Follow Me Darkly

Follow me Darkly the first installment of a new series by Helen hardt is simply thrilling, and will leave you like all of her other series is wanting more.
Skye Manning a true photographer at Hart but her day job it’s personal assistant to a hotel heiress and Instagram influencer Addie Ames to really text Skye’s talents for capturing the perfect photographs for granted. Being a personal assistant wasn’t Skies lifelong dream but it pays the bills while doing her job deleting negative comments Sky ultimately creates tension and is confronted later by self made billionaire Braden Black.
Both are captivated by each other and there’s an instant Spark hesitantly she accepts his offer to go to dinner not knowing what kind a backlash is going to unleash.
The attraction is undeniable both feeling the connection neither of them caring about what others think until Skye starts to outshine her bosses posts because she is seen with Braden black her Fame is instant which has Addie fuming, because not only is Skye taking attention anyway from her, she’s captured the attention of Braden whom Addie had a fling with years and years ago.

As Skye’s popularity in the social media platform takes off we see her go through changes and struggles in this relationship with Brayden she’s a control freak by Nature always has to be the one to have the last say so and a perfectionist but so is he he wants her to give up control to him and she struggles tremendously with it…
There are secrets and there’s tension finally she lets her guard down and let’s control go gives it to him fully and completely and her world and mind are blown when she finds out later a little hint of his secret she gets a little apprehensive

there is tension excitement and plenty of sexy sene’s in this first installment.
Helen hardt also leaves us with the heart pounding cliffhanger… she is wonderful at doing that and we love her for it, but also cry after we finish her amazing novels because we have to wait for whats going to happen next.
This is a five-star in my opinion and a must add to your collection. In true Helen hardt form she’s given us an amazing story that we will want to read over and over and over again!
I have to say personally, that the follow me series is my number two favorite series of hers and the rest of the books haven’t even come out yet!!!!
Thank you Helen for another amazing and addicting book!!!

This book is soo Helen. So well written, sucking us in and never wanting to stop reading. Braden and Skye didn’t seem to be made for each other at first…. Skye didn’t want him, but he being Braden, he was relentless… confident in having her…. but he brought that out in Skye. Everything was encompassed in control. He wanting her to give it up to him, her wanting to keep it. He was a no relationship kinda man… but there was something about her that even though he says this, his actions tell another story…. Hot, steamy and dark…. I can’t wait for the sequel!

Omg I love Helen so much and anything she writes is a guaranteed read! I was super excited to hear she was starting a new series and when I saw the cover I wanted to scream with how much I loved it! Through the whole book I was waiting for this cover to come off the pages and it so so did!!!! I love that about Helen’s books, the covers always color the pages at some point! Helen did a fantastic job creating loveable and mysterious characters who heat up the pages and keep us hooked! The hero, Braden Black is definitely an intriguing mystery wrapped up in a yummy suit with a pretty, somewhat cold, face! His back story which I was not expecting to be so heartwarming, makes his character all the more wantable! He’s the CEO stud, demanding lover, and dirty talking hero we all love to want! He’s built his empire in the heart of Boston and taken what hes wanted from woman along the way, all while not forgetting his upbringing and staying grounded. He gives back and is not selfish in all things which is what most people think. His heart is hard to get to but not impossible; enter Skye! I really loved Skye, she’s fantastic, the small town girl making it in the big city who has limits and control issues. She’s talented and smart and so not prepared for her chance meeting with Braden Black. Her world quickly is tipped on it’s planned and organized axis when she can’t refuse Braden. Their chemistry is scortching and Skye finally finds something she’s been searching for and craving so long. There are secrets surrounding their hot and quickly evolving romance and the one person who can exaplin it all is the one person who has stolen Skyes heart. Jealous ex’s and new friends complicate everyrhing further making this story the sexy unsolved puzzle that it is. Nobody does a cliffhanger like Helen so please note that going in! Her stories are always worth it and I cannot wait for more Braden Black and Skye Manning! I loved this story from the start, a great start to this series!!

* I received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review *

Follow Me Darkly is book one in the Follow Me Series. I have read Helen Hardt before, so I had high hopes for this book. The idea of the story was good, but it missed the mark.

“I have more in store for you, now that I control you in the dark. Will you follow me, Skye? Trust me to give you all kinds of pleasure.”

Braden had a total Christian Grey vibe. Billionaire who has a need to dominate who also doesn’t do relationships. My problem is that I didn’t buy the story. I was reading the words, but I didn’t feel any connection between him and Skye. When they said “I love you” I was shocked because it seemed out of left field. He may have been attracted to her physically, but I did not feel whatever the author was trying to portray. I have read many books where the hero doesn’t show his emotions but I normally at some point feel him start to change but in this book Braden didn’t.

“Do you know what that means to me? It means you’re mine, Skye. In this bedroom– in the dark, you’re mine.”

I was expecting some crazy secret to be revealed about Braden. Addison’s friend made this big deal about not being able to talk about Braden and Addison’s past and seemed scared to talk about it. When she finally revealed what happened it seemed like that whole thing could have been left out because it was unnecessary.
He opened up a side of me I can only face in the dark.
I did like Skye in the beginning, but she annoyed me because she wouldn’t let Braden and Addison’s past go. It was crazy to go back to his house to snoop and take his mail home. They weren’t even in a relationship and that whole thing was too much. I am not sure whether I will be reading book two since I had a hard time connecting with the characters.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.

