Riveting, sensual and tantalizing, Eat Prey Love will leave the reader hungry for more by this delightfully talented author!

Never before have I had the extreme pleasure to read a book that so effortlessly blends sensuality, humor, fun and a bit of darkness the way Kerrelyn Sparks does in her newest release, Eat Prey Love. Literally, this book has it all; from a broken family life, to vampires and shape-shifters, to laugh-out-loud moments and sizzling scenes that will leave your fingers feeling scorched, as you turn the pages. In true honesty, I was feeling one of those dreaded reading slumps coming on. After reading the first page of Eat Prey Love, that feeling completely flew out the door. I began reading this book yesterday (Saturday) afternoon and finished it today (Sunday). It is incredibly rare for me to become so engrossed in a book that the pages just soar by. Outside distractions were not a problem with this one at all. The only existence that gripped me was that of Caitlyn and Carlos.

Eat Prey Love is the ninth book in Kerrelyn Sparks' Love at Stake series. Keep in mind that this is the first book I have read by this author, so I have no knowledge of her prior books in this series nor any other. With that being said, this is a story that felt utterly complete to me.

The characters are all incredibly developed and the storyline very tight and smooth. I simply adored Caitlyn Whelan, the heroine of the story. She grewup feeling she was never good enough for anyone. She thought her older sister just up and left her with no seconds thoughts and had a mother who was completely detached, emotionally from her, and a father who was single-mindedly focused on work. Life was not so great. She also has the uncanny ability to communicate with animals and the ability to learn any language within a couple of hours. It is when Caitlyn receives a birthday invitation from her sister, Shanna, for a nephew she didn't even know she had, that life takes a massive turn for her. Not only does she meet an entirely different world consisting of vampires and shape-shifters, but she meets the to-die-for handsome Carlos Panterra.

Carlos has lost everything. In what he refers to as "The Summer of Death", Carlos' tribe was slaughtered. His mother, father, twin brother, everyone he holds dear is taken, sliced apart and burnt - the only way to truly kill a were-panther. After saving a handful of children and taking them under his care, Carlos must find a mate to be mother to these children and to help carry on the were-panther line before it completely becomes extinct. Little does he realize how difficult his attraction to the feisty Caitlyn will be and just how hard he will have to fight to stay away from her and continue his search.

The sexual tension that builds between these two main characters is explosive and oh so hot. Carlos is an incredibly desirable character, possessing sensitivity, honor, duty, strength, power and a not-be-ignored sexuality. The pull pulsates between Caitlyn and Carlos, building up to a satisfying and climatic end. This, blended with the banter and humor the two share is delightful. Here is a snippet to give readers an idea of what I am talking about:

"What's wrong?" Carlos demanded from the hallway.

"You," she muttered.

" I heard that. I have super hearing and vision."

"Well, isn't that just super." She swiped her hands along the foot of the bed. Hadn't she left a robe there? "So do you have X-ray vision like Superman? Can you see through the door?"

"No."

She enjoyed taunting him. He deserved it. "What a shame. Since I'm standing here stark naked." She gasped when the door crashed open. Light spilled in from the hallway, surrounding his tall frame. "You pervert!"

He scoffed. "You lied."

"You broke my door!"

"Only the lock. The door still works." He flipped on the light switch close to the door frame.

"Ack!" She covered her eyes from the sudden bright light. "What are you doing here?"

"It's called a job, menina. I believe you've had one of those before?"

"Very funny." She lowered her hand and noticed he was focused on her nightie. More than focused. His eyes were glued to her clingy, silk leopard print nightgown. Since she was a bit on the tall side, the baby-doll top barely skimmed the top of her thighs. No doubt, a hint of her matching leopard print panties was showing. And if the hot gleam in his eyes was any indication, he's noticed.