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Sometime Yesterday
Natalie Chambers is a successful artist who, after her divorce, impulsively buys a Victorian house overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Immediately, she begins to dream of Sarah and Beth, two lovers from the past and the Dark Man who controlled their lives. When she begins to look for explanations for the things going bump in the night, the only answer she can get from the locals is that several previous owners had fled screaming into the night.
Van Easton hasn’t had a serious relationship since her partner died several years ago. Content to let other women and alcohol distract her, she is surprised at the intensity of emotion that bubbles to the surface after she meets Natalie. Contracted to restore the gardens at Natalie’s house, she refuses to believe that the mansion is haunted. Until the Dark Man follows her home.
It appears he will stop at nothing to keep the new lovers apart, and the violence continues to escalate. Can they solve the mystery that will set Beth and Sarah free and banish the evil presence in the house? Or will they have to run to survive as well?
Van Easton hasn’t had a serious relationship since her partner died several years ago. Content to let other women and alcohol distract her, she is surprised at the intensity of emotion that bubbles to the surface after she meets Natalie. Contracted to restore the gardens at Natalie’s house, she refuses to believe that the mansion is haunted. Until the Dark Man follows her home.
It appears he will stop at nothing to keep the new lovers apart, and the violence continues to escalate. Can they solve the mystery that will set Beth and Sarah free and banish the evil presence in the house? Or will they have to run to survive as well?
264 pages, Paperback
First published August 14, 2012
4 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Yvonne Heidt
10 books49 followersYvonne Heidt is a multiple award-winning author of paranormal and modern romance. She would love to tell you she lives in a haunted Victorian house overlooking the ocean where she spends the afternoons writing in the turret, and the evenings sipping wine with her wife while they watch gorgeous sunsets.
She really would.
But - she currently lives in Texas with her beloved wife, four dogs, and a myriad of visiting ghosts.
Her debut novel, Sometime Yesterday, won the 2013 Golden Crown Literary Award for Best Paranormal Romance in addition to being a finalist in the 2013 Lambda Literary Awards. The Awakening: Book One in the Sisters of Spirits Trilogy, won the 2014 Golden Crown Literary award for Best Paranormal. The Quickening: Book Two was a GCLS finalist in 2015, and The Deadening: Book Three won the 2016 GCLS award for best Paranormal.
She really would.
But - she currently lives in Texas with her beloved wife, four dogs, and a myriad of visiting ghosts.
Her debut novel, Sometime Yesterday, won the 2013 Golden Crown Literary Award for Best Paranormal Romance in addition to being a finalist in the 2013 Lambda Literary Awards. The Awakening: Book One in the Sisters of Spirits Trilogy, won the 2014 Golden Crown Literary award for Best Paranormal. The Quickening: Book Two was a GCLS finalist in 2015, and The Deadening: Book Three won the 2016 GCLS award for best Paranormal.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 25, 2012
This book has quite the emotional ride and a lot of twists and turns to satisfy just about all readers. It’s a mystery just as much as it is paranormal and horror. I really enjoyed all of the characters, from the two main women – Natalie and Van – to Mary, Natalie’s mother (ESPECIALLY her mother), and Van’s father.
Though the love blossoming between Natalie and Van is beautiful, it is not without its hitches, and I liked that about it. There were moments when I wanted to smack Van upside the head for jumping to conclusions. Likewise, I wanted to do the same to Natalie sometimes! Without the paranormal elements, the story and romance was very believable. I could feel the desire between the women through the pages of the book.
With the paranormal elements, it’s a fantastic read. I was on the edge of my seat, especially towards the end, when the haunting starts to escalate. And when the “key” and other secrets are revealed a literally gasped, “Oh, shit!” because I did not see them coming! I don’t want to say to much because I want readers to have the same reaction.
As a final note, though he is a minor character, I loved Van’s grandfather. It saddened me that he has Alzheimer’s, but his way of describing it moved me to tears and I had to pause. It really puts the disease in another perspective if you think of it as your loved one visiting moments in life that they loved so much they wanted to visit them twice.
