Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Saving Mary

by Deidre Havrelock (Goodreads Author)

3.48 of 5 stars 3.48 · rating details · 21 ratings · 17 reviews

If you’re a fan of supernatural fiction then you will be captivated by this true story about a spiritually sensitive girl and the path that led to her possession. Part one of a two-part series, Saving Mary is the story of a modern-day Mary Magdalene—the woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons.

Deidre Daily is drawn to anything seemingly spiritual, desperately seeking a...more

Kindle Edition, 170 pages

Published 2012 by Etcetera Press

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 40)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jul 12, 2012 Masquerade Crew rated it 5 of 5 stars

SHARON'S REVIEW

This novel would be spellbinding even if it was a Science Fiction novel, but it's not fiction. It's a true account of author Deirdre (Daily) Havrelock's life, which makes it truly amazing. She saw ghosts, was followed by invisible entities, and felt things psychically that most people couldn't even fathom, let alone deal with. I'm sure that there's a lot more than she's willing or able to tell us, but as it is, the way she was treated growing up was horrific. No wonder she often p...more SHARON'S REVIEW

This novel would be spellbinding even if it was a Science Fiction novel, but it's not fiction. It's a true account of author Deirdre (Daily) Havrelock's life, which makes it truly amazing. She saw ghosts, was followed by invisible entities, and felt things psychically that most people couldn't even fathom, let alone deal with. I'm sure that there's a lot more than she's willing or able to tell us, but as it is, the way she was treated growing up was horrific. No wonder she often prayed that she could just be normal, and be like every other kid she knew.

The thing is, she didn't feel like every other kid. She felt like a bag of dirty laundry in comparison to the others. She felt inferior because she was a child of mixed nationalities. Her Father is Irish, and her mother is Cree Indian. She was further traumatized by an alcoholic father who drank away whatever money came into the house. She and her brother sometimes went without lunch at school. He was a loving parent, but often absent when she needed him most. At Six years old she was sexually pawed by a male relative, which made her feel worse about herself.

She was psychically sensitive, so she could feel invisible entities following her around her whole life. They were like eyes in the corners, watching her wherever she went. I can't imagine how creepy that must have been for her as a child. When she was in high school, she became involved with a Transcendental Meditation group. Those sessions helped her get in touch with the psychic energy surrounding her. Unfortunately, two evil energies entered her during one of the sessions. They warred against each other for possession of her body. She was kicked out of the group for allowing evil into the room. There were more possessions after that, which the book goes into frightening detail about.

This story was riveting. I couldn't put it down. The beginning chapters dealt with her as a child so she wrote as a child would. She dropped the letter g off the ends of words, used slang and colloquialisms to give me the impression that the child herself was speaking to me from the pages. As she became older in the book, the language became more sophisticated, more adult. It was like I was reading her diary, hearing her voice as she grew up. I felt deep empathy for her, and what she went through. This is a fabulous read. It has all the ear marks of a blockbuster. I would highly recommend it. Unfortunately I haven't read the whole story yet. The sequel, Saving Mary – Deliverance isn't out yet. I can't wait.
(less)

like · see review

Jul 06, 2012 Aliaa El-Nashar rated it 2 of 5 stars

The cover is really eye-catching. I loved the colors. I really did.
Why did I choose this book to read? To be honest I don't have a good answer for this. I was attracted by the cover I guess, and thought to check it out anyway. But I have never really been fond of paranormal books, or anything paranormal. I mean, I thought it was Christian fiction at first, and my first Christian fiction hadn't been so bad, so I thought to give this a try. I honestly wish I hadn't.

If Paranormal activity is your c...more The cover is really eye-catching. I loved the colors. I really did.
Why did I choose this book to read? To be honest I don't have a good answer for this. I was attracted by the cover I guess, and thought to check it out anyway. But I have never really been fond of paranormal books, or anything paranormal. I mean, I thought it was Christian fiction at first, and my first Christian fiction hadn't been so bad, so I thought to give this a try. I honestly wish I hadn't.

If Paranormal activity is your cup of tea, or you enjoyed watching The Exorcist or anything with exorcism, then you'd enjoy this book immensely. I on the other hand am not the least bit fond of such movies. Or activity. I mean, I don't not believe in what had happened tot he author - Diedre - but I'd rather not contemplate it happening, since as Muslims we do believe in being possessed and demons.