Working for a hotel heiress and social media influencer may not be my dream job, but at least it allows me time to do what I really love-take photographs. Pretty good for a wholesome farm girl from Kansas trying to make it in Boston.Life may not be easy working for a diva, but at least I know what to expect. Until blue-collar billionaire Braden Black strides into the office. He’s beyond handsome and sexy, but also domineering with a definite hard edge. I’m not sure why he’s interested in me, but within a few weeks, he’s showing me a world I never knew existed. He’s opened up a side of me I can only face in the dark, and it’s quickly becoming an obsession. How can I give up something this addictive-even if his secrets could ultimately destroy me.

This is the story of Skye and Braden. Skye is a girl from a farm in Kansas who dreams of being a photographer for National Geographic. But she finds herself as the assistant to Addison Ames who is a hotel heiress and a social media influncer. She has a to of followers and makes a boat load of money off her product selfies. Little do people not know that that Addison isn’t responsible for her own selfies but Skye is doing them. Taking the photos in such ways that it looks like Skye does them herself. Now is the time to tell you too that you are not going to like Addison Ames at all. She is positively awful to Skye. Heck I don’t think there is a person in the world that she could be nice to unless maybe it was her family. She just sucks!!! But one particular “selfie” with coffee which she hates and a comment to that fact from Braden Black and this leads to a lot of deleted comments and him visiting her office and this is where he and Skye meet. Braden is a poor boy from the wrong side of the streets who grew up dirt poor but is now a self made billionaire. He has past with Addison but now the two can’t stand each other and the attraction between he and Skye is a lust at first sight thing for both of them. This leads to dinner and the proposition of a one night stand. I have to stop there or I am going to tell to much about the book. This is the story or a girl who is has certain needs and a man that makes all that come true. A girl and boy who are super attracted to each other, one wanting more than the other. But there is also a huge secret running all though this book that has to do with the past of Braden and Addison. I loved this book so much. It is one of those books you pick up and you don’t want to put down. I loved Addison and Braden. I loved that she was a small town girl, I loved she had a dream and how she appreciated Braden for him and not what he had or could provide or do in this world. She just liked him for who he was. Braden has this heart of gold and never forgets where he is from and that made me melt at times. He’s not a selfish self absorbed billionaire. He does some things that make me go hmmmm….I might hurt him at this point but it seems he can redeem himself. He also though has some very specific tastes in the bedroom and I don’t think all that has been revealed yet but I am sure it will be in the next book, Follow Me Under. Oh did I not mention this is a trilogy. You should expect a cliffhanger and it is quiet the cliff to be left on the edge of it. I loved this book and you guys will too. You do not want to miss this one.

So I’ve read quite a few of this authors book, and have enjoyed most of them, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to read her new book Follow me Darkly. This story has a lot of Fifty Shades writing to it, which would be okay if the characters were somewhat likable,, I found Braden an arrogant jerk and Skye seemed to be a spineless woman who tried to assert herself but failed miserably in my opinion. Addison was a high maintenance moron that had no right to have any employees which made any interaction just irritating for me. The writing style was classic Helen Hardt, which is amazing, it’s just the storyline that turned me off, which is not normal for me with her books. Unfortunately this book didn’t do it for me. I loved Tessa and for the most part Betsy, but if things would have been a bit different it could have turned out to be a good read. Fifty Shades was its own incredible entity. Time to leave it be and write about something else.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

Woah! I’m speechless! This book held me spellbound. I read it in one day! Yes, it’s so good I couldn’t put my kindle down.

The provocative plot flows seamlessly. The characters are formidable and enigmatic. I don’t know what to think about Braden and his desire to control but whatever it is I want more! The pages smoldered with his every word and action. He’s the enigma I want to know more about!

Skye likes to have some semblance of control in her life and finds herself enthralled by the hold that Braden exerts on her. Her draw to him is palpable and she finds herself becoming more accepting of her inner desires as she succumbs to letting go of her need to have control.

After that ending I don’t think I can wait until January to continue this tantalizing read with Follow Me Under.

Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt is an intense, raw, erotic, mysterious, complex, suspenseful, intriguing, sexy romance read that takes the reader on quite the ride and leaves them on the edge quite literally with a Cliffhanger ending. Braden is a self made Billionaire who knows what he wants and gets it; Skye is an aspiring photographer and is an assistant and photographer for influencer, Addison Ames who is a hotel heiress. Braden is 35 to Skye’s 24. They had a chance meeting when Braden came to meet her boss and Braden met Skye. There was an immediate connection/chemistry between them. The story follows how he made her a proposition that she can’t refuse. I won’t say anymore because…spoilers. Just know the start of the series is really good. The cliffhanger had me going “OMG”. I can’t wait for book 2.

My Rating: 4.5 stars *******

Follow Me Darkly was a steamy erotic story and my first Helen Hardt novel. The story held my interest right from the start. There was an underlying mystery throughout the story that I loved and kept me turning the pages wanting to know more.
Braden and Skye had instant attraction from the moment they met and there was a lot of push and pull as they both battled for control.
I loved Braden. He knew what he wanted and went after it and what he wanted was Skye. I liked Skye for the most part, but there were certain parts in the story where she annoyed me. The steamy scene between these two started off hott and got even more scorching. With mystery captivating sensual tension and intriguing characters, this novel was consuming and addictive and I can’t wait for the next book Follow Me Under to see what happens next.

Ever read a book by an author and think to yourself “why haven’t I read their books before?”. Yeah, that’s where I am after I finished reading this book. This book is all sexy and sensual, tasteful erotica with a bit of mystery mixed in. There’s a hint of dark thrown in, but nothing outrageous or gasp-inducing, but my heart rate did pick up just a bit. Loved the chemistry between Skye and Braden. I really want to know more about Braden; the fact that he’s so tight-lipped about his past really kicked my curiosity into high gear. We really don’t learn a lot about Braden, so I’m hoping all of him will be revealed in the follow up book.