Bound

Little Goddess #3

by Amy Lane

Humans have the option of separation, divorce, and heartbreak—for Corinne Carol-Anne Kirkpatrick, sorceress and queen of the vampires, the choices are limited to love or death. Now that she is back at Green’s hill and assuming her duties as leader, her life is, at best, complicated. Bracken and Nicky are rivalling for her affections, Green is gone taking care of his people, and a new supernatural enemy is threatening the sanctity of all she has come to love. Throw in a family reunion gone bad, a supernatural psychiatrist and a killer physics class, and Cory’s life isn’t just complex, it’s psychotic. Cory needs to get her act and her identity together, and soon, because the enemy she and her lovers are facing is a nightmare that doesn’t just kill people, it unmakes them. If she doesn’t figure out who she is and what her place is on Green’s hill, it’s not just her life on the line. She knows from hard experience that the only thing worse than facing death is facing the death of someone she loves. Because loving people is easy—living with them is what takes the real work, and it’s even harder if you’re BOUND.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Fae

496 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 19, 2006

About the author

Amy Lane dodges an EDJ, mothers four children, and writes the occasional book. She, her brood, and her beloved mate, Mack, live in a crumbling mortgage in Citrus Heights, California, which is riddled with spiders, cats, and more than its share of fancy and weirdness. Feel free to visit her at www.greenshill.com orwww.writerslane.blogspot.com, where she will ride the buzz of receiving your e-mail until her head swells and she can no longer leave the house.

Reviews

[Cindyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can something just keep getting better and better. I loved this story, I love the characters and their love for each other, their determination to keep everyone safe without regard for themselves, I love everything about this book. What an awesome series.
Thank you Ms. Lane for a wonderful, wonderful series.
Highly recommend!!!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cory's back home to Green's Hill. She's still dealing with Adrian's death and now, she's married to Bracken, an elf red-cap and Nicky, who can turn into a bird, due to unfortunate circumstances but she's willing to make it work. There's no other choice, she can't get a divorce like any other human would because it's either make it work or death and that's not even an option. It's not that she doesn't love them. She adores Bracken and she does love Nicky, but not in the way that he wants and needs. And there's of course, Green. Her lover, their leader, and the one she wishes she was bound to the most. However, that can't be possible because as a sidhe leader, Green just can't make that kind of promise to her.

Apart from juggling a pretty unconventional love life, she's also now queen of the vampires, thanks to being marked by Adrian before he died. And now more than ever, they need a leader. But she's still trying to come to term with her new goddess powers and she has to get her act together and quick because people are being literally drained out of their essence, and she has to figure out who it is and stop them because its next target might just be someone close to her.

To make things even more hellish, she's back in school. And if Physics class doesn't make anyone want to pull their hair out, I don't know what does.

Bound is the third installment in the Little Goddess series and wow, it is awesome! One of my biggest requirements in a good book is character development and Mrs. Lane more than delivered. Cory's grown up a lot, she's gone through very hard things and it shows. I absolutely love Bracken, he's my favorite character. When I read the previous book, Wounded, I said I didn't want some kind of three-people marriage between Cory, Bracken and Nicky because I wanted Bracken to just be with Cory but in Bound, we find out more about Nicky and I couldn't help but love him a little. It's not his fault that he's practically trapped in this marriage because he would die otherwise. The story is not in only Cory's point of view, there's multiple ones: Green's, Bracken's, Nicky's, even Arturo's! And while that might sound confusing, it enhances the story.

Something I love about the Little Goddess series is that yes, while there is a plot, like in this case, there's something who can literally unmake a person and Cory has to stop it, Mrs. Lane managed to balance the plot out with Cory's personal life which is a major point in the story. Neither outshines the other and I really like that. This story is emotionally charged, with wonderful characters you can't help but love (especially Bracken!) and a great plot. Needless to say, I'm totally a junkie now and looking forward to the next installment.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound is the third installment in Amy Lane's Little Goddess series and the incredible story just continues. The writing style is brilliant and poetic bringing tears to my eyes at many times.

Cory and the crew have returned to Green's Hill and are enrolling in Sac State for college so they can live at home and Cory can rightfully take on her place as Queen. She is now bonded with Bracken and through no fault of her own she's married to the Avian, Nicky. So now Cory has three men in her life. Two she is madly in love with and the other she cares for as a friend and a queen.

This is the basis for the whole book. Bonds. With family, friends, lovers, people and your beloved's. Of course it wouldn't be Green, Cory, Bracken, Grace, Arturo, Renny and Nicky if there weren't an evil out to hurt them and theirs. Because of what happened at the end of book two and Green increasing his power base and allies, he now has to travel to secure those relationships, leaving Cory struggling to be a leader while missing her beloved.

