Camelot & Vine

by Petrea Burchard

Telling lies is second nature to Casey Clemens, whether she's talking to strangers on national television or to her mother on the phone. Casey's got a cushy Hollywood condo, an efficient cleaning lady and a rich boyfriend. (Never mind that he's married.) When Casey feels dissatisfied she fantasizes: about winning an Oscar, about finding real love or about her childhood hero, King Arthur.

It feels like an acting career, sort of, until the day before Casey's 40th birthday when she loses everything she never cared about, falls through a gap in time and lands in the 6th century war camp of King Arthur himself. He mistakes her for a wizard and takes her in. But as she finds her feelings warming to him she also finds enemies. War is fast approaching, and the Dark Ages are a perilous time for an actress with an honesty problem. That is, if she wants to make it back to the 21st century alive. Not that she could if she wanted to. Not that she wants to.

Genres: Fantasy, Time Travel, Historical Fiction

282 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 2013

About the author

Petrea Burchard is the author of the critically acclaimed novel, Camelot & Vine, and the comic, personal essays of Act As If: Stumbling Through Hollywood with Headshot in Hand.

A narrator as well as an author, Burchard narrated the audiobook of Camelot & Vine. It was nominated for the 2023 SOVAS (Society of Voice Arts & Sciences) award for Best Audiobook Narration/Author Performance. She lost to Bono! (Yes, that Bono.)

Petrea has narrated more than 90 audiobooks for publishers such as Macmillan, Dreamscape, Harper, Penguin Random House, Tantor and more. She's also known as the English voice of Ryoko, the badass space pirate in the anime classic, "Tenchi Muyo!"

Burchard's time-slip historical fantasy, Camelot & Vine, stars a failing Hollywood actress approaching her 40th birthday in a headlong panic. A lightning strike, a skidding car, and a horse that might be magical send her through a gap in time to the Dark Ages, where she inadvertently saves King Arthur's life. Mistaken for a wizard, she goes from prisoner to friend to confidante of the king, earning the enmity of powerful men. Surrounded by enemies, caught up in the legendary love triangle and secretly attracted to the king, she’ll need more than a magic horse to get back to the 21st century.

Act As If: Stumbling Through Hollywood With Headshot in Hand, Petrea's book of comic essays, is based on her experiences as a journeyman actor in Hollywood.

Her upcoming novel, The Winter Archives, currently seeking representation, is the story of a library archivist who discovers a photo that she was never supposed to see, altering the course of her life.

When she's not writing or narrating, Petrea loves to hike, especially if there are dogs involved. Her favorite thing to do is go somewhere she's never been before.

Reviews

[Petrea Burchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was inspired to write "Camelot & Vine" one summer when I traveled to England to study acting at Oxford. I felt privileged to be there and to study with fine teachers in such a beautiful place. I also felt lonely.

When the Oxford course was over, I had a little time to play tourist. One place I visited was the Glastonbury Tor. From atop it, I could see a low, flat hill to the south. I asked our guide what it was. "It's Cadbury Hill," he said. "Legend says it was Camelot."

I had always been a writer as well as an actor, and I was chronicling my experiences and feelings about the trip in a little velvet diary. But I didn't need to write that down. The idea of Camelot as a real place would not leave me. I wanted to visit the real Camelot. And at last, I did.

[Katherine Philbrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Katherine Williams for Readers' Favorite

Camelot & Vine by Petrea Burchard is a blend of historical fiction and science fiction. Casey Clemens, a 39-year-old actress, seems to have it all: a solid career, a famous (but also married) boyfriend, and a life in Hollywood. The day before she turns 40, however, is the day when she suddenly loses all of those things. Not knowing what to do with herself, she takes a plane to England to escape her troubled life. When she arrives there, little does she know she will fall into the gap that takes her back in time. She lands in the 6th century where she meets King Arthur, the man in all of her fantasies. He believes she is a wizard and lets her stay in his kingdom, but he has no idea who Casey truly is. Will Casey be able to survive in the 6th century with King Arthur and his friends? Will she be able to handle her overwhelming feelings for King Arthur in general? Most importantly, will she be able to return to the 21st century?

