What do you think?
Rate this book
When the Clock Strikes Thirteen
Seven authors of lesbian fiction contributed otherworldly and supernatural short stories that will keep you glued to your seat.Midnight Messages by Lois Cloarec Hart Luce Sheppard can't ignore it any longer. She has to make a decision and time grows short. But refusing to make a decision is a decision, and she retires to bed, prepared to accept the results of her non-decision. That night an unexpected midnight visitor lands on her doorstep. Keira Keller, a distraught teenager, has lost her way home after a disastrous party. Luce steps in to help and in doing so receives answers to questions she didn't know she'd asked.Batteries Not Included by L.T. Smith Alex Stevens is a workaholic and a loner. Nothing and nobody can get past the cool exterior and solitary walls she has painstakingly created. Until one night in October. One night that makes her step back and reassess what it means to be alive.Lost and Found by Emma Weimann Laura Sullivan flees to her grandparents' old cottage to escape the haunting memories of finding her brother in bed with her girlfriend. But even in rural Ireland, tranquility is easier to find than peace--especially when she meets an otherworldly being that leaves her a reminder she didn't count on.Chrysalis by Joan Arling Tara is a nice little girl. Her friends, on the other hand, are... peculiar... A breeze of a story. Or the other way 'round.Sisters of the Moon by Diane Marina The week before Halloween, Nicole joins her friends on a local ghost tour. In addition to visiting spooky sights and haunted grounds, she meets an enticing woman who makes her spine tingle. Who is the mysterious stranger? And how will the encounter end?Wolf Moon by Erzabet Bishop Seeking diversion from her job as a bookstore manager, Lindsay goes to a Halloween party at a convention center—and finds much more than she bargained for. Werewolf Detective Taggert responds to a bomb threat at the convention center. An explosive situation, especially when raw chemistry hits them full force. Can Lindsay open her heart and accept the fierce love of a red-hot shifter, or will they go their separate ways?Love Bites by R.G. Emanuelle New Orleans. Vampires. Jodi goes to the former and finds the latter. She feels a mysterious pull that leads her to The Big Easy and to freedom, passion, and the startling revelation of what having too many daiquiris can make her do.
202 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2013
6 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Astrid Ohletz
17 books38 followersAstrid Ohletz has an education as a library assistant but worked as a legal secretary for one of the partners of a large, international law firm for more than ten years before she became a publisher, establishing Ylva Verlag and its international pendant, Ylva Publishing, in 2011 and 2012. Publishing combines her love of books with her understanding of legal and economic issues. Being able to publish books where subtext is maintext is a dream come true for Astrid.
In her free time, she writes stories under the pseudonym Emma Weimann.
In her free time, she writes stories under the pseudonym Emma Weimann.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 25, 2016
Oddly, despite the book title, this collection only has 7 stories in it (yeah, I know that they were 'going for something' by using 13, but the last collection I read had 16 stories in it, so 13 isn't impossible.
Midnight Messages by Lois Cloarec Hart
This is one of those stories wherein it is hard to mention what exactly the paranormal nature of the story might be. The other two stories I've read so far are fairly straight forward in that regard. The vampire and werewolf nature of those stories was known more or less immediately and neither was exactly a twist. Here? I can't mention it - it is in fact a twist. There are some things I can mention though.
It is unfortunate that I do not know the age of the main character for one specific reason - I have a strong suspicion that she falls into an age range I do not normally get to read. I suspect that she is somewhere between the ages of 40 and 70, and likely somewhere around 55 or so - at a guess based on certain factors. She could be older, she could be younger, but not a lot younger.
That main character, Luce Sheppard, has had a long 'think' recently based on her circumstances. And she has come to a specific conclusion. Having reached said conclusion, she is able to have a relatively peaceful sleep that night - that is until she's startled awake by some noise around 4:44 am. At first she thinks it's her inconsiderate neighbor who is known for having parties nonstop at all hours, but then she realizes that the sound she hears is crying. So she springs into action.
