Its not fair to this book that I was reading it at the same time as [b:The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay|3985|The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay|Michael Chabon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503806495l/3985._SY75_.jpg|2693329].
They are written in the same time frame, yet one book takes place in Nazi Occupied France and the other in New York City. So it was very telling that as a reader I felt for the characters in [a:Michael Chabon|2715|Michael Chabon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1515875672p2/2715.jpg] 'Kavalier & Clay' more than I did for Robards 'The Black Swan'
I felt the effects of the war through Chabons pages in New York, more than I did in Robards pages where the Black Swan was singing for Nazis.

Mind you Chabon is a Pulitzer Prize winning author... Winning the Pulitzer FOR the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay... which it why I started this review by saying "its not fair to this book..."

BUT unfortunately that's how it went down,

I could not connect to these characters, I don't know if that was the writing style, or the characters themselves.
I feel as though the author tried to pack as much sadness into these pages, but unfortunately it just fell flat. I was not heartbroken, I anticipated what would happen on the next page in the next chapter, and because of this it was not the most enjoyable read.
This book has great reviews so I was excited to read it. I guess its just not my style.

The Black Swan of Paris is Genevieve Dumont, a French singer based in Paris, who is the toast of Europe-- including the Nazi occupiers. Her manager Max, a Brit who speaks fluent French, also serves as the head of a cell of the French Resistance. Max has drawn Genevieve into this work through some subterfuge that creates tension between them. Their relationship and conflict at the outset of the novel do not make a lot of sense, but as we learn more about the caution taken to ensure as much protection as possible for all members and all cells, it is more believable. Each cell operates separately from others and each person within a cell is only privy to information necessary to his or her role. In order to secure intelligence for the Resistance, Genevieve must encourage the attention of a vicious key Nazi officer. Almost simultaneous to this assignment, someone once dear to her is captured for work performed for a separate cell. The Nazi officer is assigned to find out what this person knows about the impending Allied invasion and so the prisoner is kept alive for purposes of interrogation -- just. For Genevieve, it is time to let go of the past, but at what price to the overall mission of the resistance to put her country, not individuals, first at all times? And what danger will she create for others as she involves them in her plan to rescue the prisoner? This is a highly readable novel that takes us from Paris, France to Germany to Utah Beach and the Allied forces' invasion. The setting and story are smoothly woven together, a nicely written piece of historical fiction.

Perhaps it was just that the audio seemed to be overly dramatic or maybe the book was too romanticized and over the top but nevertheless not bad look at the French Resistance during the end of WWII

Karen Robards, master of romantic suspense, turns her creative ability to historical fiction in the WWII setting of The Black Swan of Paris. Spies, a fast paced plot, well researched setting, family angst, and spicy romance made this book a winner for me.

[a:Karen Robards|33408|Karen Robards|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1458151197p2/33408.jpg] hit out of the park with The Black Swan of Paris. I can easily say that out of the 53 books I have read this year, The Black Swan of Paris is hands down my favorite book of 2020 and quite possibly one of my favorite WW2 books of all times.

The Black Swan of Paris starts out in 1944 with Genevieve Dumont finishing up her sold-out performance in Paris. And the reader is immediately hooked by the opening sentence, " When the worst thing that could ever happen to you had already happened, nothing that came after really mattered." From that opening sentence, I felt like I couldn't put the book down. I had to know what happened to Genevieve that was so terrible that she didn't care what happened.

This is a story that has quite a bit of torture that was very hard to read and at times made me physically ill.

This is a fast-paced story that will leave you grasping for air and your heart pounding. I would highly suggest you to go in to reading this book not knowing much and enjoy the ride.

[a:Karen Robards|33408|Karen Robards|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1458151197p2/33408.jpg] has a new fan that is in awe of this story and I have already and will continue to tell more readers about this book. Add this to your must read list of 2020.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Much better than I was expecting. I know Karen Robards only by her reputation as a writer of romance and romantic suspense. I was surprised how well she writes historical fiction. A good book with well drawn characters, even if they are not fleshed out as much as they could be. I found it hard to put down.