I never wanted Camelot & Vine to end! A great twist on the Arthurian legend where Petrea Burchard manages to create a daunting yet exciting world that existed before our time. Casey, the protagonist, is someone everyone can relate. Her love for King Arthur was very real and unfortunately doomed from the start, but by loving him she learned so much about herself. She shows the world that although sometimes it is easier to lie about yourself, the truth is the one thing that sets you free. Besides the great protagonist, it is important to note that the writing in this novel is wonderful and never strays away from being excellent. The pacing is just right and it never stops taking you where you need to go. This is the type of book I want to read all over again just because I was so interested in it so quickly. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in King Arthur, or anyone who feels that they need an escape from reality. This novel will help you forget your troubles and enter a new world with interesting people who help you understand what it means to live a meaningful life.

[Ann Erdman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think you've read every book, seen every movie and heard every legend about King Arthur's Camelot, along comes Petrea Burchard's novel "Camelot & Vine" with a fresh new twist that engages the reader from the first page to the last. The "Vine" in the title refers to Hollywood, where Casey Clemens is a struggling actress at the end of her rope in more ways than one. Falling through some kind of crack in time during a relaxing horseback ride while on vacation in the English countryside, she lands in the middle of King Arthur's camp as he and his troops prepare for their next battle. Aside from the sheer astonishment of suddenly plummeting through many epochs in the blink of an eye, she is now in the company of her long-time hero, so that's not a bad thing...or is it? What happens along the way from Tinseltown to a medieval war zone and back again is the sort of tale that will captivate history buffs, adventure lovers, humor seekers and everyone else for that matter.

[Bonnie Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun fantasy grabbed me in the first paragraph. From a firm foundation in present-day Los Angeles, the narrative whips us into King Arthur's Court, but oh so different from the Lerner & Loewe version. All the reader's sensed are engaged, which makes the story gripping and oddly credible. "What if" scenarios abound, and the suspenseful plot will keep you turning pages to find out what happens next. All that, and a highly satisfying ending too -- nicely done!

[M.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very entertaining. The premise was promising—washed up forty-year-old Casey is shoehorned into reassessing her life choices after losing her lover and her job. Realising that no one will miss her anyway, she jets off to live the American fantasy of England, getting more than she bargained for when she ends up in around 500AD.

This book was well written, funny and witty, setting the character Casey up as the perfect antithesis to life in Dark Age Britain. As the story progresses the mood of the narrative darkens, and we begin to see the consequences of Casey’s efforts to survive. Despite these consequences and her attempts to intervene, the legends of King Arthur unfurl with an unstoppable force, echoing the legends she was raised on, and through this Casey comes to terms with her past (now future), realising that she had no power to change things then, either.

Even so, her interference still manages to disrupt several aspects of King Arthur’s court, and her self-ordained absolution from the results of her own actions seems somewhat premature. Despite this selfishness and her frustratingly small knowledge of the modern world she hails from (I felt many entertaining exchanges with Arthur’s court, and most notably Myrddin [Merlin] were missed as a result of her self-determined lack of ability to explain), she was an engaging and sympathetic character. Her attempts to blend in as quickly as possible, while realistic, left me wanting more clashes between her world and King Arthur’s, which is the only reason I docked a star. The book had a satisfying if predictable end, and the entirely readable prose was expertly crafted throughout with wonderful character and landscape descriptions. Though it lost some of its humour as the story darkened I could barely put it down.

The research into the facts behind the Legends of King Arthur was well conducted and gave the narrative authenticity. The Arthurian characters were developed well with a few refreshing surprises, the most sympathetic characters being Arthur, Sagramore, Myrddin, Guinevere and Elaine. Personally I’d have liked to see Casey shake up the court a little more, but I understand why the author took the story the way she did. Camelot & Vine is definitely worth picking up whether you’re a fan of the Arthurian legends or not.

I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I thank the author for sharing a copy of the book with me.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! Part time travel, part historical fiction, part romance, this novel traces one woman's journey back into the time of Camelot, which turns out to be less of idyllic fantasyland and more of a rough-hewn, dangerous outpost. (That's the historical fiction, part, and I might add that it seems very well researched.) Ultimately, however, this is the story of a woman learning to be true to herself, even when that means giving up what is most important to her. I got happy every time I knew I would have a few minutes to read Camelot & Vine, and, in the end, that's the best I can say about any book.

