Happy Release Day!
on the release today of
Standing Up!
Standing Up: Making the Best Out of Surviving the Worst by Mary L. Devine
True Crime, Nonfiction, Memoir, 272 pages
Published May 6, 2025 by She Writes Press
For true-crime fans, a gripping memoir of a domestic violence survivor who becomes a police detective in the domestic violence unit and is forced to face her demons when her first major case mirrors her own violent assault.
Standing Up invites you on an exhilarating journey with a woman who refuses to be defined by her scars. A pulse-pounding chronicle of survival against all odds, this memoir takes readers along on a plunge into the chilling depths of abusive relationships.
At the tender age of twenty-three, Mary Sweeney-Devine unwittingly stumbled into the clutches of her abuser, igniting anguish and despair. With each heart-wrenching trial, including a hospital visit, she unearthed a reservoir of resilience she didn’t know she possessed. But just when she thought she had weathered the storm, a second marriage to a recovering alcoholic unleashed a tempest of secrets and unforeseen challenges.
Yet Devine emerged from the darkness, fueled by an unyielding determination and a fierce spirit. With the help of unexpected allies, determination, and a sprinkling of humor, she navigated the treacherous terrain of her past—and reclaimed her life with courage. Offering hope to those ensnared in the vicious cycle of abuse, Standing Up is a riveting testament to Devine’s indomitable spirit and a gripping saga that will leave you breathlessly rooting for the victory of the human heart over adversity.
My thoughts about Standing Up ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First lines—"It was spring, a few months after out first wedding anniversary and another of many nights when Vince had gone to the bar after work instead of coming home."
This started out as a very hard book to read. Mary documents the domestic violence that she endured and when I was only about one-fifth of the way through the book, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to continue. I feared that the rest of the book would be more of her trauma and beatings that would end up with her going back to the monsters in her life.
I'm glad I stuck it out though, as Mary overcomes her past and makes a difference in her present—and the future. The journey she takes is long and hard but she is determined to persevere. Standing Up is a positive look at the possibilities to overcome high hurdles when surrounded by the right circumstances and the right people. You just never know when your kindness will change a person's life for the better.
I received an ARC of Standing Up and this is my honest opinion of the book.
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About the author
Mary L. Devine graduated from Wilmington University with a bachelor’s degree before joining the police force, where she served in the detective unit, was promoted to sergeant, and eventually commanded the mounted patrol until her retirement in 2016. She now serves as an investigator for the State of Delaware while dreaming of her next book. Besides writing, she loves painting, swimming, hiking, and horses.
Standing Up is Mary’s first book. She resides in Middletown, Delaware. ~ Publisher website
Connect with Mary
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