and Ayla alternately hates him and feels guilty over his condition.
My favorite character, hands down, is Keller. He is a Bio-Mech (a human that believes that a body's everything can be easily interchangeable with mechanical parts...pretty much a cyborg, but seems to be more a way of life/belief) and helps Malachi out. He’s just plain fun—takes the world as it is and makes something from it. I wouldn’t say he’s an optimist, but he’s a good deal happier than almost every other character we meet.
A good start to the series, I’m eager to find out the consequences of the final chapter and see where the future shall bring Ayla (nowhere comfortable and happy, I’m willing to bet). show less
This review will contain some spoilers and features my comments on both books in this series as it seems I am having difficulties to separate them when they are so intricately entwined.
There are many things I really loved in The Boss, first and foremost Neil Elwood who is easily one of the best doms and heroes I have come upon in a long time. Neil is a gentleman to the core and he is allowed to have flaws and to be human, to be unsure and normal while still exuding a very powerful, strong show more and dominating vibe. I have been reading romances so long that I am really tired of those clichéd doms who see a woman, know she's submissive, know her every move and thought, can read her mind, never overstep boundaries and are picture perfect no matter what life throws upon them.
In the story Neil meets Sophie six years ago when she's but a girl of eighteen, unsure of how her life is supposed to continue and ready to experiment with a man who is 24 years her senior. They spend one night together and accidentally meet again six years later in a work related surrouding. Neil has ever since that first night been in love with Sophie and is very honest about his emotions, but reluctant to reveal them to her for fear she might run away as she only consents to a no-strings sexual fling. The way Neil shows his love to Sophie and lives it is splendidly done, all the more so as we don't get any insight to his mind because the story is exclusively told by Sophy as the I-narrator.
Neil is disgustingly rich, doesn't flaunt his money but also isn't ashamed of it. I can't count the number of books I have read where the hero is somewhat (or more) damanged by former lovers because they only wanted his money. Not so in this case because, THANK YOU Abigail Barnette, Neil is intelligent enough to know and feel whether a woman has the hots for his money or him.
Neil needs a great heroine and equal counterpart and finds her in Sophy who is a sexual adventurous and free spirited fashion journalist. I am always a little afraid of super cute and over the top quirky narrating when reading a story told from the first point of view by the heroine. And while the narrating has a subtle, sometimes ironic dialogue it is subliminal and polished and very captivating and easily to get into. Sophy is a strong heroine but not perfect. She does make mistakes and has faults, but her heart is in the right place and she's a truly good, honest and warm person. She falls in love with Neil during the first book and doesn't realise so until reality crashes down on her, making her realise that she has fooled herself by trying to keep sex and her heart separated from each other.
A few days ago I bemoaned the fact that I can't find any good BDSM romances out there featuring a m/f pairing, as the heroine tends to make me tear my hair out. After reading both parts of this series I can honestly say that this dry spell has ended. Neil and Sophie start out their relationship in a vanilla setting and only when Sophy shows interest in the lifestyle Neil slowly begins to introduce various gadgets and D/s scenes into their sex life. Sophy shows true character strength when it comes to domination and submission. Unlike as in so many other books, she is not ashamed of her feelings OR her body, she is a sexually healthy creature who enjoys sex and doesn't feel slutty because of doing so. The first book is very tame where BDSM elements are concerned, but oh so hot and well done, as, and I know I am repeating mysself here, Neil is a gentleman with a very very lovely chocolaty layering. And for me it was this indisputable love Neil feels for Sophy that made the darker elements of BDSM from the second book so special. I wouldn't recommend this mini series to a reader who is new to BDSM as the second book, The Girlfriend, introduces some stronger play and also features two menage scenes.
There are two topics in this book that are not really common elements in most romances, cancer and abortion. Personally, I would have preferred the book only dealt with Neal's cancer and not additionally with Sophy's abortion of their child. I am very glad to have never been in the situation where such a decision was necessary, but the whole scenario surrounding this topic was dealt with, for my taste, too easily. Sometimes the consequences of abortion can catch up with you years later, while the initial act is rather easily done. In this case, it felt to me as if Sophy and Neal have become victims of the plot, as there was probably no way to deal satisfyingly with the situation. Usually, I don't read books where cancer is a huge topic in it. There's too much of that in my real life so I don't want to read about it in hot and steamy romance novels. However, the author did a very very good job of dealing with the subject and, in this case, I was very glad I could push myself to read outside my comfort zone. I have little knowledge of leukemia, but the medical procedures and dealing with the chemotherapy appeared very realistic to me. And as a reader I really got to see another kind of love between Sophy and Neal which has nothing to do with sex and everything with a deep emotional connection that goes soul deep. It's during Neal's illness that I got to really see Sophy's strength and her true love for Neal and how those two are simply meant to be together.
Neal and Sophy's relationship, however, has a deep focus on sex and this is the reason why they introduce a third player into their play while Neal is too ill to satisfy Sophy. I didn't mind the sharing part, for that I've definitely read too many erotic romance novels, but I would have wished for an outsider who was closer to them and not a total albeit very sexy and hot stranger. I can imagine that this part probably rubbed some readers the wrong way, and while I could have wished for the author to have dealt with the situation differently, it didn't deter me from enjoying the story.
There are two more elements in the series I would like to mention. Firstly, I have a weak spot for May December romances and I was very pleased that Abigail Barnette didn't turn the age difference into a hot topic until the end. Yes, there are 24 years separating Neal and Sophy, but the love they feel for each other is more important and true and they are intelligent enough to not talk the age difference to death. Secondly, Neal's daughter Emma is the same age as Sophy, and again kudos to the author, there was no sugar coating or downright hate dominating the interaction between them. They are neither portrayed as overly good nor bad but shown as characters who dealt with the situation in a mature but flawed way as such a set up tends to provoke hurt feelings and touchy situations.
