THE BOOK INTRODUCES THE PROGRESSION OF DOCTOR BATES'S SINISTER AGENDA

It will take you with its intent storyline in a haze of surprise. You know this was totally and unexpected thing for me because I was predicting some other spicy elements but the story come up with something different and trust me it was as good as book 1. 

Book review February 2021

By booksfortanmay

Burning Desire Fades: The Psychopath and the Girl in Black Prada Shoes
by M. L. Stark

My Rating - 4.8/5

My Review

To be honest when I saw this book and I decided to read it and trust me I am glad that I got to know about it. The book is called Burning Desire Fades by M. L. Stark.

The title is easy to remember, unique and gives that curiosity to read so I feel “Burning Desire Fades by M. L. Stark" is a nice fit for this piece. Cover on the other hand is a very attractive one and complements the title. Overall, the outer look of the book is really appealing and grabs viewer’s attention.

Burning Desire Fades by M. L. Stark is a decent read of 333 pages and I loved reading it last night. I won’t lie but I was super excited to read it after reading the first one out. The book is divided into 43 beautiful titles and which presented where the story is heading out.

Coming to the plot the book introduces the progression of Doctor Bates's sinister agenda which will take you with its intense storyline in a haze of surprise. You know this was totally an unexpected thing for me because I was predicting some other spicy elements but the story come up with something different and trust me it was as good as book 1.

You will be surprised to see how elaborately the author has delivered the story and this will completely take you to a ride of perfectly blended storyline.

There was no unnecessary stretching at all. It was all so perfect. I just loved it all. I loved the experience this book gave. This is my second read from the author and I highly recommend it to all the readers out there.

The book has some of the elements which make it different from other book from the same genre. First one is the way and the sequence it has been written. It is written in such a way that it gives reader curiosity to read more. The second one is the feel, the emotions Transfered while reading the book are just amazing. I loved every part of it.

Book Trailer: BURNING DESIRE FADES

A mother's memories of grief

I notice you are lying still on the table after a stormy night in despair.

I enter the most unrealistic door opening in front of me to the chapel. There is a smell of death. Silence. The room is peaceful. Darkness. Only the candles are burning. Everything is half dark, cold and gloomy.

I look at the white cloth over your beautiful face.

'May I look at him under the cloth?'

'No! Do not touch him,' the man said.

'Why not?'

'DNA! We need DNA.'

Has anything criminal happened? Goes through my head.

The man disappears. He closes the door in silence. 

• Finally, alone in the room.
• There’s a chair next to you.

With horror, I stare at the white cloth. I lift it. I must see if it’s you. I’m looking at your face.

I get the urge to kiss you on the forehead.

• Kiss you on your cheek.

• Hold your hand.

• Give you a hug.

Do not touch! The guy had told me.

• It has laid a distance between you and me.
• I’m crying.
• I gasp for breath.
• My heart stops for a moment.
• I miss you so much.
• I touch your chilly hand.
• Caresses your cold cheek

I give you a finger kiss on the forehead and lay back the cloth over your icy pale face. Then I cry while I sit with you for a quiet moment.

• Your sister sits waiting outside. 
• She can’t. 
• It broke her.
• You brother's don't understand. 
• So, I say farewell to you from your sister and brother's.

I wish you’re only at sleep like when you were a little boy, when I anxiously watched over your tiny fragile body. In desperate longing, I wait for you to wake up again. 

    Wake up! 

    It’s late! 

    Open your eyes!

    Don’t leave me in such a devastated mess.

    A mother with her deceased son.

    The days of grief never disappear.

A memorial is being planned. Nobody says anything.  

    The week goes by until I get the message. 

    He’s free!

    

Seven days after they freed you. Now we decorate your white coffin.

• Flowers.
• Red Roses.
• A letter.
• A teddy bear. 
• A cross. 
• We pray. 
• Crying. 
• Listening to the priest.

Your mom says a few words. We sing songs for you in church. Play a lovely tune for you. 

Enigma; Rivers of Believe. 

You love Enigma. 

Your lovely little girl is watching. Your baby is sleeping. Your sister is crying. Your brothers are in despair and I cry before we finally lay you to rest on God’s created green earth.

• You take the truth with you. 
• What happened?
• Good-bye, my love.

Yet I do not know what the truth is.

Nevertheless, you are forever gone. 