Though the love blossoming between Natalie and Van is beautiful, it is not without its hitches, and I liked that about it. There were moments when I wanted to smack Van upside the head for jumping to conclusions. Likewise, I wanted to do the same to Natalie sometimes! Without the paranormal elements, the story and romance was very believable. I could feel the desire between the women through the pages of the book.
With the paranormal elements, it’s a fantastic read. I was on the edge of my seat, especially towards the end, when the haunting starts to escalate. And when the “key” and other secrets are revealed a literally gasped, “Oh, shit!” because I did not see them coming! I don’t want to say to much because I want readers to have the same reaction.
As a final note, though he is a minor character, I loved Van’s grandfather. It saddened me that he has Alzheimer’s, but his way of describing it moved me to tears and I had to pause. It really puts the disease in another perspective if you think of it as your loved one visiting moments in life that they loved so much they wanted to visit them twice.
August 31, 2016
After she has moved to her beautiful new home, madness follows. Strange things happen. At first, she ignores them but everything got so bad, she couldn't face it alone anymore and she sought help. Natalie is not the only one who needed aid. No, someone else desperately needed her help too. She couldn't refuse this, she must unravel this mystery of passion, heartbreak, hatress and violence. Can she uncover the mystery of this haunted house? All the things that happen to Natalie, around Natalie, couldn't make her to pack her bags and leave everything behind. Another reason not to leave was that she has contracted Van the landscaper to restore the garden. From the beginning their was a sexual energy between them and lucky for Van, she was a sucker for a red head. If only she could give her heart again but love died years ago. Van had made a promise once. Can she adhere to this promise? Can Van express her true feelings ever? This is a story of love, terror, intrigue with titillating revelations about what happened behind those closed doors of this Victorian house. The appearances, the personalities and the conversations are very well executed. A brilliant constructed story and thrilling to read.
April 11, 2019
I had left this book waiting for a few months while I pursued other, shinier books. Then I started and left it unattended and alone for a little while. Last night, I picked it up again. The first part of the book was a little slow, but then all of a sudden it's like the author finds her groove and BAM! SHE'S OFF!
My partner went to sleep before me, I could NOT put it down! Most of the book didn't scare me, but that last third? I'm the only one awake in a house of six people, all the lights are out (I read on my tablet, so it's back-lit), and the bad-guy-ghost has progressed from stomping to stalking...and then he starts choking one of the main characters...I still couldn't put it down.
I had to hand it to the main characters, they are far braver than I would have been! They were well drawn, believable and likeable, but still, not without their flaws. (I believe one of them was called slut-puppy, but in an endearing way)
The suspense was terrific! It kept me reading hours past when I should have been sleeping. The writing itself only had a couple of wobbles, but those were small and in the first third of the book. Nothing to ditch the book for.
I loved this book so much, I can easily see reading it again and again over the next few years, and there are only a handful (so far) that I can say that about.
Get this book if you're a creepy suspense fan. You won't regret it.
My partner went to sleep before me, I could NOT put it down! Most of the book didn't scare me, but that last third? I'm the only one awake in a house of six people, all the lights are out (I read on my tablet, so it's back-lit), and the bad-guy-ghost has progressed from stomping to stalking...and then he starts choking one of the main characters...I still couldn't put it down.
I had to hand it to the main characters, they are far braver than I would have been! They were well drawn, believable and likeable, but still, not without their flaws. (I believe one of them was called slut-puppy, but in an endearing way)
The suspense was terrific! It kept me reading hours past when I should have been sleeping. The writing itself only had a couple of wobbles, but those were small and in the first third of the book. Nothing to ditch the book for.
I loved this book so much, I can easily see reading it again and again over the next few years, and there are only a handful (so far) that I can say that about.
Get this book if you're a creepy suspense fan. You won't regret it.
August 19, 2012
Okay - you knew I HAD to do that right? LOL
January 10, 2013
Great twists and turns in this book that left me sleeping with the lights in all night! A wonderful debut book. Well done, Yvonne.
September 24, 2025
oh my god this started off so interesting and i was exciteddd, and then.... i don't know if it was just the writing but it was definitely the writing. the romance felt too instant and the dialogue between them seemed as though it were written by a child. towards the end i was just pushing through to finish the book.
