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310th out of 1,689 books
—
6,999 voters
Carpe Demon (Kate Connor - Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom #1)
by
Julie Kenner (Goodreads Author)
Kate Connor used to be a demon hunter: Now she's a stay-at-home mom, a "glorified chauffeur for pep squad practice and Gymboree play dates." But when a demonic assassin shows up at her suburban home minutes before an important dinner party, the retired Hunter is forced back into action to save her town -- and her freshly baked mini-quiches -- from the invading fiend and hi...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
October 31st 2006
by Jove
(first published October 31st 2005)
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There is nothing better than a romantic comedy that incorporates the paranormal, and Julie Kenner has penned a jackpot winner with CARPE DEMON. At times laugh-out-loud funny, once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down until I finished the last page-and then I wished it wasn't the end.
Kate Connor, on the surface, appears to be a pretty normal suburban mom. Mother to fourteen-year-old Alison and two-year-old Timmy, wife of Stuart, an assistant county attorney, and all-around chauffeu...more
Kate Connor, on the surface, appears to be a pretty normal suburban mom. Mother to fourteen-year-old Alison and two-year-old Timmy, wife of Stuart, an assistant county attorney, and all-around chauffeu...more
Aug 21, 2008
Micki
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
mystery loving moms who need some light-weight material
Recommended to Micki by:
saw it in a bookstore; sister also had it
Lois McMaster Bujold has a theory of genre, where mysteries are "fantasies of justice", romances are "fantasies of love" and SFF are "fantasies of politics." I think vampire-hunting books are definitely in the "fantasy of justice" category, and I just don't go for that genre. It seems kind of childish to be constantly searching for justice, because ultimately, justice is what we make it. The world isn't fair.
Anyway, this is a Catholic demon hunter who retires to have a family, when suddenly the...more
Anyway, this is a Catholic demon hunter who retires to have a family, when suddenly the...more
Melissa and I listened to this as an audiobook on a couple of long car trips and thoroughly enjoyed it. A fun, goofy, what-if story about a woman who retired from demon hunting long ago to become, well, a soccer mom. Trouble is, demons start to show up in her suburb and she's the only one who can get to the bottom of it and protect her family and, oh, yeah...the entire human race. If you want something relatively light and entertaining, this is it. If you get the audiobook like we did, notice ho...more
I've really enjoyed reading this series. It gets only 4 stars due to a bit of language I'd rather wasn't in there.
I loved the sarcasm & mom humor in this book. Quick & fun read. I'll definitely keep on....
While I was mildly amused by the crappy title and demon-hunting soccer mom bit, I wasn't prepared for the onslaught of SAPPINESS that the bloody woman put the reader through: \Oh I love my husband sooooo much, he's sooooo sweet. Aww he's so adorable, he loves me even though I'm a failed domestic goddess and I am hiding a dead demon in the pantry. Love, love, love him!!\"^^^^Permission to *blergh*^^^^Then there's the whole \"I miss my dead husband sooooo much\" and I don't even want to go on abou...more
I was walking by the shelves when I spotted this book again. I remember when it came out, and I thought it sounded like a fun read. But being a librarian, I always have so much that I want to read that many things that look interesting are quite often forgotten about. So I picked it up last week and read it, and it was great! Funny, and kick-ass, and mysterious. Kate is a mom to a 14-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy. She has a husband who is gearing up to run for County Attorney, and she is tr...more
The adventures of a demon hunter turned soccer mom.
Karen Connor appears to be your average house wife with two kids and a husband. She has to deal with the normal problems that come with having a teenage daughter and toddler that likes to get into everything. Karen is also married to the aspiring town mayor, which comes with its own set of problems. Suffice to say Karen’s life is pretty hectic as it is without having to worry about coming out of retirement. This is one problem she didn’t need.
Un...more
Karen Connor appears to be your average house wife with two kids and a husband. She has to deal with the normal problems that come with having a teenage daughter and toddler that likes to get into everything. Karen is also married to the aspiring town mayor, which comes with its own set of problems. Suffice to say Karen’s life is pretty hectic as it is without having to worry about coming out of retirement. This is one problem she didn’t need.