Luce finds a young woman of about 16 years of age outside - soaking wet (it had been raining. She offers that woman, Keira, a temporary abode of safety. They have a long talk - much discussed, a good serious talk. Luce likes Keira, and her dog Ferron likes Keira as well. After offering Keira the use of some sweats and the guest room, Luce heads off to sleep. When she awakens, Keira - after having left a note - is gone.
And now I can't mention anything else (though I've probably already said to much, though there is a ton of good stuff I haven't mentioned), though the story doesn't end here.
I'd give this story a rating of 4.66
October 23 2016
Batteries not Included by L.T. Smith
This is one of those stories that needs to be read/felt/experienced by the reader - anything/most things I could write/explain would just be in the way.
All I can really say is that there's this house with more than 1 floor, a woman in it working late at night, noises heard, and a building tension. Building . . . building . . . building . . .
Rating: 5.0
October 24 2016
Lost and Found by Emma Weimann
Fae, Ireland
A woman, a month after finding her girlfriend in bed with her brother (the woman's brother with the woman's girlfriend), is attempting to 'relax' in her grandparents old cabin. She's having trouble sleeping, though, do to nightmares involving a forest.
Then she meets a particular woman, briefly.
Then she finds that her dog went missing, and searches for the dog. Ending up in a forest. Stuff happens.
This was a frustrating story for me. Not really sure why, exactly, but it was.
Rating: 2
October 25 2016
Chrysalis by Joan Arling
Not sure why this story is in the collection. All the other stories involve adults and lesbians. This one focuses on a kid. And while there is a moment when the young girl says something like 'I don't like boys', she is also at the age when no one likes boys. Something like 5 or so.
I think there supposed to be something like a light breezy feel to this story, but I was just sad. And confused. There needed more to the story to allow the story to make any sense. If I understand correctly . . . well, I can't actually say because that'd be spoiler. Let's just leave it at 'I've no clue why this story is in here, it's not what I'd call paranormal, does not involve adults, and - as far as I can tell, doesn't involve lesbians.'
Rating: ? 2.7
Sisters of the Moon by Diane Marina
Nurse, waitress, Annapolis, Maryland, Halloween
This is another one wherein I can't exactly say what's going on. Though I can give certain information.
A woman (Nicole), who has a dog named Tater, has worked a long week as a nurse at a hospital. Wanting nothing more than to spend her time off lazing around, she is, instead, 'forced' by her friend (Dani) to drive her, her friend (Stephanie), and her friends date to a pub crawl. Or, I guess I should call it, bar crawl. One tied to a Halloween tour of Annapolis and the various haunted houses/ghosts of the area.
Once in Annapolis, Nicole is immediately made to feel like a third wheel as Dani and Stephanie fondle each other and stuff. Meanwhile, all three, along with a smallish crowd, follow a man around as he points at things and says spooky stuff.
Eventually the tour makes it to the first bar, and people are allowed to drink and stuff. Nicole immediately breaks off and heads to the bathroom. While there she encounters a rather attractive looking woman. Who, somewhere along the way, thrusts herself forward and kisses Nicole. Nicole becomes enraged and leaves the bathroom.
Later, she realizes that part of her anger is connected to how she actually was, in fact, aroused by that woman in the bathroom. She further interacts with that woman, then returns to work and works. While still thinking of Liz.
Interesting enough story, and yeah, more happens, but I can't mention as it'd be spoilery.
Rating: 3.7
Wolf Moon by Erzabet Bishop
Crime, Police, FF, Werewolf, Fantasy, Erotica
A woman is talked - begged - into going to see a band at a concert. She arrives to find that the band is apparently actually performing at something like a mix comic-con/halloween party at a convention center. Well, it is halloween . . .. Half the attendees are wearing costumes, the other half are wearing 'geek apparel' (whatever that means).
