I've seen Helen Hardt's novels in the years we've been blogging but for one reason or another, or none in particular, I've never gotten around to reading anything by her. So while I was cruising around NetGalley the other day, looking for something new and different, I saw Follow Me Darkly and thought, what the heck, let's see what this is all about, and requested it. The NetGalley gods were kind and before I knew it, hurricane days gave me time off work and a new book to try.

My initial thought when I looked at the cover was that it had that old school FSOG feel to it. Are you seeing that too? So I went into the reading wondering what, if any, similarities there would be. I'm not sure if going into it with that mindset made me see various nods to that famous book, if I was imagining it, or what (so I asked Court to read to confirm or deny what I thought I was seeing) but I definitely saw some easy comparisons to FSOG. That being said, this wasn't some knock off--it definitely had it's own thing going, and it's evident that Helen Hardt has a lot of writing experience. The pacing and dialogue and building tension worked well.

The story of Skye and Braden is one part insta-chemistry. These two feel the tingles early and often. Their sexytime starts almost instantly and is a constant. If you're looking for pages of erotica, featuring a bossy and brooding alpha male, this book has got you covered.

The story is one part push and pull--they both want a sense of control but really only one of them seems to have it at any given time. While it would seem obvious who has the ultimate control, it's never just that one person. Sure, he has money and power and a controlling demeanor, but he can't stay away from her and that makes her a pretty powerful figure, doesn't it? To be fair, she's equally addicted to him and his orgasm giving, so while she has THE say so when it comes to what he wants, she gives in freely.

The story is one part mysterious history. He has a secret. She wants to know. Simple, right? Nope. It appears, from the ending of book 1, that it is and will be more complicated. I have a feeling we're going to think we know certain things and then we'll find out that there's a lot more to it than we suspect.

As to the nods to FSOG, you've probably already picked up on some--he's a powerful rich dude, she's a young up and coming; he wants her to join him in a world she's unfamiliar with; there are some touching things that remind me of Christian (did you see those too, Court?); and of course, the secret, that seems to involve a certain someone, and I'm assuming some lurking danger.

All this to say that this novel was super easy to devour in an afternoon. Parts of it hit for me, parts of it seemed over the top, but true to form--I'll be reading what comes next to see how it all goes down.

My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC/Entangled: Amara for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

Gorgeous cover and good writing. Somewhat stereotypical hot, young billionaire with Dom tendencies and a dark-to-him secret finds a younger beautiful and sexy woman (who doesn't realize/think she's that pretty) and makes her realize that she can only enjoy sex fully when she gives up control, but she wants a relationship and to find out what makes him tick.

They do use condoms, but they don't have the safe sex talk until the time he forgets to put one on. Then they disclose they are clean and she's on The Pill, so she would like for him to not use condoms from that point on. Reality rears it's ugly head here, as before the talk, they were going down on each other with abandon and not all diseases are blocked by a condom and The Pill isn't foolproof, but if you can gloss over that, the book is really quite good.

The writing is above par, WAY better than the book trilogy that made this genre main-stream, and there IS a plot and a quality BFF for the h. The h has her own dreams and abilities, which I respect. She and her BFF Tessa seem like good people.

Only 3 stars, as this isn't quite my genre and it seemed a tad derivative to me, but I will not hesitate to suggest this to the customers who come into our store who enjoy this genre. And that cover is GORGEOUS AND links to a scene in the book, so big plus. So 3.5 stars if we had the half-star option available to us.

Sinfully delicious, is what this book was. I found myself totally consumed by this book, it's complex story and its compelling characters. The dynamic between the lead characters appealed to me and I thought their chemistry was electric. I liked that Skye was making discovers about herself and I loved how intense Braden's pursuit/need for her is. Tension, heat, mystery, drama, desire and secrets lead you on an enticing trip to a cliffhanger and the wait for book two.

'Follow Me Darkly' is the first book of the 'Follow Me' series by Helen Hardt. Told in dual Perspectives , this book was one amazing erotic tale!

This was a new to me author and I absolutely loved her style! The book was delicious and gave me some serious fifty shades vibes , which alone made me love it even more! Braden and Skye have absolutely stolen my heart!

Braden had this delicious Aura around him that sucked me right from the start. That man dripped confidence and anyone who came in his path was removed. He had a small circle and there were very few people whom he trusted. Skye was similar to him too. She was his perfect match and had a bit of dominant tendencies. But when she came face to face with branden's dominating personality , she couldn't help but feel very turned on and helpless at how much he made her feel.

Fair warning , this book was a cliffhanger , a very gut punching cliffhanger too , so beware. Overall this story was amazing and I absolutely loved the characters and can't wait for more of them! A definite recommendation to all the dark Romance lovers out there!!