This book is sort of auto-biographical, a story how the author remembers it, or I guess as close to what she remembers. As a child, she had a very tough time, with family, and had requested God's aid endlessly in vain. She had issues in school, with her drunk father, hated by her teacher and being harassed by an uncle. She's an awkward little child and was terrified of being followed by devil eyes everywhere. At some point she believes she's married the devil, and wants to know how to get out of that.

This book is very eery, and creepy, I honestly wish I had not attempted to read it, since I am rather flighty and fear ghosts and demons. I don't like horror and can barely tolerate thrillers so this book disturbed me for a while.

I did enjoy the way the author wrote, getting you into the mind of the child, though it got confusing at times. But the style of wording things was fit and easy to get you into the mood of the child going through so much at such a young age.

If you're into the paranormal, then you should attempt to read this book, I on the other hand would like to forget the experience, and guess I won't be reading the sequel.

Rating: 2/5(less)

like · see review

Jul 05, 2012 Lisseth (Read-a-holicZ) rated it 4 of 5 stars

**Originally on Read-A-holicZ**

Karina's Review:
This book was a bit confusing. It’s not an easy read and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone under 15. To me this book had a sort of southern vibe to it with phrases like “Shoot and darn” or “sweet baby Jesus”.

I absolutely loved the analogy with Mary trying to hold on to her family to her hanging off a train. There aren’t many characters in this book, well there are but everything cycles around Mary. Mary’s constant struggle between good and bad, god...more

like · see review

Jul 04, 2012 Natalie rated it 1 of 5 stars

I chose this book because it was written by a Christian author, and about an individuals religious experiences despite difficult circumstances. Unfortunately, the book is dark and evil and left me feeling hollow and sad. I know there is a sequal coming, but I will not read any further books from this author.

The book was well-written, and addressed difficult topics of sexual abuse, the relativity of religion, transcendental meditation, and even Satanic worship. All topics that make me uncomfortab...more I chose this book because it was written by a Christian author, and about an individuals religious experiences despite difficult circumstances. Unfortunately, the book is dark and evil and left me feeling hollow and sad. I know there is a sequal coming, but I will not read any further books from this author.

The book was well-written, and addressed difficult topics of sexual abuse, the relativity of religion, transcendental meditation, and even Satanic worship. All topics that make me uncomfortable. I am deeply religious and found her approach to these topics to be rather one sided and depressing. I know that she was writing from the characters point of view, but there could have been a better representation of different options. Diedre, the main character, was raised in a Christian home, and had opportunities to talk to adults about her situation, but consistently chooses to ignore the helpful sources in her life and seeks darkness and sorrow. There is a point where she conciously chooses not become a Satanic worshiper, which was hopeful, but then spends many chapters denying that possibility and avoiding such thoughts, rather than making a concerted effort to find another way. Diedre is an intelligent character and could have made several choices throughout the book that would have made this story much more uplifting and interesting. Instead she chooses to stay as she is, and accept the "devil" in her. I don't appreciate that concept, nor do I accept that she should have chosen the evil over the good. Her relativistic, or post-modern viewpoint on religion in general is a major turn-off for me as a reader, and I would not have anyone I know approach religion in that sense.

I struggled for many days about doing a negative review, as I was given access to this book in return for a review from the publisher and author. I chose to do so because, as a Christian, I look for stories that uplift and affirm my faith and help with the struggles of day-to-day life. I researched this book in advance, and the dark nature and difficult topics in the book are not addressed in the book cover, or any information I received about the book, which is misleading and needs to be changed. I know that there are many other readers who will enjoy this dystopian viewpoint and the path of Diedre through her challenges, but I am not one of them. Hopefully the next book will be more redeeming and uplifting in nature.

Disclaimer: I was asked to review this book. The opinions listed above are my own, and do not reflect the author, publisher or any other associated entity. Others need to base their opinions of this book on their own best judgement and skills. (less)

like · see review

Jun 29, 2012 TAMMY CUEVAS rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bio-memoirs, non-fiction

Deidre's early life was miserable. A drunken father, a disinterested mother, an uncle who molested her, all added up to an unbearable life. She was tormented by nightmares and felt that eyes were watching her at all times. When she began playing with a Ouji board, she came into contact with an "entity" named Fred who claimed to be watching out for her. Fred stayed with her throughout her teen years, refusing to leave even when she asked him to leave.

