The Tiger and The House Cat

by Collette Carmon

Omega Katrina Perez wanted more in life than what her mother gave her. School was her way out of the cycle of poverty...
Until The Altaica Family appeared, demanding repayment for drugs her mother disappeared with in the night. The white tiger tells her to dance or see her newborn siblings sold for reimbursement. No one cares about Domestic Breeds, and she agrees to dance to pay off her mother's debts.

She never set out to become a young mother, especially not to kids who aren't hers. But when they grow up enough to ask questions, the twins start asking about their father. Off handed, she invents an Alpha she knows can't exist... Until she calls home to check on the twins and her littler sister says, "Mama, Daddy came home from the war!"

Who is this mysterious Alpha who fits Katrina's unrealistic expectations? And why does he slot so easily into their lives? Katrina feels how dangerous he is, and she's determined not to fall in love.

Too bad. She can't outrun feelings.

Genres: Omegaverse, Romance

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2025

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐️

ARC review

This was my first foray into this author's work, and while I went in with low expectations, I was pleasantly surprised. Kat and Alex started out as reluctant friends to lovers, which morphed into more of an enemies to lovers romance when she found out his history. The premise was enough to keep me engaged, and Kat's independent nature coupled with the misogynistic thematic elements of the big cat world she lives in as a domestic cat was enjoyable. The twins, Emma and Ethan, didn't get a lot of time on the page, which was surprising, considering they are a central plot point. Instead, the plot revolved around the more mafia-esque elements of Alex's family. This book is very omegaverse-centric, so there were dynamics of alphas vs omegas and the power plays between the two that drive families and couples together or apart with a distinct lack of rutting, heats, or knotting, though knotting is discussed several times on page. Overall, the book was fun if you want a low-stakes, shorter read.

[Sarah Sphinx ✷ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rushed, underdeveloped, but saucy!

This is my first time reading an ABO romance not on AO3, and to be real, I didn't realize this was even an ABO romance to begin with until I started it. I have no issues with that, but heads up if you don't.

The book's plot is more extensive than it leads you to believe starting off, but feels rushed. We're at one location one second and this at another the next. Not too much imagery of what's going on either.

The characters are lovely. I really enjoy their personalities, how they interact with one another, how they grow and change as the story goes on. The book's failing plot is recovered by this right here.

Now, in regards to the spice levels... It's a 3 for me. It's nothing super detailed or amazing. Some of the scenes feel quickly cut off, leaving you high and dry. It's really just the fact that it's an ABO universe and very primal that I feel like it deserves this 3 out of 5, instead of a 2 out of 5.

Probably won't read again, but I'm honestly looking forward to the next book. I hope to see the author grow and change!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tiger and the House Cat is a unique spin on the shifter omegaverse, with no knotting, heat cycles, or packs, but with plenty of spice and tension. Katrina Perez is a Persian domestic cat shifter stuck dancing for a mafia-like family of tiger shifters to pay off her mother's debt and protect her two younger siblings. She's raised the kids since infancy, becoming their mom and deflecting questions about their father. Cornered by the kids one day, she describes their dad as a military guy on deployment giving them details about his appearance. That evening she comes home to a man, Alex, who fits that description taking care of her kids. But nothing is as simple as it seems.

The premise of this story caught my attention immediately by being a very different take on the shifter stories I'm used to reading. I really enjoyed the way Alex swept in and cared for this family. He was very deliberate in his attention and the chemistry was great. I wish there was more of his backstory from the prologue to the events in the story that would fill in a lot of holes that the plot leaves hanging. I'd also say this book is more of a shifter mafia story than an omegaverse tale because while there are designations of Alpha and Omega and some of the usual characteristics you'd see for each of those, the larger power struggle is a class issue between domestic breed and large breed felines. The other parts of the "family" business were somewhat confusing… why do any of them behave the way they do? There wasn't enough world development for the actions of the Carnivora ruling family to make sense.

Overall, I thought it was an interesting read, keeping my attention and giving the right balance of story vs spice.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sayla xx · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and entertaining read with standout characters, though the pacing left me wishing for more depth.

I received a free advance copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Going into The Tiger and the House Cat, I didn’t realize it was an ABO romance until I was already turning pages. I don’t mind the trope at all, but it’s something readers who avoid it might want to know beforehand.

The plot reaches farther than it initially seems, but everything happens so rapidly that the story doesn’t get the space it needs to fully settle. Scenes shift locations in a blink, and the worldbuilding feels a bit faint because we don’t linger long enough to take everything in.
What fascinated me the most, was how I always guessed wrong about the plot, and that made the book even more thrilling to read.

The characters, however, make up for a lot. Their personalities are engaging, their interactions feel natural, and the way they develop throughout the book kept me invested even when the storyline felt thin. Their dynamic is the strongest part of the novel.
I especially loved the twins and when sometimes the fmc was so real with her thoughts.

I probably wouldn’t reread this installment, but I’m genuinely curious to see how Collette Carmon grows in the next book.

I would really love for Collette Carmon to write deeper and longer stories! I don't know if she genuinly wants to write short stories, but she has a lot of potential to write long series' with more deeper storylines and characters.

Other than that, the book gets a 3/5 Stars. 💖

[Little Blue Butterfly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pleasantly unique story 😊 It’s definitely a cat’s world!! I really enjoyed how the author created a cat and tiger shifter universe and created a caste-system world. Just like in the real world, some shifters are considered more valuable and better than others. I thought Collette created that very well. I really liked the spitfire FMC, Katrina 🖤 She had a junkie mother, who didn’t take care of her baby brother and sister. Poor Katrina had to do it all!! Work, go to school and basically be the mother in the family. Enter a mysterious new Alpha named Alex. I really enjoyed learning about Alex and the chemistry between him and Katrina was really great 🖤♥️
When she comes home to find members of the mafia looking for her mother, because she took off with their money and drugs, Katrina’s scared to death for her siblings. To protect the babies, she agrees to strip in a club, that looks down on her. She agrees to pay off her mother’s debt, if it’ll allow her to take care of the kids. As the kids grow older, they know Katrina as their mother, and start questioning about their father. Instead of telling them he’s a dead beat who abandoned them, she makes up a hero soldier who’s away at war. When the children find a man, who they think is their dad, the mysterious Alpha, Alex, plays along……And ends up settling into his new roll. What does Katrina do when she starts discovering this mysterious man’s past…..Just who is Alex…..Friend or Foe??
I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK 💙🦋🩵

[LaTosha Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first read from this author I am shamed to admit. But maybe I was just waiting for her to write this gem for me. It’s why the moment she hinted at in at an event I told her to put me at the top of the ARC list. Now let’s talking about how freaking amazing the concept for this is. OV with cat shifters!!! Big cats and domesticated cats, who wouldn’t be feral for this?!? And babes she delivered, but as an OV fanatic I’ve got to admit the lack of nest, knotting, and heats definitely were missed. The partial shifting and fierceness of our FMC Kat make of for a lot of it though. The only other issue that kept this from being five star fantastic for me is that some of the emotional arc and the story transitions do what feels like a jump instead of a progression. Alex was a wonderful tortured MMC but I would have liked to see (through Kat’s POV) his gradual interference in her life instead of dropping right into it. But while they were noticeable issues they didn’t hinder my enjoyment all that much. And the setup for book 2 was *chefs kiss*. As soon as I read “ally cat” I knew if be begging for that story if it wasn’t Carmon’s intention. I’m so glad we’re on the same page though lol.

[neus.dreamybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not really a fan of omegaverse but this story was different because normally they are wolf shifters but in this universe they are feline. In this universe we find two big categories: small breeds (domestic cats) and big breeds (tigers, lions…). As you can imagine, the small breeds are normally poor.

Katrina is a domestic cat and since her teens, when her mother leaved them with a big debt, she has been her siblings mum and has been dancing for the tigers to try to live and pay the debt.

One day she has to return home fast because her sister just told her that their father, whose description was pure imagination, has returned. She couldn't believe that Alex exists and wants to play house.

The next days she will be getting close to Alex but he is still a mystery.

This story has some plot twists I saw coming but there were some that surprised me. I enjoyed Katrina and Alex story and how Alex thanks to her can overcome his past baggage.

I can't wait to read Ethan's story.

- ARC read-

[Twinkle.butt.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This excerpt plunges readers headfirst into a gritty, high-stakes Omegaverse world, promising a dark and intense romance.
We meet Katrina, a resilient Omega forced into stripping to pay her mother’s debt to the ruthless Altaica Family and protect her young siblings. Her life takes a dramatic turn when a mysterious Alpha, Alex (later revealed as Aleksey), appears, perfectly embodying the fictional “daddy” she created for the twins. While he offers a semblance of stability and care, his true identity as a powerful Altaica Prince—and his family’s dark demands—threaten to shatter Katrina’s fragile peace and pull her deeper into their violent world.
The story immediately delivers on its trigger warnings, exploring themes of power imbalance, dubious consent, exploitation, and the harsh realities of a caste-based society. The Omegaverse dynamics (claiming, knots, heats) are central to the unfolding relationship between Katrina and Aleksey, often used as tools of control and desire.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Michelle Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new to me author with a different spin on the typical Omegaverse from what I've read in the past and overall it was an enjoyable read. Our FMC Omega Katrina is raising her younger siblings and working off her mother's debt to the mafia when our MMC Alpha Alex shows up and conveniently falls in to the father role to the twins. Def a different spin on the "fake dating" that really worked well with this story. We watch as Kat, slowly lets Alex in - until his past and his role in her life comes out and it becomes more of a forced mafia marriage. I enjoyed watching the two of them work through their pasts, finally come together and work for their future. The cat/tiger/lion world that the author created was really interesting as well as an Omega and a house cat - Kat was def on the low end of the hierarchy and the author did a great job showing the classism and power struggle. Thank you BookSirens and Collette for a chance to be an ARC reader and I can't wait for more from the Carnivora world!

[Gabi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure I would classify this as an omegaverse book. It had alphas and omegas (betas were referred to but not really seen) but those seemed to be the only elements of your typical omegaverse book. It is definitely a he-falls-first and mafia.

The book didn't quite do it for me for some reason. I think part of it was I didn't care for the tense in which it was written. The words didn't flow well for me for some reason. The underlying story though is one of boy-sees-girl but she doesn't know it and falls for her big-time. He becomes her invisible protector in a world where little protection is available. It's a story of love and hate with a touch of good vs evil. I think another reason I may not have enjoyed the book as much as I hoped is it is rather dark. I'm not a huge fan of dark but if it's your jam then you would probably really enjoy this book.

I'm glad I read the story though and don't regret having read it.

[Carmella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can a simple house cat, raising her brother and sister, ever wish for more? In our story, the house cat is the lowest class possible. The most Katrina can hope for is just to survive and raise her siblings (who think she is their mother).

Katrina then meets Alex, whom the kids think is their father because of a description she gave them, and Alex plays along. Katrina pushes him away as he tries to get closer to her.

Who is Alex? Can she trust him? Can she deal with his secrets?

While the story isn't bad, it just strikes me as weird. I would be reading along, enjoying it and then it is thrown in my face that these are not humans, they are felines which threw the story off for me. I have never read the author before and see that this is normal for her writing but I couldn't get into it, no offense!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MaRissa Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

I would like to say this is my first time reading a book like this. But since I go into books blindly, I didn’t really know which is fine.

The FMC and MMC were great. I loved that Kat and Alex. I loved her siblings (well her basically adopted children since infancy) Ethan and Emma as well.

I loved the story and the idea of this book, but I do have some small complaints.

The whole Alex and Kat thing seemed to have been rushed. There wasn’t any time to build chemistry before this stranger just ends up in the house. Other than that I did love the spice and it started getting better as you go further into the book.

I felt as if there wasn’t much detail about Alex’s backstory. I wish we could’ve gotten more of that.

Other than those bits, I did enjoy this book. It was enjoyable.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Raelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tiger and The House Cat had potential with a simple but enjoyable plotline for an Omegaverse book. The main female character is in debt to some scary folks due to her mom ditching and has adopted her little siblings. She’s invented a story about who their dad is (they don’t know she isn’t their biological mom) and lo and behold, he shows up one day. Alex is our MMC with dubious origins.

I received a free ARC of the book (no strings attached) well before it’s due to be published, so it’s likely many of the errors I noticed while reading have been fixed. Even character names, particularly Alex’s mom’s name, kept changing throughout the book.

It’s a very easy read, light on plot and medium-light for the spice.

[Inanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an imaginative retelling of several tropes - character indebted to the mafia for family member's gambling, mafia guy falls for poor employee and takes care of her, obviously the alpha/omega parts are in there. But in this case, it's cat shifters! I've never read an omegaverse or mafia book with cat shifters, so that's cool. I like that the big predator cats (lions, tigers, etc.) are the top of society while the small house cats are the oft-trod-upon poor folk.

I was not a fan of the writing style at the beginning - it wasn't anything wrong, or clunky, it just didn't flow like I prefer. However, halfway through reading, my brain adjusted and decided it was just fine. I'd give this a 3.5 stars if we could do half ratings, but rounding up to a 4!

[Roxie's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An Awesome shifter Romance"

The story is Exciting and Scorching hot"
Katrina is a sweet and spunky Persian long hair shifter. Domestic cat shifters are looked down on. While away at school her mother gets involved with large cat breed organization. Her mother runs away leaving Kat's babies siblings all alone! Just as Kat gets back from college. She also left Kat to repay her mothers dept, and raise her siblings. Kat became her siblings mother. Due to circumstances beyond Kats control. Her life is changed forever when she meets Alex a sexy Tiger shifter.little did she know Alex is part of the organization her mother owes.
What will happen when Kat learns the truth about Alex?
You will love this five star story.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The setting is gritty and dirty and well written to help feel the world these characters live in. I like the idea that the omegaverse is a feline shifter hierarchy. The FMC is strong and determined despite being plunged into a situation she never expected. The MMC is vicious in all the right places and soft only for his mate and cubs. The insta love/ lust is not my cup of tea so that was a bump for me. Overall this a good quick gritty read. I would recommend to fans of mafia, dark romance, shifters, and omegaverse. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kenzey · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️

I don’t know how this is my first book by Collette Carmon but I’m so grateful to have received an arc copy of this book.
I love all things omegaverse and shifters and this one was no different.
Katrina is thrust into the world of dancing when strange men show up to collect the debt her mother owes.
Now Katrina has gone from older sister to mom of the 2 babies - Emma and Ethan - their mother has also abandoned.
In comes Alex who somehow looks exactly like the imaginary father she described to the now older twins.
Kat and Alex were perfection 😩🤭
I cannottttt wait for book 2 after that little teaser at the end 😏

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the blurb of this book, and it definitely delivered on that. The author tells Aleksey's and Katrina's story in the third person. Something about her writing style is very unique. The story has plenty of angst and violence in a shifter mafia backdrop with a strict hierarchy, but it also delivers on a romantic happily ever after. The side characters add a lot, even while the main focus is on the relationship developed between the main characters. I especially enjoyed how the children fit into Alex's life and tempered his behavior. I'm looking forward to book 2 in this series.

[Vicky's_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. Omegaverse, mafia vibes, a strong FMC doing what she needs to survive a cruel world, and a devoted, protective MMC are all themes I love in books. Unfortunately, for some reason, this book just didn't quite hit the mark for me. There was nothing specifically wrong; the premise is intriguing, the story was good enough to keep me turning the page, and the book is well-written. Despite all this, I wasn't particularly engaged while reading.

I rated this three stars because I do think it's a good book; however, I don't think it was the right book for me.

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Crystal Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omgosh I loved this book, it had everything it kept me needing to find out what happened next. Which is why I read it in one sitting. I loved how strong Katrina was in the face of everything she had endured and I really liked Alekseys character and how he didn’t care what anyone thought about her and how he loved all of them. I hated Viktor in the beginning but his character as the story progressed was different than I thought he would be and I respected that all in all 5 stars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vicki Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about bringing 2 different wereanimals together to overcome the stigma of being together. The love between Alex and Katrina is so strong, and the story is so well written that I could feel the love. The plot is suspenseful and held me captive from the first page. The character development is so good that I could picture the characters in my mind. There were a few typos but that did not affect my enjoyment of this story. I love how there was a HEA even after the trauma Katrina went through. Highly recommend.

[Jackie Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading from this author and let me tell you, I wasn’t disappointed. Emma and Ethan really touches your heart. Alex and Katrina goes through some hardships and challenges but the author pulls you into their story and makes you feel what they’re going through. I would definitely recommend this book to my paranormal and dad romance readers.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Moonlight_reading_29 · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars

This story has great potential, but I felt it was too short to fully deliver on its promise. The premise is intriguing, and the writing kept me engaged, but I was left wanting more depth and development. With a bit more plot and expansion on the characters or storyline, this could easily become a 5-star read. I’d love to see a longer version in the future!

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my normal type of book but the description intrigued me. I found the characters interesting and the story captivating. Given the nature of what appears to be happening in book two I am not sure I will continue the series but it is a bit intriguing so I may give it a try anyway. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by bookfunnel.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story and found the twins *discovery of their father* sweet and mildly amusing. The story is very much a struggle against circumstances beyond Katrina's control. There is a twist or two in the story, the second one unfolded as a surprise.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting start to new series. Very original premise. The characters were well written and likeable. Plot was intriguing and exciting. World building was well thought out and held my interest. All in all a very good read.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lindarhc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and didn’t know what to expect. It was entertaining at times and horrifying at others. But the love between Alex and Katrina is strong as his love for the children that call her mother but are really her siblings. I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading but I’m pleased I did read it

[Tonia Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was… okay. i thought the mention of tails was weird. The characters aren't connecting for me. The intimate scenes are hot, but theres just not a lot for me otherwise. I just wanted more from the characters and story overall.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Courtney Surface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet premise with a protective MMC, found family, and light Omegaverse elements. The darker tone and writing style weren’t fully my vibe, and I noticed a few early ARC hiccups, but the story had heart. Fans of “he falls first” and quiet mafia romance might really enjoy this one.

[Kaitlynn Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Arc Review*

4.5 stars but 5 up top because I enjoyed it that much.

I didn’t really know what to expect as this book was my introduction to both the author and the universe. I enjoyed it so much I kept hiding away at work to keep reading it between duties.

Alesky though technically a criminal is an absolute gem, that was given a shit hand at life purely for having the audacity to be normal, and wanting to just live his life. He fought for the love of his life after some prodding though, so he figured it out.

Grew to like Victor well enough as the story moved on as well. He actually has some standards apparently.

The story moved fairly quickly, but not so quick as to ignore all concepts of character development.

I didn’t feel the usual emptiness and anger that I normally do after the first book of a series, but I am looking forward to the next book immensely.