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Last Call For Caviar
As the world comes unhinged, a lucky few will be quaffing Cristal and nibbling Beluga as they stock their mega-yachts and gas-up their Gulfstreams for a last-minute dash to safety. For American ex-pat Maya Jade, the Cote d’Azur remains a zone of relative normality amid global chaos. Welcome to the Madhouse. Welcome to the year 2014.
- GenresRomance
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2013
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396 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 2, 2013
I have to start out saying that this is not quite a four star but it was more than a three star reading. Okay now, this book is based on the premise that the Hopi Prophecy is happening. The earth is preparing for the cleansing that is coming. All forms of evil will be eliminated and we will enter the fifth world. Picture Noah and the ark in the Bible and you'll get the idea.
The storyline slowly builds a sense of bad things to come. Mother Nature has turned on us with earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes and disasters but there are still a few pockets of sanity in the world in the year 2014. One of those bits of attempted normalcy is Monaco and the Riveria, home of the very rich and very insulated. Maya, expat American, lives in a villa overlooking the ocean and in between mourning the lose of her true love, she prepares for the worst. She keeps her guns close and stays alert when she leaves the villa, where she has stockpiled water and survival supplies. She still attends parties in Monaco with her friends but there is a building sense of doom. Her sister and family has retreated to the northwest of the US and she knows she should try to join them but already with the riots and insanity happening everywhere, it does not seem possible for her to reunite with them. And then there is Julian, her lost love, whom she dream such vivid dreams of at night, surely that is proof that he is alive.
Maya is offered an escape route which has many strings attached. Abdul is married with two children but has been protecting Maya since they met and now offers her a possible escape from the madness that is drawing closer to her villa. Throw in a vicious killer or two who would like to see Maya dead but not too quickly and you have a thrilling ride to the end of the story.
I won this book in a FirstReads giveaway.
The storyline slowly builds a sense of bad things to come. Mother Nature has turned on us with earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes and disasters but there are still a few pockets of sanity in the world in the year 2014. One of those bits of attempted normalcy is Monaco and the Riveria, home of the very rich and very insulated. Maya, expat American, lives in a villa overlooking the ocean and in between mourning the lose of her true love, she prepares for the worst. She keeps her guns close and stays alert when she leaves the villa, where she has stockpiled water and survival supplies. She still attends parties in Monaco with her friends but there is a building sense of doom. Her sister and family has retreated to the northwest of the US and she knows she should try to join them but already with the riots and insanity happening everywhere, it does not seem possible for her to reunite with them. And then there is Julian, her lost love, whom she dream such vivid dreams of at night, surely that is proof that he is alive.
Maya is offered an escape route which has many strings attached. Abdul is married with two children but has been protecting Maya since they met and now offers her a possible escape from the madness that is drawing closer to her villa. Throw in a vicious killer or two who would like to see Maya dead but not too quickly and you have a thrilling ride to the end of the story.
I won this book in a FirstReads giveaway.
August 3, 2018
Last Call for Caviar by Mellissa Roen is a dystopian saga of great beauty and strength. It takes place in 2018 so as regards technology and culture these people are definitely us living here now in 2016 but some major new developments have changed the landscape dramatically for the worse. Think of the developing migrant crisis in Europe now, throw in an approaching celestial event, some huge natural and man-made disasters with a few more wars to up the ante a bit. That’s the mood and setting for Last Call for Caviar. When a novel like this is done well it is believable enough to frighten you and this one is done very well indeed. If you like, love, or admire France, Italy, Monte Carlo and Europe, in general, you are in for a cultural and literary treat which includes language lessons and a glimpse into the lives of people most of us only get to read about.
I really enjoyed Last Call for Caviar. I enjoyed the lyrical writing, the exotic settings, and most of all the strong, independent, but sometimes vulnerable main character. Maya Jade totes a Glock and knows how to use it. She is fierce and independent but she had a wonderful love at one time and she thinks maybe she will have it again. You have to love that. Mellissa Roen tells the story through Maya’s journal and I found this worked for me because it adds an element of mystery surrounding what happens and the people who are reading the journal. A great read.
I really enjoyed Last Call for Caviar. I enjoyed the lyrical writing, the exotic settings, and most of all the strong, independent, but sometimes vulnerable main character. Maya Jade totes a Glock and knows how to use it. She is fierce and independent but she had a wonderful love at one time and she thinks maybe she will have it again. You have to love that. Mellissa Roen tells the story through Maya’s journal and I found this worked for me because it adds an element of mystery surrounding what happens and the people who are reading the journal. A great read.
March 31, 2016
Destruction, death and blood cults—oh my! Maya Jade has been stranded in the Riviera during what can only be accurately described as Armageddon. Author Melissa Roen creates a rather convincing alternate reality in Last Call for Caviar, one in which the world as we know it is quickly and definitively coming to an end. The earth seems to have entered a purge mode, spewing, shattering and shocking humanity right off of her face. Earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, extreme weather of all kinds are testing the limits of mankind and the results are catastrophic. War rages everywhere as bands fight against bands, governments fight against their citizens, and individuals fight for their lives. The landscape is chaotic.
