Little Saint Nautilus

by Duckie Mack

Cory’s dream of being a professional surfer was cut short when he was injured from an accident. Despite losing his career, he can't stay away from the water, always searching for the face of the man who rescued him. Was he real or a figment of his imagination?

Nemo is a nautilus shifter who has lived his life at sea, keeping his distance from humans, until he couldn’t resist helping one. He never forgot the man he saved, and he returns to the same beach each year, looking for him.

When Nemo finds Cory, he risks everything to be with him, even his shell. Without it, he can’t return to the sea.

Cory can’t believe his dream man is real. He’s captivated by him, and is willing to do anything to keep him. Except, the thing Nemo needs most is the home he lost.

Nemo soon discovers the wonders on land he didn't know existed. But the greatest wonder is Cory, who shows him what home really means.

Little Saint Nautilus is a stand alone MM holiday romance featuring size difference, fated mates, tentacles, and the enchantment of Christmas.

Each book in the Tinsel & Tentacles series brings festive fun related to a variety of winter holidays and explores the many delightful ways tentacles can be naughty and nice!

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Christmas

205 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 23, 2024

About the author

She loves reading and writing stories that show that love isn't defined by gender. She writes sweet romance with fun heat, adorkable characters, and is a sucker for an HEA.

She lives in Southern California with her family, 2 dogs, and 3 cats, and loves to give out free hugs at pride events.

Duckie loves to interact with readers and is most active on instagram @authorduckiemack

Keep up to date on Duckie's book news by subscribing to her newsletter-
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Reviews

[⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven• · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MM Paranormal romance with Human x Nautilus Shifter, Holidays, Ocean lovers, Size difference, First times & Insta love.
This was my last book of 2024 read on the last day! What a sweet, cute book — a gentle way to end 2024 ❤️. I devoured my #ARC within 4hrs, Loved Cory & Nemo!

Cory's thoughtful, protective & caring. He used to surf-board but then an accident happened which left him unable to. He still kayaks, call to the ocean undeniable. Dreams of the mysterious man who saved him.
*Whistles* Nemo's cautious, direct & sweet. He's a Nautilus Shifter, which is quite ingenious of Duckie! As a bio student, I liked the evolution lore 😁. He lives mostly in ocean, yet feels a tug towards the land.

Most of the book is only 2 days yet it's beautiful! Cory took the PNR truth well 🤭. It's fated mates with insta love but their connection is believable ❤️. Loved to see how C's so patient with N 💞, N being bold 😍, human shell (IYKYK), Tentacles & first times. The little shell subplot 🥺💙 Sweet ending, tho I'd've loved a time skip!

Story Ratings:

POV: 1st person, Dual POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 5/5
2) The Characters: 5❤️/5
3) Top feels: 😯😍🥺😆😁😅😔😏🥰😜🤭❤️🐚
4) Steamy scenes: 2/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 5/5
Angst: 1/5
Dark: 0.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.5/5
7) Plot arc: (Cute PNR story, insta love, fated mates) 4/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.5/5

[Katriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nemo is a Nautilus shifter who rarely visits the islands humans live on. When he saves a human in trouble he yearns for him and keeps going back to the same place each year hoping to find him once more... And he finally gathered the courage to leave his shell, (literally) and he found the man he's been looking for!

Cory had his dreams ripped away from him when he busted his knee after a bad surfing accident. He keeps having dreams of a man saving him on that fateful day, but no one else saw the man he did... For some reason, he yearns for the water even more than normal. Is the man that saved him real? Or just a figment of his imagination?

Let me just say... He was very much real! This story between these two men was very cute! Nemo has a sweet soul and loves learning about everything he isn't familiar with. It was so awesome reading about how excited he got over the simplest of things, but they brought him a lot of joy. What also brought him joy was Cory, their relationship together was just full of sweetness and understanding. I loved the easy acceptance Cory had with Nemo, there wasn't a freak out, or a rejection, or too much angst, he just accepted Nemo as he is. Which I loved! This does have a bit of insta-lust and insta-love but it fits with the fated mates aspect that occurs in the story.

I do have to point out how creative Duckie was with creating a Nautilus shifter! I've never read anything like it before and I loved that she created something brand new and unique!

