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Protect and Serve #1
Flash Point
When fireman Dustin Hardesty saves a scruffy tomcat from a fire, and then a neutering at the shelter, he has no idea he’s just moved a cat shifter named Tigs into his life.
Tigs figures he owes Dustin, so he’ll hang around to give Dustin some good times. He doesn’t count on Dustin never wanting to let go of his alley cat.
Tigs figures he owes Dustin, so he’ll hang around to give Dustin some good times. He doesn’t count on Dustin never wanting to let go of his alley cat.
42 pages, ebook
First published February 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Lena Austin
71 books23 followersLena Austin is a "fallen" society wench with a checkered past. She has been a licensed minister, haidresser, and a realtor, radio DJ, exotic dancer, telephone service tech, live-steel medievalist swordswoman, BDSM Mistress, and investment property manager. Not necessarily in that order. She never finished that degree in archaeology, but did learn to scuba. After a life that, gardening is pretty restful. Of herself, Lena writes, "I'm tall, presently red-haired, and I look like an holy mating between an Amazon and a librarian."
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 2, 2013
Tigs and his motley crew of shifters..( rat, Rottweiler, tabby and a Himalayan...) work construction sites.
It's when someone set fire to a place and Tigs is still in the building which gives the tabby a chance to meet firefighter Dustin.
Dustin is slowly getting over the death of his husband, he takes the stray cat home and lo and behold when the cat turns into a hunky sexy nakkid man he isn't all that shocked.
They have sex, and there is a bit of D/s dynamic going on, very little, but Tigs thinks he is just a poor alley cat and not good enough for Dustin.
Dustin doesn't give up easily.
It's cute, I guess, but the instant love after one bout of sex and not seeing each other for months ..and I didn't quite get Tigs's hang-ups either.
It's when someone set fire to a place and Tigs is still in the building which gives the tabby a chance to meet firefighter Dustin.
Dustin is slowly getting over the death of his husband, he takes the stray cat home and lo and behold when the cat turns into a hunky sexy nakkid man he isn't all that shocked.
They have sex, and there is a bit of D/s dynamic going on, very little, but Tigs thinks he is just a poor alley cat and not good enough for Dustin.
Dustin doesn't give up easily.
It's cute, I guess, but the instant love after one bout of sex and not seeing each other for months ..and I didn't quite get Tigs's hang-ups either.
January 9, 2015
This short story about an alley cat shifter and the hot firefighter he falls for is not just hilariously funny, it is also hot, and it carries a heartwarming message about true love overcoming all kinds of obstacles. The way the book is written in alternating points of view between Dustin and Tigs, each providing a piece of the story in form of a "blog", ensures the style is informal. It made me feel more as if these characters were talking to me than that I was reading a book. I really liked that!
Dustin is a firefighter who has begun to consider other options in life—he has been extinguishing fires and saving people for a while and now, in his midthirties, he is beginning to wonder what else may be out there. He has some plans, but Fate has other ideas. And for once I liked what she had in store. But there is more to Dustin than meets the eye. Yes, he is hot and physically very attractive. But he is also kind, supportive, and has a big heart. I loved him from the start.
Tigs is hilarious. He is a cat shifter, of alley cat status, and doesn’t think very highly of himself. Which is too bad, because he really is an amazing guy. It all gradually emerges as the story develops, and all I can say is don’t be fooled by his "scruffy" exterior. Dustin was able to look beyond it, and so was I. The way Tigs introduces himself sets the tone perfectly:
"My name is Tigs, and I’m a cat shifter. Don’t get smart, it’s not short for Tigger or anything stupid like that. I don’t fucking bounce or lisp my words, and I’m a gray tabby. I usually work construction and home renovation, me and my crew. We’re all shifters of one type or another, but we get along most of the time."
If you like your paranormal tales with a healthy dose of snark and humor, if "rags to riches" is a story line you favor, and if you're looking for a read that is as funny as it is hot while still managing to touch your heart, then you will probably like this short story.
Dustin is a firefighter who has begun to consider other options in life—he has been extinguishing fires and saving people for a while and now, in his midthirties, he is beginning to wonder what else may be out there. He has some plans, but Fate has other ideas. And for once I liked what she had in store. But there is more to Dustin than meets the eye. Yes, he is hot and physically very attractive. But he is also kind, supportive, and has a big heart. I loved him from the start.