[S.W. Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice tumbling/bumbling and noirish entry into a starlet's schizo world of skewed, unhappy romance. The writing style is the terse street-slang of Ring Lardner and Rod Serling meets Kurt Vonnegut. That's quite a range, and already improves the slow start to Twain's "Yankee in Arthur's Court" novel decried by critics in the annotated ed. from the Norton series. Let's see if she can match the detailed feel Twain achieved with the medieval stuff and/or the charm Bing Crosby brought to the film version of the classic, genre-inventing tale of Arthurian time travel...

Coming back a month later, I'm experiencing a lull in the 2nd quarter of the novel. The character arc, themes, and attention to physical detail, at a pleasant PG level, are all great. However, the expectation of hearing a more learned diction from the Latinized--and already natively Romantic/Celtic--court is causing a drag. Rather than grabbing the chance to use perfect tense to offset Casey's terse, starlet-street-slang, Arthur and Merlin in particular speak at about the same freshman-level of language mastery as Casey; and it just kills the toughest part of the story to maintain interest, the dreaded beginning of that 2nd Act. The perfect tense used correctly could give an ominous air of prophecy and stifled intensity the source material deserves, but is overridden at this point with pregnancy gossip of a Downton Abbey flavor. Hmm, hardly fatal, but I must dock a star. And I miss the 1st act imagery of Casey's smeared lipstick and cumbersome purse-atrocity-thing, replaced by an innocuous fanny pack.

The 3rd quarter more and more reminds me of how Twain's story would've read if written by Hemingway circa 1950, rather than continuing to be remade as a film. Besides the Ernestesque-iceberg-syntax, we're reminded of the odious nature of the barbaric past several times with Casey's embarrassment by lack of access to modern toiletries. This is mildly funny, but still missing the befuddled Lucille Ball (source name for the Lucy steed?) imagery of the opening act: no tree climbing or chain smoking to confuse a hostile knight here. However, a writer should certainly write what they best know, and the concerns of midwifery are portrayed quite convincingly.

But lack of tense mastery unfortunately leads to a flat climactic scene:
“I am from the future. I’m just not a wizard.” “But the protection...” “You and your men did that, not me.” “Did you not kill the Saxon and save my life?” “I did. Saving your life was the only good thing I’ve ever done. But it was an accident.”

How much more powerful if Casey instead learned the erudite syntax of the nobility, and had it at hand when summarizing the thematic revelation at the heart of the Arthurian tragedy:
"While/As/Since/By the time I arrived here --and decided my life is apparently a mess--I have painstakingly witnessed and pondered the value of true love, and I envy even the brief moments of bliss your most loyal servant and helpless wife somehow managed to steal for themselves." Perhaps that's a bit too wordy for the surrounding dialogue, but just a sample. And it's so easy to write (I just published a manual on it too, 11-7-17): just a dependent clause with a particular subordinating adverb, then an intensifying adverb after the auxiliary verb "have." Neither Twain nor Hemingway got that tense right: but I'm willing to share it for subject matter I hold among the most dearest, Arthuriana.

Such a simple set of revisions would save the text from--inevitably--imploding on itself in embarrassed self-mockery just a few pages later: "The Dark Ages were not exactly an enlightened time or they would have called them something else. It was unrealistic, to say the least, to expect King Arthur to say, “'Thanks for telling the truth, Casey. I’ll let Guin go. She and Lance can have their happy ever after and you and I can be in love. Maybe you’d like to be queen.'” Oh brother: but hopefully just a little friendly prodding--or some wet horse nuzzles--will inspire the writer to re-polish the story with a bit more gravity and panache than that. :=)

I DID race to the end though, and I commend this book to the widest possible audience as a very fun read.

[Bonnie Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I revisited this novel, in audiobook format, and enjoyed it even more than the first reading. This one is a testament to how a skilled narrator can bring a story to life and envelop the reader in the world of the book. Burchard does accents flawlessly, and I loved the story all over again.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first: I was fortunate enough to receive this book through the generosity of the author and the Goodreads First Reads program. Yay!

Overall General Impression: I was impressed with this book. It was an engaging, enjoyable, escapist read, that did not insult my intelligence.

My recommendation: well worth the read.

Am I glad I read it: yes.

