Publisher's Description:
The Prophecy - “Every generation the nine daughters of Zeus are reborn, and with their rebirth are also nine Guardians. They will be marked by the gods, and given gifts to protect his treasure. Their abilities will only be unlocked when they find their muse.”

Melanie Jacoby teaches English at Crystal City High School. She’s also the reborn Muse of Tragic Poetry, but she isn’t prepared for the tragedy of finding her roommate dead at the bottom of the stairs.

Nate Malone is the detective assigned to the case, but as the evidence points to an accidental fall, the visions begin. He sees a killer in a gold Kronos mask.

Mel is the next target.

The Order of the Titans are eager to bring about the return of the Golden Age of Man, and they’re prepared to kill the Muses to complete their mission. But Nate’s desire to protect Mel is almost as strong as his hunger for her.

And tragedy isn’t part of his plan.

My Thoughts:

This type book isn't my usual read but the more I read the more drawn into the story I became.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the first I have read by this author. I am glad I was invited to read this story with it's touch of mystery and the mystical.
I always love the addition of a precocious child. Nothing makes a book better than a irresistible child.
Mel and Nate are destined to their own Happily Ever After. Now I want to read more of this series.
I gave this book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 4 of 5 flames. Although the sex is indeed hot it has a sweetness to it also.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book by invitation from the author via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I have read this author before so I was quite eager to enter into this one being it was promising to be a little different than what she usually writes. From the very beginning it sure would seem so and that was how this author got me to hanker down because I would thing just one more page then I will ....getting anything done is now in the wind because I am in more than knee deep in a refreshing storyline with that alone being a gem. This is also the first in a series with I don't mind that as long as it promises to explode and stay fresh as this first one does. Melanie is not your average girl plus what she walks into would make any other person run for the hills. Someone is out to get them but finding out who before all is lost well the start of that will be this detective Nate's job. He also will have a little bit of help with his abilities. He will also have to contend with something else that sparks, this being the good part. This author will weave magic on the pages as she tells the beginning of this series with daughters that are reborn with one important factor their muse. That will also be the gem of this story and this series for that matter with not really anything out there to compare thank goodness for us readers. I also found her luck will change with her tragic poetry stuff being most fortunate with her silver lining being that Nate is assigned to her. As mentioned I have come out of the wind as described earlier I now have nose burn thanks to not putting this down until the very end.

This is my first time reading Lisa Kessler, and it made me eager to read more of her work. Lure of Obsession is the first book in the Muse Chronicles and I consider it a great start to the series.

What the story is about
Lure of Obsession tells the story of Melanie Jacoby and Detective Nate Malone. Melanie a high school English teacher is the reborn muse of tragic poetry. She sees the tragic side of things, but the one tragedy she was not prepared for was finding her roommate and fellow Muse dead. She knows her friend was murdered, but she is unable to convince the detectives in charge of the investigation, as the evidence points to an accidental death.

Detective Nate Morgan is convinced that the death was accidental, but then he had visions, which led him to believe the death of Melanie’s friend was no accident. Now, not only does he have to solve a murder, he has to protect Mel who is the killer’s next target.

The Story
The story began on a sad but intense note. From that moment, the story pulled me in and I had a hard time putting it down. The theme of inspiration was well presented throughout the story. The idea of the rebirth of nine muses and the role they played in inspiring humanity to be their better selves made for a riveting read. However, there are persons who would rather see this inspiration snuffed out, and the Muses had to die.

I enjoyed the mystery/suspense thread, which I thought was thoroughly fleshed out. It had me turning the pages as I was eager to see the direction the story would follow. One thing I appreciate about romantic thrillers/suspense is the events unfold not only through the eyes of the protagonists but also that of the antagonists. This story delivered just that, which made me privy to his plans.

The title aptly describes Nate’s fascination with Mel. From the moment, he met her he felt a connection, which he could not explain and he wanted to protect her. The romance moved at an acceptable pace, given the circumstances surrounding the guardian/muse. In spite of his attraction for Mel, he did not trust his feelings, which I found to be a reasonable reaction given the issues from his past.

I was pleased with the ending. The threat, however, is still imminent, which I am sure will be explored in the upcoming books.

The Characters
Mel being the muse of tragic poetry is used to seeing the tragic side of things. She is what one would consider an eternal pessimist. Meeting Nate proved to be a blessing as he encouraged her to view things in a positive light. I admired her strength and fortitude. She is willing to take a chance on having a relationship with Nate in spite of the risk of having her heart shattered.

Nate avoids relationships at all costs. He does not feel he is capable of love, however, the more time he spent with Mel he discovered that his past did not determine his ability to love. Mel saw beyond his physical and emotional scars. Never once did she view him as a victim. What she saw when she looked at him was a survivor. I found it amusing that he being her Guardian was responsible for protecting her, but instead, she wanted to be the one who did the protecting.protecting.

I enjoyed watching their interaction, which was funny, passionate and sweet. I loved that they learned to trust each other, which was a pivotal moment for Nate.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Lure of Obsession is a well-written story with likeable characters. It was a fantastic read from start to finish and I cannot wait to find out what is in store for the other muses.