An intrepid pair has survived the apocalypse, but the worst is yet to come in Roen’s sequel to Last Call for Caviar (2013).

Maya Jade and her lover, Julian, have fled their temporary place of refuge on the French Riviera. Fearing for their safety, they head toward Italy in a battered Land Rover full of weapons and provisions; but Maya cannot escape the dangers she encountered during her time mingling among the Riviera’s jet set. She’s being followed by Slava, a Russian who runs a human-trafficking ring. Julian’s skill as a physician secures the couple safe passage into Italy and finally to the Hautes-Alpes, where he treats the locals and refugees. While Julian is out on an emergency call, an earthquake strikes the area, cutting off all lines of communication. Desperate to find him, Maya enlists the help of Stephan and Laurent, two French military paratroopers. They discover that Julian has been kidnapped by a ruthless and bloodthirsty captain named Jacques Richmond, who’s in league with Slava and planning a covert operation in Monaco. Maya soon realizes her only hope for saving Julian lies with her former lover Abdul. As she renews alliances and faces old dangers in her efforts to free Julian, Maya realizes her feelings for Abdul are more complicated than she had thought. Told in a series of journal entries that span the years 2018-2019, this sequel seamlessly picks up where Last Call for Caviar left off, and the narrative moves with the same intensity. The action is gripping, but there is a grimmer edge to the tragedies unfolding around Maya and Julian. The storms and other ecological disasters have continued unabated, and the desperation and lawlessness have resulted in shocking acts of violence, including rape and cannibalism. Once again, erotic romance plays a major role in the story. Although Maya never questions her love for Julian, she remains conflicted about her feelings toward Abdul. This conflict helps form the basis for an erotic and nuanced love triangle as her involvement with Abdul deepens.

A vividly imagined but dark dystopian fantasy complete with passionate romance and dangerous alliances.

A woman searches for her missing lover on the French Riviera as the world teeters on the brink of chaos in Roen’s (Maya Rising, 2015, etc.) near-future thriller.

Maya Jade, an American residing in the south of France, lives in dangerous times. The year is 2018, and the world as she knows it is quickly disintegrating due to ecological disasters and widespread political corruption. She’s built a successful career and enjoyed glamorous parties among the European jet set, but those days are almost over as the Russian Mafia solidifies its power over Monaco and the French Riviera. When her sister, Leah, invites her to return to the United States and seek safety at the family compound in Oregon, Maya is tempted—but first she must tend to some unfinished business. She had a falling-out with her doctor lover, Julian, but a psychic has predicted that he’ll come back, raising Maya’s hopes for a reunion. Enlisting the help of longtime friend Giovanni, she searches for her lost love throughout the area. Along the way, she uncovers a human-trafficking ring and meets Abdul, a powerful man whose seductive charms may be irresistible. Roen creates an arresting pastiche of apocalyptic fiction and erotic romance that’s anchored by a strong heroine. Its depiction of a futuristic Côte d’Azur on the brink of anarchy is particularly striking; even as questions swirl about a possible Russian takeover, the wealthy continue to party and gamble all night in decadent nightclubs and casinos. Roen also paints a vivid picture of what’s taking place in a future America via the emails that Maya receives. Maya herself is an intriguing, resourceful heroine whose compassionate nature is complemented by Julian’s. Her journals serve as a frame for the story—a clever device that brings a sense of immediacy to her predicament while also allowing for solid character development.

A fast-paced thriller featuring exotic locales and an intriguing cast of characters.