Un...more
Katie is a suburban housewife. She has a 14 year old daughter and a 2 year old son and a husband who loves her dearly – and she spends her life holding her family together. It’s hard work, but she meets each days challenges (more of less) successfully.
She even manages her husband’s political ambitions, being called upon to host elaborate dinner and cocktail parties (often at ridiculously short notice); very essential to get all the proper endorsements. And, of course, she and her daughter are st...more
She even manages her husband’s political ambitions, being called upon to host elaborate dinner and cocktail parties (often at ridiculously short notice); very essential to get all the proper endorsements. And, of course, she and her daughter are st...more
My friend mailed me three out of this series, the first one included. I've read all three, and I guess this just isn't my thing. I think the series would appeal to someone who is, or aspires to be, a soccer mom -- someone who is just interested enough in the occult to be titillated by the idea of demons but still mainstream enough to want to keep it very, very light.
I didn't find the main character very interesting at all, even for a soccer mom. And the continual references to "Middle Class" cu...more
I didn't find the main character very interesting at all, even for a soccer mom. And the continual references to "Middle Class" cu...more
Honestly, with a title like that, how could I resist it? It also sports a blurb at the top that reads "Shows you what would happen if Buffy got married and kept her past a secret." -Charlaine Harris. Again, I found that irresistible.
Kate has been attacked by a demon-possessed old man (she defeated him) and a demon-possessed, pimply-faced teenager who looked like a demonic young Ron Howard (he kicked her ass). Her Watcher--oops, alimentatore--has appeared and told her the demon Goramesh is comin...more
Kate has been attacked by a demon-possessed old man (she defeated him) and a demon-possessed, pimply-faced teenager who looked like a demonic young Ron Howard (he kicked her ass). Her Watcher--oops, alimentatore--has appeared and told her the demon Goramesh is comin...more
(Original review Feb 2007)
Overall 3/5
Story 3/5
Re-Readability 3/5
Characters 2/5
Imagine if Buffy the Vampire Slayer retired, settled down, married, had kids, and became a soccer mom — then was suddenly faced with a resurgence of demonic activity in Sunnydale, and had to fight the baddies while throwing dinner parties for her husband, getting the kids to school, and keeping it all a secret? Well, you don’t have to imagine very hard, because Kenner basically lightly files off the Buffy serial numbe...more
Overall 3/5
Story 3/5
Re-Readability 3/5
Characters 2/5
Imagine if Buffy the Vampire Slayer retired, settled down, married, had kids, and became a soccer mom — then was suddenly faced with a resurgence of demonic activity in Sunnydale, and had to fight the baddies while throwing dinner parties for her husband, getting the kids to school, and keeping it all a secret? Well, you don’t have to imagine very hard, because Kenner basically lightly files off the Buffy serial numbe...more
This was one of those 'my Borders is closing, and paperbacks are down to $1.50 each, so why not?' purchases. I had seen the book before, but just never worked up enough interest to shell out full price. This made a good compromise.
The verdict? It was okay. No great, not awful, not have-to-run-out-for-the-sequel, not have-to-avoid-the-sequel. Okay.
The concept is fine. Main character Kate Connor is a retired demon hunter who is know the mom of a teen-aged daughter (by her now-deceased first husban...more
The Book Report: Retired demon hunter, remarried widow, and mother of a teen and a toddler Kate Conner is forced out of her 'burbsy life by The Call of Duty: San Diablo, her hitherto peaceful adopted hometown, has attracted the attention of major baddie demon Goramesh, who wants something that he can't get because it's hidden within the sacred ground of the town's amazingly well-protected cathedral. Goramesh has targeted Our Heroine because she, as a Hunter, must be neutralized, thinks Kate's Va...more
This was a nice funny book.. I put it on my PNR shelf, but I'm not sure if that's really what it is. Kate Connor is a retired hunter, she used to hunt demons, vampires, things that went bump in the night. Nowadays, she is a stay at home mom with two children and occasional chauffeur. She is now remarried to Stuart, her first husband Eric was also a hunter and he died. Kate hasn't exactly been keeping up with her hunter abilities, there's no reason for it since the town she moved to is demon free...more
Imagine Buffy the Vampire Slayer grew up and got out of the stalking-and-staking game. She met a nice guy, settled down in suburbia and had a couple of kids. And then one day, the former-slayer-turned-soccer-mom spots a demon in her home-town Walmart.
