Julie Kenner
Author of Carpe Demon
About the Author
Julie Kenner, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) has published over forty novels and short stories in a variety of genres. Kenner is a two-time RITA finalist, the winner of Romantic Times' Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Contemporary Paranormal of 2001, show more the winner of the Reviewers International Organization's award for best romantic suspense of 2004 and best paranormal of 2005, and the winner of the National Readers' Choice Award for best mainstream book of 2005. Kenner writes a range of stories including sexy and quirky romances, young adult novels, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom as Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures. She is also the author of the Stark Trilogy which includes the titles Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me as J. Kenner, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Disambiguation Notice:
Do not combine this page with any of the various authors who share this surname and initial.
Image credit: via author's website
Series
Works by Julie Kenner
Holiday Hideout (The Thanksgiving Fix / The Christmas Set-Up / The New Year's Deal) (2011) — Contributor — 46 copies, 6 reviews
Best of Temptation Bundle: Constant Craving / Private Lessons / Nobody Does it Better / Night Whispers (2007) — Author — 4 copies
Blood Lily 1 copy
The Demon's in the Details 1 copy
Associated Works
Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned From Judy Blume (2007) — Contributor — 344 copies, 16 reviews
Manhunting in Mississippi [with bonus book 'Wrapped and Ready'] (2003) — Author, some editions — 37 copies
Welcome to Wisteria Lane: On America's Favorite Desperate Housewives (2006) — Cover artist — 13 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Beck, J. K.
Kenner, J.
Beck Kenner, Julia A.
Julie Kenner - Birthdate
- 1965
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Baylor Law School (JD)
University of Texas (BA) - Occupations
- attorney
writer - Organizations
- Romance Writers of America
- Awards and honors
- P.E.A.R.L. Honorable Mention (New Author, 2000)
- Short biography
- Born Julia A. Beck in Mountainview, California, in 1965. Her father was an aeronautical engineer, and her mother worked as a secretary. She grew up in Austin, Texas, where she attended Lyndon Baines Johnson High School, graduating as valedictorian of her class. She went on to the University of Texas, where she received a bachelor's degree in communications (radio-television-film). Afterward, she worked as a media specialist for a community college, before enrolling in Baylor Law School. She is married to Donald "Don" Kenner.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Mountainview, California, USA
- Places of residence
- Southern California, USA
Georgetown, Texas, USA
Mountainview, California, USA (birthplace) - Disambiguation notice
- Do not combine this page with any of the various authors who share this surname and initial.
- Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
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 show more Kate's Vatican handler. She is sent a new handler, whose arrival in her home coincides with a demon attack and a cocktail party in aid of her new husband's political ambitions...and the handler happens to be showing signs of demonhood hisownself....
Hijinks ensue, Good (or Catholicism, anyway) triumphs over Evil, and middle-aged mama Kate unretires because, as TV has taught us, once a target for demons, always a target for demons.
My Review: Many points off for homophobia p15, "...realized {her son} had been completely mesmerized by four gyrating Australian men. If he were fifteen, I'd worry. At twenty-five months, I figured we were okay." That might be funny to the author's straight-mommy readership, but it shouldn't be. Having a gay son is grounds to worry? Really? And why is that, exactly?
Many points off for assuming the world is Catholic in multiple places around the text. Many points off for out-and-out lifting the structure of her demon-world and its fighters from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." And lastly, a minor deduction for the main character's use and abuse of a long-suffering, and I do mean suffering, best friend. Why that lady puts up with this self-involved fool is beyond me.
I started this book with very high hopes. I lost most of them on p15, as mentioned above. Then it was down to "finish or abandon?" debate...the only reason I review the book is that, in the end, I did finish it, and the ending was reasonably not-sucky. Go ahead and read it if you're an insensitive straight-supremacist man-hater. You'll laugh your socks off. show less
Hijinks ensue, Good (or Catholicism, anyway) triumphs over Evil, and middle-aged mama Kate unretires because, as TV has taught us, once a target for demons, always a target for demons.
My Review: Many points off for homophobia p15, "...realized {her son} had been completely mesmerized by four gyrating Australian men. If he were fifteen, I'd worry. At twenty-five months, I figured we were okay." That might be funny to the author's straight-mommy readership, but it shouldn't be. Having a gay son is grounds to worry? Really? And why is that, exactly?
