A fantastic adventure story that also highlights key issues that reflect on our current political and moral environment, author Michael Bernhart
has brought to life a fantastic treasure hunting story that involves kidnapping, shootouts, corruption and explosions. That story is How Speleology
Restored My Sex Drive: A Max Brown Novel. While I have not read the previous installments in this series, the author was kind enough to send
this book to me in exchange for an honest review, and so here are my thoughts on the book. First, the synopsis:

Some people can’t stay out of trouble. Happily married, the father of two precocious nine year old girls, and comfortably off, Max Brown should
have it easy. Not yet; that’s where the little girls come in. They maneuver Max and his wife into a dangerous treasure hunt through abandoned
gold mines. As Max forewarns, “the closer you get to the treasure the more competitors show up, some of whom don’t play by the rules.” The
competitors in this case are seven Klansmen who believe that the object of the treasure hunt, a large cache of Confederate gold, is theirs to
finance a second rebellion. Set in northern Georgia, Max combats bears, snakes, and the Klan to protect those he loves. His most cunning and
committed adversaries, though, turn out to be his own children.

Now before I go on, I will say that as a word of warning, if anyone is triggered by dialogue or themes of racism, then this is not the book for
you. While the author does a great job of highlighting the horrors of racism throughout this adventure in the southern United States, the harsh
language (that is very realistic) can be hard to read if that triggers anything, so be careful.

The story was fast paced and well written. Written from a first-person perspective, readers are given insight into the mind of protagonist Max
Brown, and shown the heart-pounding terror that comes from the fear of losing a child. Desperate to save his children, he and his wife Sally
face corrupt cops, Klansmen and the FBI as a simple treasure hunt turns into a deadly battle between racists and parents who go above and beyond
to save their daughters.

Now this is definitely a case of not judging a book by it’s cover. While a simple cover, the title is definitely intriguing yet confusing. Speleology
is the study of cave exploration, and while the title suggests a more “suggestive” theme, this story focuses more on the harsh truths of racism
and the high-octane, blood-pumping action that this adventure brings. Overall this is a must read story for any fans of classic adventure tales
that combine the thrill of an Indiana Jones story with the political climate of our world today. Be sure to pick up your copies of How Speleology
Restored My Sex Drive: A Max Brown Novel by Michael Bernhart today!

Rating: 8/10