That's the premise posed by Carpe Demon, the first of Julie Kenner's Adventures of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series. To avoid copyright infringement, Kenner's heroine, Kate Connor, is a Hunter, NOT a Slayer and her advisor/mentor is her Alimentore,...more
That's the premise posed by Carpe Demon, the first of Julie Kenner's Adventures of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series. To avoid copyright infringement, Kenner's heroine, Kate Connor, is a Hunter, NOT a Slayer and her advisor/mentor is her Alimentore,...more
Jan 09, 2012
Anoolka
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Shelves:
chick-lit,
demons,
female-protagonist,
guilty-pleasure,
humor,
paranormal,
series,
urban-fantasy,
started
1.5
I had some hopes for this. It has an interesting and funny premise. But it was a struggle and in the end I didn't finish this. The humor wasn't all that funny to me.
The whole soccer mom thing doesn't resonate with me - I was kinda curious about it and how it would be presented, I'm from a culture where everyone works and then goes back home and does all those chores, no staying at home. So being a mom is not a job title to me. I couldn't relate.
There's too much emphasis on the pov character...more
I had some hopes for this. It has an interesting and funny premise. But it was a struggle and in the end I didn't finish this. The humor wasn't all that funny to me.
The whole soccer mom thing doesn't resonate with me - I was kinda curious about it and how it would be presented, I'm from a culture where everyone works and then goes back home and does all those chores, no staying at home. So being a mom is not a job title to me. I couldn't relate.
There's too much emphasis on the pov character...more
Apr 13, 2012
Xyra
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Moms (all women) who like action adventure
Recommended to Xyra by:
Lida
I want to give this 4 1/2 stars. The story is great; I loved it and have recommended it to a LOT of my friends. Looking forward to the next installment.
Kate is outstanding! She is a real woman and mom with regular strengths and weaknesses and insecurities that color her decisions. She follows her heart and her training. Training to be a demon hunter. While she thought she could retire from that life it pops back on the picture. She's a bit rusty, but is polishing her skills. It seems she needs t...more
Kate is outstanding! She is a real woman and mom with regular strengths and weaknesses and insecurities that color her decisions. She follows her heart and her training. Training to be a demon hunter. While she thought she could retire from that life it pops back on the picture. She's a bit rusty, but is polishing her skills. It seems she needs t...more
I really enjoyed the story, the plot and the characters. The pace was quick and there were several humorous moments that made me smile. I might have given it another star, but there were several product placements that felt gratuitous. I have no problem with band-aids or Cokes or even the occasional store name. But when you tell me that you are making a pot of Starbuck's Sumatra or that you have a shopping trip lined up at Gap, Nordstrom, Saks, Banana Republic and Limited Express, I start to fee...more
This was a fun book, but I had a hard time with the idea of her lying to her family about what was going on. I realize that they would have problems believing her, but it still bothered me.
It was cleverly done, though, and the characters were believable and interesting. The author had the magic well worked out, and that was good. I might even read the next book.
It was cleverly done, though, and the characters were believable and interesting. The author had the magic well worked out, and that was good. I might even read the next book.
I'll post my review after Reading Group next week!
It was an OK, fun read, but I'm not in a rush to get another. The busy soccer mom - demon hunter thing was cute & amusing - once. The next book could go either way, but I doubt it will get much better. The base she has to work from seems a bit too static. The writing was mildly amusing, but never made me chuckle out loud. Not bad, but I could easily put it down.
