Title: How Speleology Restored My Sex Drive (A Max Brown Novel)Author: Michael Bernhart
Publisher: Hough Publishing, 2016
Pages: 254
Genre: adventure
Obtained: from author in exchange for an honest review
Summary: Max Brown, his wife, and nine year old twin daughters embark on a treasure hunt. What was supposed to be a family adventure for Max, turns into a dangerous quest to find his missing girls and wife's uncle who have been taken by the Ku Klux Klan to the abandoned gold mines of northern Georgia.
Thoughts: Don't judge a book by its cover is advice that is sometimes very hard to follow. When I see a book cover that has a really cool illustration on the front and a catchy title, I definitely want to read it. When I see a cover that is not too exciting and has a title like How Speleology Restored My Sex Drive, I quickly put it back on the shelf. Fortunately, the author personally sent me a book review request and he stated: "It's not as steamy as the title suggests- three PG-13 encounters between husband and wife." So, I gave it a chance.
Inside the cover was an action packed, fast-paced adventure. The writing style was light and humorous even though there were some serious issues intertwined throughout the story- racism, kidnapping, shooting, killing, etc... The book was written in the first person and was an easy read. It kept me engaged to the last page. The feel, to me, was of a television sitcom. It was definitely an escape from reality. Steamy? Not at all. Also, the Civil War gold that was being sought is a real life lost treasure. The twins wrote a "Guide to Treasure" that describes real long lost treasures. These pages are put between chapters. I found these tidbits interesting- a nice bonus to the book.
Although the focus was on the action (lots of shooting, explosions, and chases), I also enjoyed the characters who had unique personalities and who were all dealing with their own personal issues. The setting was northern Georgia. I've never been there, but the writer definitely gave the place a feel, although I cannot say if it was accurate or not.
This was the third book in a series of four. There were some references to things that I am sure were in the previous books, but it was fine to read this without reading the first two. I really did not feel like I was missing anything.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes action / adventure books, but does not get offended when people make light of very serious issues.
325 Mt. Rushmore Road, Custer, SD 57730
phone: 695-637-5383
email: anniesemp@gmail.com
Tea: Miners' Mix
Obtained: sample from company
The French Creek Tea Company is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. They have a nice variety of teas which I have been sampling and reviewing. This is a project I am enjoying very much since I have not found a tea from this company that I have not delighted in. On this rainy morning, I decided to try the Miners' Mix, which not only went perfectly with the book I was reading, but gave me the pick-me-up I needed.
The package, which can be seen in the picture above, is a foil-lined resealable bag which is very convenient, makes for easy storage, and keeps the leaves fresh. I opened the bag and immediately detected an earthy tea scent. The leaves were mostly long, thin, and black, but there were leaves of other shapes and sizes dispersed throughout the mix of black teas.
I poured 12 ounces of water over 2 teaspoons of leaves and let this brew for 4 minutes. The liquid was an orange brown color and the scent was earthy. The taste was brisk, robust, and full-bodied. It was earthy, with a hint of something I would describe as a cedar taste. This would make a wonderful breakfast tea or a pick me up anytime of the day.
The French Creek Tea Company does not have online ordering at this time, but their contact information is above along with links that tell about the company, teas, and where they can be purchased.
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