An Unexpected Arrival at Saffron Bay

Saffron Bay #2

by L.K. Wilde, Eve Feiler (Reading)

Listening Length: 8 hours and 49 minutes

Kitty Brown has arrived in Saffron Bay with a new name, a new job, and one simple rule… keep her head down.

Starting over in a picture-postcard Cornish village should be straightforward enough. But Saffron Bay has other ideas, and before long, Kitty finds herself cast as Juliet in the village play, unofficially adopted by half the locals, and dangerously distracted by one very unsuitable man.

Nick Andrews has spent his twenties perfecting the art of doing nothing. Charm? Plenty. Direction? Not so much. But when a woman from his past arrives on his doorstep with a five-year-old girl and news that turns his world upside down, Nick's carefree days are well and truly over.

Thrown together by circumstance, Kitty and Nick form an unlikely alliance. But Kitty didn't come to Saffron Bay by accident, and the life she left behind refuses to stay quiet.

In a village this small, you can't hide forever, and sometimes, that turns out to be the best thing of all.

Warm, witty and deeply felt, An Unexpected Arrival at Saffron Bay is a story about second chances, unexpected families, and the small Cornish village that has a habit of giving people exactly what they need.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

9 pages, Audible Audio

First published April 9, 2026

About the author

Author and musician LK Wilde was born in Norwich, but spent her teenage years living on a Northumbrian island. She left the island to study Music, and after a few years of wandering settled in Cornwall, where she raises her two crazy, delightful boys.

Her exquisite debut novel Silver Darlings captures the glory days of the herring industry, when coastal towns were prosperous, and women had independence like never before.

She juggles writing with motherhood, teaching and work as a musician, but still finds time to explore the beautiful countryside of her adoptive home, Cornwall.

Reviews

[Emma Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice 2nd story in the Saffron Bay books. Inoffensive, nice friends to lovers romance, with some "darker" undertones (DV, controlling ex husband) wouldn't listen/read again but I would happily continue with the series as an easy bed time listen ☺️

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one. It was still a cute decent summer read. I continued to have an issue with narrators male voices, it bugged me. We already met Nick in the last book and we don't see much seriousness in his character. That's because Nick is a man-child; I enjoyed see him slowly grow up and become a functional adult. We do see some of the reason behind the man-child behavior. I am a bit surprised that no one caught his dyslexia until his late 20's. This book was published in 2026 with the characters in their late 20's when they were in school there was much more awareness, resources, and openness about different learning styles. I mean it could have happened I just found it weird.
I didn't feel much chemistry between Kitty and Nick at all. I mostly liked Kitty but she kinda irritated me during the third act "problem". Maybe I read too many thrillers, but sweetie, if you tell people you have a controlling/abusive ex that you are hiding from, said ex shows up and no one hears from you for more than a day. YES! Someone should show up unannounced and make sure you are not chained to pipe in the basement. Kitty turning it around to Nick "not giving her space she asked for", "not about my feelings", "making it about him" was something I just couldn't get over. It was an alright, wholesome, low stakes listen, a decent palate cleanser.

[Christina Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute. A fun departure from my normal true crime!!

[Lauren · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

In what WORLD do you assume she got back with her ex??? Like at the very least knowing what you know you KNOCK ON THE DOOR! Jesus Christ I hated that ending.

[Ellisha M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The love interest characters had no chemistry!

[Mina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book on Audible as I had just finished the first book in the series. The characters I enjoyed in the first book are still seen a lot which makes you feel right at home. The MMC who we previously met seemed so immature at times that it was very hard to root for him. The FMC was very likeable. Her being a teacher very much fit the plot but as a teacher myself I found it hard to believe she could make it out of school for a lunch break and actually enjoy it (IYKYK). The plot resolved satisfactorily but I just didn't feel the Chemistry between the MCs. 

[Danielle Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Unexpected Arrival at Saffron Bay is such a beautiful story about starting over, finding your own strength and learning what you truly want from life.

There are hints of an abusive marriage throughout, mainly controlling and emotional abuse rather than physical, so just a little trigger warning for anyone who needs it.

Kitty desperately needs a fresh start and somewhere she can disappear from the spotlight. Unfortunately, she chooses Saffron Bay—a tiny, close-knit community where everyone knows everything about everyone and a mysterious new arrival is always going to get tongues wagging!