Yet, in the midst of all this devastation, there are places where champagne still flows lavishly and caviar is consumed in abundance. Tucked away on the beautiful coast of the Côte d’Azur, the wealthy hide from the “treacherous minefields of the disintegrating world.” It is in this glittery, gilded backdrop that Maya finds herself—cut off from the security of family, the safety of civilization, and the love she found in France. Having traveled to the region for school and making a life there because of connections, Maya fell in love with the Riviera. When sexy surgeon Julian steals her heart, Maya’s destiny is sealed. After a fated lover’s quarrel leads to their separation, and tragic world events lead to a splintering of society, Maya becomes desperate. Should she abandon her hopes of happiness with the love of her life and run tail for home in the US? Should she stick it out on the slim chance that Julian will return to her? Should she cultivate her resources to find another way to survive the end of the world? Is survival even possible? The questions keep mounting as more and more craziness ensues.
With each new episode of insanity, a greater truth is revealed to Maya, a truth that only she seems to understand or see.
Roen is convincing here. Her vision of the end is so well crafted and executed, as I read, the news humming in the background, it seemed not just feasible but utterly possible that Roen herself is a seer. There is nothing overly farfetched here, which makes the fantastical elements of Last Call for Caviar that much more intriguing; any of this could happen at any moment. And that’s what made me keep turning the pages (and watching the skies).
A fairly long volume at 302 pages, the book was a swift read, sucking me in from the very beginning. There is little fat here, this is a trim and tone narrative. Maya Jade is a kick-ass heroine, dynamic and organic, nuanced and complex. At turns shrinking violet and fierce lioness, damsel in distress and irreverent daredevil. The plot allows for rich interactions that lend cinematic interest, with intense action, gut-wrenching drama, sensual and haunting sizzle, well-placed comedy, and the type of fantasy/sci-fi that makes you think Could this really happen?.
There really isn’t much to complain about here. A word of caution: read the whole book from the Prologue; it’s incredibly important to understand the story and set you up for Volume 2 (which I started before even finishing volume 1). Small deductions for: cover art, I found myself wanting to turn the book over, but I have never been one for messy eaters; typos, I’m sorry to say but there were a few that pulled me out of the story occasionally; and an incomplete and hard to use glossary of terms. These are the smallest of complaints. The meat here is worth the price and then some. I just might feast on this tasty meal again and again. I hate caviar, but I loved Last Call.
Yet, in the midst of all this devastation, there are places where champagne still flows lavishly and caviar is consumed in abundance. Tucked away on the beautiful coast of the Côte d’Azur, the wealthy hide from the “treacherous minefields of the disintegrating world.” It is in this glittery, gilded backdrop that Maya finds herself—cut off from the security of family, the safety of civilization, and the love she found in France. Having traveled to the region for school and making a life there because of connections, Maya fell in love with the Riviera. When sexy surgeon Julian steals her heart, Maya’s destiny is sealed. After a fated lover’s quarrel leads to their separation, and tragic world events lead to a splintering of society, Maya becomes desperate. Should she abandon her hopes of happiness with the love of her life and run tail for home in the US? Should she stick it out on the slim chance that Julian will return to her? Should she cultivate her resources to find another way to survive the end of the world? Is survival even possible? The questions keep mounting as more and more craziness ensues.
With each new episode of insanity, a greater truth is revealed to Maya, a truth that only she seems to understand or see.
Roen is convincing here. Her vision of the end is so well crafted and executed, as I read, the news humming in the background, it seemed not just feasible but utterly possible that Roen herself is a seer. There is nothing overly farfetched here, which makes the fantastical elements of Last Call for Caviar that much more intriguing; any of this could happen at any moment. And that’s what made me keep turning the pages (and watching the skies).
A fairly long volume at 302 pages, the book was a swift read, sucking me in from the very beginning. There is little fat here, this is a trim and tone narrative. Maya Jade is a kick-ass heroine, dynamic and organic, nuanced and complex. At turns shrinking violet and fierce lioness, damsel in distress and irreverent daredevil. The plot allows for rich interactions that lend cinematic interest, with intense action, gut-wrenching drama, sensual and haunting sizzle, well-placed comedy, and the type of fantasy/sci-fi that makes you think Could this really happen?.
There really isn’t much to complain about here. A word of caution: read the whole book from the Prologue; it’s incredibly important to understand the story and set you up for Volume 2 (which I started before even finishing volume 1). Small deductions for: cover art, I found myself wanting to turn the book over, but I have never been one for messy eaters; typos, I’m sorry to say but there were a few that pulled me out of the story occasionally; and an incomplete and hard to use glossary of terms. These are the smallest of complaints. The meat here is worth the price and then some. I just might feast on this tasty meal again and again. I hate caviar, but I loved Last Call.
July 1, 2013
I just learned that I have won a copy of this in a Good Reads FirstReads giveaway. I'm looking forward to reading it when it arrives!