[Jennivie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this twist on a fish out of water story. 8 years prior, Cory was saved during a surfing accident that could have easily ended in tragedy. He’s haunted by the image of the one who saved him. Then one day, that man shows up and his whole world gets flipped upside-down. While Cory learns there’s a whole supernatural world right before him, his Nautilus savior has to learn all about the human world. Cory is so sweet and patient with his little nautilus. Low angst, fated mates, unique shifter with multiple forms, sexy and touching moments with tentacles (cirri), hurt comfort, and a generous dash of the holiday spirit and warmth. I haven’t had a chance to pick up the other books in this series or the previous season. This might even be my first tentacle read. I’ll definitely be diving in for more!

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun holiday read of a nautilus shifter finding his mate. Cory was rescued from drowning from a mysterious creature that no one believed he saw. Nemo has continued to try to find the man he once saved, and one day is drawn once again to him. These two have an adorable chemistry that draws you in immediately. With Nemos' enthusiasm for life, Cory is able to find the joy of the holidays again. The heat is top-notch. Even with a few heated scenes, you feel their chemistry and connection where these two were made to be together. Overall, it was well done and a great addition to this combined universe.

[Choyang · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Little Saint Nautilus' by Duckie Mack

Meet: not-so-cute, at least the first time they meet, when the shifter-Nautilus (he hasn't been named yet) saves Cory's (the surfer) life during a freak ocean accident!

The second time they meet is really funny, when Cory spots the Nautilus (in his shifted-human form) wandering across the beach...stark naked, at dawn, just when Cory gets there with his sea-kayak.

This was such a sweet and heartfelt storyline, it almost gave me cavities, lol. That said, Duckie Mack is one of my fave authors because of their attention to details and creativity, and also an actual sense-making storyline (makes sense in the fantasy world, anyway).

I almost want to call this storyline "Hentai Boy" if that moniker hadn't acquired some slur-meanings along the path of it's evolution, from "transformation- metamorphosis" to it's now (mostly) association with Japanese manga-porn with aberrations in sex, in some circles, in a negative way!

Wait! This is not that! (which I don't have a prob with; just pointing out there's a difference, so don't get too excited, lmao).
This is, however, unusual in the way a Nautilus-human shifter and a human discover they are fated mates with each other. And they are both in the process of transformation, in ways that are unclear at first.
I really liked this whole idea of transformations that happen not only on physical levels, but on mental-emtional levels, too, and even on a societal level.

I would like to know more about Nautilus "societies" and connections and families; us readers are given just a few teasers and I want to know more! Do they have more than one sex? Or can they change their sexual orientation at will? How many options?

Anyway...I loved all their misinterpretations of each other's word meanings and lifestyles, especially Nemo (the Nautilus) trying to figure out human society. I really would have liked to find out how Nemo knows how to speak and read English, and more on how he learns to navigate (sort of) in the human-centered part of the world?

Loved the explorations of Nemo's cirri, with their innate connection and understanding of his emotions and thoughts.

At first I thought this was just going to be another "meet cute" holiday romance, which isn't my usual cup of tea...but, what can I say: this is one of my fave authors.... so... ?

Throw in differences in species, some mistakes or mess-up/misunderstanding along the way between beings that are innately very different, along with them trying to understand and help each other?...and, I'm all in!

Great fun with some heartfelt angst thrown in due to a certain situation, as Nemo and Cory navigate through their oceans of emotions (yeah, yeah, I couldn't resist; welp, I could, but chose not to)...
...read it, you'll see!

Two thumbs up! 👍👍

[Megan McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cory & Nemo
A wonderful and quirky holiday story about fated mates and love with tentacles (cirri). What is there not to love about a sweet story from Duckie Mack? All of her characters are incredibly loveable and so entertaining. Her stories draw you in and don't let go.

After a devastating surfing accident for Cory 8 years prior, he's always had this underlying feeling that something or someone was out there looking out for him, and saved his life at the time of the accident. When he discovers the truth after finding a naked man walking near his gift shop, Cory knows his life is about to change. Their meeting is truly fate and Cory learns who it was he was dreaming about, and why.

I love that this story has a straight-forward but fantastical plot. It's so much fun to read, and it went by way too fast. I would love to see this mini-universe in Cory's small beach town be reflected in stories in the future, but of course that's not up to me. 🙃

Little Saint Nautilus is a wonderful story to surf into (pun intended) if you love sweet fantasy romances. This couple is insta-love goals, without feeling like it's too over the top. I will gladly reread the story again and again, and it's a charming addition to the myriad of holiday specials available.

I received an advance copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.

[LC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cory loves the ocean. He was a surfer before a horrific accident threatened his ability to walk. Everyone told him he couldn't have seen the man that saved him, he was alone clinging to a rock when he was found. Yet when he paddles out past the break in his kayak, he looks for that beautiful face in all the surfers he passes.