The woman is grumpily wandering along - grumpy because she doesn't get much time off and she'd rather be at home with a good drink and a smutty book. Then two people plow into her and knock her into stuff. Somewhere in the process something about 'he has a gun' is mentioned. She grumbles more. Before she is fully able to resume her forward progress, she's almost hit again by more running people. More mention of 'a gun'. Now she hears sounds and what might be gunshots. She still continues forward.
Meanwhile - in a separate point of view - another woman enters the scene - a police officer in bullet-proof vest and stuff (slightly confusing visualization here, as she is described as being both protected by police stuff and undercover).
Both women end up in a back side hallway with a window onto the scene. One literally backs into the other. They meet nice. Then they meet even nicer. Gunshots going off. Still, in this tense situation, lust erupts.
Quite a neat little story. There's a hint of a backstory for the civilian - as in a hint that there's more to her backstory, but whatever that hint was getting at wasn't revealed and probably will never be revealed (there was mention that she hadn't been touched in a very long time - tossing off that she works inconvienent hours is something of an excuse, but there seemed to be more there that wasn't fully explored).
The other, the cop, recently-ish became a) divored, b) a werewolf (becoming such caused the divorce).
Rating: 4.56
October 21 2016
Love Bites by R.G. Emanuelle
Vampire, New Orleans, Straight-to-lesbian
A vaguely creepy vibe, vaguely annoying irritating vibe to this story.
A woman who has never felt 'complete', and is straight, feels called to New Orleans, and always feels 'something' when she visits the place. The story starts with that woman in an airport bar (if I've got that right) waiting to go to New Orleans, beside her is her friend. The friend makes some annoying comments, like 'you should fuck a woman, I have' - in a 'I'm creepy and I like to use women as sex objects' way.
They get to New Orleans. The woman spots someone up on a balcony. Feels drawn to them. Spends hours in a bar that has a window that looks upon the house the woman is at. Stalks the woman when she leaves the house. One thing leads to another and they end up together somewhere else.
I do not particularly like anyone in this story, and the story itself is kind of icky feeling.
Regardless, I've read it, it's done. I'll rate this . . . . 3.3 stars.
October 22 2016
Overall
Midnight Messages by Lois Cloarec Hart - 4.66
Batteries not Included by L.T. Smith - 5.0
Lost and Found by Emma Weimann - 2
Chrysalis by Joan Arling - 2.7
Sisters of the Moon by Diane Marina - 3.7
Wolf Moon by Erzabet Bishop - 4.56
Love Bites by R.G. Emanuelle - 3.3
Overall: 3.703
October 25 2016
Midnight Messages by Lois Cloarec Hart
This is one of those stories wherein it is hard to mention what exactly the paranormal nature of the story might be. The other two stories I've read so far are fairly straight forward in that regard. The vampire and werewolf nature of those stories was known more or less immediately and neither was exactly a twist. Here? I can't mention it - it is in fact a twist. There are some things I can mention though.
It is unfortunate that I do not know the age of the main character for one specific reason - I have a strong suspicion that she falls into an age range I do not normally get to read. I suspect that she is somewhere between the ages of 40 and 70, and likely somewhere around 55 or so - at a guess based on certain factors. She could be older, she could be younger, but not a lot younger.
That main character, Luce Sheppard, has had a long 'think' recently based on her circumstances. And she has come to a specific conclusion. Having reached said conclusion, she is able to have a relatively peaceful sleep that night - that is until she's startled awake by some noise around 4:44 am. At first she thinks it's her inconsiderate neighbor who is known for having parties nonstop at all hours, but then she realizes that the sound she hears is crying. So she springs into action.
Luce finds a young woman of about 16 years of age outside - soaking wet (it had been raining. She offers that woman, Keira, a temporary abode of safety. They have a long talk - much discussed, a good serious talk. Luce likes Keira, and her dog Ferron likes Keira as well. After offering Keira the use of some sweats and the guest room, Luce heads off to sleep. When she awakens, Keira - after having left a note - is gone.
And now I can't mention anything else (though I've probably already said to much, though there is a ton of good stuff I haven't mentioned), though the story doesn't end here.