Many points off for assuming the world is Catholic in multiple places around the text. Many points off for out-and-out lifting the structure of her demon-world and its fighters from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." And lastly, a minor deduction for the main character's use and abuse of a long-suffering, and I do mean suffering, best friend. Why that lady puts up with this self-involved fool is beyond me.
I started this book with very high hopes. I lost most of them on p15, as mentioned above. Then it was down to "finish or abandon?" debate...the only reason I review the book is that, in the end, I did finish it, and the ending was reasonably not-sucky. Go ahead and read it if you're an insensitive straight-supremacist man-hater. You'll laugh your socks off. show less
Do you think the difference between good and evil is as simple as black and white? Well think again. Lily finds out that she can be good by being bad as an assassin for God. After Lily kills her sister’s attacker in cold-blood, she is given a second chance to redeem herself and wakes up in Alice Purdue’s body. Working for the light as a demon assassin, her job is to prevent the ninth gate to Hell from being opened by demons. But Lily’s new life has her wondering if she’s strong show more enough to the keep the ninth gate from opening? What happened to Alice Purdue, now that Lily is occupying her body? Will her sister be able to cope without her there to help her?
Tainted was an enjoyable read from Lily’s point of view, and it moves at a brisk pace with it’s eclectic cast of characters and their fun and clever dialogue. Lily is sassy, head strong with street smarts and resilient in her role as the God’s assassin. I found myself easily liking Lily and her attitude towards her new life.
Everyone from her new friend Gracie to her supernatural guide Clarence, tell Lily to stay away from Deacon Camphire. Deacon is a dark mystery to Lily and she doesn’t know if she can trust him but she does know she has a strong attraction to him. And he to her. While Tainted is light on the romance, there is plenty of sizzling tension between Lily and Deacon.
“She’s mine.” he said, pushing my partner aside with little more than a glance. His arms slid around me, his hands on my lower back pulling me close as my body tingled from the electric storm surrounding this force of nature.
“I’m not yours,” I protested, but I stayed in his arms nonetheless, tempting fate and testing the limits to my newfound sensual allure, not mention my self-control.
He took his hand from my back long enough to hook a finger under my chin and tilt my head up. A smug grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Maybe not,” he said with a cocky grin. “But you want to be.”
Tainted is the first book in the new dark urban fantasy series, The Blood Lily Chronicles by Julie Kenner. Tainted is well written, full of mystery and action, saturated with sexual tension and has turns in the plot that you won’t see coming. This book is a must for urban fantasy readers who like their reads to be suspenseful, with a dark, fast moving setting and a sassy, street smart heroine.
I’m looking forward to release of Torn next month because the ending of Tainted left me with more questions then answers. show less
Tainted was an enjoyable read from Lily’s point of view, and it moves at a brisk pace with it’s eclectic cast of characters and their fun and clever dialogue. Lily is sassy, head strong with street smarts and resilient in her role as the God’s assassin. I found myself easily liking Lily and her attitude towards her new life.
Everyone from her new friend Gracie to her supernatural guide Clarence, tell Lily to stay away from Deacon Camphire. Deacon is a dark mystery to Lily and she doesn’t know if she can trust him but she does know she has a strong attraction to him. And he to her. While Tainted is light on the romance, there is plenty of sizzling tension between Lily and Deacon.
“She’s mine.” he said, pushing my partner aside with little more than a glance. His arms slid around me, his hands on my lower back pulling me close as my body tingled from the electric storm surrounding this force of nature.
“I’m not yours,” I protested, but I stayed in his arms nonetheless, tempting fate and testing the limits to my newfound sensual allure, not mention my self-control.
He took his hand from my back long enough to hook a finger under my chin and tilt my head up. A smug grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Maybe not,” he said with a cocky grin. “But you want to be.”
Tainted is the first book in the new dark urban fantasy series, The Blood Lily Chronicles by Julie Kenner. Tainted is well written, full of mystery and action, saturated with sexual tension and has turns in the plot that you won’t see coming. This book is a must for urban fantasy readers who like their reads to be suspenseful, with a dark, fast moving setting and a sassy, street smart heroine.
I’m looking forward to release of Torn next month because the ending of Tainted left me with more questions then answers. show less
My first thought while reading this is that I miss Buffy. Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains one of my favorite television shows ever. Carpe Demon initially caught my eye because someone prefaced their description of the book by stating that it was as if Buffy had grown up and gotten married. That one sentence was enough for me, and I was not wrong.