Will I reread this book: actually I kind of already want to reread this book.


My ramblings about this book:

This lovely little novel covers a familiar theme: the 21st Century woman sucked back in time to a land of fantasy and mystery, and in this case, finding out that she was mythtaken and indeed, King Arthur, Camelot, Guinevere, the whole shebang is in fact real. It tugs on a familiar heartstring: what if you suddenly found yourself in your greatest fantasy, escaping from your own less than stellar life, but because of your own problems, faults, and baggage from that life, you destroyed the fantasy and are forced out of it? This novel is pure escapism, but reminds us that we can never escape ourselves.

There are a great many things to like about this book. The narration, especially in the 21st Century sections is witty and engaging and establishes our hero Casey as a relatable person, someone whose life is going nowhere but who exists very much in the present, which makes the sudden getting-sucked-back-in-time to the 6th Century as shocking for the reader as for the character. Once she is back in the fantasy of King Arthur, the focus is more on the reality of the situation, less on the fantastical elements, which I frankly appreciated.

There was a period in the middle where I wasn't quite sure where it was going, which didn't so much bother me because I'm not someone who likes to predict endings. But where I was in limbo was in wondering if it was going to be a mystery, a suspense, a romance, a making a new life novel, etc. But in the end, it was all of those things.

The author made some really smart choices with this book. She chose a familiar canon: arthuriana. This is very helpful when entering unknown territory. The setting, the characters, the land itself, is already familiar to many readers, which establishes a certain degree of comfort for the reader. She takes this familiar fantasy and tweaks it. The Camelot (Cadebir in the story) is not the familiar legend of fantasy and fairy tales, unendurable romance. She creates an easy to imagine early middle ages environment with real people subject to human weaknesses and foibles. And for once, thank God, her description of King Arthur didn't have me picturing Sean Connery or Patrick Stewart but as his own character, given to me by the author but with the ability to flesh it out in my own imagination.

The writing is very clearly articulated with no awkward sentences and no awkward moments where I was left trying to figure out what the heck was going on, and how we'd gotten from A to B. The writing flows very nicely and the dialogue seems plausible, though if Casey had stumbled into any other king's camp, or escaped to the Saxons, she probably would have been executed for the things that came out of her mouth. My point: many authors think that the story is the most important element. This author clearly took care with the way the story was crafted, not just the action itself.

If I had a problem with this book, it would be that it could be longer, with a little more focus on developing relationships, especially with the women of Cadebir. But for the overall story it told, and the lesson it teaches, the length is appropriate. (I probably just like to escape a little too much.)

Ultimately, this book comes down to the power of truth and its importance in our lives. Camelot provides a fabulous escapist backdrop for self-discovery and allowing the ups and downs of life to change you when you need to be changed.

[Ingrid Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey Clemens is having a bad day. A television actress, she has just been axed from her role as Mrs Gone...She has also discovered that her married lover is a lot "closer" to his wife than he had led her to believe...To make matters even worse it also just happens to be the day before her fortieth birthday! So what does Casey do? She jumps on a plane to London of course and takes herself off to Wiltshire. No sooner has she arrived in a sleepy little village near Stonehenge, then she she is hiring a horse for a therapeutic, solitary ride in the beautiful Arthurian countryside. A dangerous mistake, because a close encounter with a fast moving car then sends her hurtling back in time and into the arms of King Arthur...Although, she doesn't know it is him at the time!

I have to say that the time slip elements of this book are seamless, I loved the way the author handles the transition from contemporary to ancient history. I also liked the fact that rather than flicking backwards and forwards between past and present like some authors have a habit of doing, Burchard chose to stay with Arthurian Britain almost until the very end of the book. I loved Casey as a flawed, contemporary heroine but I loved her even more when out of her time.

Camelot and Vine is spellbinding in it's innocence. Beautifully told, the reader knows right from the offset that for all Casey is chained and dragged through the beautiful countryside by Lancelot and his men she is never going to come to any real harm. It is definitely not for those expecting a bodice ripping, ravishing romp through the Arthurian court, for even the affair between Lancelot and Guinevere is handled very delicately and Casey, for all she is painted as a husband stealer at the very beginning of the book never gets more than the chastest of kisses. (Even that is implied and only at the very end!) If I am honest, I would have liked her to have at least some romantic action, whether that be a tumble in the hay with King Arthur, or anyone really! I am not quite sure who the target audience for this book is. It certainly appeals to adults, I loved it simply for the escapism element. It would also have appealed to me as a young adult. So while the books aimed at young adults today often have a more explicit content, if the author were to target geeky kids, then I am sure she would have a receptive audience.