I'd give this story a rating of 4.66
October 23 2016
Batteries not Included by L.T. Smith
This is one of those stories that needs to be read/felt/experienced by the reader - anything/most things I could write/explain would just be in the way.
All I can really say is that there's this house with more than 1 floor, a woman in it working late at night, noises heard, and a building tension. Building . . . building . . . building . . .
Rating: 5.0
October 24 2016
Lost and Found by Emma Weimann
Fae, Ireland
A woman, a month after finding her girlfriend in bed with her brother (the woman's brother with the woman's girlfriend), is attempting to 'relax' in her grandparents old cabin. She's having trouble sleeping, though, do to nightmares involving a forest.
Then she meets a particular woman, briefly.
Then she finds that her dog went missing, and searches for the dog. Ending up in a forest. Stuff happens.
This was a frustrating story for me. Not really sure why, exactly, but it was.
Rating: 2
October 25 2016
Chrysalis by Joan Arling
Not sure why this story is in the collection. All the other stories involve adults and lesbians. This one focuses on a kid. And while there is a moment when the young girl says something like 'I don't like boys', she is also at the age when no one likes boys. Something like 5 or so.
I think there supposed to be something like a light breezy feel to this story, but I was just sad. And confused. There needed more to the story to allow the story to make any sense. If I understand correctly . . . well, I can't actually say because that'd be spoiler. Let's just leave it at 'I've no clue why this story is in here, it's not what I'd call paranormal, does not involve adults, and - as far as I can tell, doesn't involve lesbians.'
Rating: ? 2.7
Sisters of the Moon by Diane Marina
Nurse, waitress, Annapolis, Maryland, Halloween
This is another one wherein I can't exactly say what's going on. Though I can give certain information.
A woman (Nicole), who has a dog named Tater, has worked a long week as a nurse at a hospital. Wanting nothing more than to spend her time off lazing around, she is, instead, 'forced' by her friend (Dani) to drive her, her friend (Stephanie), and her friends date to a pub crawl. Or, I guess I should call it, bar crawl. One tied to a Halloween tour of Annapolis and the various haunted houses/ghosts of the area.
Once in Annapolis, Nicole is immediately made to feel like a third wheel as Dani and Stephanie fondle each other and stuff. Meanwhile, all three, along with a smallish crowd, follow a man around as he points at things and says spooky stuff.
Eventually the tour makes it to the first bar, and people are allowed to drink and stuff. Nicole immediately breaks off and heads to the bathroom. While there she encounters a rather attractive looking woman. Who, somewhere along the way, thrusts herself forward and kisses Nicole. Nicole becomes enraged and leaves the bathroom.
Later, she realizes that part of her anger is connected to how she actually was, in fact, aroused by that woman in the bathroom. She further interacts with that woman, then returns to work and works. While still thinking of Liz.
Interesting enough story, and yeah, more happens, but I can't mention as it'd be spoilery.
Rating: 3.7
Wolf Moon by Erzabet Bishop
Crime, Police, FF, Werewolf, Fantasy, Erotica
A woman is talked - begged - into going to see a band at a concert. She arrives to find that the band is apparently actually performing at something like a mix comic-con/halloween party at a convention center. Well, it is halloween . . .. Half the attendees are wearing costumes, the other half are wearing 'geek apparel' (whatever that means).
The woman is grumpily wandering along - grumpy because she doesn't get much time off and she'd rather be at home with a good drink and a smutty book. Then two people plow into her and knock her into stuff. Somewhere in the process something about 'he has a gun' is mentioned. She grumbles more. Before she is fully able to resume her forward progress, she's almost hit again by more running people. More mention of 'a gun'. Now she hears sounds and what might be gunshots. She still continues forward.
Meanwhile - in a separate point of view - another woman enters the scene - a police officer in bullet-proof vest and stuff (slightly confusing visualization here, as she is described as being both protected by police stuff and undercover).