"Saving Mary" is the first in a two-part serie...more

like · see review

Jun 26, 2012 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've always enjoyed tales about demonic possession. I'm a huge horror fan, so it's no surprise. However, I've only watched it on the big screen in movies like "Christine", "Fallen", "Rosemary's Baby", "The Amityville Horror", and "The Exorcist".

Saving Mary: The Possession is the first book I've read that deals with this topic. It's based on a true story, but it reads like fiction. It's an easy read -- both eye-opening and interesting. I think it would make a great movie, and it would fit right i...more

like · see review

Jun 11, 2012 Darian Wilk rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Saving Mary is about the heartbreaking, fascinating, and sometimes scary story of author Deidre Havrelocks life growing up – fighting possessions and being haunted by demons. Now, right off the bat, how can you possibly resist that premise? Even if a tale of fiction, the idea of demons and possession can be an addicting subject, but throw in the fact that is a REAL story – that someone actually went through this terrible journey…that just brings things to a whole other level.

This story, I though...more

like · see review

Jun 04, 2012 aobibliophile™ rated it 4 of 5 stars

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. - William Shakespeare, Hamlet (Act 1. Scene V)

Deidre Daily wages a battle each moment against her vivid nightmares, the presence of unseen eyes watching her and her family's domestic troubles. through her Ouija Board, Deidre finds escape from her predicament. little did she know that her games and intense desire to know more about the spirit world would lead her down the road to possession.
the book is writ...more

1 like · like · see review

May 25, 2012 Ravina Andrea Kurian rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm a big fan of the "Haunted" series on Discovery channel and this book was like watching a longer version of it. If you believe in God, then you must believe in the Devil, this is in essence what the book shows you.

The conflict of religion, spirituality and the fight against evil comes off as scary and at times unbelievable. How can one person go through so much and live to tell the story? The fact that this is a memoir, a true story will leave a haunting presence with you after you read it.

St...more

like · see review

May 31, 2012 Rebecca Graf rated it 4 of 5 stars

A deeply spiritual book, even Christian, is not always about rays of golden sunshine and immediate answer to prayers. Sometimes the path of a Christian is extremely dark making the Valley of the Shadow of Death look bright and cheery. Ms. Deidre Havrelock explores her spiritual growth in her book, Saving Mary – The Possession.

As you can probably tell from the title, this Christian book will take you down a dark path. You follow a young girl who watches her parents’ marriage fall apart. You see h...more A deeply spiritual book, even Christian, is not always about rays of golden sunshine and immediate answer to prayers. Sometimes the path of a Christian is extremely dark making the Valley of the Shadow of Death look bright and cheery. Ms. Deidre Havrelock explores her spiritual growth in her book, Saving Mary – The Possession.

As you can probably tell from the title, this Christian book will take you down a dark path. You follow a young girl who watches her parents’ marriage fall apart. You see her deal with unseemly behavior from men in her lives. Be prepared to have your heart break as you watch her seek God only to find the evil one.

Deidre finds herself the object of Satan’s desire. He wants her. She seeks God but gets confused as to who is the good guy and who is the bad. The deceptiveness of Satan is extraordinary.

This is a raw book. Ms. Havrelock does not sugar coat anything. She lays out what she sees and experiences with such words that you feel her pain in the book.

What was wrong with the book? It ended. I forgot this was book one. She ended it with me wanting to contact her and demand the next part. My friends will see this as sweet justice directed at me.

What do you need to know before buying this book? It is Christian. It is an exploration in the world of evil. It explores divorce, molestation, drunkenness, demons, and more. It is not a long book but every page is full of the girl’s journey. You won’t find this a light read.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides(less)

like · see review

Jun 02, 2012 Cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Deidre really has something strange going on with her. She is trying to be more spiritual, but the spirits that come into her life aren’t exactly the kind most people would expect or hope for. The spirits that are coming to her are devilish.

The scary thing about this book is that it is a memoir. I really forgot I was reading a memoir when I was reading this book! I give Deidre a lot of credit for having to go through all of this and writing about her experiences.

