Performance Anxiety (Red Dress Ink Novels) [Paperback]

Betsy Burke (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Red Dress Ink; First Edition edition (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373250681
• ISBN-13: 978-0373250684
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,259,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Betsy Burke was born in London, England, and grew up on the West Coast of Canada. She received her Bachelor of Music in voice performance and worked as an opera singer in Victoria and Vancouver before moving to Italy in 1986. Other jobs on her resumé include guitar teacher, nurse's assistant, charwoman, cook, illustrator and mural painter, salesclerk, puppeteer and, for the last sixteen years, freelance translator.
She is the author of three chicklit novels for Red Dress Ink (Lucy's Launderette, Performance Anxiety, and Hardly Working) and is currently working on a mystery series set in Florence. Her first mystery novel, The Laughing Madonna, is about to be re-released in a Kindle edition. She lives on the Arno river outside of Florence with her husband and daughter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars UGH!, November 9, 2004

By 

Tina Avon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Performance Anxiety (Red Dress Ink Novels) (Paperback)

Unfortunately, this entry into the chick lit and Red Dress Ink series is boring.

The story of a girl who goes for her dream of becoming a singer is fine, but the narrative is so slow and boring that it just could not keep me interested.

I would not recommend this one at all.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fine chick lit romance, October 27, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Performance Anxiety (Red Dress Ink Novels) (Paperback)

British Columbia native Miranda Lyme is a mezzo-soprano performer with a chance to work in London where her father obtained much of his fame. To pay for her ticket from Vancouver, she works four low paying jobs, but the opportunity to perform at the English National Opera is worth the time and effort.

Miranda is falling in love with composer conductor star Kurt Hancock, who is very attracted to her. He informs her that they can see each other, sleep together, and have fun, but his other head will stay hidden from her until he divorces as he feels unsheathing this would be cheating on his wife Olivia. As Miranda wonders about her beloved hiding his third leg from her, she runs over Patrick Tibeau with a shopping cart. Patrick comes from her home town of Cold Shanks and is attracted to Miranda; however she seems to lean towards the married Kurt unless he can persuade her that he offers all of him including his third leg in love.

With its double entendre title to lead the orchestra, PERFORMANCE ANXIETY is a fine chick lit romance starring a bewildered protagonist. Miranda needs to decide between the glamorous conductor, who she sees through starry eyes though not fully available as a kindred spirit or the down to earth townsfolk who sees her through his heart. The story line moves rather quickly yet provides insight behind the curtain in the world of opera. Though some amusing antics seem inane, fans will enjoy Miranda's internal relationship war while she tries to make it as a performer.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Juicy Fun, January 27, 2005

By 

Phyllis A (Victoria, BC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Performance Anxiety (Red Dress Ink Novels) (Paperback)

Great fun read for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Loved the main character. A gal every woman who has ever fallen for the wrong man can relate to. Worth every penny from a reader who only vists the library but bought this one!