Oh my goodness! I never would have thought of a nautilus. This makes the story different and the fact that it is a Duckie Mack book means you are in for a love story with sweetness and very little angst. I'm super into LOW ANGST right now. There are certain authors that I will automatically pick up when I am down and Duckie Mack is one of them. This story, Nemo and Cory, it is exactly what I needed when I started this break. Nemo is super sweet and he is the hero that Cory needed during his accident. I love that Cory's family immediately accepted him. That is makes the story a happily ever in more ways than one. Also, did you know that nautilus have cirri not tentacles?! This just like her DCU easter eggs are just little things that make her story more real to the reader. Duckie's books always leave me with a smile.

[Latecia Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Big Smiles**...this holiday romance was sooooooooooo sweet. I absolutely love little Nemo. So fresh and innocent...he was a delight. It was fate that landed him with Cory. Their meeting in the past was somewhat bittersweet and fleeting but years later everything just came together. All throughout this romance, it was just a feel good, hardly any angst, sweet and entertaining read. I think it was mainly Nemo...but Cory with his caring and support towards Nemo kept me in the feels from start to finish. Duckie Mack does wonderfully sweet so well. I recommend if you want a feel good romance with "tentacles" of course...LOL

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mommysuz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eight years ago, Nemo saved Cory from a life-threatening accident in the ocean, neither of them realizing they were destined mates. Fast forward, and fate brings them back together, leading to the most heartwarming reunion. This story is as sweet as it gets! Nemo’s adorable personality shines through, making him a standout character, and the gentle, drama-free narrative makes this the perfect Christmas read. It’s filled with warmth, love, and all the cozy holiday vibes you could hope for. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a feel-good romance that leaves you smiling.

I received this story to review, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute!!!

I absolutely adored Nemo and Cory! This entire book was filled with sweetness. I loved how easily Cory accepted Nemo and how smoothly their relationship progressed. I am obsessed with Nemo who is sweet as sugar and so adorable. There’s an instant connection between Cory and Nemo who have been looking for one another unconsciously after a chance meeting years ago and now that they finally get to be together they don’t waste a second. I absolutely adored watching Cory teach Nemo about being on land and giving him new experiences. This book may be short but it’s incredibly sweet and lovely and I will be adding it to my reread list. The only thing that had me a little stressed was that I wished part of the story was resolved a little sooner or didn’t happen at all but now that I know it has a good ending I can’t wait to give this book another read!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nemo is a shifter nautilus that saved a human Cory's life years ago. Cory was a champion surfer before his accident and still loves and needs to be by the ocean but he dreams of a beautiful brown haired man beneath the water. It's the story of a man and a nautilus, each longing and looking for each other, caught up in wanting and needing, braving the unknown to be mates. Nemo is sweetly innocent, open and naïve and Cory is protective and adoring. It is a sweet Christmas story. I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary opinion.

[Tracey Johns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet & cute holiday-ish romance! I felt for these characters, got lost in the story, and was swept away with them and their plight & budding relationship. My heart melted with the wonder & awe Nemo showed at every wonderful new experience and adventure, and how they grew & trusted together, helped each other, and eventually, found what they were both looking for. Love all of these Tinsel & Tentacles 2.0 books and hope the tradition continues next year too!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started this book I was SO ready and excited for tentacle touchy time…and what I got was SO MUCH MORE. The sweetness, the gentleness, and the idea that a person can be just as much your home as a place…what a lovely holiday tale.

I received an advanced reader copy for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Trish Skywalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, sexy holiday shifter romance!
Cory dreamed of being a championship surfer, but a horrible accident destroyed that dream. Although he was lucky to make it out alive, his knee injury changed his life. Him being alive is a miracle, but ge knows there was someone who helped him that day. A beautiful man he’s never seen again. He sees that face in his dreams, but he wishes he could find him again.
When he finds a gorgeous, albeit naked man, walking on the beach early one morning, Cory knows he’s seen that face before. Nemo is adorable, especially as he gets to know the human world. A nautilus shifter, he knows very little about life on land, except that Cory is there. There’s so much Cory can show him and teach him, in so many ways 🔥
This is a very unique and sweet shifter story with:
-Second Chance
-Finding your mate
-Recovery
-A human shell!!! (The cutest thing, IYKYK)
Thank you for this lovely arc Duckie!

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sweet shorter story, with a very unusual nautilus shifter who has a lot of tentacles. His reaction to things like tree decorations was charming. Cory trying to help him feel better by spooning him was definitely one of the best moments that I've read this year.