September 17, 2022
3 stars. This was fun and I loved the paranormal aspects a lot. I just wish the characters and the romance had more depth. Natalie and Van fall for each other super quick, which was fine, but I didn’t buy into their relationship and why they even liked each other outside of the sex. Other than that, I did like some of the side characters, there were some creepy moments, and the writing was good. I’ll definitely check out something else by this author.
November 15, 2012
Natalie Chambers bought a new house with a beautiful view of the ocean on a gut impulse. It’s also a good place to start over after her divorce from a man she liked, but never truly loved. She never felt any real passion for him and it still hurt, but didn’t surprise her when he found someone new. Once Natalie has moved into her new home, she starts dreaming of Beth and Sarah, discovering they were lovers who lived and loved in her house and now their spirits are trapped here by the power of the Dark Man. Natalie comes to the realization she’s not frigid, she’s a lesbian. Enter Van Easton, a landscaper who Natalie hires to restore the gardens on the grounds and a woman who hasn’t let herself feel since her partner’s death. Van and Natalie are drawn closer together as Natalie strives to unravel the mystery of the Dark Man and the fate of Beth and Sarah. The Dark Man will stop at nothing to keep “his” women under his thumb, not even the grave keeps him contained…
‘Sometime Yesterday’ kept me glued to the pages! I enjoyed the story with the paranormal elements and the romance between Natalie and Van. Natalie’s mother and best friend were also great supporting characters, along with Van’s father. There were, of course, stumbling blocks to their relationship – some of Van’s flings and the Dark Man. I was surprised when the mystery unraveled to an epic and heart-wrenching conclusion. Ms. Heidt has written a spellbinding novel of love, loss, tragedy, and triumph!
‘Sometime Yesterday’ kept me glued to the pages! I enjoyed the story with the paranormal elements and the romance between Natalie and Van. Natalie’s mother and best friend were also great supporting characters, along with Van’s father. There were, of course, stumbling blocks to their relationship – some of Van’s flings and the Dark Man. I was surprised when the mystery unraveled to an epic and heart-wrenching conclusion. Ms. Heidt has written a spellbinding novel of love, loss, tragedy, and triumph!
March 20, 2018
Sweet and Spooky
I’m a sucker for ghost stories and this is my first paranormal romance of the lesbian variety so I was bound to enjoy it. Natalie makes for a relatable character and I liked the interactions she had with her mother.
I also found it pretty creepy. I feel like Yvonne has a good feel for atmosphere and that shows through in the more tense scenes throughout the book.
All in all, it’s a solid addition to my online library!
I’m a sucker for ghost stories and this is my first paranormal romance of the lesbian variety so I was bound to enjoy it. Natalie makes for a relatable character and I liked the interactions she had with her mother.
I also found it pretty creepy. I feel like Yvonne has a good feel for atmosphere and that shows through in the more tense scenes throughout the book.
All in all, it’s a solid addition to my online library!
August 23, 2022
I have probably started my halloween reads earlier but horror/paranormal/mystery books always intrigue me.
I loved this one quite intensely. The characters had their history and my god was that some fucking history. It went back to the great-great-great-grandparents and my fucking brain was blown. All I can say is OUR BLOOD. That connection was splendid. 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
I can see myself crushing on Natalie's mother. I loved her humor and sixth sense lifestyle.
I loved this one quite intensely. The characters had their history and my god was that some fucking history. It went back to the great-great-great-grandparents and my fucking brain was blown. All I can say is OUR BLOOD. That connection was splendid. 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
I can see myself crushing on Natalie's mother. I loved her humor and sixth sense lifestyle.
October 13, 2023
10/13/23
Enjoyed this just as much when reread 4 years later. Why on earth have I not looked into more of this author's writing? Must remedy immediately.
7/5/19
Good ghost story with plenty of likable characters, interesting plot and romance.
Enjoyed this just as much when reread 4 years later. Why on earth have I not looked into more of this author's writing? Must remedy immediately.
7/5/19
Good ghost story with plenty of likable characters, interesting plot and romance.
February 22, 2015
Great story, great characters. Here is another story I would love to see on film. The interactions between the characters and the suspense were perfect.