One of the best things about this book is that you get so many different point of views. Mainly it's Cory, Bracken and Green but you also get Nicky and in one instance you get Arturo! I love reading the differing POV's. I just plain love this whole story and the growing that Cory does throughout.

"Wreathes of flowers bind me tight As my lover takes me with care and might My legs are bound around his hips My mouth is pressed against his lips I breathe because my body must This is why I plunge against his thrusts My heart has sworn its silent oaths My body too has pledged its troths One troth to him with whom I reign And one to him who keeps me sane One troth to one I keep from death And one to the ghost with whom I've slept As my soul is chained with silken threads To every lover in my bed I'm tied with love to the land I see And those who dwell are bound to me. My fate was made with choices free Bound to the truth I'm bound to be."

[ALPHAreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cory, nee Lady Cory, is settling into her role as Queen of the fae foothill slowly but surely. With Green by her side as well as her elfin husband Bracken and her Avian partner, Nicky, Cory is assimilating to her Queenly role with aplomb (and only a few minor hiccups).

Cory is also finding time to finish her university degree – with a concentration on business and kingdom ruling. She is even making new human friends while she attends school, giving her tenuous connections to the world she left behind.

But a sinister presence threatens to destroy everything that Cory has worked so hard to protect and accept. A malevolent presence – with a smell of decay and nails-on-chalkboard sound – is stalking the foothills. It’s up to Cory and co to protect their own and eradicate this new evil, nicknamed the ‘Hollow Man’.

‘Bound’ is the third book in Amy Lane’s ‘Little Goddess’ paranormal erotica romance series.

In the first book, ‘Vulnerable’, it seemed as though Cory’s journey was all about accepting her ‘otherness’ and opening her eyes to the supernatural. ‘Wounded’ saw Cory nursing her grief while struggling to accept the responsibilities of the foothill. ‘Bound’ sees Cory’s focus shift to the mending of her love life as she compromises and accommodates her three permanent lovers and mates.

Green is away on business for two weeks when ‘Bound’ begins, as his sexual healing takes him inter-state to strengthen his various allegiances. But being away from his beloved is soul-crushing for both him and Cory. While Green is away on business, Cory must step up and become leader in his absence – a task she is overwhelmed and humbled by, even more so when the Hollow Man comes to terrorize. It’s interesting to read Green and Cory apart – in many ways their romance has been an assured constant since the first book. As distance makes the heart grow fonder, it’s nice to read how much they depend on each other and crave one another.

But ‘Bound’ is really about Cory’s evolving relationship with the other two men in her life. Bracken is her ‘husband’ – they are bound in mortality and fidelity. Their relationship is fiery and intense, and as vital as breathing to both of them. Nicky is an ‘Avian’, a shape-changing bird/man. He and Cory were accidentally bound in a mating ceremony, and because Avian’s need their mate to live, Cory has no choice but to accept his complicated love. Nicky and Cory’s love is tepid and complicated compared to her lush passion for Green and Bracken. In this book, Cory has to find a balance with Nicky and accept the boundaries of their mating.

This book really highlights Cory’s growth. She is becoming impressively queenly, especially in how she gathers new supernatural’s to the foothill and protects those in her kingdom;

“We live in a vast world, Davy. Bigger than you imagine, more complicated than you ever thought possible. And Kyle has made you a part of it, and that’s for him to explain. It’s scary. There are deaths and pain and brutality that I don’t ever want you to imagine, much less know.” I turned to Bracken now, and was going to take his hand, but he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, giving me just enough room to turn to her, as she sat on the wet metal bench in the rain. “But there’s sweetness here too, Davis Stacia – remember that when you talk with Kyle. So much of it hurts, but there is sweetness, and beauty, and love.”

‘Bound’ is a great new instalment in the ‘Little Goddess’ series. Cory is coming leaps and bounds in her queenship, and her romance is heating up and balancing out. I love Green and Bracken, and while Nicky still reads like a third-wheel, I'm impressed by how Cory works the complications of their mating. I can’t wait to read fourth book, ‘Rampant’.

[Grammy 1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound is the third book in the Little Goddess Series by Amy Lane. It has taken me almost a week after finishing this wonderful story to even get my mind to catch up with my emotions. When reading these stories Miss Lane brings out in these characters feelings we all can relate to.

One thing I found through this 3 book journey with Cory our heronine is about Unconditional Love. We all say in life a Mothers love is unconditional for her children. We see it on the news a mother talking about her child who has just hurt someone , the love she still has for them. To get unconditional love from a lover /or spouse is a one in a million chance..But here on Greenshill where Cory who did not have that kind of love from a parent, has grown from an angry self conscious, overwieght teenager to a woman revered by 3 lovers all giving her unconditional love, acceptance of her and each other.

