She’s a take-charge woman. But he’s a master of control.Skye Manning knows what she wants. Her job as assistant and photographer for a major social media influencer isn’t perfect, but it’s a rung on the ladder to bigger and better things. She’s confident she’ll one day take feature photos for National Geographic.Self-made billionaire Braden Black didn’t get where he is by taking no for an answer. … where he is by taking no for an answer. When a chance encounter with the refreshingly innocent and beautiful Skye piques his interest in more ways than one, he’s determined to make her submit.
Dating a billionaire soon has Skye in the middle of a Cinderella story…until the clock strikes midnight and Braden reveals his dark side. Heat sizzles between them, and Skye finds herself falling hard.
But Braden Black is no Prince Charming, and his dark desires are far from his only secret.
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Oh, Braden Black, I’ll follow you anywhere!
This book is a brand-new series launcher for Ms. Hardt, who proves that all dominant billionaires definitely aren’t the same. I am so smitten with this leading man, who comes from humble beginnings and actually hasn’t forgotten about the fact. His power is the kind that turns this girl into a puddle: it comes from within, and it’s communicated through an inner confidence that goes far beyond growls and glowers. I mean, the guy even has a soft spot for rescue puppies. Seriously, just…SIGH.
For all of the lines that Braden is uniquely drawn by, my favorite aspect of the book was actually his heroine. Skye Manning is a fresh face in Boston, hoping to make a name for herself by working up the ranks in the photography world. While she succumbs to an instant and electric attraction to Braden, she’s not a wide-eyed innocent needing all her self-validation from a man. She’s ambitious, smart, and–on a few occasions–genuinely troubled by the things she feels when she’s near this man. Still, she’s not afraid to tell him what she needs from him, and is even stands up for their relationship when challenged by her headstrong boss.
Ironically, Helen Hardt’s gift for engaging storytelling and unforgettable characters is at its full shine in “Follow Me Darkly”. I’m so thrilled there’s more of the sexy shadows of this world to come!
Intensely erotic and wildly emotional!
If you enjoyed Fifty Shades and like a thrill and some suspense, then this book is for you.
I enjoyed the story and characters.
I received an advanced readers copy of Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt that will be released on September 29, 2020.
This is the first book of Helen’s that I have read and it definitely won’t be my last. I was hooked from the very beginning. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Skye and Braden.
The book does end on a cliffhanger but that wasn’t a surprise since it’s the first book in the Follow Me series. I can’t wait for the next book Follow Me Under to be released on January 26, 2021.
I would highly recommend if you like erotic romances or billionaire romances.
An Unputdownable Story with Great Characters, emotions, Lots of HOTness, A smooth Storyline, Budding Love, Suspenseful Secrets and an ‘OMG!!’ Cliffhanger.
#My 1st by Helen, I’m So gonna read more.
Braden is a Self made Billionaire, Got roots From Blue Collar. He’s into Control & Deliciously Dominating.
He had seemed assholish, but we hadn’t known him well then. Dark+Mysterious but Protective+Caring..
Skye, Professional Photographer, is Personal Assistant to Instagram Influencer Addison Ames, But her dream job is to photograph for National Geographic. She’s sweet+Kind AND a Control Freak.
Braden meets Skye when he goes to Addison’s office to tell her off because of a ‘disagreement’ they had over instagram. From 1st Glance, he was taken with Skye. I loved how straightforward he was about what he wanted: Her.
They had One night..
“No more Games, Skye,” he whispers Darkly. “Give in to me tonight, and I promise you more pleasure than you’ve ever known.”
But NEEDED more..
“Since I first fucked you, all I can think about is fucking you again. You’re all I think about and it.. Perplexes me. Not much Perplexes me, Skye. You’re like a Narcotic, I hunger for you.”
(He’ll get her..But, On Her Terms. *So Fun!*)
This story is HOT from the get go. Braden is very sexual, he wants Skye all times he’s with her. AND Her control is what he wants most. With him, She slowly learns to let go.