Both women end up in a back side hallway with a window onto the scene. One literally backs into the other. They meet nice. Then they meet even nicer. Gunshots going off. Still, in this tense situation, lust erupts.
Quite a neat little story. There's a hint of a backstory for the civilian - as in a hint that there's more to her backstory, but whatever that hint was getting at wasn't revealed and probably will never be revealed (there was mention that she hadn't been touched in a very long time - tossing off that she works inconvienent hours is something of an excuse, but there seemed to be more there that wasn't fully explored).
The other, the cop, recently-ish became a) divored, b) a werewolf (becoming such caused the divorce).
Rating: 4.56
October 21 2016
Love Bites by R.G. Emanuelle
Vampire, New Orleans, Straight-to-lesbian
A vaguely creepy vibe, vaguely annoying irritating vibe to this story.
A woman who has never felt 'complete', and is straight, feels called to New Orleans, and always feels 'something' when she visits the place. The story starts with that woman in an airport bar (if I've got that right) waiting to go to New Orleans, beside her is her friend. The friend makes some annoying comments, like 'you should fuck a woman, I have' - in a 'I'm creepy and I like to use women as sex objects' way.
They get to New Orleans. The woman spots someone up on a balcony. Feels drawn to them. Spends hours in a bar that has a window that looks upon the house the woman is at. Stalks the woman when she leaves the house. One thing leads to another and they end up together somewhere else.
I do not particularly like anyone in this story, and the story itself is kind of icky feeling.
Regardless, I've read it, it's done. I'll rate this . . . . 3.3 stars.
October 22 2016
Overall
Midnight Messages by Lois Cloarec Hart - 4.66
Batteries not Included by L.T. Smith - 5.0
Lost and Found by Emma Weimann - 2
Chrysalis by Joan Arling - 2.7
Sisters of the Moon by Diane Marina - 3.7
Wolf Moon by Erzabet Bishop - 4.56
Love Bites by R.G. Emanuelle - 3.3
Overall: 3.703
October 25 2016
October 21, 2017
Something to get you in the mood for halloween
Yep this series of short stories is ideal for this time of the year. As with many collections like this some are rather good and others less so. I really enjoyed the first few, the last few a little less, but overall still good fun and short enough that they're worth your time.
Yep this series of short stories is ideal for this time of the year. As with many collections like this some are rather good and others less so. I really enjoyed the first few, the last few a little less, but overall still good fun and short enough that they're worth your time.
November 23, 2018
Hit and miss series of urban fantasy shorts. the first story was the best. the third was also pretty good. all the others were pretty poor. particularly the werewolf one was basically a straight story with the pronouns changed, and ridiculous that they would have sex in the middle of a hostage crisis.
October 9, 2022
Who has sex during a hostage crisis?
October 25, 2013
I normally don't rate books I am in, but this collection of my fellow paranormal authors was an eloquently written masterpiece of lesbian fiction that I fell into on the first page and couldn't stop reading. (I won't rate my own work as that would be a bit presumptuous, but the rest of the ladies in this wonderful work have done a marvelous job!)
I will be reading my story on Lizzie's Bedtime Stories for the Halloween special on Oct 30th. :)
I will be reading my story on Lizzie's Bedtime Stories for the Halloween special on Oct 30th. :)
October 18, 2018
Midnight Messages by Lois Cloarec Hart - 4
A bit predictable but a good place to start out.
Batteries not Included by L.T. Smith - 3
Kind of all over the place and I found it didn't really hold my attention until it was almost finished.
Lost and Found by Emma Weimann - 3.5
Felt a bit longer so a bit more time to get invested however it just kind of ended w/o much of a conclusion. Felt more like a preview than a short story.
Chrysalis by Joan Arling - 2
Didn't really fit with the rest of the collection and I didn't really get the point of it all.
Sisters of the Moon by Diane Marina - 4.5
I liked this one the best out of the collection. It captured and held my attention as well as felt like a complete story - though I would definitely be interested in reading a longer version.