Tigs is hilarious. He is a cat shifter, of alley cat status, and doesn’t think very highly of himself. Which is too bad, because he really is an amazing guy. It all gradually emerges as the story develops, and all I can say is don’t be fooled by his "scruffy" exterior. Dustin was able to look beyond it, and so was I. The way Tigs introduces himself sets the tone perfectly:
"My name is Tigs, and I’m a cat shifter. Don’t get smart, it’s not short for Tigger or anything stupid like that. I don’t fucking bounce or lisp my words, and I’m a gray tabby. I usually work construction and home renovation, me and my crew. We’re all shifters of one type or another, but we get along most of the time."
If you like your paranormal tales with a healthy dose of snark and humor, if "rags to riches" is a story line you favor, and if you're looking for a read that is as funny as it is hot while still managing to touch your heart, then you will probably like this short story.
December 3, 2010
This was cute. A quick read...a nibble perfect for those who either have only snippets of time to relax in, or, coupled with other short reads adds a bright tangy note of goodness (not unlike a good kiwi fruit!) to your reading banquet!
April 25, 2011
Funny story. Laughed a lot. J'aime les histoires décalées.
March 19, 2025
Reviewed for THC Reviews
Flash Point is a paranormal romance short story that is the first in the multi-author Protect & Serve series, which features characters who are first responders in addition to ones who are supernatural. In this one, Tigs is a cat shifter (of the domestic sort) who owns a construction business that’s staffed with his fellow cat and dog shifters. They just finished up a shift on their latest project and Tigs is the only one left on site when an arson fire breaks out on the lower floor of the building. The fast-moving blaze nearly overtakes him before he shifts into his cat form and jumps out a window into a nearby tree. He’s rescued by a handsome firefighter who decides to take him home instead of to the shelter. As Dustin is confiding grief over the loss of his husband and other things to his new feline companion, he passes out from hypoglycemia and awakens to the most gorgeous naked man he’s ever seen tending to him. Figuring he owes Dustin for saving him, Tigs sticks around to give him a sexy good time. However, he can tell that Dustin is a class act, while he’s just an alley cat, so he ghosts out while Dustin is asleep. It’s not until he’s called to meet with a guy about a prospective historic home restoration that Tigs sees Dustin again, but he has to decide if he can get past his hangups about their differing social statuses for a chance at forever love.
I think I was mostly attracted to the cover blurb for Flash Point because of one hero being a firefighter and the other being a cat shifter. I’m a sucker for men in uniform and I don’t know that I’ve read many, if any, paranormal books so far with domestic animal shifters, so both were a big selling point for me. Unfortunately the story didn’t quite live up to the promise. I liked both Dustin and Tigs fine, but the character development is minimal, leaving a great deal about them unexplored. I really would have loved if this had been built up into a longer book with more backstory for both men. Dustin was rejected by his father for being gay but there’s little about how that has affected him, and his husband had recently died but we don’t know how. Tigs has his crew who seem to be a pretty close group but we learn nothing about them at all, and he’s clearly a little bothered by the fact that he’s a mere alley cat while Dustin is a classy guy. There was just so much fodder for a deeper dive that didn’t materialize. The romance is likewise underdeveloped, merely an insta-love, and when I insta, I mean they’re inexplicably in love from the instant they have sex. The love scenes were okay, but they’re written in a way that was more raw and erotic than sexy and romantic. Throughout the story there were times when there weren’t quite enough details to fully envision what was happening and I found some inconsistencies and other editing errors. Overall, Flash Point wasn’t a bad story per se and I did derive some enjoyment from reading it, which is why I gave it three stars, but I think it could have been so much more. For readers who are looking for a quick read that’s more about the sex, it might just hit the spot, but for anyone who’s wanting a deeper story, I’d recommend looking elsewhere.
Note: This book contains explicit language and sexual situations that include submissive tendencies, nipple clamps, intimate piercing, and rimming, all of which could be objectionable to sensitive readers.
Flash Point is a paranormal romance short story that is the first in the multi-author Protect & Serve series, which features characters who are first responders in addition to ones who are supernatural. In this one, Tigs is a cat shifter (of the domestic sort) who owns a construction business that’s staffed with his fellow cat and dog shifters. They just finished up a shift on their latest project and Tigs is the only one left on site when an arson fire breaks out on the lower floor of the building. The fast-moving blaze nearly overtakes him before he shifts into his cat form and jumps out a window into a nearby tree. He’s rescued by a handsome firefighter who decides to take him home instead of to the shelter. As Dustin is confiding grief over the loss of his husband and other things to his new feline companion, he passes out from hypoglycemia and awakens to the most gorgeous naked man he’s ever seen tending to him. Figuring he owes Dustin for saving him, Tigs sticks around to give him a sexy good time. However, he can tell that Dustin is a class act, while he’s just an alley cat, so he ghosts out while Dustin is asleep. It’s not until he’s called to meet with a guy about a prospective historic home restoration that Tigs sees Dustin again, but he has to decide if he can get past his hangups about their differing social statuses for a chance at forever love.