But Them being together isn’t all sunshine & roses. Also He’s very private. Though, with her persistence, He opens up bit by bit. But Not Fully, Not Yet..Not here..
(AND The book’s from Skye’s PoV only, so it adds to the Suspense!)
There’re a lot of Sexiness, IG growth, Jealousy Troubles, Dates & Charities, Intimate times, A Start, Growing Feelings, Swoony moments, Love!
But Will His 1 major secret, which has been a big mystery to Skye (& me), Ruin them?
Cue Cliffhanger!! I’m so excited for The next part. But,
Gotta wait till Jan 2021…OMG!
I’ll just say: Every incident has 2 sides, We Now know 1. What about Braden’s Side of it? What exactly happened? Will She ever find out?
P.s. Her bestie-Tessa is Fun!.
This has BDSM elements, But he was being lenient here. Maybe we’ll see his Even Darker side in the next book!!
Also, I wonder if she’ll ever tell him that He gave her ‘Her 1st orgasm’.. Amusing talk that’d be!
Rating:
It’s all about control!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance:
Heat/Steam:
Story/Plot:
World building:
Character development:
The setting: Boston
The Hero: Braden Black – a self made billionaire playboy. Braden came up from blue collar roots. He and his brother Ben worked for their fathers construction company and Braden came up with a new design for safety goggles, which took off and are the design most used today. Braden started his company and diversified and became a young billionaire. His brother and father now work for the company as well. Braden is into control and is very dominant.
The heroine: Skye Manning – wants to be a photographer featured in National Geographic some day. She graduated with a degree in photography and works as a personal assistant to an instagram influencer, Addison Ames, taking the pictures so they look like selfies.
The love story: Braden meets Skye when he goes to Addison’s office to tell her off because of a disagreement they had over instagram. Braden is immediately taken with Skye and makes no bones about exactly what he wants.
This book is off the charts hot, very near scalding. Braden likes what he likes and is a very sexual being. He almost always wants it when they are together and what he wants most of all is for Skye to give up all control to him. Skye is always in control in life, so with Braden she is slowly learning to give up control little by little and she finds she really likes it.
Though this is a book and so of course there are secrets being held that Skye is dying to find out and Braden is not open to talking about at all. I don’t want to give more away, I try to only give a bit more background information and not to stray to far from what is given away in the blurb. So if you see any spoilers that I shouldn’t include, please let me know.
The world building was great as was character development. Of course we still don’t know all that much about Braden’s past, since was all told from Skye’s POV. However, that is part of what makes it good. There weren’t a bunch of other side stories and there were quite a few intimate encounters. Which were written extremely well and I liked quite a bit. This did end in a big cliffhanger though, hanging by a tiny little thread I might add. I will have trouble waiting till January 2021 for part 2, but I will be one of the first to pick up that book when it is ready.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
I’m loving Skye and Braden’s story! There chemistry is off the charts!! Braden’s walls are breaking down very slowly but yet he still keeps her at arms length. I can’t wait to continue this journey in the next installment!!
I had a difficult time getting into this book. Some of the character names were distracting. Braden Black (the male love interest) and Addie Ames (his ex and Skye’s boss) kept throwing me into “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” I feel like the author and editor should have ditched the AA/BB format for the names. Aside from the poor choice of character names, the writing style is good. It’s written in 3rd person POV, which I prefer. There’s not much plot to this book and the entirety of it consists of conflict with Addie Ames.
Braden Black is Christian Grey. I wasn’t a fan of Christian Grey. I’m not a fan of Braden Black. Braden is A–holish and needlessly aggressive with Skye. Refuses to open up. Not a fan of commitment. Only commits because that’s what it takes to bed Skye.
If Braden Black is Christian Grey, then Skye Manning is Anastasia Steele, with maybe a little better character development. She’s too hooked on orgasms to run in the other direction like a sane woman should. In over her head and convinced she’s nothing, Skye follows Braden around like a puppy, happy to be given orgasms and attention.