A mother's memories of devastating Grief

Copyright © 2021 ^. All Rights Reserved ^. M. L. Stark

Book review by bookfortanmay on BURNING DESIRE - February 2021

Book review by Bookfortanmay

☀️Burning Desire: The Psychopath and the Girl in Black Prada Shoes by M. L. Stark 📚

My Rating - 4.7/5 🌟

My Review📚

💕🌟Welcome back folks, another review is all set for you. This time we have an outstanding piece which you can totally relate and can even take motivation from. Yes! all you need is keep this excitement till the last line and here you go. Books are just so lovely, they have immense power and peace. This time we have something really good for you, and I'm sure you'll cherish every single part of it.

💕🌟Starting with the title of the book , Being a relevant one to the story the title also has the feature that is easy to understand and remember whereas the best one is that after the viewer reads the title for the first time it gives a certain curiosity to read more about it. The cover on the other hand compliments the title so I would say that the outer appearance of the book is really the one which attracts the viewer to buy and read it.

💕🌟Burning Desire: The Psychopath and the Girl in Black Prada Shoes by M. L. Stark is a long read of 358 pages which took time to finish but I was totally hooked to it. The first thing I loved about the book was how it was divided into 33 titles and they are all unique one giving a vibe where the story is heading too.

💕🌟Coming to the plot the protagonist is Mary whose life is being portrayed in the book who was guilty of allowing herself to be the prisoner of her miserable life. Sounds relatable? We all have been there. So this is a story of Mary falling in love , with a cunning character Drake who was manipulative at the first place. The word psychopath in the title is for Drake only , you will understand this when you will read it.

💕🌟 I will recommend each one of you to grab a copy to know 

🌀How does she figure out what she can expect from such people? 

🌀Her life was never the same, but she learned from his evilness.

SUSPENSE AND THRILLER Part 2 - The Prairies Book Review

 

Burning Desire Fades: The Psychopath and the Girl in Black Prada Shoes, Part II by M. L. Stark

BY THEPRAIRIESBOOKREVIEW on NOVEMBER 7, 2020

A disturbing tale of deception and lies…

The second installment in The psychopath and The Girl in Black Prada Shoes series continues with Mary’s story as she finds herself further swallowed in a dark web of lies and deceits. The things between Paul and Mary are turning bitter with their children stuck in the middle. With the divorce proceedings on, Mary is fully entrapped in Drake’s sinister scheme. He is overly attentive to her, and their romance is blooming.

The first warning signal flashes for Mary when their vacation trip is interrupted by a sinister Asian mafia boss trying to recover his stolen money from Drake. Soon Mary finds herself running for her life with Drake at her side with mafia at their heels. The stakes rise when a plethora of sexual abuse and financial fraud cases open against the charismatic doctor. Dejected, Mary finds a ray of hope when the enigmatic Daniel Detwiler walks into her life. Will she take a chance or will her traumatic experience with Drake get in her way?

Stark nicely captures Mary’s internal struggle as she continuously questions her own decisions of getting involved with Drake. Several countries of world, including Hongkong, Spain, Holland, Croatia, Caribbean, United Arab Emirates among others serve as a picturesque backdrop for this pulp thriller.

Stark is good when it comes to sketching her characters, but she needs to work on her writing: the narrative jumps in timelines, causing confusion in readers’ minds, and the plotting is loose, making it difficult to stay invested in the story.

The inclusion of mob elements imbues this dark romance with standard pulp thrills. But more than a troubled romance, this is a study in psychopathy as Mary attempts to understand Drake’s twisted personality. As she delves deeper into the issues of her relationship with Drake, she realizes he is incapable of empathy, guilt, or loyalty to anyone but himself. Mary has come a long way from the naïve, overly simple middle-aged woman of Burning Desire who couldn’t see behind the charming façade of her lover to the assured, reflective woman of Burning Desire Fades. It pains her that despite plenty of red herrings she failed to see the real person behind his charismatic personality. With his shallowness, a grandiose sense of self-worth, and his lack of remorse, Drake comes out as a full-fledged psychopath, who uses flattery as a weapon to entrap his victim.

Any woman struggling with the uncertainty that can accompany dating a psychopath will find herself relating to Mary’s story.

The Prairies Book Review

On the day, I lost you forever.

In memory of you, my beloved son.

Why do I have to cry on this day every year?

• It hurts. 
• It’s thumping in my head. 
• My heart beats faster with each passing minute until the clock strikes six PM.

You left without saying goodbye. That day my soul, my spirit, my heart got torn. My heart broke when you were no longer there. Now it will stay broken.

I wish I could call you in heaven and hear your voice. 

• Hear your laughter. 
• Tell you how much we all miss you. 
• Your sister and brothers. 
• Your children. 
• I miss you. 

Not a day goes by without me thinking of you. Mostly in silence, where I often say your name.

