Heidi McLaughlin

There's a moment in everyone's life when their world crumbles around them.

This incredible story took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. It centers around Devorah, a character I absolutely fell in love with as she navigates her heart-wrenching journey of heartbreak and healing.

Devorah's experience is one many might relate to, including myself. At first, Devorah is stuck in her feelings, literally staying in bed, deep in that all-too-familiar pit of despair. But just when things seemed bleak, show more her fierce love for her daughter ignites a spark within her. Her nasty soon-to-be ex-husband has kept her at a distance from loved ones, and watching her navigate the complexities of reconnecting is both heartbreaking and uplifting. I have to admit—reading about her efforts to mend things with her father was a personal tear-jerker. It’s so raw and real, and it tugged at my heartstrings in ways I wasn’t expecting.

Hayden is a gem of a character. His support and presence in Devorah’s life play a crucial role in her healing process. Their slow burn romance is simply delightful; it’s like watching a beautiful friendship blossom into something more. The author really nails the tension and connection between them, making every shared moment feel electric.

The small-town vibe is also a huge draw in this story. You know the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, and gossip runs rampant? Yep, that’s the backdrop, complete with the gossipy Cathys who spice things up! The sense of community adds layers to the story and brings warmth and depth to the story. You really feel for the families, including Devorah’s and Hayden’s, as they face life's ups and downs together.

I recommend this poignant exploration of love, healing, and the messy but beautiful work of rebuilding relationships. Whether you’re on a similar journey or just looking for a compelling read, I highly recommend giving this one a shot.

Thank you to Ms. McLaughlin for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

For more of my reviews, visit The Eclectic Review. show less

I was certainly surprised with this book, it wasn’t what I was used to read by Heidi McLaughlin but her pairing with L.P. Dover made this story absolutely wonderful. I enjoyed every page of it. I couldn’t even really tell where one author wrote and then the other, I was so deep into the story that it just flowed by. Parker and Mia are certainly a couple I fell in love with. The mystery behind the Dark Room made their relationship start in a way like no other, they didn’t know anything show more about them, telling would break the rules and they both wanted to be a part of Society X just to see each other, but reality outside everything where real issues they have to overcome.

It is certainly not a story you will find predictable, on the contrary, I found it very interesting and with a lot of depth behind everything the characters did. I truly recommend this book for anyone, if you are a fan of either author is a must, but if you haven’t read any of them, this is a book you want to click on and start reading. show less

A few months back I read Forever My Girl, a novel by Heidi McLaughlin. She's one of the authors of Dark Room. The other, L.P. Dover, I've never read. But now that I've read this joint effort, I will want to check out Dover's solo work, along with more of McLaughlin's.

I don't read many romances as sex-driven as Dark Room is. Normally, when a novel has too much sex in it, it turns me off of the story being told. For this book, it was never out of place, never too much, and never too often. show more Each scene of this nature drove the plot forward in the only way that the story could have been written. I'm was pleasantly surprised by this.

All of the characters in this book, main and secondary, were very fleshed out and I even enjoyed reading Mia's douche of an ex. Along with the characters, these authors knew how to bring you into the setting. Whether is was inside Society X or an office, I could see each place and see the characters in the scene.

This book had some themes I enjoy in other books and other themes I've never quite gotten into before. Somehow, even the ones present in Dark Room that I'm not a fan of, I really liked. When authors can make that happen, they're definitely ones to keep an eye on. show less

Viewing Room by L.P. Dover and Heidi McLaughlin
Book #2: Society X Series
Source: Author
My Rating: 4½/5 stars
My Review:

Well, well, well. Isn’t round two of Society X a cat of a different color?

Kennedy Vaughn spent the entirety of her marriage building her career which is probably why she is now divorced. Her best friend and business partner is bound and determined to see her have some fun and that means a trip to Society X.

Kennedy isn’t normally the strip club kind of girl but her show more friends are insistent. Though Society X is an upscale establishment, it’s still a strip and sex club and Kennedy is certain she isn’t going to find her happily ever after within the walls of this establishment. But, she might just find her get off quick and hard right now if the man staring at her from across the room can deliver on the promise of his stare. Deliver on the promise he does, down and dirty right in the front seat of Kennedy’s car in the club’s parking lot. WOW! When Kennedy decides to celebrate a divorce, she really does it right 

Hunter Miles has no intention of being a stripper forever. In fact, stripping is just a means to an end and that end is a law degree he is within months of earning. The stripping gig is lucrative and has allowed Hunter to pay all his living expenses as well as his tuition. His high grades and dedication have earned him an internship at a fine area law firm and as long as things go according to plan, he will be, at least in society’s eyes a fine upstanding citizen who is gainfully employed within the year. What Hunter didn’t plan for when laying out his life was meeting Kennedy Vaughan. Kennedy is everything Hunter never knew he wanted and if he can get her past her misconceptions about him and his job, they may just be OK.

Hunter and Kennedy certainly don’t have an easy road to their HEA. Along with Kennedy’s misconceptions, there is the fact that Hunter’s internship is with her law firm (surprise!) and, she has a nasty divorce case that is threatening everyone’s safety and well-being. In fact, the case not only involves a client, it involves Society X and Kennedy needs Hunter’s help if she is going to protect her client. Problem is, Hunter isn’t done with school yet and without the income from Society X he can’t afford the tuition. The other problem, Hunter wants to help Kennedy and Kennedy wants to help Hunter but that means they each have to go back into Society X and pretend they don’t know one another. Hunter has to take it all off for other women (and men) and Kennedy has to partake of the benefits of her membership. The case alone threatens absolutely everything Hunter and Kennedy are trying to build for themselves as a couple and as individuals.

The Bottom Line: Yeah, I like Viewing Room a whole lot and it doesn’t have anything to do with the naughty bits. Oh, those are good too but it’s all the other stuff that make the naughty bits the cherry on top. Hunter is a delight from the moment he makes an appearance and I very much like the not really hidden but not really advertised double life he has to lead for the time being. Once Hunter helps Kennedy get past her misconceptions and concerns, Kennedy becomes quite the delight as well. She and Hunter have such a strangely wonderful relationship that is well and truly tested by all the crap they are caught up in. Most of the crap revolves around Society X but that one place it isn’t all they are about and it is in the moments outside the club that truly define Hunter and Kennedy. As a final little bit of awesome, the authors drop one last huge surprise in the final moments and it makes the total package pretty perfect. show less