4 stars

Follow me Darkly is my first book of Helen Hardt's and introduced me to interesting new characters in Braden and Skye. This book is about control but it's not your typical book on submission. It's more like obsession with control.

Braden is a newly minted, self-made billionaire having invented something that revolutionized the construction industry. He grew up poor in South Boston so while he weilds the new money like a weapon, he hasn't forgotten where he came from.

Skye is a talented photographer whose playing girl Friday to a spoiled brat of a hotel heiress and Instagram influencer, Addison. When Addison resurrects the past by insulting Braden's employee, he meets Skye, whom he feels an instant connection to. Despite declaring they'll never be "in a relationship ", Braden becomes somewhat obsessed with her and continues their sizzling connection. Being called Braden's girlfriend online makes Addison see red and she drops a bomb...they were involved in the past and things ended badly. The mystery deepens when no one will tell Skye the truth about their mysterious past, except that he's "dangerous"! Will Braden open his heart to Skye and lead her to a life she's never known or will be simply lead her into the dark?

Interesting story with enough intrigue to keep me turning the pages deep into the night (although I didn't realize this was the start to a serial). While I really enjoyed Skye's character, I struggled with Braden because he's not very nice to our girl but did enough their back and forth. Their connecting sizzles and I definitely have to tune in to see how it unfolds!

AnnMarie - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog

This is the first book in the Follow Me Series, an erotic romance. The story is hot! Skye and Braden share an instant attraction, and an undeniable and sizzling hot chemistry. Skye is lovely and determined. Braden is rich, handsome, secretive, and intriguing. The story is well written and interesting. I can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy, Follow Me Under, to know what happens next.

I received this ARC in return for an honest review from Net Galley.

This book was hot from the very beginning. It reminds me of the 50 shades trilogy but so much better. If you aren’t into a lot of sex scenes this book is not for you. It also has a little bit of mystery throughout where the main character is trying to figure out a secret about her new man. I will definitely be reading the other books in this trilogy when they come out.

This is the beginning of a new series that if all the
books are like this one than its going to be brilliant.
I found this book was absolutely brilliant and a page turner.
The interaction between the characters is interesting and well developed.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book via netGalley.

Pretty good read! Normally I'm not a fan of Helen's writing style but this book just got me. I fell in love. The characters are great and the story was hot and darkly satisfying! Couldn't put it down.

I had never read Helen Hardt, so I thought I'd give her a shot. I understand why people enjoy her books; however, this trope has just been so overdone lately that I can't really enjoy these books anymore. It's the billionaire alpha male who sets his sight on dominating a serious woman who thinks she doesn't want it but does. It's very 50 shades of grey.

Oh boy is this ever steamy! If you’re a blusher like me you won’t want to read this one in front of anyone else. There’s no time wasted either, the book starts to get steamy on page 16!

Skye is a small-town girl from Kansas, living in Boston and working as an assistant for a social media influencer. What she really wants to be doing is taking photos that matter, that make people feel something—not just buy the latest lip stain. In walks Braden Black and shifts her whole world. He’s got issues and secrets of his own. Can Skye figure him out?

If you loved 50 Shades of Grey and have been looking for something new to take its place then you’ll love this book. Dominance/submission erotica at its finest.

This book ends on a cliffhanger, but don’t worry the next book Follow Me Under is due to come out in January 2021 so you won’t have to wait too long.

I had a hard time getting into this book. I didn't relate to any of the characters, and I was hoping for an ending not a cliffhanger, however this does not mean in anyway that this is not the book for you. It just wasn't what I was looking for.

Small town girl- who wants to be a photographer. Only to be working as a media pa for a heiress. Until B enters the picture.
This new series has a little bit of it all. Of course with a little bit of Helens twist and turns. You get one hot little read, can’t wait for more!!

4.5/5

Helen Hardt delivers an irresistible story full of steam and mystery that had me hooked from beginning to end.

In the story we get to meet Skye Manning, assistant to Addison Ames, a Boston hotel heiress and social media influencer. As an aspiring photographer, Skye takes pictures of Addison for her instagram, but that’s not what she has always wanted to do. Having moved from Kansas to the big city in hopes of making a name for herself, Skye quickly gets wrapped around Addison’s world and that includes her past. When Braden Black comes into her life all she knows is that the billionaire shares a past with Addison. But no matter how much Skye wants to know more about their past, neither Braden or Addison want to talk about it. It’s a mystery that she can’t seem to solve, but that soon gets clouded by the enigmatic billionaire as he pulls her into his world and shows her what she is truly capable of doing. Yet, the more time they spend together the more she starts to feel for Braden and she quickly learns that in order to be with him she will have to give up control, something that she is not sure she wants to give up at all.