• I want to hold your hand. 
• Embrace you. 
• Comfort you. 
• Laugh with you. 
• Talk to you.

I am looking at the angels. Are you one of them?

I am peaking at the stars. Are you one of them blinking at me in the darkness of the silent night?

I am glaring at the illuminated moon. Imagining you’re sitting on the edge.

You’re looking down at me and writing me a letter.

• I am thinking about the memories.
• Glancing at the pictures of you.

You stay steadfast in every beat of my heart.

• I will never forget you. 
• I can’t forget you. 
• I won’t forget you.

But, mostly, I wish this tragic day had never happened.

MOM

Copyright © 2021 ^. All Rights Reserved ^. M. L. Stark

 

My biggest test of them all.

Some say we should stay safe and healthy. Great idea! So I was invited for my 1st COVID vaccine. I had to decide; do I want a shot or not.

Next, my COVID-19 vaccination is booked. Yeah, and today they even send me a reminder for my shot, booked for today.

• I freaked out!
• I froze like a statue!
• Help, I am freaking scared!
• I hate needles!

Well, it must be done so we can be safe and stay healthy (I suppose!)

I don't know what to think about it; is it right or wrong? If Covid Vaccine is given to over 15 million in UK, then I can do it too.

I did it!

SUSPENSE AND THRILLER - Part 1 - The Prairies Book Review

SUSPENSE AND THRILLER - Part 1

Burning Desire: The Psychopath and the Girl in Black Prada Shoes, Part I by M. L. Stark

BY THEPRAIRIESBOOKREVIEW on NOVEMBER 7, 2020

Dark and intriguing…

In Stark’s debut installment in the Girl in Black Prada Shoes trilogy, a middle-aged woman becomes prey to a manipulative psychopath. Fifty-year-old Mary is feeling insecure and unhappy: her husband of many decades Paul is unfaithful and living in Copenhagen with their children.

Alone in Spain, she starts seeing the charming Dr. Drake Lucifer Bates, a renowned doctor of complementary and alternative medicine, for a foot problem. It doesn’t take long for Drake to prey on Mary’s vulnerability. Needy and susceptible, Mary is drawn into repeated visits to Drake’s clinic and soon begins a full-fledged affair with him. As their relationship progresses, it becomes abusive and dangerous. Ignoring all the warning signals, Mary throws herself into the affair. On Drake’s suggestion she begins her divorce proceeding with Paul, unaware of the former’s sinister plan of feeding on her wealth.

Because the story is based on real-life experience, readers will sympathize with Mary and her struggles. The story gains more relevance, considering the fact Mary is not a young girl in her teens or twenties, but a mature fifty-year-old woman who has seen the world. It’s her neediness and desire to feel loved that makes her fall prey to Drake’s manipulative endeavors (their relationship stars after Drake forces himself on her during her first ever visit to the clinic). The novel’s pacing is uneven, and the writing needs polishing.

Sudden shifts in time period as she jumps from situation to situation while narrating her story hamper the flow of the narrative. But Stark skillfully construct a manipulating sexual predator in Drake in whom Mary finds a sympathetic listener who flatters her constantly. She becomes entirely dependent on him, alienating herself from her husband and family, and rationalizing away warning signals that arise. Mary comes out as a slightly unhinged narrator who consistently contradicts herself. Set in Macau, Bali, Spain, and Denmark with Mary at the center, this novel beautifully brings the setting and culture of each place. Graphic scenes of sex and violent rape as well as Drake’s manipulative ways, contribute to the dark atmosphere. Along the way, Stark skewers marriage, relationships, and infidelity. While the novel’s trajectory is predictable, Mary’s over-the-top gullibility and her impulsive actions are entirely believable. Despite its obvious faults, Stark succeeds in demonstrating how easy it is to fall under the sway of a charming predator.

The Prairies Book Review

A matter of trust

On my daily walk to the beach, I first stumbled over a squirrel jumping in front of me. Glaring at me and then it ran off. 

Next, I see this tiny Robin as the bird is picking grain from the ground. I stop! 

Grab my iPhone and take pictures of it. Half a meter away from me, he stops! Glares at me, then I got the shot. Trusting, it eagerly jumps around, now closer by my side. I smile. I’m in joy. Then I take off walking to the beach. 

My point is: trust between; humans and birds and birds to the humans. And trust between; humans and animals and animals to the human. The major thing is trust between humans and humans. 

Can we always trust each other?

