Hiatus - Yep, Even the Lazy Need Breaks

I've been struggling along for a while.

The last time I decided to take a break inspiration struck but I doubt that will happen this time.

Winter blahs hit late this year and maybe I'm just in a bit of a funk but I'm going to back away from the computer for a while.

Also, I don't read like I used to and I miss it. I'm taking too much time to do other things that aren't really adding to my life. Like Facebook. Ugh.

I need to give up that damn Facebook - online games that need attention at specific times instead of me being able to play them when I decide. Horrible for people like me who get addicted. Bad Cindy.

Also, many of the bloggers I visit seem to be having the same problem. Either no time to blog or reaching a point where they are not sure what to write anymore. Hey, maybe every dog does have it's day.

So it's official. I'm on break.

Hope you have some great reading ahead of you!

Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep

Finally! I've been reading this book for over a week - only because of the business of stuff as it was a really good read.

I bought this book and then read it because of Nath's review here. And hey, I do like assassin stories and this one had some twists.

Cindy Blurb: Gin is an assassin called The Spider and a woman assassin is just odd enough to be almost undetectable. Gin's handler is an old guy named Fletcher who took her in after her family was murdered when she was uh, 12? somewhere around there. Fletcher has a son named Finn and these three people create a small unusual family.

There are other 'members' of the family but they have smaller roles so yeah.

On her latest job Gin gets double crossed and realizes that somehow someone has figured out who Fletcher and Finn are and that they are in danger. From here the story explodes with precision and emotion.

And there is a cop. Of course there is. Cause who else would an assassin or a cop fall for but each other? Conflict in copious amounts. Tons.

Like usual I don't want to spoil the story for anyone. I should also mention that the paranormal has a place in the story as there are vamps and such but as much as there was 'magic' it was more about Gin and her life than about the world she lived in.

For those who don't like assassin stories stay away. Gin is an assassin and has no qualms about killing people. Okay, she won't kill kids or puppies but other than that, if you need her services she figures you've done something real bad. And let's face it, that just wouldn't be the absolute truth but it's how Gin sees it and maybe she does so to survive.

There is also lots of blood and gore in the book. Not as gory as Laurell K Hamilton's Anita books but enough for me to look at the spine and wonder if I was reading a paranormal romance or straight fantasy. I'm thinking in the end, straight fantasy with some sex.

I bring up LKH because the writing did remind me of LKH in her good days. When I said precise earlier I meant in the telling of the story. Exacting details of almost every move made.

The only problem I had were repetitive bits of information. The first time an author tells me where all a person's knives are stored on their body, I don't really need to know again. This information was repeated just a few too many times. I think Gin should name the placement like 'the cross of knives' of something. Change it up. Cause I already knew where her knives were going.

I'm also not great with loads of description and well, let's just say there is not a lot of dialogue in the book.

Oh, and I'm not in love with Donovan Caine (the cop). He's too breakable for lack of a better description and I wonder how he would survive Gin and her life. He was a bit too much of a carry along character than one that did anything to move the story. I'm thinking he's a good card to play for Gin but other than that, I'm not sure I like him. Too one dimensional at the moment.

I'm going with a B- cause I did want to know what would happen next and it kept me occupied on the one too many trips to Home Depot during Bobby Week.

Now, I want to read a really sexy story. I'll have to rummage through the TBR pile and see what I have.

Whirlwind!

To think I would ever be too busy to blog is mind boggling to me. Sure, I've been my lazy self but wow, things have been hopping around here.

Bob was off for Bobby Birthday Week last week and I'm still recovering. My body doesn't know when it's supposed to sleep, eat or anything else. Bob was a sweetie in that on the Wednesday he let me sleep like normal. Other than that, I was up and out the door rain, shine (mostly rain) knowing where we were going or not.

Having been a bit of a shut in for the winter I forgot the way Bob can be. Monday was his birthday so I didn't tear a strip off him for not knowing where exactly we were going. Bob is a bit of a driver. Loves to discover where streets go.

I, of course, need a plan and like to know when we're going to eat and where we're going to shop.

