Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Dollface
SERIES: Hours Of The Night #3
AUTHOR: Liv Rancourt
PUBLISHER: Rancourt Publishing
LENGTH: 133 Pages
RELEASE DATE: November 8, 2023
BLURB:
Charlie’s father deserted the family when he was five years old, so when his sister’s husband is killed in the war, he steps in so his niece won’t grow up without a man to rely on. That his sister’s husband was his best friend – and only love – makes his grief just as great as hers.
Some three years after her father’s death, his niece receives a doll in the mail. The package says it was sent by her father, and with that, strange things start happening. Spooky things. Dangerous things.
Merle’s a psychic who has a vision about a man in trouble. That man is Charlie, who at first declines Merle’s offer to help. Charlie doesn’t understand magic, but he does recognize danger, so when things get more bizarre, he turns to Merle. They have to find out who sent an evil doll to a little girl.
First, though, they must trust each other, and acknowledge that their deep seated attraction is real.
REVIEW:
During WWII, Charlie’s straight childhood friend, only love, and sister’s husband died. Years after his death, Charlie’s niece receives a doll, supposedly from her father. Merle had The Sight, and at a Tuesday night event and some after-hours ‘fun’, Merle offered his help with the doll, who he was sure wasn’t as innocent as her face suggested.
Spooky is the word to describe this short novel. Between the sexy bits, there is a doll that is inhabited by evil. Thank heavens that I’m not into dolls; otherwise, I’d be throwing them all out. And thank heavens for the steamy bits as they balanced out the spook.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Merle and Charlie, though when they are together, their viewpoints mix. Worldbuilding surrounds WWII war-torn America, where the ration book and coupons lead life. There is also an alluring atmospheric quality to the scene setting. The only part that I found a touch disconcerting was the random sexual suggestion amid a serious conversation. These erotic proposals are used by characters to distract from uncomfortable conversations, but for me, they didn’t quite reach the mark. It was more a WTF reaction, rather than oOOooh.
Charlie is an upstanding young man, helping his sister to look after her child. His time out is spent at a friend’s house, where he can enjoy life safely. Before Merle, he knew nothing of the paranormal and struggled to come to terms with what he saw and heard. Merle is an unusual individual – a conduit who uses his knowledge and connections to help others. He has hidden depths that would be worth exploring in other spin-offs.
Each story in the Hours Of The Night series can be read on its own. While the story arc is completed, a hook is left. In conclusion, I found Dollface to be a spooky little offering that yin-yanged between sauce and scary.
RATING: 
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