Then we have Nick, Kitty’s love interest, who suddenly becomes a dad to a five-year-old girl overnight. He’s basically a big kid in a man’s body who has never really needed to grow up or take responsibility for anyone but himself, and suddenly his entire life has to change.

I loved watching both Kitty and Nick grow throughout the story. It’s a lovely story about finding the strength within yourself to do what you need to do, but also finally allowing yourself to do what you want to do.

I loved it!

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book up to a point. But the FMC's inconsistent character drove me nuts by the end, and I wasn't able to suspend my disbelief at the treatment of the manipulative ex. If he was so awful, why didn't she ever seek an injunction/restraining order against him? And he was an obvious narcissistic liar, since he was ordering champagne to celebrate one minute and sobbing about his daughter the next.
Kitty running to stay with Alice one minute and then not even wanting her friends to help when he showed up - argh! She wasn't stupid and was so careful about relocating herself and "hiding" and then she just let him into her life without recognizing his BS. I just found her behaviour unbelievable by the time her ex showed up, and it ruined my enjoyment from that point.

Someone needed to talk to the author about these inconsistencies of the FMC. It made me question whether I would continue with the series or even the author.

[Fiona Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small-town, second chance, romance. This second book in L.K.Wilde's Saffron Bay series is so easy to read with a few new characters joining the already well loved villagers.

Moving to Saffron Bay Kitty Brown hopes to escape her past by keeping her head down. Within moments of arriving, however, she is swept into helping Nick; when he is left to look after his 5 year old daughter, that he has never met.

Nick's utter clueless parenting provides some much needed humour and some heartwarming moments between him and, his newly discovered, daughter. Nick has to grow up fast from his care free life.


Themes of emotional abuse and low self esteem build a deeply emotional plot that had me in tears multiple times. Thankfully, just like the first book, it concludes with a heartwarming ending full of second chances.

[michelle goik · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

A decent summer listen, especially if you’re taking advantage of the Audible Plus catalog. I liked the small-town setting, but I struggled with the characters. Kitty was smart, yet she let her ex control far too much. Nick felt more like a teenager than a man in his 20s. I also found it hard to believe he wouldn’t know he had dyslexia until that point in his life. Still, it was enjoyable enough for some free entertainment.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio book (free on audible subscription): listened to help wind down to help me get to sleep.

A hopeful story about making new starts, community, and love. Not too involved and a pace that kept my brain engaged but not too engaged, which is just what i needed.

I wouldn't go out if my way to read again, not recommend to others to read, but good for what it is (which is why its 3 stars).

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inconsistencies over how seriously they took the threat of stalker/dangerous ex, and had to suspend disbelief over a mother leaving her child with a stranger for weeks, noone noticong dyslexia and how a school works. But otherwise an easy romance read while not too well and I will get the next one too. Characters from the first book nicely woven in, this is set 2 years later.

[Naoé · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute sure a bit predictable and dramatic at time
Also the male main character annoyed me during the first few chapters but overall it was soft and happy and sometimes that’s all I’m asking for

[Tracey Range · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I think it was meant to be a feel-good book, but it didn't come across that way to me until the very end. The characters in this book were constantly forcing their opinions/views on other character. It was weird to me to have that come across as "being helpful."

[Jessica Sazama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the sequel; and am hoping for more!

Kitty is a new teacher; running from her past. Nick, unexpectedly needs to watch his daughter; who he never knew existed. He has a lot of growing up to do! The character developments were really well done!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty Brown shows up in Saffron Bay with a new identity hoping for a new start but she didn't expect new friends and a love interest. Only problem she's trying to stay under the radar for her sanity and safety.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy Listen, enjoyed the sweet connection and small town feel

[Christy Witham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read And listen. A little hard to listen to with the accent but it was enjoyable.

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Ebbs abd flow of the characters of Saffron Bay

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nick is a self-centered idiot.
Next

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good character development and this had it.

[Katie Fisk Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Please tell me why the mmc meets his previously unknown child and asks if there's someone besides him who can watch it. Nope.

[Cara’s · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needed something wholesome for a palate cleanser. And man oh man was this ever wholesome. 😂

[Amy Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[R]

H

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

More twists. More love stories. Fast paced and so cute.

[Wilma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost DNF’d with 2 hours to go

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first, but free, no-think book from Audible.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second episode in this series, totally live up to the expectations after the first part .
New characters brought in amongst the ones we have already met.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit darker than the first one but I really enjoyed Kitty (not so much the love interest he’s kind of a bum but I guess he’s getting better)