All of the characters are extremely well written and life like. The book is vibrant and descriptive, the two standout legendary characters for me being King Arthur and Merlin (Myrddin). The relationship that Casey has with both of these is exquisitely written.

I was also pleased that the author didn't fall into the trap of trotting out the standard legend. She very cleverly changed the names of a lot of the well known figures, Myrddin (Merlin) etc. The implication being that the correct versions had been lost/altered over the over the years, as is often the case with legend...

All in all Camelot and Vine is a deliciously entertaining read and once I had got past the first chapter I simply couldn't put it down.

You can find me at www.ingridhall.com

[Flo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enthusiastic five stars! I smiled all the way through this delightful book -- except for a few instances when other, more appropriately intense emotions surfaced. The attention to historic detail seemed excellent, and I never had a problem believing I was right there with Casey, whether ancient past or present. And (I hope this isn't a spoiler), the ending didn't let me down, which has happened too often with other books. Highly recommended.

[Esther Bradley-detally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't want to read this book. Funny first sentence eh? True though. The week before our gigantic move I attended Author Day at Pasadena Central Library, and met wonderful writers, readers, and the best part, over displaying my 2 books: Without A Net: A Sojourn in Russia, and You Carry the Heavy stuff, was meeting fellow authors.

The day was almost over, but Petrea Burchard was interested in my book about the Russian Sojourn, The next week we moved, and moved, and moved, an equivalent of grinding one's immune system into the dirt. I became a slug after the move, and I did well with low groans and moans. A month later broke my upper arm right near the shoulder.

Push aside the stacks of books and library books and start reading Author Day books.

This book is fun. I as a little skeptical in the beginning, as I thought, is this chick lit and am I up to it? The author's style is bright, breezy and spunky, and I kept turning pages. I won't go further except to suggest time travel to Arthurian times and a romp through this version of history an unknown view you've never heard of, read, but still Burchard kept to the structure of what we all have been taught about King Arthur and his Mighty Band of Knights.

Hilarious, funny, and just the tonic for me sitting in a black sling, like a dog marooned on a porch somewhere, unable to chase after cars.

It was delightful, and she gracefully fused her conscious knowledge of our modern times with that of Arthur's neighborhood, and Petrea Burchard paints a good and moving tale laced with seriousness and whimsy.

Fun, fun, fun.

[Maury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that one of my favorite voice actors from childhood had become a writer! Normally I don’t purchase books before reading them but I trusted my instinct and did so. Boy so I love when I’m right. Camelot and Vine is a magical tale about a washed up actress running off to England and winding up in the Dark Ages. We watch our protagonist, Casey, build meaningful relationships and romantic interests all with the backdrop of danger lurking. And when the danger hits, it is on. It is an understatement to say Burchard can masterfully craft suspense, holistic characters and vivid fight scenes. I kept turning the pages, craving for more. I wish she wrote more novels because I would gobble them up like the Cookie Monster gobbles up cookies. I look forward to reading this again in the future. Thank you once again Petrea for once again being a positive contributing force in my life.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the cover led me to think this was going to be a light-hearted romantic comedy time travel, it was surprisingly deeper. There is a romantic element but it is not the center of the story. It was well written, well researched (this isn't a time period I enjoy reading about but the historical details were intriguing), and had a satisfying ending. The latter is often difficult to find in time travel but this ending worked very well I thought. I'll be watching for Petrea Burchard to (hopefully) release another book in this vein. I'd buy it without hesitation and recommend this one to anyone who enjoys time travel.