I gave my ex to many years of my unconditional love, faithfulness, honesty and loyalty. I trusted everything what was told during the love-bombing phase. What was the purpose? He was getting to know all my soft spot, my family issues, my hopes, my past, my dreams. I forgive! I trust! But, did he ever care? It was only about gathering information. To use my most intimate details and to use my secrets to hurt me later. 

And then it just happened… I figured out that I had been lied to all the time. Such people lie like others breathe. But honestly, it wasn’t only all the many lies. It was the massive manipulation, and suddenly I woke up and finally realised that he mentally abused me. Taken advantage of me the entire time and even though I stayed confused about his feelings…. nothing was enough anymore! 

His expectations for me to be his slave in unconditional love. The lies and put up with his dishonesty! Loan after loan and no one did he ever pay back. 

Then the cyber-stalking began. And of course the story that where told to everyone; he NEVER loved me, he didn’t even know me. But strangely in his opinion; it was my loss not being together with him any more…. I wonder what exactly did I lose? Whatever he thinks I’ve lost…. I haven’t looked for it at all! And I’m grateful for that. Such people are irrelevant, a stranger to me, a person I can’t trust, yet I trusted him too much. 

I regained my-self-worth. I see the beauty in life again. The bird trusted I wouldn’t harm it. I trusted it to stay so I could get a close-up shot of it. Again, I have happy hopes for a brighter future!

BURNING DESIRE - Part 1

BURNING DESIRE FADES - Part 2

Copyright © 2021 ^. All Rights Reserved ^. M. L. Stark

Love is the most wonderful of all feelings.

It is Valentine’s day, and we know love is the most wonderful of all feelings.

It's a shitty cold weather on the south coast of England. Rain, wind howling, and the wild waves crashing 50 metre from my window, while I'm watching the British weather rage from my living room, with an inside temperature of 20 degrees. But it’s Valentine’s Day, a hot loving day, a happy day, despite the foggy grey clouds on the horizon. 

On this very special day, it’s now 10 years ago since I received my ever first Valentines card.

A year ago on this very special day I also published BURNING DESIRE – The Psychopath and The Girl in Black Prada Shoes - Part 1

There was nothing better when my beloved expressed what I believed was his heartfelt emotions to me. It made me feel special. During our first half year, and in our early stage of the Honeymoon phase he had send me six special Valentine’s ecards. I was ecstatic! I was loved by his love-bombing and his enthusiasm of sending me so many love letters. I wanted to be his Valentine and sit under the three of love with him, kissing, embracing and holding our hands in our forever love.

What I didn’t know at the time being; my boyfriend was 90% psychopathic, and the rest of his 10% were possibly a loving and caring side as his devoted words blended with romantic emotions. Those 10% made me believe he was 100% real and had a clean and heartfelt soul.

I truly believed he loved me with all his heart. That he wanted me to be his one and only Valentine this year and every year thereafter.

I loved him unconditionally and felt strong with him when he gave me a new life, a valued gift to be loved when he picked me up from my sadness and called me ‘baby’, ‘little girl’, ‘MM’, and many other sweet nicknames. How cute is that?

Well, the happy ending wouldn’t last forever.

Ever since he captured me, he gave me multiple uppercuts in my face, plenty of malicious kicks in my ass and many nasty punches into my face, when he assured me, “Trust me. I love only you.” OK, they were not physical ‘kicks’ or ‘uppercuts’, but emotional nasty punches every time.

I wonder if he was worth any of it because he did his best to systematically to destroy me year after year. 

I tried to keep up my courage and positive spirit by searching for the necessary peace in my life with him. Thus, I paid a vast price for the choices I made, and I don’t deny I was not always able to figure out the long-term costs of my decisions.

I’m only human, a completely average person, and can love and respect others in a healthy way.

Copyright © 2021 ^. All Rights Reserved ^. M. L. Stark 

WHAT DID HE HIDE?

Was my boyfriend feeding on me and using me? 

Was he singling me out? 
Was he toying and isolating me?

He looked human, charming, and trustworthy, but he acted like a possessed vampire sucking out the blood of his victim. I felt my new boyfriend was always having one foot outside the door, by being constantly one step ahead. It seems that he lacks the essential ingredients that make our relationship to work by constantly undermining me and set me up to be endlessly defending myself.

I was wondering if he was hiding his true emotions behind his charismatic and clever personality. Inferiority, depression, anxiety, boredom, emptiness, detachment, and frustration. Yet, I was only interested in his happiness, reaching his goal of doing better in life with me. No matter what, but for him, it was an occasion to feel superior over me and look down at me as the fool who knows nothing. Like an actor he could emulate great love. He enjoyed being seen with me. Taking advantage. Gently ingratiating himself. But he didn't know how to sustain it, because in the long run he didn't have it in him. What lies beneath is a turbulence of swirling emotions – weakness, envy, greed, fear, and most of all, his inner anger. Emotionally, he was very unhealthy, and he needed someone or something to fix him and without my funds I was nothing to him.

