They are strained because he has been working on a vampire database project at the request of the queen. Then he is summoned to Mississippi by Lorena (his maker) which is who I believed kidnapped him in the show. The call of your maker is too strong to deny so he goes and she holds him prisoner in the pool house of the king of mississippi. Sookie has to go to Jackson with the help of a new friend (and were-animal Alcide) to find out where he is and how to get him out. Alcide's former girlfriend sets a vendetta out against Sookie because she appears to be dating Alcide. In the end she stakes his maker and rescues Bill but putting him in a trunk and driving back to Alcides garage. The ex girlfriend then throws Sookie in the trunk with Bill who hasn't eaten in days and is delirious and he attacks her viciously. At this point, Alcide, Eric and Bill are all trying to get her affection but she feels betrayed and resendes her invitation to enter her house to Bill and Eric and leaves Alcide in Mississippi.
I dont want to spoil it for you because if you like the show, you'll love the books but get ready for some serious heartbreak!