[Janet Aird · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story propels Casey, who has lost everything she values on her 40th birthday - especially an acting career she's been hanging onto by her fingernails - into the Camelot of King Arthur. The knocks are a lot harder in the 6th century, including being tied up and transported to the castle in an ox cart and finding herself entangled in Arthur's power struggle with the Saxons. But as Casey finds her way in that ancient time, she discovers love and a courage that had eluded her in her own. I was pulled right in. Very well-researched.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petrea, I for one am glad you took up writing! Thank you for this fun romp through Camelot. Casey is a well-written, fully developed character as are the rest of people you meet in this time-travel novel. It was a fast read which was a nice change of pace for me and I just thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of Casey finding what she is made of! A must read for women and lovers of Arthurian legends!

This was a First Reads book that I won on Goodreads.com.

[Erin Burrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camelot & Vine did exactly what I wished, it allowed me to escape my everyday life and took me on a fascinating journey. If you are an Outlander fan, you'll love this book as well. The story is well written and face paced. You know you're into a good story when you don't want it to end. Winter is coming, snuggle up with this book!

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I loved this book. I stayed up way too late reading it a couple of evenings on a rainy weekend, and it was the perfect fun, smart, escapist book.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey's life in Los Angeles is becoming increasingly frustrating. At least she can run to her boyfriend, who's landing at LAX. But after seeing his wife and family beating her to it at the gate, she knows her last questionable endeavor in L.A. has ended, and traumatized, she books the first flight to Heathrow. She asks for the smallest village in England, preferably one without tourists, and she gets it. The urge to re-create, or even return, to mythical Camelot is part of our DNA, and much has, and will continue, to be written about it. But Ms. Burchard's takes a unique view of King Arthur and his magical kingdom, (also Stonehenge), describing the village, the battles, the warriors, and the women of this ancient time, with humor and historical honesty. This is not a gauzy fairy tale, sprinkled with sparkle, for wanna-be princesses; the danger, sexism, lack of medical and technical knowledge is real. There are manly men, resourceful women, an unrequited romance with a king (Lancelot is not the only stud in Camelot.) She also creates an honest Casey, who, living in this unwanted time travel, discovers her own dishonesty and the damage it causes others, and herself. Casey goes backwards to go forewards, and we get to go on the ride with her, learning more about the real Camelot and reinforcing our love of this myth and its people, even more. I was sorry when the book ended, and I had to leave Ms. Burchard's imagining of Camelot. The author's writing style is clean and clear, and this delightful story ended too soon!

[Carol Jeffers · Rating 4 out of 5]

To get the most out of Petrea Burchard’s Camelot and Vine, I strongly recommend the audio version of the novel. Burchard is both author and reader of the story that begins in July 1999 on a Hollywood set, winds through the dark forests of Arthurian England for the next four weeks, and finally emerges from the Dark Ages into the light of the open fields surrounding Stonehenge in August, 1999. Burchard inhabits a cast of characters, giving each a unique voice and accent. She brings a special authenticity to Cassandra Casey Clemens who springs to life in the opening paragraphs. Listeners are immediately immersed in Casey’s thoughts, feel her overwhelming confusion and frustration as on the eve of her 39th birthday, she loses her acting gig as the star of a national ad campaign for the cleaning product, Mrs. Gone. Casey is hopelessly lost, “gone,” and listeners understand how nearly impossible it is for her to make sense of all that has happened to upend life as she knew it. While the book is a page-turner, complete with high drama battle scenes, betrayals, and court intrigue, listeners will appreciate the time and emphasis Burchard gives to Casey’s emotional world. Such attention brings a richness and fullness to the time-traveling character who comes off as well-rounded and believable as she transforms from an impostor filled with doubt to a truth-seeking explorer filled with hope.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a sheer delight! Loved it! I must admit that historical fiction isn't a genre I have read often, but after this maybe I should. Not only is this book a super fun romp through the mystical time of King Arthur, but the author herself is a wonderful person as well! I have been a huge fan of Petrea Burchard ever since she voiced Ryoko the space pirate in Tenchi Muyo. She took time out of her day to be a part of a meeting for fans of the show and that just meant so much to us. She promoted her awesome book after we peppered her with questions and I knew I had to buy a copy right away. Upon its arrival, I tore through it voraciously. I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time. Highly recommend!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camelot & Vine features a bold yet thoughtful female adventurer from Hollywood. Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum will love saucy and resourceful Casey Clemens. As Casey's love affair and acting gig as "Mrs. Gone" fizzles out, a gap in the space-time continuum leads her to an adventure in King Arthur's medieval world. The Camelot legend comes alive again in this fresh perspective of the Arthur-Gwen-Lancelot triangle -- that now includes Casey. She even plays a pivotal role in saving Guinevere. Burchard's fantasy is engaging, delightful, historically robust, and somehow believable. Highly recommended.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. What a fun premise. A 40 year old out of work actress escapes her firing to a small town in England. She falls through a crack in time and ends up in the kingdom of King Arthur with Sir Lancelot, Queen Guinevere and Merlin. (Camelot with Richard Harris was one of my favorite musicals/movies) Themes in the book are love, betrayal, honor, bravery and being honest. I heard about this book on the "Currently Reading" podcast where readers make book recommendations. This was released in 2013 and is under the radar. Reminded me of "Outlander" book one, which I also loved. The author is a voice narrator and she voices the book on Audible. I highly recommend.

