Scan barcode
A review by karaklos
The Black Swan of Paris: A WWII Novel by Karen Robards
2.0
I liked the premise of The Black Swan in Paris. A celebrity singer named Genevieve is used as a ploy to help gather intelligence against the nazis. Spending time with high-ranking German officials, she is able to obtain information critical to the Allies’ strategy. Meanwhile, the war becomes very personal for her as her whole family is involved in the resistance.
Genevieve’s backstory is over the top. Her parents are a baron and baroness and she was estranged from them over her illegitimate child who ends up passing away. Full of grief, she moves on becoming a famous singer (as one does).
Her business manager Max ends up being an SOE agent. She alternates between being pissed at him for lying to her about his real job and being hot for him. There were many many descriptions of his “taut muscles” that made me roll my eyes.
Genevieve learns that her mother, the baroness, has been captured by the nazis. She works out a plan with her sister to help rescue her, keeping it from Max. She then ends up falling in love with Max and forgets about her mother for a bit while they explore their feelings.
There are two main things I disliked about this book: 1) Genevieve is such a weak woman. She was tricked into helping the resistance and complained about it so much. I wanted her to be a strong, independent woman with her own desire to help. She breaks down emotionally a lot and Max has to pick her up and pet her and be the big lean, taut man. Ugh. 2) The romance is so painfully awful.
The conclusion is very rushed and difficult to believe. A disappointing read.
Genevieve’s backstory is over the top. Her parents are a baron and baroness and she was estranged from them over her illegitimate child who ends up passing away. Full of grief, she moves on becoming a famous singer (as one does).
Her business manager Max ends up being an SOE agent. She alternates between being pissed at him for lying to her about his real job and being hot for him. There were many many descriptions of his “taut muscles” that made me roll my eyes.
Genevieve learns that her mother, the baroness, has been captured by the nazis. She works out a plan with her sister to help rescue her, keeping it from Max. She then ends up falling in love with Max and forgets about her mother for a bit while they explore their feelings.
There are two main things I disliked about this book: 1) Genevieve is such a weak woman. She was tricked into helping the resistance and complained about it so much. I wanted her to be a strong, independent woman with her own desire to help. She breaks down emotionally a lot and Max has to pick her up and pet her and be the big lean, taut man. Ugh. 2) The romance is so painfully awful.
The conclusion is very rushed and difficult to believe. A disappointing read.