As you can imagine when discussing a book about a retired demon hunter who now happens to be a mother, the book is meant to be what it is: light, show more carefree, fun and yet suspenseful. Ms. Kenner makes women everywhere thankful that we do not have to add "hunt demons" to our own to-do lists, and yet, we sympathize with Kate as she struggles to find balance in her shifting world. I personally adore how Ms. Kenner shows motherhood - the constant worry offset by doing the best we can to keep sanity at bay, the very unglamorous aspects of motherhood, and the occasional use of television as a babysitter. Mothers everywhere can relate, even if we do not have murderous demons jumping out at us when we least expect them.
There was a surprisingly strong religious note to the book. In hindsight, demons and faith tend to go together, but in my experience, most authors do not include demons and a strong faith in God together in the same book. I wonder why that is, now that I think about it, for I did not find the discussion a turn-off. For, if you understand that demons are metaphors for the world's evils, then Ms. Kenner is just enforcing the need for faith.
Carpe Demon is a quick read, one I thoroughly enjoyed. I found myself chuckling at Kate's plight but completely understanding her need to protect her family and friends. Mothers everywhere do the same thing each and every day, just not against high demons or hell hounds. In Kate, Ms. Kenner has a character to which most mothers can relate. I, for one, am definitely interested in reading the sequel. And if I happen to reminisce about Buffy, then so much the better! show less
As you can imagine when discussing a book about a retired demon hunter who now happens to be a mother, the book is meant to be what it is: light, show more carefree, fun and yet suspenseful. Ms. Kenner makes women everywhere thankful that we do not have to add "hunt demons" to our own to-do lists, and yet, we sympathize with Kate as she struggles to find balance in her shifting world. I personally adore how Ms. Kenner shows motherhood - the constant worry offset by doing the best we can to keep sanity at bay, the very unglamorous aspects of motherhood, and the occasional use of television as a babysitter. Mothers everywhere can relate, even if we do not have murderous demons jumping out at us when we least expect them.
There was a surprisingly strong religious note to the book. In hindsight, demons and faith tend to go together, but in my experience, most authors do not include demons and a strong faith in God together in the same book. I wonder why that is, now that I think about it, for I did not find the discussion a turn-off. For, if you understand that demons are metaphors for the world's evils, then Ms. Kenner is just enforcing the need for faith.
Carpe Demon is a quick read, one I thoroughly enjoyed. I found myself chuckling at Kate's plight but completely understanding her need to protect her family and friends. Mothers everywhere do the same thing each and every day, just not against high demons or hell hounds. In Kate, Ms. Kenner has a character to which most mothers can relate. I, for one, am definitely interested in reading the sequel. And if I happen to reminisce about Buffy, then so much the better! show less
Intimate Fantasy is the third book in the multi-author continuity series, Fantasies, Inc., in which the heroes and heroines vacation at a Fantasy Island-style resort that allows them to live out their sexy fantasies. In this one, Kyra has always selflessly done what’s best for her family, and now she’s ready to marry a wealthy man she doesn’t love in order to rescue the family business. But before she walks down the aisle, she decides to indulge in her fantasy to experience true show more passion and adventure. At Fantasies, Inc., she’s intrigued by reports of a man who is surreptitiously going around the island rescuing people every night. One night, Kyra gets herself into a pickle when she climbs a tree to save a kitten and is about to fall until “Michael” comes to help her. An instant chemistry sparks between them that leads to her fantasy of passionate nights being fulfilled, but during the daytime, she meets Tony, a former firefighter who was injured on the job, ending his career. Tony is on the island, trying to indulge his fantasy of being the hero again and little does Kyra or anyone else besides the staff know that he’s the mysterious “Michael.” Kyra continues to indulge her desires with “Michael” at night, while building a friendship and falling in love with Tony during the day. Tony is falling hard and fast for Kyra, too, but he fears that if he tells her the truth about his alter-ego, that scarred Tony won’t be good enough for her. Not to mention, she’s made it clear she’s only on the island for a little fling before marrying to save the family business and Tony has nothing to offer her except his love.