[Kevin Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this novel! I usually don’t read books at all, but I heard my favorite voice actress wrote one, so I decided to see what it was about. I was completely immersed the entire time I read it.
It’s got mystery, romance, action, suspense, history, betrayal, and more.
The imagery is based off actual locations you can visit today, and Petrea’s descriptions of what those places looked like many years ago, are amazing.
I really hope she writes more in the future.

[Sanya Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of the audiobook. This is an interesting twist on a classic. The author has managed to keep all the things I loved from the original Camelot while weaving in a new storyline that had me rooting for a surprise ending. I enjoyed her narration, which took me on a journey through time with her.

[Nathalia Barnerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment Casey accidentally saves King Arthur from Saxon warriors, the story becomes an irresistible mix of court intrigue, dangerous enemies, and unexpected friendships. Watching her navigate the politics of Camelot, gain the trust of Guinevere, and juggle a complicated attraction to Arthur himself is as tense as it is entertaining.

[Helen Starbuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read

Clever retelling of the Camelot legend with time travel thrown in. Casey is a great character, Arthur both the past and present one are well-drawn characters.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun time travel adventures- just wished I had brushed up on my King Arthur knowledge I liked the writing, and enjoyed the author’s narration.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Gayle Bartos-Pool · Rating 5 out of 5]

Days of Old When the Truth Be Told

Petrea Burchard takes the reader on a marvelous trip into the past in her novel, Camelot & Vine. Told in the first person, we are treated to the sights and sounds of a time and place that will quicken your heart rate, expand your horizons, and the ending will … But that you will have to find out for yourself.

Casey Clemens is having a bad day, but it’s going to get worse. It’s her fortieth birthday and she loses her job as spokesperson for an inferior household product, but the acting gig did pay the bills. Then she finds out her boyfriend is still in love with his very pregnant wife. Hollywood has let her down, again. She’d call her mother, but good old mom has never been a comfort. She really wished her dad was still alive. The times she spent with him were the only good memories she has.

Glancing at a travel brochure at the airport, that’s where she had spotted her boyfriend with the wife, Casey remembered when her dad read her the old King Arthur tales. That’s what she wanted… a flight of fancy. Better still, how about a flight to London?

With nothing in her pocket but her passport, a few bucks, and a cheap flashlight that was used as a promotional give-away, she hops a flight to Jolly Old England. She finds herself a remote inn in the countryside and decides to take a jaunt on horseback over the rolling hills.

Daisy is a great horse, but a storm comes up and as lightening flashes, a car careens too close to them, sending Casey and the horse back 1500 years to the time of King Arthur and Lancelot and Guinevere.

The descriptions of the castle and life in the Dark Ages is meticulous, right down to the overwhelming amount of mud and the lack of amenities, but you feel like you are there and you go along for the ride, even if you secretly hope you can get a bath in there somewhere.

Casey is mistaken for a Wizard and that leads to a few problems, even though Merlin becomes privy to the truth. And the truth is something very important in this delightfully detailed story. Casey faces the truth about herself, her life in Hollywood, and even her childhood. It all influences how she will react to the crisis that hits Camelot when Lancelot and Guin are found to be lovers. We may all know the story from the tales told throughout history, but having Casey be a party to it, we see it from another side.

Casey’s journey to find herself leads to a very interesting place. It will make you believe in fairy tales and legends. Totally enjoyed the book. Burchard has a great voice and tells a terrific tale.