August 23, 2012
Refreshing bit scary for those who don't get along with ghosts but very good book
February 11, 2021
I don't usually care for romantic ghost stories, but, as a horror fan, one of the ghosts in this book was just unsettling enough to keep me interested. The living lesbians were much easier to get attached to than the ghost lesbians were. I guess the dead aren't deserving of the same character development as the living. The story is good, but even without the supernatural stuff, it requires a little too much suspension of belief.
January 4, 2024
now i’m not going to say that this book wasn’t good by any means. it was! i loved the paranormal aspect of it, i liked the atmosphere it created. i personally thought the romance in the book wasn’t really there outside of them just having sex. i didn’t see much love between the characters. the ending felt a little rushed and was a bit confusing but as a newer reader it very well could have been me. i just don’t think the romance wasn’t that good everything else was beautifully written!
January 1, 2025
A good read if you want something spooky and queer, but not exactly a great book. Sometimws the writing felt like a lot.
December 23, 2015
From AntonySimpson.com:
Sometime Yesterday is a paranormal fiction story; it’s the first book in this genre I’ve read and I throughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed it so much that when my unread book pile lessens, I will be seeking out more paranormal fiction books.
In Sometime Yesterday Natalie is starting her life again after recently getting divorced from Jason. Jason had been cheating on her and had left her for Tracy who he’s recently married. Natalie was never truly happy with Jason; she used to dread when he gave her that look, but she was comfortable. It’s all change for Natalie but at least she’s got her work, her painting as an artist which is about the only thing in her life that remains constant.
Natalie moves into a new house she’s bought and worries about being lonely; but she needn’t of worried as she quickly discovers her house in haunted. The ghosts of Sarah & Beth a secret lesbian couple and Richard a sinister dark masculine figure all of whom died over a hundred years ago are for some reason they are still present in the house. Natalie begins to experience strange happenings in the house when she’s awake and even stranger dreams when she’s asleep.
Van (Vanessa) is a lesbian landscaper who hasn’t had a relationship since the death of Cara her longterm girlfriend some time ago. Van has built an emotional wall around herself; but does satisfy the loneliness she feels by taking various women home with her after a few drinks. Van approaches Natalie knowing that her house has been empty for so long that the garden will be badly in need of landscaping.
As soon as Natalie and Van meet they are attracted to one another. Van makes her offer to landscape the garden and Natalie accepts. As Natalie grapples with her attraction to Van and is discovering that she has oppressed her lesbianism up until this point in her life; she has a dream that she is Beth and is having sex with Sarah. I understand why Heidt had this sex scene dream between Natalie and the ghost Sarah, but I don’t think it needed it.
Natalie & Van begin to date spending time together whilst the ghosts up their ante. Natalie doesn’t mind Sarah & Beth but Richard becomes increasingly sinister and violent scaring her. Natalie’s fabulous mother who is a psychic tells Natalie that she must unravel the mystery as to why they haven’t moved on, which she attempts to do. Natalie thinks she’s experiencing the haunted happenings and traumatic dreams because Sarah & Beth were lesbian and she is, but later on in the book she discovers a much deeper connection. Natalie & Van continue to get closer, having more than one intimate sexual scene together and realise that the love one another.
In the final few chapters of Sometime Yesterday, Heidt gives you a sense of real danger as Richard seemingly comes to life; his dark secrets are exposed and he intends to deal with Natalie & Van for what he perceives as another betrayal in his house.
The plot is excellent with good use of description throughout. The story is well paced allowing for peaks of paranormal action, character development and unravelling of the mystery. The mystery encourages the reader to read on; I found myself constantly trying to guess the mystery and what would happen next. I could have easily read this book in one sitting, and probably would have done had I not been so busy recently. It has all the components of a good story: love interest, mystery, fear, action, drama and a happy ending that ties up all the loose ends.
Yvonne Heidt has a very engaging writers voice, as well as being an obviously talented writer. After reading Sometime Yesterday I have become an instant fan of hers which I’ve never said on any review before. I have recently read on her website that she’s got another book coming out in January 2013, which I look forward to reading.
If you’re lesbian or open minded and interested or involved in the paranormal you’ll love Sometime Yesterday.