Through this story Corey, Green, Bracken and Nicky all had to grow and step up. Some had to come to grips with the death of a loved one and the process each took to get there.

For those who love action, our author weaves a story of stumbling blocks for our heros to overcome.

I guarentee reading this series you won't be dissappointed. I look foward to reading the next book and the next continuing with the "family" I have adopted
and love

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars! I loved this book! I loved the first book in the series, and the second, but this one was by far the best. Unlike other series I have read, the Little Goddess series only gets better with every book. In Bound, Cory returns to Green's Hill to take her place as both Green's Beloved and Queen of the Faerie, and as leader of the Adrian's vampires. We see her continue to come to terms with Adrian's death and her place in the Hill. She also has to juggle the two new men in her life, now bound to her by magic for as long as she might live. There is also a new villain who challenges the safety that Green and Cory have promised to all who follow them. Cory gains control of her power and uses it to protect and defend the Hill even at the possible cost of her life.

One of the best things about this series in the character development. Cory is not the same person that she was at the beginning of Vulnerable. She grows into her powers and her place as a leader. The other characters equally change and grow. The end of the book is fully satisfying but I can hardly wait for the next book in the series (which may not be out for another two years as she is currently working on a new project). I can only hope that Ms. Lane keeps writing stories that are as passionate and emotionally fulfilling as Bound.

Re-posted from Amazon.com

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

God helps me, I was mesmerized. Cory Kirkpatrick, after her little 'adventure' in Sacramento with Green's people (and ends up with her bonded for a mortal lifetime with the sidhe Bracken), goes back to Green's hill. Now she's a queen, the heiress of Adrian's, her first vampire lover, kiss of vampires. As Green's beloved, she earns her place as Green's second, his queen. She has the right to rule beside Green, not that she likes it.

And yes, she's now bonded with Nicky Kestrel as well, the Avian. It's a little hard, since she knows Nicky as her friend-ends-up-in-her-bed. Bracken's jealous, but he can do nothing for their relationship. Cory's power comes from sex and her lovers' love. She's getting stronger and stronger, her relationship with three men she loves the most--and being loved with the most--goes well, although she endures some troubles with them, finally comes stable.

Well, what am I supposed to say then? It's beautiful, well-written, and I had to suppress my sniffs and tears. Cory's a great heroine. It was like, wow, how could she settles with her new life? I love her fights with Bracken, her defiant, her strong will. The foursome's not bothering me anymore, finally. Weird and hard to describe their relationship, but I like it very much

[Carolyn G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing that I love most about the characters in this series is that they are so real. Even though they are otherworldly, I can still identify with their actions and emotions. The author does a fantastic job of describing their feelings and emotions, right down to the expressions on their faces (which I now see in my head especially each time I think about Bracken!). Cory is so real, always feeling inadequate and undeserving even though she has so many lovers and so much power. She finally finds herself in this book and really begins to embrace it.

I give this book 3.5 stars because I thought it ran a little long. It was still very interesting, but about halfway through the book it seemed to drag. Maybe if there was a little more action throughout the middle it would have picked up a bit and carried it through to the ending. Still a wonderful book and I am really looking forward to the next book.

[Timmysparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Not as much as the last book in the series but it was still good. Most of the characters had to deal with the issues they had with themselves, each other and also Adrian's death. Bracken's possessiveness really annoyed me in the beginning of the book. And I hated the way Bracken and Cory treated Nicky at the beginning too. I felt bad for Nicky and Cory relationship even though they were clearly trying. I loved when Cory found her balance with Green, Bracken and Nicky. I was really happen when they all accepted their part in her life and Bracken got his head out of his ass. It was sad that Grace's daughter could accept Grace and Nicky's parents refused to attend his wedding. Green as usual was great. I think he's y favorite character in the series. I'm looking forward to knowing how the series concluded in the next book.

[Shomeret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I said in my review of Wounded that this is what the Anita Blake series should be. It's because of the genuine love and commitment that all the continuing characters share to both Cory and the community that Green has created. While reading Bound it occurred to me is that this is a successful cross between urban fantasy and paranormal romance incorporating the best of both genres.

There were moments in Bound that reminded me of Charles De Lint's Newford novels. This is high praise because I consider Charles De Lint a master in the field.

Amy Lane showed psychological insight into the psychopathic mind in her portrayal of the villain in this book.

