Carpe Demon, by Julie Kenner

(pb; 2005)

From the back cover:

“Lots of women put their careers aside once the kids come along. Kate Connor, for instance, hasn't hunted a demon in ages...

“That must be why she missed the one wandering through the pet food aisle of the San Diablo Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, he managed to catch her attention an hour later – when he crashed into the Connor house, intent on killing her.

“Now Kate has to clean up the mess in her kitchen, dispose of a dead demon, and pull together a dinner party that will get her husband elected to County Attorney – all without arousing her family's suspicion. Worse yet, it seems the dead demon didn't come alone..."

Review:

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) plus Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992) equals Carpe Demon.

Predictable, quip-filled and breezy PG-13 read, this: an amusing diversion to pass the hours away with, whether you're sunning at the beach, or moonlighting in a graveyard.

To author Kenner's credit, her characters are interesting and full of (serial) promise, and the situations, while familiar, have a natural semi-spiky suburban sense of humor, one that maintains a PG-13 rating, but hints at R-rated underpinnings.

Don't expect greatness, just enjoy it for the light-hearted entertainment that it is.

Followed by California Demon.