Sometime Yesterday is a paranormal fiction story; it’s the first book in this genre I’ve read and I throughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed it so much that when my unread book pile lessens, I will be seeking out more paranormal fiction books.
In Sometime Yesterday Natalie is starting her life again after recently getting divorced from Jason. Jason had been cheating on her and had left her for Tracy who he’s recently married. Natalie was never truly happy with Jason; she used to dread when he gave her that look, but she was comfortable. It’s all change for Natalie but at least she’s got her work, her painting as an artist which is about the only thing in her life that remains constant.
Natalie moves into a new house she’s bought and worries about being lonely; but she needn’t of worried as she quickly discovers her house in haunted. The ghosts of Sarah & Beth a secret lesbian couple and Richard a sinister dark masculine figure all of whom died over a hundred years ago are for some reason they are still present in the house. Natalie begins to experience strange happenings in the house when she’s awake and even stranger dreams when she’s asleep.
Van (Vanessa) is a lesbian landscaper who hasn’t had a relationship since the death of Cara her longterm girlfriend some time ago. Van has built an emotional wall around herself; but does satisfy the loneliness she feels by taking various women home with her after a few drinks. Van approaches Natalie knowing that her house has been empty for so long that the garden will be badly in need of landscaping.
As soon as Natalie and Van meet they are attracted to one another. Van makes her offer to landscape the garden and Natalie accepts. As Natalie grapples with her attraction to Van and is discovering that she has oppressed her lesbianism up until this point in her life; she has a dream that she is Beth and is having sex with Sarah. I understand why Heidt had this sex scene dream between Natalie and the ghost Sarah, but I don’t think it needed it.
Natalie & Van begin to date spending time together whilst the ghosts up their ante. Natalie doesn’t mind Sarah & Beth but Richard becomes increasingly sinister and violent scaring her. Natalie’s fabulous mother who is a psychic tells Natalie that she must unravel the mystery as to why they haven’t moved on, which she attempts to do. Natalie thinks she’s experiencing the haunted happenings and traumatic dreams because Sarah & Beth were lesbian and she is, but later on in the book she discovers a much deeper connection. Natalie & Van continue to get closer, having more than one intimate sexual scene together and realise that the love one another.
In the final few chapters of Sometime Yesterday, Heidt gives you a sense of real danger as Richard seemingly comes to life; his dark secrets are exposed and he intends to deal with Natalie & Van for what he perceives as another betrayal in his house.
The plot is excellent with good use of description throughout. The story is well paced allowing for peaks of paranormal action, character development and unravelling of the mystery. The mystery encourages the reader to read on; I found myself constantly trying to guess the mystery and what would happen next. I could have easily read this book in one sitting, and probably would have done had I not been so busy recently. It has all the components of a good story: love interest, mystery, fear, action, drama and a happy ending that ties up all the loose ends.
Yvonne Heidt has a very engaging writers voice, as well as being an obviously talented writer. After reading Sometime Yesterday I have become an instant fan of hers which I’ve never said on any review before. I have recently read on her website that she’s got another book coming out in January 2013, which I look forward to reading.
If you’re lesbian or open minded and interested or involved in the paranormal you’ll love Sometime Yesterday.
July 2, 2015
3.75 stars.
I didn't feel this was as smooth as a 4 star book but it does have positive aspects to it.
The main issues I had with "Sometime Yesterday" is that, at times it felt choppy so the jump to the next sequence or movement in the scene was somewhat jarring. I thought each of the leads, Natalie and Van, were okay but I didn't LOVE them. I actually found Beth and Sarah to have depth and I liked them a lot even though we didn't see them much.
The reactions to the incidents in the house were also strange at times. I think the author was conveying that Natalie was getting more angry than intimidated by the hauntings but she kept going back and forth. The more the hauntings escalated, sometimes she'd be terrified and sometimes she'd be unaffected. One example of something that struck me as odd is that it gets to a point where whenever Natalie sleeps in the house it's some horrific nightmare but yet she doesn't steel herself each time she lays down to bed. I know I would! It's late in the book when a suggestion of a nap is given (to Van, I think) saying it would do her good which I thought was super strange because sleep in that house always does the opposite. There was just some flip flopping back and forth, in general, that didn't feel completely organic.
