Bambi Unbridled: New Release and Review: Give and Take by Tigris Eden

Give and Take
by Tigris Eden
Series: Stories from Beauville, #1
Pub Date: May 19, 2015
Publisher: Self-Pub
Format: eARC
Source: Author

My Rating:

Sultry Scale:

Compromise is a word Annabelle Macon knows well. Sacrifices at home, in college and with her career, have all given her the tools to be the person she is. Now it seems she must also make concessions for her long-time love, Jackson Storme.

Six months into their relationship, and he’s already making unrealistic demands. With distance putting that much more of a strain on their relationship, how are the two ever going to manage?

Old insecurities have a way of resurfacing, making Anna feel less than suitable for someone like Jackson. She’s worked hard to get to where she is now. Her life and her work are clashing, making matters worse. Bringing a whole new meaning to work/life balance. But Anna knows that with a little give and take everything will fall into place, regardless of the obstacles that may stand in her way.

I started this series not knowing what to expect because Tigris Eden is a new-to-me author. I have seen her paranormal series, but have not gotten around to reading any of it yet.

When I started this book, I felt like I was missing something. So after some research, I discovered there was an intro that I had not read, A Slow Burn. I quickly read the intro (approx. 50 pages), and I felt it was quite good. I liked the chemistry between Annabelle and Jackson and thought the first book would be going in a good direction.

Unfortunately, I did not like the first book quite as much as the intro. In fact, the whole time I was reading this book, I was complaining to my friend that I did not like it. But I couldn't stop reading! It was like rubbernecking after a train wreck, you couldn't look away. That made me realize that it was not necessarily the story that I did not like, but I just flat out did not like the characters. And hey, we are all human, and characters are like people - we are not going to like everyone we meet/read. So with this insight, I was able to move forward with the book and complain a little less. Especially considering that a number of the characters in this book were written specifically for you to hate. Let's discuss.

Jackson: He is our male lead character, an alpha-male sheriff with dark hair and golden brown eyes. I actually liked Jackson, but I did not like his inability to communicate. He was a little too caveman, grunting and throwing his weight around and just assuming everyone understood his actions.

Annabelle: She is our female lead character, and I didn't care for her a bit. She also had a problem communicating and had a bad habit of running off instead of talking to Jackson to understand the real story. She was cast as an independent female with her own career and life, however she was a little to "woe is me" to pull it off.

Annabelle also described her cousins as ghetto... and I would agree with that description. However, they were funny and added some levity to the story. I found it funny that Anna said her cousins were ghetto and crazy, when Anna was real quick to slap a bitch when she got mad. Seriously, there were some smackdown catfights in this book. This was part of the train wreck that I spoke of earlier.

Vivian: The baby mama drama. Good grief. I was waiting for the Maury Povich episode.

Talia: The frenemy that always steals your man. I absolutely detested this girl with a passion. She is horrid and gives women a bad name. I could not believe that Annabelle kept this girl around. The whole "keep your frenemies close" thing is total bullsh!t. If you are stupid enough to keep women like this in your girl posse, then you deserve what you get.

Inara: Jackson's bootycall that warns all other women off. To me, she had no self-respect and would do anything or anyone that Jackson asked just so he would keep coming back... then she used that information to taunt Annabelle. Total beyotch.

All the women of the town of Beauville: They were all catty bitches trying to get their hooks into the sexy sheriff. Seriously, there were no likable females outside of Jackson's sister and Annabelle's mother. I couldn't stand all the gossiping and cattiness of the town. And being a southern girl myself, I hate to see us stereotyped that way.

Pearl: I kinda liked Pearl, Annabelle's mom. However what I did not like was that she had a long-standing affair with a married man, and it was well-known secret to all in the town. This made it difficult for Annabelle growing up getting cast as the harlot's daughter - we all know kids can be mean. I don't approve of this type of relationship so it detracted from Pearl as a person and made me doubt her capabilities as a mother.

The on-again/off-again relationship between Annabelle and Jackson got on my nerves. They would have a huge drama and not see each other for months, then they would spend 60 seconds talking and they were back together and making out in front of the whole town. It was a bit ridiculous. The ending was a huge surprise - and I was like WTF? It basically changes the genre of the rest of the series from contemporary romance to romantic suspense. But it also guaranteed that I will read the next book to find out what happens.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It wasn't a bad story but, as a reader, I like to insert myself into a story and really feel like I am a part of it. I can honestly say that I would not socialize with any of the people in this book (except for the sheriff maybe), so I could not connect with anyone enough to really enjoy the book as much as I would have liked.

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One of Tigris’ fondest memories, was in the sixth grade, when her teacher read her story, “The Case of The Missing Pepperoni”, out loud to the class. It was then she decided she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. But like all childhood dreams, reality has a way of crashing in and disrupting plans. But her imagination and the voices inside her head never stopped talking. Every dream she could remember was jotted down in her dream journals. When she’s not writing Tigris marvel’s at life’s gifts. She likes to take pictures of beautiful things. She openly admits that what she may find beautiful another person might not, and she’s perfectly okay with that. She enjoys her music and doesn’t leave home without it. Long pillow conversations with LL about nonsensical things, and hanging out with her boys, when they deem her “cool enough.”

Tigris is a military brat who’s done her fair share of travelling, thanks to her Army father. She’s married to the infamous LL and has three boys. She currently resides in Houston and is actively seeking a book-buddy for the end of the world.

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