I go with a strong B for the books, mainly because of the abortion issue and the ending felt a bit too abrupt for me. I seriously hope there will be a third part to Sophy and Neal's story, they have truly earned a satisfying happy ending which is longer than an epilogue! show less
There are many things I really loved in The Boss, first and foremost Neil Elwood who is easily one of the best doms and heroes I have come upon in a long time. Neil is a gentleman to the core and he is allowed to have flaws and to be human, to be unsure and normal while still exuding a very powerful, strong show more and dominating vibe. I have been reading romances so long that I am really tired of those clichéd doms who see a woman, know she's submissive, know her every move and thought, can read her mind, never overstep boundaries and are picture perfect no matter what life throws upon them.
In the story Neil meets Sophie six years ago when she's but a girl of eighteen, unsure of how her life is supposed to continue and ready to experiment with a man who is 24 years her senior. They spend one night together and accidentally meet again six years later in a work related surrouding. Neil has ever since that first night been in love with Sophie and is very honest about his emotions, but reluctant to reveal them to her for fear she might run away as she only consents to a no-strings sexual fling. The way Neil shows his love to Sophie and lives it is splendidly done, all the more so as we don't get any insight to his mind because the story is exclusively told by Sophy as the I-narrator.
Neil is disgustingly rich, doesn't flaunt his money but also isn't ashamed of it. I can't count the number of books I have read where the hero is somewhat (or more) damanged by former lovers because they only wanted his money. Not so in this case because, THANK YOU Abigail Barnette, Neil is intelligent enough to know and feel whether a woman has the hots for his money or him.
Neil needs a great heroine and equal counterpart and finds her in Sophy who is a sexual adventurous and free spirited fashion journalist. I am always a little afraid of super cute and over the top quirky narrating when reading a story told from the first point of view by the heroine. And while the narrating has a subtle, sometimes ironic dialogue it is subliminal and polished and very captivating and easily to get into. Sophy is a strong heroine but not perfect. She does make mistakes and has faults, but her heart is in the right place and she's a truly good, honest and warm person. She falls in love with Neil during the first book and doesn't realise so until reality crashes down on her, making her realise that she has fooled herself by trying to keep sex and her heart separated from each other.
A few days ago I bemoaned the fact that I can't find any good BDSM romances out there featuring a m/f pairing, as the heroine tends to make me tear my hair out. After reading both parts of this series I can honestly say that this dry spell has ended. Neil and Sophie start out their relationship in a vanilla setting and only when Sophy shows interest in the lifestyle Neil slowly begins to introduce various gadgets and D/s scenes into their sex life. Sophy shows true character strength when it comes to domination and submission. Unlike as in so many other books, she is not ashamed of her feelings OR her body, she is a sexually healthy creature who enjoys sex and doesn't feel slutty because of doing so. The first book is very tame where BDSM elements are concerned, but oh so hot and well done, as, and I know I am repeating mysself here, Neil is a gentleman with a very very lovely chocolaty layering. And for me it was this indisputable love Neil feels for Sophy that made the darker elements of BDSM from the second book so special. I wouldn't recommend this mini series to a reader who is new to BDSM as the second book, The Girlfriend, introduces some stronger play and also features two menage scenes.
There are two topics in this book that are not really common elements in most romances, cancer and abortion. Personally, I would have preferred the book only dealt with Neal's cancer and not additionally with Sophy's abortion of their child. I am very glad to have never been in the situation where such a decision was necessary, but the whole scenario surrounding this topic was dealt with, for my taste, too easily. Sometimes the consequences of abortion can catch up with you years later, while the initial act is rather easily done. In this case, it felt to me as if Sophy and Neal have become victims of the plot, as there was probably no way to deal satisfyingly with the situation. Usually, I don't read books where cancer is a huge topic in it. There's too much of that in my real life so I don't want to read about it in hot and steamy romance novels. However, the author did a very very good job of dealing with the subject and, in this case, I was very glad I could push myself to read outside my comfort zone. I have little knowledge of leukemia, but the medical procedures and dealing with the chemotherapy appeared very realistic to me. And as a reader I really got to see another kind of love between Sophy and Neal which has nothing to do with sex and everything with a deep emotional connection that goes soul deep. It's during Neal's illness that I got to really see Sophy's strength and her true love for Neal and how those two are simply meant to be together.
Neal and Sophy's relationship, however, has a deep focus on sex and this is the reason why they introduce a third player into their play while Neal is too ill to satisfy Sophy. I didn't mind the sharing part, for that I've definitely read too many erotic romance novels, but I would have wished for an outsider who was closer to them and not a total albeit very sexy and hot stranger. I can imagine that this part probably rubbed some readers the wrong way, and while I could have wished for the author to have dealt with the situation differently, it didn't deter me from enjoying the story.
There are two more elements in the series I would like to mention. Firstly, I have a weak spot for May December romances and I was very pleased that Abigail Barnette didn't turn the age difference into a hot topic until the end. Yes, there are 24 years separating Neal and Sophy, but the love they feel for each other is more important and true and they are intelligent enough to not talk the age difference to death. Secondly, Neal's daughter Emma is the same age as Sophy, and again kudos to the author, there was no sugar coating or downright hate dominating the interaction between them. They are neither portrayed as overly good nor bad but shown as characters who dealt with the situation in a mature but flawed way as such a set up tends to provoke hurt feelings and touchy situations.
I go with a strong B for the books, mainly because of the abortion issue and the ending felt a bit too abrupt for me. I seriously hope there will be a third part to Sophy and Neal's story, they have truly earned a satisfying happy ending which is longer than an epilogue! show less
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