The characters were pretty well done & interesting. She certainly has the whole suburban house wife thing down well from what I...more
The characters were pretty well done & interesting. She certainly has the whole suburban house wife thing down well from what I...more
It's not a masterpiece, not deep or thought provoking, but it's fun. Kate is a retired demon hunter, she has two children, a husband, a house and a cat. She hasn't hunted for 15 years, and isn't expecting to run into any demons in her kitchen. But life is funny sometimes. A bit heavy on the Catholic angle (versus something like Buffy, which has religion, mostly Christianity with a few others sprinkled here and there, but remains somewhat ambiguous throughout the show), but this doesn't detract f...more
Kate Connor is a typical soccer mom with a colorful past. Orphaned, she was raised by the Vatican to hunt demons and she eventually marries her partner, Eric. Together, they have a daughter, but then Eric dies. Now retired, Kate is remarried, with a toddler from second husband, Stuart, who knows nothing about her past as a demon hunter. But when a demon comes crashing through her front window right before an important dinner party, Kate is forced out of retirement and back into the saddle.
Carpe...more
Carpe...more
My mom loaned me this book a couple of years ago, paraphrasing a blurb on the cover about it being Buffy gone soccer mom. It is about an unconventional demon hunter, a suburbs mom juggling apocalypse and carpool, but it's missing the snap and pop that accompanied Buffy.
It's not a bad read, but it is a shut your brain off read. If you're thinking about it, the plot points are basically painted for you in neon--even though the main character doesn't put them together until the climax. For me, the...more
It's not a bad read, but it is a shut your brain off read. If you're thinking about it, the plot points are basically painted for you in neon--even though the main character doesn't put them together until the climax. For me, the...more
Not my cup of tea. The concept is really appealing. What if Buffy grew up and started a normal life? And by "Buffy," I mean your average ass-kicking young girl from urban fantasy, not actually Buffy Summers. The execution is somewhat lacking in that the narrative pretty much feeds you every plot twist in advance. You don't have to worry about missing any of the sarcasm because it tends to be followed by, "that was sarcasm in case you missed it."
It didn't help that I had no investment in the mai...more
It didn't help that I had no investment in the mai...more
As if a Stay-At-Home Mom doesn't have enough to do, try also being a retired Demon-Hunter! Can you imagine putting together a last minute dinner party for your politically ambitious husband, taking care of a teenage girl and a 2-year old toddler and then being forced out of retirement when you end up having to dispose of the carcass of the demon you had to kill after he crashed into your kitchen window between letting the bottles of wine breathe and placing the appetizers into the oven!! Welcome...more
It was an enjoyable book -- an easy read. I did get annoyed that Kate kept mentioning that she was a HUNTER of DEMONS...like we would forget...or that she was a MOM. I am not so keen on the book to seek out the rest in the series, but if they came my way, I would probably read them. Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fluff
There is beach reading, which is pretty light, inconsequential. Then there is light beach reading, which is nothing more than fluff. And then there is Carpe Demon. Julie Kenner as written a book that is so full of fluff that I’m surprised it didn’t just float off to nowhere, its eventual destination. Yes there are moments of fun, then there are boring, unbelievable, action scenes, and there are even double crosses that can be seen miles away. There is a portrayal of suburban housewives that is...more
What a cute story!!
As much as it pains me to say that a demon hunting mom is believable Kenner made her characters engaging and real. Kate Connor is just a mom with a unique calling --- it works.
Her calling (and that of her late husband) was put on hold while she raised two children. Her daughter is a oung teen and is the product of her earlier liason with her demon hunting hubby. Young Timmy is the product of her her current marriage to a man who has designs on being elected county attorney....more
As much as it pains me to say that a demon hunting mom is believable Kenner made her characters engaging and real. Kate Connor is just a mom with a unique calling --- it works.
Her calling (and that of her late husband) was put on hold while she raised two children. Her daughter is a oung teen and is the product of her earlier liason with her demon hunting hubby. Young Timmy is the product of her her current marriage to a man who has designs on being elected county attorney....more
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| Paranormal Romanc...: Demon-hunting Soccer Mom Series - Anyone read it? | 32 | 148 | Apr 20, 2012 12:29pm |
Apr 21, 2009 06:02pm