[Amanda Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique shifter

If you are looking for a sweet MM shifter romance this definitely fits the bill. Nemo is a nautilus shifter which is super unique. He also has tentacle like appendages that get used in fun ways. The relationship is so sweet and romantic and the spice is spicy. I loved this book!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of the multi author Tinsel and Tentacles 2.0 series and what a great addition it was. The story was a sweet holiday read and I absolutely adored Nemo and Cory.

[❀ Jess ( Semi hiatus ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cuuuute!

Though some personal niggles brought my enjoyment down a bit. Still an enjoyable read. 🥰

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an ARC and so much love for Nemo and Cory. Fate puts you in the right place at the right time, but sometimes doesn’t tell you why. When Nemo saves Cory it sets their paths in motion to always search each other, but not knowing why. Years have passed and Nemo has found his Cory. Join this amazing and full of fluff book as Nemo learns how to stand on his own feet (literally) and that Cory was made perfect for him in every way. Lots of snuggle moments, very low angst and pure joy in the simple things. Another best book by Duckie!!

[Julie Underhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Saint Nautilus by Duckie Mack is part of Tinsel and Tentacles 2.0 series by various authors. It is the story of a human man and a nautilus shifter who see each other for a very short time, drift apart on the water off southern California, and after 8 years of feeling the pull to each other find one another and discover they are fated mates. Cory had dreams of being a professional surfer. He was very close to his goal when he had an accident that dashed those hopes. When he fell off his board into the water and severely hurt himself, he was saved by someone whose face he could never forget, even in his pain induced haze. He even looked for him every time he went back in the water but never found him again. He loved the beach and ocean so after his rehabilitation he was lucky to buy a shop on the beach that sold items visitors would want. Every morning before opening the shop he would go out on the water on his kayak and kayak surf which gave him almost the same thrill of being on a board. Meanwhile there was a nautilus shifter cruising the ocean near southern California on his yearly traverse. He had 3 forms: his human form, his nautilus form which included many tentacles which are called cirri, and a half-shifted form with the human part of him above and his cirri below. He spent most of his time in his nautilus form because he felt safe and protected there, enjoying his cirri propelling him through the water. He was the one who saved Cory and he felt a pull to him so he often found himself in that area hoping to see him again. He never had much contact with humans and knew nothing about their ways except what he saw with boats, what they threw over them, and how they polluted the water so he wasn’t keen on being near them. However, his pull to Cory eventually led him to him and he was very excited. He knew he had to go on land so he did and hid his shell in a cave near the beach as he doesn’t want to lose it. After he climbs the stairs he sees Cory and starts walking to him, stark naked. Cory comes to him and gives him a blanket and things take off from there. Cory also feels the pull and doesn’t know why so he takes the nautilus shifter in and to his apartment. It is there that he recognizes the angel that saved him. The shifter knows nothing about humans, what they do, and how they live so Cory has to explain everything to him. He also asks him to name him since he doesn’t have one and Cory eventually comes up with Nemo after Captain Nemo who was on the Nautilus submarine. As they come to know each other they start having some very hot experimentation on Cory’s couch and in his bed that included those amazing cirri which eventually turns into full out love scenes. They also look for Nemo’s shell but it has disappeared and he is very upset. Cory is very protective of him and tries to comfort him as much as he can and tells him he will always be there for him since Nemo can’t shift into his nautilus form without his shell which was his safe place. They then go to Cory’s shop and Nemo helps out, they do more kayak surfing where he keeps looking for his shell, and they eventually tell each other I love you because they knew they were fated mates. On Christmas Eve they went to Cory’s Gramps’ house for dinner and Nemo met his parents who were very open to him. Then Christmas morning Cory was feeling a very strong pull that directed them to the beach where he made a discovery that led to a very happy holiday for both of them. I really enjoyed this book. Cory had a serious setback in his career but made the most of it by being able to stay at the beach and still get his thrill of surfing with his kayak. He was very protective when Nemo came into his life. Nemo knew absolutely nothing about humans so it was fun to see Cory teach him everything he needed to know and also his reactions. There is a lot of hurt/comfort in the story as Nemo loses his shell and has to come to decisions of what he is going to do and how Cory takes care of him. Cory’s Gramps and parents also make a short appearance but they come to mean everything to both men. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like stories about a human and a shifter that has tentacles (cirri) and knows how to use them in interesting ways as they come together after several years and an accident, learn about each other, realize they are fated mates, and fall in love.

