This is the first book I've read from this author and I'm now a fan. The writing and storytelling is amazing and she knows how to keep you invested into the very end. Follow Me Darkly is steamy, sexy, mysterious, dark, and entertaining! Skye and Braden are two characters you can't help but root for and love! Their chemistry, attraction and Braden’s no nonsense banter were refreshing.

Well written and very engaging. The story unfolds in a realistic, captivating way with underlying secrets keeping you turning the pages until the very end. It has a few slightly darker elements, but overall I found it sensual and exciting. I’m now holding my breath for the next book in the series.

I want to thank Netgalley, and Amara/Entangled Publishers for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review. After reading twenty-one chapters of Follow Me Darkly, it reminded me too much of another popular book/trilogy of the same genre. In Follow Me Darkly, a young female photographer, Skye, is making her way in the business world, with very little social and sexual experience. By chance, she meets very handsome, sexy, and self-made billionaire, Braden Black. After seeing Skye and taking her to dinner, Braden Black has decided he wants to go to bed with her. When they finally go to bed, he exposes her to a world sensually she never imagined existed. However, Skye has control issues, and Braden has secrets he won’t share with her. Although the sexual scenes were well written, after their second time together, I unfortunately lost interest in the characters and the book. I won’t be recommending this book.

Woowee! This steamy read goes from dark to darker, with some shades of grey sprinkled throughout. Talk about HOT! 🔥

Braden meets Skye when he comes barging into her office looking for her boss. There is no love lost between those two and Braden invites Skye to dinner. At dinner, he informs her that he will have her in his bed. This book starts out with a bang and doesn't slow down at all.

Skye is apprehensive, but ends up taking Braden up on his offer. At least until he tries to take full control and she isn't having any of that. He wants her to let go of that control, but she can't handle it. This push me pull you conflict goes on through some seriously steamy encounters.

If you're looking for a steamy read, look no further! This is a great one!

I love billionaire stories that bring together the small town girl and the emotionally wounded self-made man. Helen Hardt does an amazing joy with this concept in her book Follow Me Darkly. The story of Skye Manning and Braden Black is intoxicating, provocative and mysterious. Braden’s secret past with social media influencer, Addison, who also happens to be Skye’s boss, is the big reveal waiting to happen. This doesn't stop Skye from quickly falling hard for Braden. Is he all he says he is or is there a much darker side to him? I can’t wait to find out all that happens with Skye and Braden in the next book in the Follow Me series.

I try not to judge erotica books harshly. As long as I enjoy the sex scenes I’m a happy reader. Easy to please, that’s me. I was asked to review Follow Me Darkly by Entangled Publishing and all thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
Does anyone remember the multitude of erotica books that came out after Fifty Shades of Grey that were almost carbon copies of it? Of course you do. Well this is one of those. Despite that it does have some good stuff in it. There’s a masturbation scene which I can’t recall reading in a romance novel besides The Earl I Ruined by Scarlett Peckham. I give the book points for that. I wish it had dirtier, kinkier sex scenes (I mean it’s supposed to be light BDSM-like sex) but I get the feeling the reader is swimming in the shallow end in this book. Perhaps book two will dive right into the deep end.
There were also funny scenes which is always a treat. The characters actually had personalities!
I think this worked great as an introduction book. It gives the reader a feel for the characters without revealing too much.
Despite thinking I was reading a Fifty Shades of Grey carbon copy at times I was still flipping the pages like a madwoman. So if you’re interested I would definitely give it a try. Book two can’t come soon enough!

Well, it started off good enough but then the language felt too old to be in the voice of a 24 year old. When she mentioned Jazzercise and renting Pay-per-view Porn, I’m assuming the writer is at least in their late 50’s to early 60’s. Especially if the book is not taking place in the late 80’s, which it isn’t. Also, nothing will take you out of a sex scene faster than reading the words vulva and perineum. If you’re going to write from the perspective of a younger person, at least try to be up to date.

Follow Me Darkly is the most recent book by Helen Hardt, that goes in a whole new direction than what you’re used to from the author! Holy hotness! Braden Black has his eyes set on Skye Manning, who he met through Addison, Skye’s employer. He wants her in a way he’s never wanted anyone before, and he wants everything she has to offer. Control is the name of the game and Braden wants to win. Is Skye willing to play his game? Is she willing to relinquish her total control? You have to read to see what happens…Hardt’s left us with quite the cliffhanger!

It was so easy to follow Addie and Braden into their romance as it darkened!