Yet having said all that, I was more impressed with Wounded which had more emotional impact on me.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third entry in the series, it continues the wild, emotional, dangerous and often intense story of the once-shy, lonely human girl becoming a beloved, powerful, and sometimes rather overhwhelmed leader of a supernatural community. Another chapter is Cory's coming of age journey, with plenty of heart break, yearning for a (mostly) deceased vampire, an often absent sexual fae lord, and friends in danger and need. Of course fans of the series will enjoy the continued free wheeling prose as well as plenty of physical heat in this society where sex is a powerfully magical healing, creating, and ruling force.

My biggest disappointment is I just found Bracken to be less and less likable, and therefore the heat and relationship between him and Cory to be less and less compelling.

[WillowBe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit redundant with the getting sick, etc. But the theme of redemption and love andthe willingness of the female charactar to be emotionally vulnerable, and the complexity of emotions of the lovers is what makes this a step ABOVE LKH Merry Gentry series. Also very grounded in the day-to day realities of being fey in a nonfey world. And it's HOUSTON with and "O", not Huston!!! So annoying when you are from the city whose name is being constantly mangled.But this little series has really grown on me, so much so that I purchased the other two books in the series. So, though I may say critical things, don't think that I don't really, really like Amy Lane's books, because I do.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Little Goddess series, and for the most part its a simple continuation of the plot set up in book 2. There is a new bad guy, but he's only a side note (i.e. underdeveloped) to the personal changes in the main characters and their relationships. For the life of me, I can't figure out why I'm hooked on these books. I still don't think they're that well written, and this one is very repetitive. The Mary Sue-ness continues to be off the charts. But I'll definitely read the fourth one because I can't seem to stop myself.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book was ok, but the main character was really getting on my nerves in this book. I still enjoyed reading the book except for all of the sex. All the books reminded me of another author L. K. Hamilton. Which I think is a wonderful write just needs to ease up on all the sex and the whole idea on if I am an easy person based on societies rules. The idea just gets old. Either you care what society thinks or you don’t, make up your mind!

[Cherie Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Amy Lane's third installment in the Little Goddess series was brilliant. It's a little hard to wrap my head around the idea that these books were some of Ms. Lane's earliest published works...they are quite riveting, and truly seem written by a master wordsmith. If you haven't read the Little Goddess books, you're missing out on something extraodinary. Get them. Get them now, and lock yourself away from the world long enough to devour them!

[Coryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lucky find that has earned its way to the top of my favorites list. I swear this series gets better as it goes along! The character depth and development is astounding; I've never cared about characters so much. There's action, romance, humor and much more. You'll need an open mind for this one as love and sex is not limited to the white bread of one man and one woman. I promise you this series is a must read. I anxiously await the next in the series.

[~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd have to give this series an overall 4 stars, I've read 1-3 and it's been a pretty good series overall, but I'm ready to take a break. Considering there's menage and different combos, it's surprisingly smut-lite for me - I want more details so the series is starting to drag for me and I need to read something smuttier! Lots of ingenuity in the continuing story though.

[Ctanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the Little Goddess series was a bit of a disappointment. I really liked the first and second books. This book was too long. The plot drug in many spots. I enjoyed the building relationship between Cory, Bracken, and Nicky. I am still excited about reading the fourth book.

[Sue Fasolino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough good things about this book and the Little Goddess series as a whole. To anyone who loves paranormal romance,fantasy,vampires,the sidhe,weres,etc...these books are a fantastic combination of them all. Incredibly emotional,sexy, and very well written.

[Charity Hlatshwayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for Nicky who is now bound through no fault of his own. He can't leave either coz Avians mate for life, so he is stuck in what amounts (at least in my book) to a loveless marriage, where he is barely being tolerated.

[Lidia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balance, symmetry, to be in peace with own self. This is that search Cory . Simply love , no rule o social law but love and accept yourself for what has.
Else I can only repeat that already said on the books of this series and on emotions amazing that it give me.

[Leanne Arbez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leaves me anxiously awaiting Rampant! Come on Amy Lane, bring on book 4!

[~V~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this one was my fav. so far in the series...I liked that we got to spend more time with Cory and each of her "men" in this one! :)

[Carolyn F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book, better than #2. Love the series. My library doesn't have book #4 so I'm buying it. Cory is finding peace with her relationships and school. She's also learning about her powers.

[Amandatheprwriter · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you let Amy Lane into your heart and mind prepared to be bound to her writting for a lifetime!

[Karin Wollina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn`t stop reading ! That was a great story, very interesting protagonists. Higly recommendable !

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read!!! I just love Amy Lanes books!

[GONZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much more better than the 2nd one and now one to go, but I'll wait a while just to let this stuff settle down.