[Zoë Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holiday Cheer Meter: 4/5
(Where 1 is as Christmassy as 'Die Hard' and 5 is more like 'Elf')

1st person, past tense, dual POV
Cory, human (30), former professional surfer / boardwalk shopkeep
Nemo, nautilus shifter (29),

I love Duckie's writing and knew I'd love her tentacled contribution to the Tinsel and Tentacles 2.0 multi author collaboration - it just radiated comfort and joy. Fated mates aren't my favourite trope, but I do enjoy them every once in a while when reading something a little shorter, like a novella, and when that fact feels more gentle and incidental to the story, like is the case here.

This sweet reunion was eight years in the making after Nemo saves Cory's life after a devastating surfing accident. Neither forgot their meet-cute, though Cory was told what he remembered would have been impossible. His ease in accepting Nemo was so wholesome. The draw they felt to one another was evident and their chemistry was incredible. Nemo's cirri were such a great addition to the spicy scenes and in furthering the connection between him and Cory as they slept (awwww!).

I am an absolute sucker for a fish out of water type story, and Nemo was adorable in that role having spent very little time on land amongst humans. My heart just about exploded from the cuteness overload at him selecting decorations for their Christmas tree and wishing passersby "Merry Christmas!". The humour Nemo's inexperience brought to the story provided the perfect counterpoint to the conflict of the story, which was his missing shell.

I'm a very emotional and sensitive reader so Nemo leaving and losing his shell was gut-wrenching for me. The payoff was superb - just so incredibly heartwarming - but I went through some emotions about it. Cory taking on the role of his human shell to comfort him just about ended me.

I was given an ARC and voluntarily wrote an honest review.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duckie Mack has done it again, a character that as soon as you are introduced to them, you fall in love with them and in this story we have Nemo. A nautilus shifter( a new one on me) who 8 years ago saved Cory from drowning and had spent the same length of time searching for him. Cory has always dreamt of those brown eyes of the man who saved him, his family tell him he is imagining it, he knows it not. Now unable to surf, he has his own business on the beach.
Before Nemo came along, Cory was going through the motions but with everything Nemo came into contact with had Cory looking at it through fresh eyes. I loved how the simplest things gave Nemo happiness, his directness had me laughing and Cory just loved given Nemo all the experiences he could. Even when disaster struck Cory knew what to do to help ease the pain and whilst not the same he knew what it was like to loose something he loved.
This is the first book involving tentacles or in this case cirri that I have read but it will definitely will not be the last.
Whilst this story is set over the Christmas period, it is not a story that you have to wait till Christmas to read. If you want a sweet story involving one of the most adorable characters I have read and gets one of the happiest HEAs I have read then pick this book up. Another great story from this author

[Dawn Siemer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a selkie

So, this story is kind of Little Mermaid or the selkie story. Even though Nemo knows English really well, he is unfamiliar with modern technology. He doesn't know math or how to read or about money, though he is familiar with the concept of economics.

I like that this author picked a new animal with tentacles, and they gave their shifter a new twist, that caused conflict. There was lots of sex. The problem was the characters did little to solve the problem. It didn't even seem to be a conscious choice. They didn't know what to do, didn't ask for advice or seek it, and waited for the universe to solve their problem.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super cute novella with fated mates, tentacles, and blatant honesty. Nemo was absolutely adorable, and I loved how he used his cilla in practical, helpful ways, not just in bed. And Cole was so accepting and patient with Nemo’s newness to humankind. Low angst, medium heat (with cilla…very hot!), and an HEA.

[Sarah Mitcham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meant to be.

MM, Fated Mates, Tentacles, Holiday, Romance. Stand-alone read, part of a multi author series featuring Tentacles and the Holidays. A quick read that was sweet and an enjoyable short read, I would really love to readan expanded version of their story. Guaranteed HEA.

[Rachel Bonitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot! Duckie is a good writer (I've used the phrase 'Duckie always delivers' more than once in my life) and upheld her reputation here. Nemo is adorable, Cory is very nice, and the spice? Weeeeelllll lets just say cirri are quite handy. :3 Definitely recommend.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is different from what I normally read by stepping out of my comfort zone and reading something new and I have to say I loved every bit of it! Cory was so accepting and didn't question Nemo once. Their love was pure and I'm here for it!

[SuzReadsALot]

DNF @40%

[Maggie]

Rokp

[Danis ❤️ MM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It was okay. A 2.75 rounded up. Ex surfer meets the nautilus shifter who saved him from certain death years ago. Fated mates, xmas vibe.