From the eye-catching cover to the intriguing synopsis, Follow Me Darkly did not disappoint at all. Being the first book that I’ve read from the author, I found the story to be compelling and romantic. Told in Skye’s POV, we get to see her develop and fall completely in love with Braden. Yet, we also get to follow on her journey as she dwells deep into the mystery behind Brande’s past. It’s the closer that she gets that she starts to question who Braden really is. It’s their chemistry that drew me in from the start and I cannot wait to read what happens next. The ending was completely unexpected, since it does end with a cliffhanger, but it worked well in the story. All in all, the story was steamy and romantic. I would highly recommend it if love billionaire romances. :)

**I received an advanced copy from the publisher**

This book just has me completely torn. I honestly don’t know whether I enjoyed it or not. On the positive side, it was extremely readable. Helen Hardt is not a new author by any means, although this is the first story of hers that I’ve read, and her experience as a writer shows. Her style is easy and it flows and held my attention right from the first page to the last.

However, I found that there were a number of things that pushed my buttons, and not always in the best way. First of all, Braden. Braden was a dark and broody billionaire that gets what he wants. And what he wanted was Skye. Why was he so enthralled with her? I’m not quite sure, but it was enough for him to forget common decency, announce to her multiple times that he was going to have sex with her, and then pretty much boot her out of his apartment afterwards. After such an ignominious start, I have no idea why a strong woman with a supposed need for control would keep going back. But Skye does. Despite the fact that Braden seems aloof and wanting just sex and that he’s told her he doesn’t do relationships. Until he suddenly decides that he so enamored with Skye that he apparently does do relationships.

This is just one example of where the actions of the characters in the story were at odds with what they said, and the reasons behind them were never explained. Why was Skye wanting to retain control so much? Why was Braden not interested in relationships? We were just told these things that were integral to creating the story, but never the why behind them.

As a result, I found that I couldn’t really connect with Skye or Braden. The sex was hot, but a little over the top. I mean, how many times can someone truly climax simply because their partner tells them to? Even despite what I may have felt of the physical connection, I still didn’t feel a mental one. There seemed to be no trust or openness in their relationship, yet as the reader we’re supposed to suspend reality and believe that Braden and Skye are in love.

Add to this the utter two dimensional shallowness of Skye’s boss and the supposed secret between the boss and Braden that no one can dare share, and the abrupt end to the book and I’m feeling way more angst reading this than I should.

The strange thing about this book though? Despite the issues I had with it, I’m still wondering what’s going to happen in the continuation of the story. I feel somewhat invested and need to see it through. I didn’t realize that the book was going to just stop on a cliff hanger so now I feel that I need the rest of story to justify my investment of time. This makes it sound as if I disliked the book, which is certainly not the case. I would, however, preferred more realistic characters with more of a connection.

4.5 of 5 stars

I don't often talk about covers but can I just say I'm in LOVE with this cover, it's absolutely gorgeous and made me want to read this book as much as the blurb.

Skye Manning is an aspiring photographer from the Midwest and an assistant to a Boston hotel heiress and Instagram influencer. She's a smart, talented and a control freak.

Braden Black is an extremely successful self-made billionaire with deliciously dark, dominant needs.

Braden just needed one look at Skye to know he wanted her. He's hard to warm up to as he tries to keep their relationship all about the bedroom and he's a jerk about it sometimes. He has a secret past with her boss, which Skye tries very hard to uncover as she falls in love with him.

I loved that Skye stood up for herself and her needs, while still enjoying his need to control her and embracing her desire to give up control.

If you enjoy dominant, submissive play in the bedroom these two are scorching hot.

This is only the beginning of their story and the mystery behind who Braden Black is and the secrets he's keeping. You'll have to wait until January 2021 to get the next part of their story in 'Follow Me Under.'

I received a free copy of this book and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. If you like my reviews I hope you will follow my blog. https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I had heard of this author but this is the first of her books I have read
I'm only sorry I am so late to the game

Wonderfully paced, I loved this - couldn't put it down

Part of a series, I am seriously hooked !!!

3.5 stars

Skye works for influencer Addison Ames. This job is just a stop over for her. She wants to be a photographer. One afternoon, self-made Billionaire, Braden Black shows up. Addison and Braden seem to have a past that didn't end on a good note. But Braden is determined to have Skye.

Their story unfolds quickly. We see Skye falling for him more than she should while Braden still is aloof. Lest we mention there is still the past drama of Addison and Braden that neither will explain.

This story moved too quickly for me. I overall liked the direction it was heading and definitely want to see where it goes.

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. However as we go on this journey with them, it becomes apparent that they both soon become obsessed with each other
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.

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.