Kyra’s mother died when she was twelve, but before she passed, she made Kyra promise to take care of her father and brother. Ever since, Kyra has been the backbone of the family, selflessly giving everything and never doing anything for herself. The family radio station is in financial trouble. Her father’s health isn’t great and the station has been his whole life for a very long time, so she sees it as her responsibility to do everything she can to save the business. The only way she sees out of her predicament is marrying a wealthy friend of the family who is fifteen years her senior. She doesn’t love him, but he’s been good to her and her family and can provide the funds she desperately needs. But before she gives him her answer, Kyra goes to Fantasies, Inc., hoping to indulge in a little adventure and finally experience true passion. The island’s mystery hero intrigues her from the moment she hears about him, so when she meets “Michael,” she feels an instant attraction to him that leads to some very passionate nights. But then there’s Tony, the scarred firefighter, who keeps her company during the day. He’s so easy to talk to and they form an almost instant friendship that starts leading her toward loving feelings. All of it leaves Kyra torn between her obligations to her family, her love for Tony, and her passion for “Michael.” I enjoyed Kyra’s good girl persona. She’s always done so much for her family that she deserved something for herself. However, even when she thinks she wants a sexy adventure, it’s hard for her let go, which was something I could relate to. Both “Michael” and Tony help her to see that she’s worthy of all the love and attention he can give her.
Tony is a firefighter who was injured on the job by falling debris and then his girlfriend left him. He now has a bad back and a scar around his eye and has been told that he won’t be able to continue working in the profession he loved. Before settling for a desk job or going into consulting work, he wants one last hurrah playing the hero. Every night since arriving at Fantasies, Inc., he’s been donning a disguise and a pseudonym and going out, looking for people in trouble. He’s rescued several, and although he suspects that the scenarios may have been engineered by the owner of the resort, it does make him feel somewhat more useful. On one such night, “Michael” finds Kyra hanging upside down from a tree limb. After helping her down, the sparks start to fly between them, and by the next night, they’re reveling in the excitement of an anonymous fling. Then Tony meets Kyra during the day as himself and can’t resist allowing a friendship to blossom. Although he wants to tell her about his alter-ego, he knows that she’s only there for a little indulgence before walking down the aisle, making him reluctant to disrupt her fantasy. He’s also very self-conscious of his injuries and worries that the scarred Tony might not be enough for an adventure-seeker like Kyra, so he keeps it to himself until he realizes he’s fallen in love with her. I’m a sucker for a scarred hero, so I really sympathized with Tony. I could also relate to his desire to be the hero one more time. After being dumped by his girlfriend, I could understand his reluctance to really reveal himself to Kyra, but regardless of whether he was Tony or “Michael,” he was a great guy. “Michael” was the dream lover who gave her the genuine passion she was craving, while Tony was the friend who offered true intimacy and love.
I think, in part, because I was a fan of the old Fantasy Island television show, I’m really enjoying the Fantasies, Inc. books so far, so I was looking forward to continuing. However, I noticed that the GoodReads rating for Intimate Fantasy was the lowest of all the books in the series and pretty low in general. This gave me a bit of pause going into reading it. I was very much enjoying it, but also waiting for something to happen to ruin my good time. Thankfully that didn’t occur, and in fact, I loved it, which has left me a little baffled as to why so many others didn’t. I haven’t read any reviews yet to see if they give me any insights, but the only thing I can think of is that perhaps readers had a hard time buying that Kyra didn’t realize that Tony and “Michael” were one and the same sooner. Admittedly the “Michael” disguise was a little thin, but no more so than the Superman/Clark Kent masquerade, so it honestly it didn’t bother me. I was caught up in the whole fantasy of having a secret lover by night while getting to know him for real by day. I thought it was a fun scenario. Also Kyra and Tony were both very likable characters in difficult circumstances, looking for a little indulgence before dealing with obligations. I suppose some readers might also have been off-put, possibly feeling that Kyra was cheating on the guy she was going to marry, but I didn’t see it that way. She hadn’t even given him an answer yet and it was going to be little more than a loveless, business arrangement, albeit one that she was determined to remain faithful to once her vows were said, so I thought she was justified in wanting to feel special to someone even if only for a few days. I like that Tony and Kyra were very supportive and respectful of each other’s fantasies. Their relationship gave me all the feels I look for in a romance, along with a healthy dose of steam. I also enjoyed the progression of the assumed reunion that will likely occur between Fantasies, Inc. owner Merilee and the love of her life in the final book. Overall, I had a great time reading Intimate Fantasy and look forward to completing the series soon. show less
Kyra’s mother died when she was twelve, but before she passed, she made Kyra promise to take care of her father and brother. Ever since, Kyra has been the backbone of the family, selflessly giving everything and never doing anything for herself. The family radio station is in financial trouble. Her father’s health isn’t great and the station has been his whole life for a very long time, so she sees it as her responsibility to do everything she can to save the business. The only way she sees out of her predicament is marrying a wealthy friend of the family who is fifteen years her senior. She doesn’t love him, but he’s been good to her and her family and can provide the funds she desperately needs. But before she gives him her answer, Kyra goes to Fantasies, Inc., hoping to indulge in a little adventure and finally experience true passion. The island’s mystery hero intrigues her from the moment she hears about him, so when she meets “Michael,” she feels an instant attraction to him that leads to some very passionate nights. But then there’s Tony, the scarred firefighter, who keeps her company during the day. He’s so easy to talk to and they form an almost instant friendship that starts leading her toward loving feelings. All of it leaves Kyra torn between her obligations to her family, her love for Tony, and her passion for “Michael.” I enjoyed Kyra’s good girl persona. She’s always done so much for her family that she deserved something for herself. However, even when she thinks she wants a sexy adventure, it’s hard for her let go, which was something I could relate to. Both “Michael” and Tony help her to see that she’s worthy of all the love and attention he can give her.