He was hiding mobiles, emails, and money. For sure he was afraid if I saw what was inside his true personality. Might be he was afraid that I would leave him. Then he would lose his luxury of supplies. Nevertheless, would I find out I had been stolen by him?

It’s a mystery if he hated me so much when he smiled falsely in my face. He needed me but treated me like trash. At the same time, he was hiding his past and his future, because he had a full imagination about his future, becoming rich and at the same time build on new needs. And he was hiding his present. It was like living with a stranger and even I wanted to trust him, I couldn’t rely on him and was only coping with his baloney.

He would distort everything and hide it as long as it would take. And he talked gibberish and rudely about his exes, my children, my friends and even my ex-husband.

What my new boyfriend was really showing was only a little act of kindness to keep me hooked, showing me a third party to triangulate me. Showing me that I was worthless, not good enough, that he also was better and above everyone. He possessed a massive God complex believing he was the resurrected Jesus, helping the human mankind to become better and healthier. As Geppetto was steering his puppet in his strings, he trained me to give, and take nothing back, and showing he was better, faster, stronger, taller, and ultimately fantastic sex icon, giving me multiply orgasm I never had achieved with any man before, etc.….

Among the many hurtful things, he did, he was also hiding important stuff from me like apologies, owning a mistake, introspection, and forgiveness in between the many deceptive lovely things he did in my infatuated love I had for him.

That was among some of the things I was up against with my new boyfriend.

Copyright © 2021 ^. All Rights Reserved ^. M. L. Stark

What changed in my personality?

What changed in my personality? 

What was the biggest thing I changed about myself after being in a relationship with him? And what was the biggest thing I changed after I realised all the RED flags I had overruled?

I don’t care what he or others think about me. If they like me as I am, well, that's great! If not, I don't care.

When I at first meet others I am now very careful and don’t believe in what anyone tells me. I sit back and look for them to show me integrity.When I met my boyfriend, he left his previous girlfriend only to be with me.

He claimed to love me within a week and spoke about marriage shortly after he met me. Quickly he made me an offer of marriage even I was still not divorced.

He wanted to move in with me within a matter of few weeks. Everything was a lie, and I didn't see the RED FLAGS.

I don’t compromise anymore to get acceptance or love from another person.

He asked me a lot of personal questions and later he used them against me.

He called me his soulmate / I was his destiny, and we were created for each other. It was all a lie and full of dozens of RED FLAGS I overruled.

I can now sniff out narcs quickly. Backtracking my life with him turns up-side-down my stomach.

• Unexpectedly he told me things about his troubled life that “he never had told anyone before". Well, how interesting that was, getting it all in a 15 pages word document, just to rectify himself.

• Reading it I didn't see the many RED FLAGS, yet they were all written down in black and white. In my infatuation to him once again I overruled all the RED FLAGS.

I no longer avoid situations in my life. I confront them and let the chips fall where they may.

• He told me that my to-be-ex was a deranged stalker on drugs. A pimp! A fraud! A thief! A liar! A psychopath that used me and sold my body to other men. A massive RED FLAG, and I shouldn't have trusted my boyfriend's lies. Deep down in my soul I knew my husband was not like that. Multiply RED FLAGS! Was my new boyfriend portraying himself?

I now hold myself back to please others.

• My new boyfriend wanted to spend every minute of the day with me and I thought it was the ultimate of happiness.
• He manipulated me sexually and said it was the best sex he has had in forever. No one could please him as I could.
• It was all a massive lie, and I overruled the many RED FLAGS by trusting him.

I no longer must prove myself to anyone.

I deal with my feelings in a healthy way and value those I care about more.

I don’t volunteer to help people as much anymore.

It was always fine for my boyfriend with me picking up the bills. Paying for his entire lifestyle. RED FLAG! And why didn't i see it was wrong?

I now live my life on my own terms. I am no longer full of upset stomach feelings with his extreme highs and lows. I feared him. Life is on a perfect path now. I am free of my abuse boyfriend.

I have finally learned what true love and life is. And it’s not with him, because it was not stable nor beautiful. 

Now I see all the RED FLAGS that I have overruled.

STAY OUT! 

AWAY AWAY!

Copyright © 2021 ^. All Rights Reserved ^. M. L. Stark