What would you do to save your daughters, if you are June Marlow you would do anything even murder your husband and get sentenced to life in prison, but she takes with her some secrets that she hopes will never be revealed her two daughters Nicole and Lu go to live with her mother Elena.

Twenty eight years later both her daughters are now adults and the eldest who now is known as Cole has not come to see her mother in all of those years blaming her for killing her beloved father, Cole is now a trauma councellor and she has blocked out what happened all those years ago as for Lu for is an artist and dog walker she has done her best to convince Cole to visit her mother sadly with no success she visits her mother often and is excited about the fact that she coming up for parole.

June is very nervous about being released but also looking forward to being with her family again, will Cole finally talk to her? The big issue with Cole is that she saw what happened that night, will she remember, will Cole open up and will June’s secrets stay safe?

This story is heart-breaking, heart-wrenching but told so very well, MS Guy has taken on a topic, domestic violence that plays a big part, sadly in our world today and done it justice in a caring and empathetic way. There are so many wonderful characters in this story, characters who show their strength as we turn the pages and get to know them, I would highly recommend this one.

My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for my digital copy to read and review.

Wow!! Talk about reading an awesome book!! This story blew me away!! The twist towards the end, I never saw coming!!

June Marlow was sent to prison for defending herself against her abusive husband. She was so ashamed of the abuse, that she never told anyone what her alcoholic husband was doing to her every night. But one night he loses it and tries to kill her in front of their 10 year old daughter, Nicole. So June grabbed the knife to protect her child and killed him.

She was sentenced to life in prison. She spent 28 years in jail, only seeing her mother and her youngest daughter, Lu, because Nicole was convinced she had a perfect dad.

When June is about to be released, a news journalist wants to do a story about June and other wives/partners who are jailed for defending themselves. But soon things are discovered and nothing is as it seems.

A fabulous story!

*I received a complimentary copy of this ARC via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

** spoiler alert ** When an opportunity to tell her story and how life will be after being in jail for 28 years, June and her family must deal with the consequences of what occurred.

Cole and Lu are trying to comes to terms with their Mum’s release, but Lu is feeling a bit stressed as she really want Cole to move forward.

However, when a reporter finds out information she never expected about June, everything changes.

This story is an emotion packed book that looks at family dynamics and the connection of family.

To save my daughters by Louise Guy
Pub date Feb 21 by boldwood books
This was a very thought provocative story, starting out Isiah the story of June Marlow who is serving 28 years to life for the murder of her husband which to her recount of the story was self defense! The story focus around June and her two daughter who were very young when she was incarcerated. Fast forward to 28 yrs later and much red tape and politics surrounding the possible release of June but there are fences to mend and stories to be told! This was quite an adventure as well as bittersweet for ordeal for all those involved. Miss Guy can sure spin a story and the twists out of left field still make my skin tingle!!
This was a first by her and I’m definitely looking at some others for the near future. One thing I can not resist is a good psychological drama. I’

Brilliant story full of emotion and challenge in every which way you look. This book is powerful from start to finish and is near impossible to put down!

No one believed her but she had to do it. After been in prison can she still build a future or will secrets from her past destroy everything?
Story with so many twists and turns that you keep reading.

Happy Pub Day to Louise Guy and her book To Save My Daughters!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The story takes you on a journey of how two sisters dealt with the imprisonment of their mother for killing their father. One sister is compassionate and understanding, while the other sister resents her mother and wants nothing to do with her.

After 30 years in prison, their mother is up for parole. Will she be released? How will each of the sisters cope with the possibility of their mother being set free?

I enjoyed this story and liked the characters. Louise Guy's style of writing is fantastic! The story is easy to follow and keeps you yearning for more!

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#ToSaveMyDaughters #NetGalley
#GeneralFiction #WomensFiction #ethicaldilemma

To my shame I’ve never heard of this author before but when I was invited onto the blog tour I was immediately hooked by the book description . Can you even imagine spending almost 30
years in prison and leaving behind those you love the most . This is what happened when June Marlowe is given a 28 year prison sentence for the murder of her husband which she claims she acted in self defence . Now having been released she has to start a new life reconnecting with her family especially her 2 daughters Nicole and Lu and her mother Elena. When I started reading this book I expected to read a nice story of a family reuniting and how they all were there for each other when June was released . Well whilst this image I had was partly true, there was so much more than that in this book . It’s emotional , it’s a page turner and it had some twists that I honestly never saw coming . Each chapter kept me hooked and by the end of the book I just knew that I would be reading more by this author .

Don't let the warm cuddly cover lull you into the false sense that this is a gentle read, as it is anything but!
Dealing with serious subjects of domestic violence, family fracture, guilt, and finding your very roots pulled from beneath you, this excellent read is emotional and thought-provoking.
At times there seem to be too many coincidences but somehow it works and I never saw the ending coming!

June Marlow was arrested for the murder of her husband almost thirty years ago. Alan was about to attack her and she had to act in self-defense. Keeping the abuse secret for years did little to help June's insistence that she was a battered wife and had to kill him to save herself and her daughters. Now twenty years later June has served her time and hoping to repair the fragile relationship with her daughters. When a local TV station wants to do a story on the bound to be emotional homecoming, can June and her daughters overcome their shared past and look forward to a happy, healthy, and healing future?

This is such a heartbreaking and emotional novel! Dealing with a very difficult subject of domestic violence is never easy but the way Guy writes this as delicately as possible is brilliant. A story filled with sorrow and secrets but also love and hope.. definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Louise Guy, and Boldwood Books for this ARC. Expected publication day is February 21st 2025.

June Marlow’s existence was irrevocably altered nearly three decades ago when she was apprehended for the homicide of her abusive spouse. Despite her assertions of self-defense, she was convicted, leaving her in a state of dread regarding the future of her daughters. As her release date draws near, June experiences a tumult of emotions; she yearns for a reunion with her now-adult daughters, Lu and Cole. While Lu eagerly anticipates her mother’s return, Cole harbors feelings of resentment and unresolved emotions stemming from the traumatic events of that fateful night when she was merely ten years old. The impending reunion is laden with tension, as the specters of the past threaten to resurface, and June bears profound and troubling secrets that could jeopardize their tenuous familial connections.

Louise Guy’s compelling narrative enthralls readers with its emotional richness and sophisticated storytelling. As the characters grapple with their intricate relationships, the tension intensifies, prompting readers to ponder whether reconciliation is attainable or if the family's concealed truths will culminate in their ultimate downfall. This book has an engaging plot, and I couldn’t put it down. It had authentic characters and scenarios with whom I empathized. It is an engaging read for anyone that enjoys family drama.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

Twenty eight years ago June Marlow pleaded guilty to the murder of her abusive husband. Fearing for the safety of herself and her two daughters she killed him in self defence. June was so ashamed, and with her self esteem battered, she had never confided in anyone about the abuse so her plea of self defence was ignored. Her daughters lost both parents on that fateful night and were brought up by June's mother. The oldest refusing to have any contact with June since she was arrested.

There are multiple themes running through this heart wrenching tale. The victim of domestic abuse ending up behind bars with a life sentence for murder, how experiencing trauma can affect your later life, the love of a mother for her children and the lengths she would go to protect them. I was enthralled by the writing, genuinely struggling to put the book down. Despite the distressing premise the book is full of compassion, emotion, sadness but also hope. There are some unexpected moments along the way which were neatly woven in, maybe a touch too neatly. Connections that were almost too contrived. That said, this is still a thought provoking, very well written story.

With thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

When June made the ultimate decision to kill her husband not only did she get twenty-eight years in prison but she also lots her most important thing, her relationship with her two daughters. Now that time frame is about to be up however she is desperate to start new and reconnect with her family. June has always claimed self-defence for her crime and her one daughter, Lu, is fully supportive of her and even encouraging when a tv crew wants to do a special about her and her life etc. however the other two daughters aren’t as supportive and don’t want anything to do with her. I really liked the different perspectives and how the chapters were divided because it made the story much more complex and believable even though this was a fictional read. I loved how the sisters were all divided on their views of the mother and seeing where their loyalty fell was very powerful as you saw each of them struggle with the pain of losing their father but also the pain from their mother as well. When the tv crew starts to get deeper into what led to June’s crimes you really saw the family struggle with their beliefs a many of the truths start to come to light. It really left the reader pondering what was the right thing to do and seeing another side of the justice system. I liked this book as my opinions kept changing with each daughters’ side. Every time one would talk, I would understand her view but when it switched, I understood where the next one was coming from as well, so I didn’t know what to think, however that is part of what made this book so compelling and a fascinating read. I loved the way that each character was written with such depth and personality that I was completely drawn into this story. As I continued reading this book my views kept changing on what I believed really happened and I found myself understanding more and more why the characters were they way they were and why they did what they did. This was the kind of book that just envelopes the reader and makes you lose track of everything around you. I was desperate to get to the end of this book and see how it finished, however at the same time I didn’t want it to end. This book really shines a light on the fact that you never exactly know what is going on with someone behind closed doors. It is very easy for people to hide their pain from others and fake a smile and not everything that is seen on the outside is necessarily the truth. The ending left me spinning, in a good way. It was a very compelling read that I’m very glad I was given the opportunity to check out. I can’t wait for this book to be released and for everyone else to get to enjoy it just as much as I did.

I’d like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘To Save My Daughters’ written by Louise Guy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

June Marlow is arrested for the murder of her husband Alan who’s about to attack her with a knife, leaving her no choice but to defend herself and her two daughters Lu and Cole. Twenty years later as June is due for release from prison, a television channel requests permission to use her story on their current affairs show ‘Southern Insight’ hosted by reporter Tori Blackwood. Initially June agrees in the hope that her experience will help other women who’re suffering from domestic abuse, but then refuses as she’s been keeping a secret over the years that she doesn’t want revealed.

I’ve read some wonderful novels by Louise Guy but for some reason ‘To Save My Daughter’, a story that evolves around the lasting impact of domestic abuse, didn’t do anything for me. Although Cole’s first meeting with June in prison was touching, none of the characters were particularly noteworthy and generally came across as mediocre. This novel has been well-written and will appeal to a lot of readers but I’m afraid I’m not one of them as I struggled to get into the story which is a rare occurrence for me. Nevertheless, this is purely my own opinion and I recommend readers give it a go and make up their own minds. I’ll still be looking forward to reading the next novel by Louise Guy.

Really loved this book! Lots of deep and complex characters who were really put through the ringer. It did drag a bit at the end but that ending was perfection! Would love to read more by this author because I really enjoyed this book!

June Marlow has spent twenty-eight years in prison for killing her abusive husnand. She was trying to protect her two daughters. June has served her time and she's due to be released. Her daughters had been raised by their grandmother. Her mother and daughter, Lu,visited June over the years, but herotherdaughter, Cole, hadn't seen her mother since the night her father was killed.


This book touches on the feelings and emotions of domestic violence. A local TV station wants to do a report on the family's reunion. This is a well-written story. It's quite an emotional read. The women where strong characters. There were a few twists, but there was one really good one near the end.

Published 21st February 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author ##LouiseGuy for my ARC of #ToSaveMyDaughters in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to read this book based on the synopsis alone. I'm a sucker for anything prison or jail-related, and with the premise of domestic violence, this sounded promising. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I found some aspects underdeveloped.

One of my main issues was how quickly Cole forgave and reconnected with her mother. The resolution felt rushed, and it was unrealistic that their strained relationship could be mended in just one conversation and a single visit. The ending also wrapped up too easily, and the twist was predictable, which took away some of the tension.

While I didn’t initially want to read about a lesbian relationship, I was able to overlook it since it wasn’t the main focus of the story and wasn’t described in detail beyond a kiss. I do wish books came with content warnings—it would make things so much easier for readers who prefer to know about sensitive topics in advance.

Despite these flaws, I would still recommend this book. The premise was intriguing, and while some elements could have been stronger, it has a broader appeal beyond just fans of prison-related stories.

Thank you NetGalley, and Boldwood books for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

How far would you go to keep your daughters safe?
For June Marlow it means killing her husband and the father of their two girls.
But June pays the ultimate price by spending twenty eight years in prison.
While her mother Elena brings up her daughters it's only the youngest Lu that believes June should never been put in prison in the first place.
Now waiting to be released can Elena and Lu convince estranged daughter Cole to forgive their mum!

This is such a heartwarming and heartbreaking story and one that had a few twists that I didn't see coming.

June is being released after thirty years for killing her husband, she was abused and acted in self defense but one of her daughters doesn't believe her. How will her homecoming go?

June is convicted of killing her husband as she had no proof of the abuse he subjected her to and had never told anyone and was frightened he would attack her two daughters.
After thirty years she is about to be released and only one daughter has supported her from the beginning.
A TV show wants to record her release and the trauma her and her family were put through and to show people other ways to go if you are in an abusive relationship.
Just couldn't put it down.
A great twist at the end.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.