Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Will a centuries-old broken heart ruin the promise of new love?

Dominic Ashworth is descended from a long line of witches, although the family practice of witchcraft died out generations ago. Forever connected to a dark history, the house he grew up in remained in the Ashworth family for generations until his estranged father sold it.

On a mission to check out the new owners, Dominic runs into Caleb Jones and gives the gorgeous man his phone number—but getting a date should be the last thing on Dominic’s agenda.

Caleb and his best friend, Zach Briceworth, are oblivious to the heartache and magic tied to the foundations of their new home. When strange things start to happen, the truth emerges and surprises them both, especially as everything revolves around Caleb’s new love interest.

After a shaky start, Caleb and Dominic settle into an easy relationship, falling faster than either of them expected. But with Halloween approaching, the possibility of danger increases. The past is not always as it seems, and the ripples of a tragic event threaten to put an end to everything between them.

Arriving just in time to satisfy our needs for some supernatural reads comes this terrific tale of thwarted love and hauntings of the heart from Annabelle Jacobs.  All Hallow’s Eve is a tale of two love stories, each separated by centuries but connected by family ties and one house.  The Ashworth witches and their family house has been tied together by a dark history…until one estranged family member sells it to unknowing new owners.

Its such a delicious plot.  A family of witches, ancient lands…and a new owner.  What could possibly happen?  In this case its, Dominic and his sister who own a local bookstore (plus a aunt) who are still keepers of the Ashworth history and as well as being witches themselves.  Too late to keep their father from selling their house, they need to get to know the new owner for any number of reasons.  That Caleb is gorgeous and gay?  A complication that Dominic hadn’t counted on.

Jacobs has to weave not only present  day characters and their stories into that time frame and mysterious goings on but also put into play the centuries old heartbreak and mystery at the core of this story.  An entire storyline, complete with characters, dialog, and history had to be created as well.  Realistically enough that we felt for them equally as we do for those in present times.  Its quite the accomplishment that we come to do so, especially so at the end of the story.

I thought the author  did a wonderful job of building the suspense and dread just through the house itself.  From the anticipatory walk down the stairs in the basement to the behavior of the cat, sometimes just the creepiness of the atmosphere was enough to make your skin crawl.    You were really waiting for the ghost to pop out and say boo.

While I wish more could have been made of the fact that the father’s role was short of disastrous in this, from selling the house to not supporting his kids, only to quickly return? Hmmm….I wished for more there.

However, the rest of the story absolutely satisfied.  I loved the rush to figure out how the past was going to return and  endanger those in the present and who was going to be affected the most.  It was chilling when it had to be, poignant when called for, and romantically heartwarming for all at the end. And at All Hallows’ Eve.  Amazing and quite wonderful.

I definitely recommend this story.  Its a terrific read at this time of year or anytime actually.  Grab it up and have a spooktacular time!

Cover art by Natasha Snow is terrific and works for the story.

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Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 248 pages
Published October 5th 2016 by Annabelle Jacobs
ASINB01M1CXXUN
Edition LanguageEnglish