I was anticipating what was going...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 08, 2012 Stephanie Ward rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

'Saving Mary: The Possession' is an incredibly interesting memoir of a woman who was plagued by supernatural powers. The book is told in a conversational tone, which makes it easy to put yourself into the middle of the story alongside Deidre and all the things happening around her. The narrative is fast paced and well written, which makes it almost impossible to stop reading until you've finished. The story itself is something that would make your skin crawl while watching a movie; then you reme...more

like · see review

Jul 07, 2012 Sage rated it 4 of 5 stars

Saving Mary is a spiritual memoir written by Deidre Havrelock. Readers are quickly introduced to a young girl who is a recipient of abuse and dysfunction in her family. Early on, Deidre is sensitive to the paranormal and feels constantly watched by someone or something. She is consistently searching for guidance and help from God, but darkness seems to be more of a prominent presence in her life. Deidre experiments with a Ouija board and connects with a spirit named, “Fred” who stays with her fo...more

like · see review

Jul 04, 2012 Beth Cutwright added it

I am a firm believer in whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. And what this young Deidre went through as a child certainly seems to bear this out. Where were the advocates for this poor girl? She couldn't count on either of her parents, none of her teachers and it seemed like any one of her friends had scarcely more than she did. Thinking she had wed the devil at a very young age, she sought the comfort of a loving God, she prayed for peace in the family, she heard God tell her it w...more

like · see review

Jun 06, 2012 Cecilia Robert rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour

In Saving Mary, Deidre, who is half-Irish half Indian has gone through alot and seen alot growing up. Not only did spirits follow her around, have disturbing dreams, she also dealt with her dad who was alcoholic, and later on her parents divorce.

The memoir takes you on a journey from her younger years to adulthood, the strength it took going through everything happening in her life.

Deidre's vivid description, writing style draws the reader into the story. The fact that she experienced being poss...more

like · see review

Aug 01, 2012 Mindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dream-reader-dreamer2229-blo

Okay, this is a scary book. Yes I believe that demons exist and yes I believe that people can be possessed, but still this is one scary book. As I was reading this book all I could think was how sad this was, how much her parent messed her up, and where the heck were all the adults that were supposed to be protecting her.
If you read the forward, written by her college professor, you know this story is autobiographical.. and that scared the crap out of me. It made me want to get my kids, their...more

like · see review

Jun 19, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I don't even know for sure where to start...
The whole time I was reading this book, I thought, wow.. I used to do a lot of these things! I played with the Ouija, until it got really bad, now I won't touch them! I'm just glad I got out of it before things got really bad!
I didn't realize until talking with Deidre that this was an actual memoir, a recounting of her own life..

For the rest of my review, and a guest post from the author, please visit my blog.. http://stephsgrn.blogspot.com/2012/06....more

like · see review

Feb 18, 2013 Jenny Alkire marked it as to-read

Feb 06, 2013 Deborah Schoppelrey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dec 14, 2012 Brenda Seaberg marked it as to-read

Dec 13, 2012 Tracy Walters rated it 2 of 5 stars

Nov 11, 2012 Christy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, kindle, memoir, serial

Oct 18, 2012 Donna The Happy Booker marked it as to-read

Oct 04, 2012 Barbara marked it as to-read

Aug 17, 2012 Darlene marked it as to-read

Shelves: ebook, giveaway-won

Jul 23, 2012 Brittany marked it as to-read

Shelves: on-kindle-need-to-read

Jul 14, 2012 Julie Jarvis Barker marked it as to-read

Shelves: own

Jul 13, 2012 Pragya marked it as to-read

Jul 11, 2012 Wessam added it

Jul 07, 2012 Sherri marked it as to-read

« previous 1 2 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

Popular Shelves

to-read

17 shelves

for-review

2 shelves

serial

1 shelf

memoir

1 shelf

kindle

1 shelf

giveaway-won

1 shelf

ebook

1 shelf

dream-reader-drea...

1 shelf

on-kindle-need-to...

1 shelf

non-fiction

1 shelf

About Deidre Havrelock

Deidre D (Daily) Havrelock grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where she eventually met her husband to be, DJ. It was DJ who initially noticed Deidre's dark state and worked to seek out someone willing to perform her exorcism. Eventually, the newlyweds found their way to the southern hot spot of Brooks, AB where Deidre began writing. From there the family trekked across eastern Canada to Moncton,...more

More about Deidre Havrelock...

Books by Deidre Havrelock

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Saving Mary

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Saving Mary
avg rating	preview: Saving Mary Goodreads rating: 3.48 (21 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14288046-saving-mary?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337867439l/14288046.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14288046-saving-mary?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Saving Mary by Deidre Havrelock[/url]

Saving Mary

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

Popular Shelves

About Deidre Havrelock

Books by Deidre Havrelock

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Saving Mary

new topic
Discuss This Book