Tony is a firefighter who was injured on the job by falling debris and then his girlfriend left him. He now has a bad back and a scar around his eye and has been told that he won’t be able to continue working in the profession he loved. Before settling for a desk job or going into consulting work, he wants one last hurrah playing the hero. Every night since arriving at Fantasies, Inc., he’s been donning a disguise and a pseudonym and going out, looking for people in trouble. He’s rescued several, and although he suspects that the scenarios may have been engineered by the owner of the resort, it does make him feel somewhat more useful. On one such night, “Michael” finds Kyra hanging upside down from a tree limb. After helping her down, the sparks start to fly between them, and by the next night, they’re reveling in the excitement of an anonymous fling. Then Tony meets Kyra during the day as himself and can’t resist allowing a friendship to blossom. Although he wants to tell her about his alter-ego, he knows that she’s only there for a little indulgence before walking down the aisle, making him reluctant to disrupt her fantasy. He’s also very self-conscious of his injuries and worries that the scarred Tony might not be enough for an adventure-seeker like Kyra, so he keeps it to himself until he realizes he’s fallen in love with her. I’m a sucker for a scarred hero, so I really sympathized with Tony. I could also relate to his desire to be the hero one more time. After being dumped by his girlfriend, I could understand his reluctance to really reveal himself to Kyra, but regardless of whether he was Tony or “Michael,” he was a great guy. “Michael” was the dream lover who gave her the genuine passion she was craving, while Tony was the friend who offered true intimacy and love.
I think, in part, because I was a fan of the old Fantasy Island television show, I’m really enjoying the Fantasies, Inc. books so far, so I was looking forward to continuing. However, I noticed that the GoodReads rating for Intimate Fantasy was the lowest of all the books in the series and pretty low in general. This gave me a bit of pause going into reading it. I was very much enjoying it, but also waiting for something to happen to ruin my good time. Thankfully that didn’t occur, and in fact, I loved it, which has left me a little baffled as to why so many others didn’t. I haven’t read any reviews yet to see if they give me any insights, but the only thing I can think of is that perhaps readers had a hard time buying that Kyra didn’t realize that Tony and “Michael” were one and the same sooner. Admittedly the “Michael” disguise was a little thin, but no more so than the Superman/Clark Kent masquerade, so it honestly it didn’t bother me. I was caught up in the whole fantasy of having a secret lover by night while getting to know him for real by day. I thought it was a fun scenario. Also Kyra and Tony were both very likable characters in difficult circumstances, looking for a little indulgence before dealing with obligations. I suppose some readers might also have been off-put, possibly feeling that Kyra was cheating on the guy she was going to marry, but I didn’t see it that way. She hadn’t even given him an answer yet and it was going to be little more than a loveless, business arrangement, albeit one that she was determined to remain faithful to once her vows were said, so I thought she was justified in wanting to feel special to someone even if only for a few days. I like that Tony and Kyra were very supportive and respectful of each other’s fantasies. Their relationship gave me all the feels I look for in a romance, along with a healthy dose of steam. I also enjoyed the progression of the assumed reunion that will likely occur between Fantasies, Inc. owner Merilee and the love of her life in the final book. Overall, I had a great time reading Intimate Fantasy and look forward to completing the series soon. show less
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