Because it was Bob's birthday I did not snap. I wanted to snap but I held my tongue. I woke up and didn't eat (one of my things) and Bob mentioned how he was starving before we left. We drove out to St Jacob's (an hour and a bit from home) and then I figured we would start heading back towards home and find a place to eat.

Bob didn't remember my need to hit the farthest point first, then I'm comfortable to eat on the way back home. Nope. He drove us all over the place until I finally asked him what in the world he was looking for. He was looking for a place to eat, farther out.

Oh. Hell. No.

I don't remember what we finally did, I was sleepy and grumpy and I was done. Oh, wait. I remember, we went to East Side Mario's on a Monday night.

Guess what Monday night at ESM is?

I'm guessing it was family night cause there were people everywhere and kids - OMG and a clown who was not exactly quiet.

Probably should have mentioned I don't care to eat at 'pasta' places because it's expensive and I know how much spaghetti costs from the store. So I tend to feel ripped off.

Poor Bob.

During dinner Bob was sternly lectured on how we have to have a 'plan' when we leave the house. Knowing where we're going is the number one priority!

On Tuesday we drove to Toronto.

Toronto.

You know, that place that can cause me anxiety. I got out of bed and booyah I was ready to go. Bob had been told to do some homework on where he wanted to go. Homework was not done. I however, managed to print off a few sheets on where we could go just before jogging out the door.

Antique shops are crap shoots. You can end up in a dive or the dressiest place in town but there is only one thing Bob's looking for - Porcelain Ad signs from 70's and before. The place we went too? China. It was pretty for me.

Then the other addresses we had were empty.

Antique stores also pop up and then disappear and we found the ones that had gone under. Whoops.

Wednesday was nice for me.

By Saturday night I was like a zombie. I didn't know which way was up as Best Bud with Son finally tossed her crappy boyfriend to the curb and needed to come out and visit on Saturday. Which I didn't mind as that's what friends are for but by Sunday Bob couldn't budge me out of bed.

I'm thinking of writing a book about Best Bud w Son and the Asshat but she would disown me. I can hardly believe half the crap that has happened in the past week let alone the past few years. So this week has been busy on the phone trying to keep her spirits up. I'm really hoping that this is the end of this guy but I seem to get blindsided at every turn by my women friends and loved ones making crappy choices.

My Gorgeous Cousin took back The Cheater and surprise he showed up at Bob's birthday.

Great Scott!!

I know he thinks no one knows what happened cause he was acting way too comfortable in my house to know I wanted to shake the ever livin' hell out of him. Note I said shake instead of the real word I want to use.

Can't live other people's lives. I just never had women in my life who ended up with cheaters or abusers and then there is my best friend who is so messed up now I'm not sure how she'll make out. I've backed out a bit on the BF because I really don't know what to say to her and that makes me feel guilty but I'm hoping this week I can get out with her so she can say what she needs to.

*counts blessings*

So this Easter Weekend will be busy also. I'm actually going to turn on the stove and cook. BB told her son I was cooking a turkey and he was all 'cool'. She laughed and said 'I'm not sure if he thinks that's code for a restaurant or what.' Looks like I'll need to bring it!

There's just a bunch of crap circling in the air around us but I'll try not to bore you with too much. I'm just glad that the sun is finally shining again and the temperatures are rising. I have had my window open when I sleep and I love it.

I do want to mention I'm reading Jennifer Estep's Spider's Bite - I'm definitely slow on the reading but my days aren't ordinary like usual. It's a good book - I'm thinking those who liked LKH in her early days would like this one. I'll say more once I'm done.

Oh!! Get this, I ordered books from Chapters and have been waiting very impatiently for them to get her. They are books on diabetes for my cousin. Tonight I get an e-mail from Chapters saying the refund I asked for has been allowed and credited back to my account.

I never asked for a refund.

I've been getting up every day and asking Bob if Chapters has come.

I have no clue what happened and I'm not sure I'm up for a fight. Just want the damn books!

I would go to the box store to buy the books but they are cheaper online. Gah. Frustrating to say the least. Not sure if I should re-order again or just buy at the store level.

Hope you all have a great Easter Weekend. Or long weekend - whatever works.