There’s a duality to this book that you have to be willing to accept. That you can enjoy reading these types of books and know that the behaviors depicted in these books are not healthy life choices IRL.
For those of you still looking for your Christian Grey/Braden Black, please remember orgasms last moments. Psychological damage is for a lifetime. This is a book boyfriend that needs to stay in his book.
Loved this book great characters and storyline love to read the next book
This story was difficult to put down. I already knew I loved Ms. Hardt’s writing, but this one has me ready and willing to follow the couple anywhere! I cannot wait to get started on the second book! Well done!
I know the female lead isn’t the strongest, and the plot is kinda weak, but the the sexytimes are amazing. I love the bdsm novels. I love the bossy boys. Gah. Love them. This is a series which I don’t like. And it costs real money. I don’t like that either. Now that the heroine has given up her control, id love to see how deep she goes down the rabbit hole, but I don’t want to spend money on books.
Erotic and steamy!
The writing in this book was well done, easy to read. However, I am not going to pay 21 dollars to finish a book. Buying a few chapters for 7.99 and calling it book 2 or 3 is not something I am up for. In the description I now look for hea or complete story line.
I fantastic start to Braden and Skyes story. Will they be able to continue their relationship or will secrets keep them from one another. Helen Hardt pulls you in and doesn’t let go. A must read and a great start to the Follow Me series.
Love it it also has you wondering what happen 10 years ago
Dislike that you need to buy next book to finish story. And for $7.99.
Hot and mysterious, that’s how I like my men and my books 😀
This story is the first book in a trilogy about the incendiary relationship between a budding photographer and a charismatic billionaire.
It was so easy to like it. First of all, the couple has undeniable chemistry that is exploited in fast, steamy, and provocative terms. The chapters are short and to the point. I loved the dynamic and engaging conversations, had no complaints whatsoever with the abundance of sensual encounters. Let me tell you they become increasingly lustful, ending in an epiphany for the female character who’d had little luck in that department until she met the enigmatic, kinky, private self-made man. He’s a tough guy with extremely arrogant ways, so he’s an acquired taste 😀
One of my favourite aspects of the story is Skye’s job and the life-changing motions she experiences due to her relationship with Braden Black (love the name!) Social media’s influence is depicted in a very appealing way to me personally. It’s a creative side of the story that makes Skye’s character all the more relatable and interesting.
There’s lots of things going on so there’s not a minute of disconnection from the story. Skye is dealing with her personal growth. Other women play an important part in the plot as she tries to juggle her emotional entanglement with her own mysterious billionaire and putting together the pieces of the puzzle he is. Not only is he opening up a new world of carnal sensations, but he’s also secretive and she’s determined to know the truth. All of this drives the novel as the reader just pants in excitement with the mind-blowing passion.
I think this is a very good starting point of a story that is well written, intriguing, and has a lively bunch of characters to relate to. I’m surely reading the next book.
Never finished!
I just finished this series!
I bought Follow Me Darkly almost a year ago and I hate when a book ends on a cliffhanger and then I have to wait for the next book. But wait I did and I didnt read Follow Me Under until I got Follow Me Always. And of course I didnt know about Darkly….the first book and Braden’s POV.
So with all 3 books I had to reread Follow Me Darkly and with that i couldn’t put the series down. I read all 3 books in 2 days!
I absolutely loved Braden and Skye, it definitely was a dark romance with alot of BDSM but it was also a great love story.
I cant get enough of Helen Hardt and I looking forward to reading many more of her stories in the future.
And I ordered Darkly cause I have to have the whole series.
Helen Hardt you are awesome!!!
Fantastic job!!! I have fallen in love with this series. I definitely worth the read. Its engaging and you feel like your there with them, going through the things with them. But like all good things, it comes to a end. Cant wait for the next book she writes.