Addie is mesmerized by the self-made billionaire whom she meets at her office where she assist an heiress, a former paramour of his. She’s tries to resist him, but he is persistent and gets what he wants and how!

This book gets hot fast! “I want to bed you tonight,” is what our sexy Braden Black tell s Addie 15 pages in!!! And you better bet that this only heat up from there as they fight for control and their bedroom antics increase in intensity.

Addie and Braden were an interesting pairing. He is a big-city billionaire, she is a country girl who work as a personal assistant. They both crave/ need control in their lives. It is easy to see that Braden will win her submission with his wealth, power and experience, but I wonder in the end, who will control who? Will Addie be able to rise above? I am hopeful for her. Their whirlwind “romance” quickly makes huge changes to her life and Addie decides to go along with the turn of events… will it make her stronger? Or more dependant on Braden?

Braden seems to be trying to rest all her control/ autonomy from her. Does he really need her full submission? Or will an actual partnership be forged? He is almost an anti-hero- he is so cold and demanding, yet generous and kind. He is an enigma that draws you in with his appeal, but scares you off with his power and control…

I was hooked by Helen Hardt’s easy writing style that had me turning the pages and saying “one more chapter…” until the book was over! My only complaint (which, I should should have knew better) was that this is a cliffhanger and we are left waiting for Follow Me Under (Jan 2021) to see what Addie and Braden do next! I have so many questions for these two and I am anxious to see how this developed- I am already anticipating the next instalment!

Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt is scheduled to release September 29th, 2020.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#FollowMeDarkly #HelenHardt #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

Follow Me Darkly is a fabulous read to the new series Follow Me. I can already feel how addicting this series will become after reading this one. I love Braden and Skye together. There is such a spark from the very beginning that you feel grow stronger and stronger through the whole read. There is something about Braden and Skye's instant connection that draws you in. I love how Braden brings out more in Skye and shows her you can be more. I loved this so much. I can't wait to see what is in stored for the rest of this series.

OMG, this book may make you say move over Christian Grey there is a new man in town! What a fabulous introduction to this new series from Helen Hardt. From the first moment the description was released, I knew I had to read it. This is one author who shows her writing chops as she seamlessly enters a new world that is bound to be exciting for those who care to “follow” her. Braden Black is a self-made man who has never forgotten his roots nor the value of hard work. Skye Manning is an aspiring photographer, who works for Addison Ames an Instagram influencer, with the hope of one day taking pictures for National Geographic. From the first instance Skye saw Braden’s picture, there was something that called to her made stronger when she came across him in person. Braden was instantaneously drawn to Skye. However, there was one thing standing between them…CONTROL, Braden wants it and Skye does not want to let it go. Reading this storyline, one can feel the undercurrents flowing as Braden and Skye banter back and forth. Each one is keeping some secrets from their respective pasts that heighten the drama and will keep you glued to your seat. This book is all encompassing and will have your skin heating up. It does end in a cliffhanger but I will definitely make sure to pick up my copy of the next installment.. I highly recommend this book! I volunteered to read a copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Follow Me Darkly (Follow me #1)
by Helen Hardt

This is the first book of the 'Follow me' series and it's my first Helen Hardt book. It's a great option for fans of "50 Shades of Gray" because it has the same concept: a billionaire, handsome and sexy guy that likes dark sex and gets everything he wants and a girl that is just a girl but in this case a girl that likes being in control. The story is very engaging and got my attention from the very first page. The characters are well written but they sometimes they made me roll my eyes. This book is very sexy and well detailed and it's worth reading.

One thing that bothered me a LOT is that this book doesn't have an ending! I know that there will be more books in this series but this specific book doesn't end with a "wow I can't wait for the next book" kinda feeling, it ends with a pause like if there was no more pages to write the rest and it ended with "wait what? is that it? they didn't even finished the conversation" kinda feeling. I really wish they had gone to the party and first and then something happens there and then end this book with something satisfactory or a wow feeling. It really needed one more chapter before jumping to next book. But overall I'm very engaged and I want to read the rest so bad!

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of Skye and Braden. They meet after Braden comments on a post of Skyes boss Addie. Addie and Braden had a thing years back and she warns Skye to stay away from Braden but of course she doesn't listen and they start seeing g each other. Addie and Braden both refuse to tell Skye about their relationship, so it makes her curious. A friend if Addies says that Braden us dangerous and can't tell her either. That drive me crazy but i know it adds to the suspense. I loved Braden right away, I mean who doesn't love an alpha bachelor whose relationship walls start to crumble. I liked Skye enough, she was always asking why, why why. Seriously just shut up and stop questioning everything, but I understand that it a common theme with Helen's female characters. I just don't like it, but thats me. I did like their chemistry and bedroom scenes were steamy. I have read many many books by this author and cant wait for the next in the series.