This apocalyptic tale by Melissa Roen is narrated in the first person. The narrator, an American expatriate living in France in 2014, describes her current life and the apocalypse. Maya Jade reflects in minute detail on both her personal and the global situation. As it is first person and reflective, the character seems sometimes to get side tracked thinking about related people/places/events in her storytelling. Although the book is billed as a romantic thriller, the high level of detail in all description and the introspective monologue make for a slower paced book, and while Maya Jade does have relationships, they are not the focus of the novel. Overall, the detail oriented style of writing brings the reader and main character close together, really allowing the reader to come to know Maya Jade intimately. When the plot picks up towards the end of the book, the reader cannot help but keep turning the pages until he/she finishes, wishing the sequel were already available.
This apocalyptic tale by Melissa Roen is narrated in the first person. The narrator, an American expatriate living in France in 2014, describes her current life and the apocalypse. Maya Jade reflects in minute detail on both her personal and the global situation. As it is first person and reflective, the character seems sometimes to get side tracked thinking about related people/places/events in her storytelling. Although the book is billed as a romantic thriller, the high level of detail in all description and the introspective monologue make for a slower paced book, and while Maya Jade does have relationships, they are not the focus of the novel. Overall, the detail oriented style of writing brings the reader and main character close together, really allowing the reader to come to know Maya Jade intimately. When the plot picks up towards the end of the book, the reader cannot help but keep turning the pages until he/she finishes, wishing the sequel were already available.
October 6, 2013
Roen penned a book that brought together science, pop culture, and a story that takes you in unexpected directions. This may sound funny but it seemed that a lot of care went into picking the chapter heading titles. Each of them seemed like a story itself and I especially liked Joe-sexy. I enjoyed how the author seemed to be able to pull from myths to create her metaphor and this made the text seem self reflective. The idea that this could be recounting of tales came to mind and the text seemed to give the impression that this could have been broken up into many stories. While this story was not very graphic I thought it painted a accurate picture of the harm that can come to woman when they are nothing but property in the sex trade. This story left wide open the start of a fresh volume to continue the tale. I look forward to know what fate's befall the fanged man. Smile.
July 26, 2013
I won my copy through goodreads giveaways.
At first I was quite excited to read this, well with it being "apocalyptic", but clearly this story was not for me. The characters drove me insane and I knew it was going to have French references but not the the extreme that it was. (most of which that didn't have a English translating, google translate was my friend =/) Moving on, nothing about this was very apocalyptic at least not what I'm used too. So It lacked that in which I was looking for. I just needed more character and a better end of the world setting for this book to kick my socks off. It took me longer to read just due the extensive breaks of not wanting to continue but I did and boy that was a challenge. For me I probably wont re-read this.
At first I was quite excited to read this, well with it being "apocalyptic", but clearly this story was not for me. The characters drove me insane and I knew it was going to have French references but not the the extreme that it was. (most of which that didn't have a English translating, google translate was my friend =/) Moving on, nothing about this was very apocalyptic at least not what I'm used too. So It lacked that in which I was looking for. I just needed more character and a better end of the world setting for this book to kick my socks off. It took me longer to read just due the extensive breaks of not wanting to continue but I did and boy that was a challenge. For me I probably wont re-read this.
October 17, 2013
Eerie and a bit believable with all that happens in the world today, but at the same time I think it should have been set just a bit farther in the future that would have made it really creepy.
I liked that the book also has a glossary for the French and Italian used in the book. It helps when you don't speak the language and makes since with the story beginning in France. If you like apocalyptic thrillers this is a good one. It was a quick read but the story did progress a little to slow in the beginning for me.
***** book won from goodreads in return for honest review******
I liked that the book also has a glossary for the French and Italian used in the book. It helps when you don't speak the language and makes since with the story beginning in France. If you like apocalyptic thrillers this is a good one. It was a quick read but the story did progress a little to slow in the beginning for me.
***** book won from goodreads in return for honest review******
June 14, 2013
I received this book for free through First Reads.
The apocalypse doesn't seem very believably apocalyptic. I think the problem arises from not taking the apocalyptic setting far enough. The novel is set in 2014 and hinges on a hysterical interpretation of current events. The results are lukewarm.
I did appreciate the many literary and historical allusions; gave a bit of depth and history to the narrative.
The apocalypse doesn't seem very believably apocalyptic. I think the problem arises from not taking the apocalyptic setting far enough. The novel is set in 2014 and hinges on a hysterical interpretation of current events. The results are lukewarm.
I did appreciate the many literary and historical allusions; gave a bit of depth and history to the narrative.
August 6, 2013
This story grew on me as the heroine was likable and the plot was not too outrageous. At times it felt like the author got bogged down relating details of the heroine's thoughts. Overall the story kept my attention and I will be interested in reading a sequel. I think a three star rating is fair.
March 14, 2022
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
I just could not finish it. I tried but there are just too many other books that I could be spending my time on. I am not sure if it was the story or the characters but it did not grab my attention at all. I was completely bored while I was reading.
I just could not finish it. I tried but there are just too many other books that I could be spending my time on. I am not sure if it was the story or the characters but it did not grab my attention at all. I was completely bored while I was reading.
April 9, 2014
I am very much looking forward to the sequel!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews