What if you got away from it all … only to find it waiting for you?
“This novel is pure escapism, but reminds us that we can never escape ourselves.”
— Goodreads review
We don’t feature books often, but this is truly a great one to highlight for our 365 things to do in Pasadena® fans written by our very own Pasadenean – Petrea Burchard. So go ahead and put this book on your 365 Things To Do list and…
Escape!
Read Camelot & Vine, the recently-published novel by local author Petrea Burchard.
Telling lies is second nature to Casey Clemens, whether to strangers on national television or to her mother on the phone. Casey’s got a decent condo, a cleaning lady, and a rich boyfriend (never mind that he’s married). If Casey feels dissatisfied, all she has to do is fantasize about her 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 accidentally saves the real King Arthur’s life. He’s grateful, but he has enemies, war encroaches, and an actress with an honesty problem has no place in a war camp. Not if she wants to make it back to the 21st century alive. Not that she could go back if she wanted to. Not that she wants to.
Bestselling Pasadena author Lian Dolan (Elizabeth the First Wife, Helen of Pasadena) says,
“Camelot & Vine is a clever intersection of a delightful contemporary heroine and well-researched historical fiction. Petrea Burchard has used the beloved Arthurian legend as the background for a great time-traveling tale that becomes a personal journey for her main character… The setting is lush and rich and the characters are familiar but fresh at the same time. It’s filled with humor, myth, warmth, wisdom and a loyal steed! What more could you ask for in a book?” — Lian Dolan, LA Times best-selling author of Helen of Pasadena, Oprah.com blogger and Chaos Chronicles podcaster
South Pasadena author and blogger Margaret Finnegan (The Goddess Lounge) says:
“It is the rare book that makes me banish the family and hole up in my room turning page after page, but Camelot & Vine is just that book. This tale of an LA poser in King Arthur’s court combines character-driven writing with great pacing and action. The fact that it also includes fascinating period details, a tweaking of ancient legend, and a sexy King Arthur for grown ups makes it the perfect indulgence for those days when you just need to live in another millennium.”
Colleen Dunn Bates, Founder/Publisher of Prospect Park Books, says:
“Burchard’s protagonist is catapulted from her steady-as-she-goes life as a sort-of famous TV-commercial actress into another time and place—literally. This captivating tale takes readers on a journey from a Hollywood set to King Arthur’s castle, and it has it all: adventure, humor, love, and peril. A fresh take on the legend of Camelot.”
Available at Vroman’s, Webster’s Fine Stationers, the Pasadena Museum of History gift shop, and now the Flintrige Bookstore and Coffeeshop. Also available at Amazon.com and anywhere ebooks are sold online.