Wolf Moon by Erzabet Bishop - 3
Werewolves aren't really my thing and neither is having sex during a hostage crisis.
Love Bites by R.G. Emanuelle - 3
I didn't really get a feel for the characters or their reason for attraction.
Overall it was nice to read this collection nearing Halloween.
A bit predictable but a good place to start out.
Batteries not Included by L.T. Smith - 3
Kind of all over the place and I found it didn't really hold my attention until it was almost finished.
Lost and Found by Emma Weimann - 3.5
Felt a bit longer so a bit more time to get invested however it just kind of ended w/o much of a conclusion. Felt more like a preview than a short story.
Chrysalis by Joan Arling - 2
Didn't really fit with the rest of the collection and I didn't really get the point of it all.
Sisters of the Moon by Diane Marina - 4.5
I liked this one the best out of the collection. It captured and held my attention as well as felt like a complete story - though I would definitely be interested in reading a longer version.
Wolf Moon by Erzabet Bishop - 3
Werewolves aren't really my thing and neither is having sex during a hostage crisis.
Love Bites by R.G. Emanuelle - 3
I didn't really get a feel for the characters or their reason for attraction.
Overall it was nice to read this collection nearing Halloween.
September 20, 2018
Most short story collections are a mixed bag and this included. I'm more into ghost stories and hauntings than paranormal romance but there's a little of everything in here so it makes everyone happy.
April 18, 2015
One of the really neat things about this style of book is that as an anthology, you get the opportunity to try a number of author's styles in one go to see what fits your personal preferences. You can then use these novellas as a basis to make an informed judgement about which authors to follow. Undoubtedly, not all of them will be to your taste, but that's no reason not to buy this style of book.
For me, as a collection, it works really well and I enjoyed it immensely. My personal favourite was "Sisters of the moon" by Diane Marina. Like all the stories in this collection, it's well written and ends in such a way to make you ask questions and develop the characters stories for yourself, making it a more personal experience.
Speaking personally, all seven stories are worth your time in reading and take you through a range of emotions. Midnight messages for example is a really sad story which is a really powerful opener for those that follows. My other favourites were lost and found and wolf moon, which were again in my personal style of reading enjoyment. But, that's just me, why not take a look for yourself and find your own ?
For me, as a collection, it works really well and I enjoyed it immensely. My personal favourite was "Sisters of the moon" by Diane Marina. Like all the stories in this collection, it's well written and ends in such a way to make you ask questions and develop the characters stories for yourself, making it a more personal experience.
Speaking personally, all seven stories are worth your time in reading and take you through a range of emotions. Midnight messages for example is a really sad story which is a really powerful opener for those that follows. My other favourites were lost and found and wolf moon, which were again in my personal style of reading enjoyment. But, that's just me, why not take a look for yourself and find your own ?
December 30, 2014
Great stories except the first one but that's only because I couldn't see pass the tragedy. Don't like when writers use it to tell a story. The best was Lost and Found, loved it! Plan to Google Emma and ask her about continuing the story that's how into it I was, gave it an extra read as well lol. I was also under the impression that short stories were stories that told everything in a short amount of pages but still told EVERYTHING these stories abruptly ended each time & it was annoying as all hale! They were still good though even though Sister's of the Moon left me with more questions than answers...but good =/
November 11, 2014
A 2014 GCLS Award Finalist
Sweet and Spooky
This is a collection of seven individual stories written by seven very talented women. All of them are wonderful romances with an other worldly twist. I was captivated and moved by the words these remarkable women wove. I will be searching for more from all of them! Well done!
Sweet and Spooky
This is a collection of seven individual stories written by seven very talented women. All of them are wonderful romances with an other worldly twist. I was captivated and moved by the words these remarkable women wove. I will be searching for more from all of them! Well done!
June 11, 2014
This is a collection of seven individual stories written by seven very talented women. All of them are wonderful romances with an other worldly twist. I was captivated and moved by the words these remarkable women wove. I will be searching for more from all of them! Well done!
December 6, 2015
2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews