Not So Stranded: MM Romance with Tentacles

by Delaney Rain

While on an uninhabited Hawaiian island to document green sea turtle nesting sites, Kit Tennant finds himself stranded after a storm steals his boat. Kit isn't alone, though, because a mated pair of cecaelia—a people who appear half-human and half-squid—have chosen the island's lagoon as their new home.

Hiaka knows that Kit is just as much their mate as Zenori is, but how do you woo a human? Eventually, curiosity gets the better of all of them and they have a few days of bliss before their isolation abruptly ends. A band of fishermen found Kit's abandoned boat and intend to destroy the island in order to hide their prize from authorities. Stealing his boat back and leaving is the only option for the trio to save the island and stay together.

Their destination? Cecaelia Bay, where Hiaka was born and their whole family awaits their return. Once Kit learns that Hiaka and Zenori are his mates, he's all in on becoming a devoted spouse and father to the cutest little mersquids on the planet.

This novella features a curious scientist and two mersquids happy to help him with his “research,” finding your fated mate and letting them find your third, pretending to work when all you want to do is boink, sailing to safety around the Hawaiian islands, coming home again to start your family, and having the cutest little babies the world has ever known.

Content eggpreg

Genres: M M Romance

127 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2025

About the author

Emerging author of gay erotic paranormal romances featuring monsters and the men who love them.

Reviews

[Luz Rivas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine going on a peaceful research trip to document sea turtle nesting sites… and instead finding two hot sea monsters who turn out to be your fated mates 🫠🐙🌊

This book was such a wild, adorable ride, sweet, funny, and delightfully. I liked how Hiaka, and Zenori were different but the perfect match for each other either way. And the mersquid babies? Cutest little chaos makers ever 😭💖

And seeing Eric and Ty again with their ever-growing family made my heart melt 🥹 But at this rate, if they keep expanding the clan, they’ll need to claim another island soon 😂

[neeshreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Not So Stranded is my FAVORITE of The Sea Monster’s Mate series, but shhh! Don’t tell the other couples 😂

💙M/X/X (1 he/him & 2 they/them)
🐙Tentacles Everywhere
🐢Sea Turtle Studies
🛥️Sailing Away
🏝️Island Life
💙Fated Mates
🐙Brëëding & the Cutest Egg Babies
🫶Helpful Parents
🌈HEA w/ Epilogue

Kit was on an uninhabited Hawaiian island to document green sea turtle nesting sites, and after a storm hits, his boat is gone and he’s stranded. Very quickly, Kit finds out he isn’t alone. The lagoon he was going to use for fresh water has a mated pair of cecaelia—a people who appear half-human and half-squid—in residence, and Hiaka and Zenori have intentions to breed. And before that can happen, Hiaka has to find a way to tell Kit that Kit is just as much their mate as Zenori is.

Hiaka is determined to woo their human, and when curiosity gets the better of everyone? This trio has a few days of spicy bliss. But, that all comes crashing to a halt when a band of fisherman who found Kit’s boat plan to destroy the island to hide their prize from authorities. Stealing back his boat, the group abandons the island so they can safely stay together.

Kit, Hiaka and Zenori head to Cecaelia Bay where Hiaka was born, and Hiaka’s entire family eagerly awaits the trio’s return. Once Kit learns Hiaka and Zenori are his mates, he’s committed to becoming a devoted spouse and is eager to become a father to the cutest little mersquids to ever exist!

This was everything I didn’t know I needed! I was in LOVE with the dynamic between Hiaka and Zenori. Hiaka is young, was raised among humans and cecaelia, and more in touch with modern day. Zenori has led a pretty solitary life, living where cecaelia first congregated, and has just found their mate in Hiaka, so he’s warming up from his stoic demeanor. Add in the cute and curious human scientist, Kit, who is down to explore all possibilities *wink wink*? These three were a wonderful pairing! I loved the instant connection and the family dynamics as they became parents with Hiaka’s family’s support. And the SPICE?! WHEW! Yes, please! There were tentacles everywhere, these mersquids have a special 🍆 and know how to use it, and every delicious combination imaginable was happening! 🔥🔥🔥 LOVED IT!

While you can read this as a standalone, it’s super fun to see characters who had their own stories told show up in Not So Stranded, so I’d recommend reading ALL of these novellas!

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll keep reading these if she keeps writing them, but this family tree is getting a bit chaotic at this point. There are also secondary characters now that I've not heard of from any of the other books, so maybe there will be more? Who knows. This was cute though. I wish we got more one-on-one time with both Kit/Z and Kit/Hi. I know this isn't a plot-heavy series, but it would just help it make more sense if we saw some character development.

[Shyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet

This book was so sweet from start to finish! The pregnancy chapter was hysterical, the steamy parts were spicy, and the cameos were perfect! Definitely check this one out today!

[Kitm0nster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series 🩵 Getting a third installment of low stakes, tentacle filled m-preg goodness is such a delight! You gotta read the first 2 for the full effect, but it gave me all the warm fuzzies.

Yes if: Fated mates meets mpreg with squid people

No if: You hate having pruney fingers

[Mariah Randolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Score!

I love everything I've ever read from this author, but this one is just so SWEET! I love the development of relationships between the MCs and between the larger family. But no worries--it's still smoking hot.

[SERENA ALVARADO · Rating 5 out of 5]

sweet k steamy 😍

I loved this series it so cute and sexy. The love they share makes you swoon. I hope there’s more to come!