I DNFed at 20%. I don't feel any chemistry between the characters. Braden says "you don't seem dangerous so much as someone who liked to be in charge" when he's had zero interaction with her. If the reader doesn't know it, then how does he?

"He relaxes. I can tell by how his body reacts." The second sentence is entirely unnecessary. How else would the she know?

"Finally, his lips turn upward and he laughs like he's happy." That's a very weird sentence.

As someone's who's experienced anorgasmia in the past, I did not like how this was portrayed. She has her first orgasm their first night together, twice, and it's simultaneous? It's not a magic lock only he has the key to, it's more often headspace and trust.

Dark is the perfect description of Braden Black! He is a brooding self-made Billionaire who goes after what he wants. What he wants is Skye. She is an unassuming photographer working for a hotel heiress / Instagram influencer. She has a simple life and then meets Braden. Worlds collide, passions explode and her heart is on the line. But his secrets make her wary. Just not wary enough to walk away from what she wants and what she wants is him in all of his darkness.

This book kept me turning pages and waiting to see what he would do next. Now there is more on the line than her heart and I hope he won't destroy it. I am greatly anticipating Follow Me Under!

WOW....is all I can say....the book keeps you going and going and going until it stops and leaves you wanting to see what happens. It had a very common story line with a slight mystery that plays in the background.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, a;; thoughts and opinions are my own.

Follow Me Darkly is the first book in Helen Hardt’s Follow Me series and an intriguing and passionately sensual account of dominance, possession and relinquishing control. Ms Hardt’s characters always have deep and profoundly complicated personas; but the depth of feeling and emotion in her books catalogues these relationships with genuine sentiment and understanding.
Follow Me Darkly is an intense and captivating story that will draw readers in from the very first page, and create anticipation for the next exciting instalment.

I don't know what to think because a lot of times the relationship seems one sided. Braden seems like a man with a lot of potential in a relationship but he doesn't allow himself to invest effort in it. His want for control over Skye and possessiveness is too powerful. It's like if he has blinders on. But since I can still read that Skye is all in and is trying to keep a normal and leveled out relationship, I'm rooting for her. Forget all the unsupporting people around them! I want them to succeed. For that to happen Braden needs a wakeup call and a few lessons in loosing some battles, but is not impossible. In the meantime there is definitely a lot of hot and sexy, fan yourself moments.

Erotic. Braden is a billionaire with a need for control and a dark past. Skye is the small town girl who has captured his attention. This is a story of push and pull where public opinion and sex are the controlling factors. This is the first in the series and there are a lot of factors in play that are yet to be decided.

Voluntarily reviewing an ARC of this. All opinions are objective and my own.

This is my first novel by Helen Hardt. For the most part, I was impressed. It’s like 50 Shades but more intense.

I was very hooked by the story. There’s a small level of mystery in it, surrounding Braden to keep it really interesting. I had no complaints about Skye. She’s got a bit of spunk to her, she’s funny, and she fights back against Braden. What I disliked in this book, was Braden. While everyone critiqued Christian Grey and Edward Cullen, I enjoyed their characters, so my critique of Braden surprised even me. There’s sexy control and then there’s being mean, and I felt Braden fell into the mean category, especially at first. He talks down to her often, orders her around, and only seems to humor her want of a relationship, but not actually be in it. There was many scenes that unfortunately had me cringing. On the other hand, I also liked how refreshing he was. After the first time they have sex, he gets her a car home and it’s over. No snuggles, no emotions, and she doesn’t even stay in the house, but elsewhere, and for his type of character, this does make sense.

Skye is working for a media influencer as the photographer. Through Addison, she meets Braden who is instantly smitten with her and this starts her whirlwind romance. Again, she’s great for resisting at first. The romance has its sweet moments, but I did find it super realistic. She’s a woman in like, and he’s fairly ‘whatever’ about it. After reading the cliffhanger, I wonder if it’s truthful, because his character is aligned with those beliefs. His actions toward her throughout does suggest the cliffhanger having more truth to it than not.

The sex is insanely hot. I really enjoyed how it worked up to the BDSM and it wasn’t a fact right away. He always knew his goal with her, but didn’t scare her off.

All in all, it’s a good read and I definitely want to read the rest of the series. I enjoyed it quite a lot, save for Braden.