Kate Connor is a typical suburban California mom. Widowed and remarried with a teenage daughter and toddler son, she has a fairly idyllic life -- and a secret past.

An orphan raised by the Vatican, Kate was trained as a demon hunter. After years of successful supernatural slaying, she retired into domestic bliss. But when demons begin popping up at her local Walmart and, worse yet, her kitchen just prior to an important cocktail party, Kate realizes that retirement is no longer a viable option.

Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner is an obvious riff on the Buffy genre. Not only does Kate have her own version of a Watcher and Watchers' Council, she also has a lively, comic-relief sidekick.

What sets Carpe Demon apart is Kate's family circumstance, as well as a busy lifestyle that doesn't leave much time for slaying. But with the help of a geriatric former hunter, a martial arts dojo, a spritzer of holy water and a fully gassed minivan, she just might get the job done and have time to make dinner, change diapers and tidy up the den.

Carpe Demon is fast-paced and fun!