On the positive side, there were good things about the book, too. There was a fairly intricate plot and the author did a great job of creating one evil dude in Richard. At times, I was completely caught up in the book and the climax is pretty intense. I realized it was a mistake to read this at night in the dark, so she got to me that way. Kudos to the author to writing scary well. There was a lot of atmosphere and set up in this book that was done well.
I found all of the scenes with Beth and Sarah to be great. I thought those characters were engaging, their story was interesting, and there was more sensuality and eroticism with them than with the main characters.
In a way, the whole coming out to oneself and to others moved really quickly for Natalie but I didn't mind that and I appreciated that it wasn't a big deal. There's so much of should I/shouldn't I coming out stories that it gets trite sometimes so I'm glad the author didn't go that route and Natalie just got on with it.
I think this was better than just okay and it's worth a read.
I didn't feel this was as smooth as a 4 star book but it does have positive aspects to it.
The main issues I had with "Sometime Yesterday" is that, at times it felt choppy so the jump to the next sequence or movement in the scene was somewhat jarring. I thought each of the leads, Natalie and Van, were okay but I didn't LOVE them. I actually found Beth and Sarah to have depth and I liked them a lot even though we didn't see them much.
The reactions to the incidents in the house were also strange at times. I think the author was conveying that Natalie was getting more angry than intimidated by the hauntings but she kept going back and forth. The more the hauntings escalated, sometimes she'd be terrified and sometimes she'd be unaffected. One example of something that struck me as odd is that it gets to a point where whenever Natalie sleeps in the house it's some horrific nightmare but yet she doesn't steel herself each time she lays down to bed. I know I would! It's late in the book when a suggestion of a nap is given (to Van, I think) saying it would do her good which I thought was super strange because sleep in that house always does the opposite. There was just some flip flopping back and forth, in general, that didn't feel completely organic.
On the positive side, there were good things about the book, too. There was a fairly intricate plot and the author did a great job of creating one evil dude in Richard. At times, I was completely caught up in the book and the climax is pretty intense. I realized it was a mistake to read this at night in the dark, so she got to me that way. Kudos to the author to writing scary well. There was a lot of atmosphere and set up in this book that was done well.
I found all of the scenes with Beth and Sarah to be great. I thought those characters were engaging, their story was interesting, and there was more sensuality and eroticism with them than with the main characters.
In a way, the whole coming out to oneself and to others moved really quickly for Natalie but I didn't mind that and I appreciated that it wasn't a big deal. There's so much of should I/shouldn't I coming out stories that it gets trite sometimes so I'm glad the author didn't go that route and Natalie just got on with it.
I think this was better than just okay and it's worth a read.
March 19, 2013
First let me just say that I did enjoy this book and I will look to read other items by Yvonne Heidt. I think it’s just unfortunate happenstance that just finished reading “Whispering Pines by Mavis Applewater which had an almost identical premise; Haunted house, sisters-in-law who are lovers, evil husband, death/murder… well you get the point. So although Sometime Yesterday was a good read and enjoyable, I somehow felt that it was a lite version of Whispering Pines. I also know that if I had read them in the reverse order I’d be saying “Sometime Yesterday” was a fun beach read. Surprisingly I didn’t find Van that interesting but I was intrigued by Natalie and her Mom and I would love to see a follow up that developed both Natalie and Mom. I admit it, I want to know where here art work is going next.
February 27, 2015
I am not usually a fan of ghost stories. Very few things that haven't been done to death (pun intended) many times before.
This on the other hand weaves the past lives, both romance and terror, into the modern tale in such an excellently fashion that I would love to see this done faithfully as a movie.
A few questions left unresolved or not clearly answered but otherwise an incredible tale!
This on the other hand weaves the past lives, both romance and terror, into the modern tale in such an excellently fashion that I would love to see this done faithfully as a movie.
A few questions left unresolved or not clearly answered but otherwise an incredible tale!
April 27, 2016
Beautiful story
This was an amazing story of love lost and violence but also love renewed with a new generation. A very good read.
This was an amazing story of love lost and violence but also love renewed with a new generation. A very good read.
October 26, 2015
2012 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews