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Saving Elora: An emotionally gripping page-turner of love, betrayal and forgiveness
Anna has it all, or so it would seem. Fiercely protective of her daughter and husband, the secrets from her past and ten-year marriage remain hidden. But is that all about to change?
Basking in a tropical paradise, a con artist tires of easily seducing gullible females. He craves a challenge, and the greatest one presents itself. To descend on a quaint Greek fishing village and betray his ex-wife for a second time.
Meanwhile, the mistress of a mafia don gives birth to a daughter. But the baby isn’t his, and it forces a childless wife and her adulterous husband to flee with Elora. And so begins a deadly game of cat and mouse. With all trust in her marriage gone and longed for motherhood thrust upon her, can Dominique protect her new family? Or will her hate, fear and guilt seal their fate?
Hairline cracks are appearing in Anna’s idyllic Greek island life. Somebody is no longer willing to endure the happily-ever-after family façade. And when unwanted and unexpected visitors arrive on her doorstep it can mean only one thing. Anna’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble with devastating results.
Get ready for an emotional and explosive action-packed sequel. In Saving Elora, discover what sacrifices people are willing to make for love, the power of forgiveness and the possibility of second chances.
For fans of gripping suspense and powerful drama, Saving Elora is a must-read. Don’t miss out on this thrilling instalment in the Apokeri Bay series.
Basking in a tropical paradise, a con artist tires of easily seducing gullible females. He craves a challenge, and the greatest one presents itself. To descend on a quaint Greek fishing village and betray his ex-wife for a second time.
Meanwhile, the mistress of a mafia don gives birth to a daughter. But the baby isn’t his, and it forces a childless wife and her adulterous husband to flee with Elora. And so begins a deadly game of cat and mouse. With all trust in her marriage gone and longed for motherhood thrust upon her, can Dominique protect her new family? Or will her hate, fear and guilt seal their fate?
Hairline cracks are appearing in Anna’s idyllic Greek island life. Somebody is no longer willing to endure the happily-ever-after family façade. And when unwanted and unexpected visitors arrive on her doorstep it can mean only one thing. Anna’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble with devastating results.
Get ready for an emotional and explosive action-packed sequel. In Saving Elora, discover what sacrifices people are willing to make for love, the power of forgiveness and the possibility of second chances.
For fans of gripping suspense and powerful drama, Saving Elora is a must-read. Don’t miss out on this thrilling instalment in the Apokeri Bay series.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2024
5 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Watson
4 books4 followersHi there, I hope you're having a lovely day. Would you like to know a little bit about me?
I'm a Geordie and have lived in North East England most of my life. My home in the Tyne Valley is in a former pit village and if I'm not writing or working you'll find me striding around the countryside with my partner and our extremely cute and characterful Miniature Schnauzer. If I’m not doing that, I’ll be pottering in the allotment, running or occasionally cycling.
I aim to write uplifting and thought-provoking Women's Contemporary Fiction and weave in what we all love about great books – the chance to step into the world of somebody else and share in their story. I took a leap of faith to become an author. My Apokeri Bay trilogy was born from a recurring dream about a feisty female protagonist who unexpectedly falls in love with a quaint seaside village on the Greek island of Lefkada. But I don't give my characters an easy life. They must overcome family frictions, dark secrets, guilt and betrayal to discover life-changing friendships, love and hope. And ultimately, learn how to embrace and overcome everything life throws at them.
Go to my Facebook author page to keep up to date with the latest news
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 8, 2025
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Saving Elora
Author: Jackie Watson
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 4/5
Of the 15 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
14 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“I loved the setting; it’s very exotic, the author doing a fine job of describing it. I also enjoyed getting to know the characters and all the drama. There’s A LOT od drama!” Female reader, aged 55
“A dark, almost gritty thriller/drama as we follow Anna to a tropical paradise. The writing style is accessible, the characters are interesting to follow, to root for – and to boo, and there’s plenty of suspense, particularly in the second half. If there’s ever a third book, I will be hunting it out.” Female reader, aged 71
“Easy to follow, works as a standalone, so no problem there. An engaging story with plenty of twists and angst. Solid pacing, smartly plotted with strong character development, particularly the FMC. Enjoyed it very much!” Male reader, retired publisher, aged 69
“A story of betrayal – and secrets! Perfect for me. I love good dramas, and this is what you get with Saving Elora. Apokeri Bay, the first book, is also very good. You can read them in order, or not. It’s up to you. To be honest, there’s never a dull moment. It’s not particularly gritty, almost cosy, with a few humorous moments in it. Keep writing, J Watson; you’re doing a fine job.” Female reader, aged 66
To Sum It Up:
‘’A cleverly plotted drama populated with fully formed characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Saving Elora
Author: Jackie Watson
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 4/5
Of the 15 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
14 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“I loved the setting; it’s very exotic, the author doing a fine job of describing it. I also enjoyed getting to know the characters and all the drama. There’s A LOT od drama!” Female reader, aged 55
“A dark, almost gritty thriller/drama as we follow Anna to a tropical paradise. The writing style is accessible, the characters are interesting to follow, to root for – and to boo, and there’s plenty of suspense, particularly in the second half. If there’s ever a third book, I will be hunting it out.” Female reader, aged 71
“Easy to follow, works as a standalone, so no problem there. An engaging story with plenty of twists and angst. Solid pacing, smartly plotted with strong character development, particularly the FMC. Enjoyed it very much!” Male reader, retired publisher, aged 69
“A story of betrayal – and secrets! Perfect for me. I love good dramas, and this is what you get with Saving Elora. Apokeri Bay, the first book, is also very good. You can read them in order, or not. It’s up to you. To be honest, there’s never a dull moment. It’s not particularly gritty, almost cosy, with a few humorous moments in it. Keep writing, J Watson; you’re doing a fine job.” Female reader, aged 66
To Sum It Up:
‘’A cleverly plotted drama populated with fully formed characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
July 17, 2024
A con artist is tired of the easy seduction of gullible women and decides to head to Apokeri Bay for a bigger challenge: his ex wife who is living on the island with her husband and daughter. Meanwhile, a baby girl is born to the mistress of a Mafia boss and her secret lover. When he discovers her betrayal, her father is forced to go on the run with his wronged wife to save them all from his deadly wrath. They end up on Apokeri Bay, disrupting the island’s idyll and resulting in a thrilling series of events that will change lives forever.
Suspenseful, emotional and action-packed, Saving Elora is a compelling saga that transports you to the sunny climes of the Greek Island of Apokeri for a story of love, secrets, betrayal, vendettas and forgiveness. This book is a sequel but although I’d not read the first book it was easy to follow and is easily read as a standalone. Well-written, fast-paced and oozing tension, Jackie Watson quickly drew me into the fictional world she had created and I loved the sense of community that radiated from the pages. I was immersed in the lives of this eclectic cast of fascinating characters, rooting for baby Elora to be saved, for Javier to be redeemed, and for Anna to find happiness. Violent psychopath Francis, the Mafia boss, is a brilliantly written villain who made chills scissor up my spine. And on the other end of the scale, I had a real soft spot for young Evie and no-nonsense nonagenarian Kristina who both made me smile every time they were on the page.
Tense, twisty, moving and engaging, Saving Elora is perfect for anyone who wants their escapist read with a side of danger this summer.
Suspenseful, emotional and action-packed, Saving Elora is a compelling saga that transports you to the sunny climes of the Greek Island of Apokeri for a story of love, secrets, betrayal, vendettas and forgiveness. This book is a sequel but although I’d not read the first book it was easy to follow and is easily read as a standalone. Well-written, fast-paced and oozing tension, Jackie Watson quickly drew me into the fictional world she had created and I loved the sense of community that radiated from the pages. I was immersed in the lives of this eclectic cast of fascinating characters, rooting for baby Elora to be saved, for Javier to be redeemed, and for Anna to find happiness. Violent psychopath Francis, the Mafia boss, is a brilliantly written villain who made chills scissor up my spine. And on the other end of the scale, I had a real soft spot for young Evie and no-nonsense nonagenarian Kristina who both made me smile every time they were on the page.
Tense, twisty, moving and engaging, Saving Elora is perfect for anyone who wants their escapist read with a side of danger this summer.
July 19, 2024
Set in a beautiful sunny picturesque piece of Greece this book has everything going on! Behind Apokeri’s blue shuttered windows and colourful bougainvillea there is deceit, deception and death when con-man and ex husband to Anna Markis, Javier Owens comes to the village bringing trouble. His storyline runs parallel with that of fleeing Dominique and Sergio Castellas as they attempt to save baby Elora.
This book is fast paced and deals with family, trust, sacrifice, loyalty, forgiveness and redemption to name some of the themes. I loved the character of fun, wise nonagenarian Kristina who bought some lighter moments to the storyline. I really liked the short, sharp chapters, which were in keeping with the speed of the plot. Overall I really enjoyed the book and it kept me interested to the very end. I would note that I have not read the first instalment in the series Apokeri Bay. I am sure my enjoyment would have been increased in having read Saving Elora as a second instalment but I was able to pick up this book and read it as a stand alone as well. I would love to read the third book in the series and may well double back and read the first before the third is published!
This book is fast paced and deals with family, trust, sacrifice, loyalty, forgiveness and redemption to name some of the themes. I loved the character of fun, wise nonagenarian Kristina who bought some lighter moments to the storyline. I really liked the short, sharp chapters, which were in keeping with the speed of the plot. Overall I really enjoyed the book and it kept me interested to the very end. I would note that I have not read the first instalment in the series Apokeri Bay. I am sure my enjoyment would have been increased in having read Saving Elora as a second instalment but I was able to pick up this book and read it as a stand alone as well. I would love to read the third book in the series and may well double back and read the first before the third is published!
July 16, 2025
This book has everything! We're back in Apokeri Bay and the stakes are even higher for the wonderful characters this time around. Anna's life is rolling along nicely until her ex husband - skilled con-man - Javier shows up unannounced. Anna is instantly on her guard, even if the rest of the village seem to be charmed. Then the action really ramps up when the mistress of a mafia don is forced to go on the run with her husband and their baby daughter Elora.
Jackie Watson conjures this magical Greek village for readers for a second time, and as before, it's a delight to visit and spend time with the locals. She brings Greece to life and her storytelling moved me to laughter, tears, and back again. I found this follow-up to the wonderful Apokeri Bay thrilling and brilliantly engaging - Javier in particular is a fab new character and I enjoyed speculating over just what he was up to.
This novel can be read and enjoyed by people who haven't read book one, but I encourage you to read them in order to truly know the characters and have a proper introduction to this magical corner of the world.
Jackie Watson conjures this magical Greek village for readers for a second time, and as before, it's a delight to visit and spend time with the locals. She brings Greece to life and her storytelling moved me to laughter, tears, and back again. I found this follow-up to the wonderful Apokeri Bay thrilling and brilliantly engaging - Javier in particular is a fab new character and I enjoyed speculating over just what he was up to.
This novel can be read and enjoyed by people who haven't read book one, but I encourage you to read them in order to truly know the characters and have a proper introduction to this magical corner of the world.
July 22, 2024
This is Book Two in 'Apokeri Bay Series' I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing book one 'Apokeri Bay.' You can read this book as standalone, but personally I would recommend reading book one first, you won't be disappointed. The scene is set ten years on from book one. Anna is still doing her best to make sure that her husband and daughter are always safe, but it's not getting any easier, especially now her daughter is at school. Could this be the point were everything is about to change? Will she lose everything?
There are a lot more twists and turns within this storyline. I love how Jackie manages to make you think that you are on the Greek island along with Anna, by her descriptive writing. We get to meet some interesting new characters, including a mafia boss, a con artist, secret lover, a baby girl and her mother. The book is filled with betrayal, crime, secrets, forgiveness and more, you won't be disappointed. It's a fast pace and enjoyable read, one to pop in you bag
There are a lot more twists and turns within this storyline. I love how Jackie manages to make you think that you are on the Greek island along with Anna, by her descriptive writing. We get to meet some interesting new characters, including a mafia boss, a con artist, secret lover, a baby girl and her mother. The book is filled with betrayal, crime, secrets, forgiveness and more, you won't be disappointed. It's a fast pace and enjoyable read, one to pop in you bag
July 15, 2024
This novel had me hooked!
After previously devouring book one in this series I was interested to get my hands on this newest instalment and see what was going to happen now. Completely different but as catching as book one, this novel takes us on a darker path to Apokerie Bay. Be prepared to be back on the island but this time with new characters and ten years later, I liked that we got such a drastic time jump and a deeper look into Annas past.
Watson as usual does an amazing job of setting the scene and I felt once again transported to Greece and like I was right there alongside our main characters during this crazy ride. This author so effortlessly ties in the past and the present and keeps you hooked with interesting twists and turns, I enjoyed the whole mafia sub plot and the drama that ensues. I cant wait to see what Jackie comes up with next.
After previously devouring book one in this series I was interested to get my hands on this newest instalment and see what was going to happen now. Completely different but as catching as book one, this novel takes us on a darker path to Apokerie Bay. Be prepared to be back on the island but this time with new characters and ten years later, I liked that we got such a drastic time jump and a deeper look into Annas past.
Watson as usual does an amazing job of setting the scene and I felt once again transported to Greece and like I was right there alongside our main characters during this crazy ride. This author so effortlessly ties in the past and the present and keeps you hooked with interesting twists and turns, I enjoyed the whole mafia sub plot and the drama that ensues. I cant wait to see what Jackie comes up with next.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews