Blood Ties Book One

The Turning

By: Jennifer Armintrout

Narrated by: Elenna Stauffer

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

I'm no coward. I want to make that perfectly clear. But after my life turned into a horror movie, I take fear a lot more seriously now. I finally became Dr. Carrie Ames just eight months ago. Then I was attacked in the hospital morgue by a vampire. Just my luck.

So now I'm a vampire, and it turns out I have a blood tie to the monster who sired me. The tie works like an invisible leash, and I'm bound to him no matter what I do. And of course he's one of the most evil vampires on earth. With my sire hell-bent on turning me into a soulless killer and his sworn enemy set to exterminate me, things couldn't get much worse...except I'm attracted to them both.

Drinking blood, living as an immortal demon, and being a pawn between two warring vampire factions isn't exactly how I'd imagined my future. But as my father used to say, the only way to conquer fear is to face it. So that's what I'll do. Fangs bared.

Don't miss the rest of the Blood Ties series, including Book Two, The Possession and Book Three, Ashes to Ashes, and Book Four, All Souls' Night.

©2006 Jennifer Armintrout (P)2006 Audible, Inc.
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. All characters in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Critic reviews

"This fast, furious novel is a squirm-inducing treat." (Publishers Weekly)

Get Turning

"Avoid sunlight. Drink blood. Hate yourself. Forever. Welcome to immortality."

This is a fantastic debut novel from author Jennifer Armintrout and definitely not your done to death vampire tale (excuse the pun)

First in the Blood Ties series, The Turning introduces us to Dr. Carrie Ames and her reluctant journey into Immortality which begins when she's bitten by Cyrus Kerrick, a cruel master vampire who, as we learn later, is more than he first seems.

Toss in Nathan, another hunky vampire who's determined to rid the world of vamps like Cyrus, Carries feelings for Nathan, and her blood ties to Cyrus and you've got the makings for even more conflict.

This is an exciting, fast-paced story, full of lust, gore, action, and even some romance. I found the characters to be multi-layered and Ms. Armintrout's voice to be strong and distinct.

I've currently got her second story: Possession, on the go now and am enjoying it as well.

Good dark urban fantasy

I enjoyed the story so far, however it’s definitely not a romance. It’s very much a dark urban fantasy/suspense with a love triangle, and elements of romance, but if you’re looking for happy paranormal romance, this is not it. The worst part of this audiobook is the narrator, who seems to think that squeaky hissing voice=evil and weird, breathy Cartman voice=witchy? If it weren’t for the fact that I have a hard time reading physical books due to a disability, I would’ve returned this one and switched to the book. But alas, I’ll have to grit my teeth and deal with it.

the voices

I'm with everyone. I can't finish listening to this book. I have read this series and I love it. wanted to revisit it while working. but I absolutely had to stop when she started doing Cyrus' Dad's voice. Gollum is that you? ziggy and Dalhia were bad enough.

Book good, reader stinks

Some of the most brutal meanest characters in this book are made to sound like a cross between Roseanne and Mickey Mouse, that have been smoking a pack a day and their undershorts are hiked to high. I just dont understand it, did the reader think we could take the soul eater/stealer seriously by making him sound like that? And seriously, its hard to hear sexual encounters or to take them seriously when hearing them in these voices. The story wasnt bad if you can get past the readers voice, at times it even hurt my ears listening to her. Have they no shame?

I like this one A LOT

I liked the turning a lot and will get and listion to the next one in the set .. Also if you liked this kind of story line then look at
(Kim Harreson) set also I have listend to them and liked them...........Good Reading

Blood ties 1

It kept me coming back to finish it. Makes you wonder how you would take being turned.

Bought the book

Spellbinding story, and I purchased the printed book while still listening, but I won't be getting the Book Two on audio. Although the narrator read the protagonist well, she destroyed Jennifer Armintrout's other characters by using the voices of the wicked witch of the west and munchkins. The author wrote these characters with vivid emotional, sometimes erotic depth. What a waste. Did anyone tell Elenna Stauffer that this was not a book for children?

Rough beginning

What did you love best about Blood Ties Book One?

The humor of Kari in the situation that she is in. She is a strong female lead that I could relate.

What other book might you compare Blood Ties Book One to and why?

I honestly do not know. Other than Bram and Rice, I hadn't really paid much attention to vampire books. Too many flooding the market right now.

Which character – as performed by Elenna Stauffer – was your favorite?

I think Elenna did a good job giving each character a sound, I like Dahlia the most, but unfortunately she sound a lot like Ziggy.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I didn't listen to it in one sitting. I listened to it while driving to and from work. The beginning was rough, on the first day which was 2 1/2 hours of listening I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue. I gave it a second day, and it grew on me.

Any additional comments?

I will be giving the second book a chance after this, if it entertains me while driving I'll finish out the series.

Is that you Gollum?

I enjoyed the story, which is the only reason I got through the book despite the narrators awful reading. She started off monotonous and butchered the male voices, even making the “bad guy” sound like Gollum, which actually hurt my ears.

Oh the self doubt and angst

What did you like best about Blood Ties Book One? What did you like least?

The best thing about this book was the reader. She was very good. The worst part of the book was the constant self doubt and angst. If I wanted that much angst in my day I would hang out with a teenager.

Has Blood Ties Book One turned you off from other books in this genre?

No I love this genre I just will not read or listen to more books by this author.

Have you listened to any of Elenna Stauffer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was the first time I had heard Elenne Stauffer, but I enjoyed her performance. Just not the subject.

Was Blood Ties Book One worth the listening time?

?... Good question. I use audio books as a background while I'm working on my art. If the book is good I can work for hours and just get lost in my own little world. If the book is bad then I have to go inside and take a brake before I star anew. This book was good enough for several hours worth of work, but not so good that I got lost.