I think I was mostly attracted to the cover blurb for Flash Point because of one hero being a firefighter and the other being a cat shifter. I’m a sucker for men in uniform and I don’t know that I’ve read many, if any, paranormal books so far with domestic animal shifters, so both were a big selling point for me. Unfortunately the story didn’t quite live up to the promise. I liked both Dustin and Tigs fine, but the character development is minimal, leaving a great deal about them unexplored. I really would have loved if this had been built up into a longer book with more backstory for both men. Dustin was rejected by his father for being gay but there’s little about how that has affected him, and his husband had recently died but we don’t know how. Tigs has his crew who seem to be a pretty close group but we learn nothing about them at all, and he’s clearly a little bothered by the fact that he’s a mere alley cat while Dustin is a classy guy. There was just so much fodder for a deeper dive that didn’t materialize. The romance is likewise underdeveloped, merely an insta-love, and when I insta, I mean they’re inexplicably in love from the instant they have sex. The love scenes were okay, but they’re written in a way that was more raw and erotic than sexy and romantic. Throughout the story there were times when there weren’t quite enough details to fully envision what was happening and I found some inconsistencies and other editing errors. Overall, Flash Point wasn’t a bad story per se and I did derive some enjoyment from reading it, which is why I gave it three stars, but I think it could have been so much more. For readers who are looking for a quick read that’s more about the sex, it might just hit the spot, but for anyone who’s wanting a deeper story, I’d recommend looking elsewhere.
Note: This book contains explicit language and sexual situations that include submissive tendencies, nipple clamps, intimate piercing, and rimming, all of which could be objectionable to sensitive readers.
July 7, 2023
Tigs and Dustin's Story . . .
When fireman Dustin Hardesty saves what looks like a scruffy tomcat from a fire, this action will be life-altering for him. The cat shifter, who works in construction, is named Tigs. He let the rest of his crew go home while he gathered their extension cords and cleaned up the work site. When he scented burning wood, he assumed someone set the trashcan on fire to keep warm. By the time he finished and opened the upstairs door, the smoke had already reached him and he began to choke. He broke out a window, shifted into his cat form, and jumped to the branch of a tree as the fire trucks pulled up. What did surprise him, however, was that the ladder was put up against the tree… were they saving HIM? Tigs wouldn’t let the man grab him like he was too dumb to get down from the tree. So he jumped on his shoulders instead. The old deli wasn’t going to make it, so they protected neighboring buildings and let the deli burn out. The fireman, Dustin, told his buddy that the work crew on this place was terrific, hard-working, and immaculate about cleaning up, so he was certain they were not responsible for the arson. He intended to let the inspector know this also, which started Tigs purring until another guy stuffed him into a cat carrier. Fortunately Dustin said he would take him home with him rather than taking him to a shelter.
Tigs inspected Dustin’s apartment, not impressed. When Dustin’s partner had died, Casey’s family cleaned out everything they owned while Dustin grieved, leaving Dustin without dishes or a chair to sit in. So he furnished the apartment from the thrift store until he could earn more money to restore everything. He told the cat Tigs all about what happened. The cat was a good listener. Then he felt dizzy, hypoglycemic and having forgotten to eat, and he passed out. He woke to a handsome man kneeling over him ready to treat his condition with honey. Tigs picked him up and carried him to his bed where he fell immediately asleep. And he served him dinner as soon as he woke up! Dustin knew he was hallucinating, but he was enjoying the sassy man and loved his cooking! Tigs told him he would stay for a few days, but said not to get any ideas about collars, tags, or especially vets! Dustin asked why this didn’t make him feel like a traitor to Casey… and Tigs had the most beautiful, sensible answer Dustin had ever heard.
This story had snark, humor, serious moments, pain and grieving, and then hope. Tigs is wonderful with his honest look at the world, probably because of his cat nature. Dustin has a kind and loving heart that needs to heal. Will Tigs stay and show him that life doesn’t end if you let yourself heal and are willing to reach out for a second chance. I enjoyed the emotional aspect very much, the kink not at all so I skipped those parts. But Tigs’ comments had me chuckling often and this book was absolutely a new experience!
When fireman Dustin Hardesty saves what looks like a scruffy tomcat from a fire, this action will be life-altering for him. The cat shifter, who works in construction, is named Tigs. He let the rest of his crew go home while he gathered their extension cords and cleaned up the work site. When he scented burning wood, he assumed someone set the trashcan on fire to keep warm. By the time he finished and opened the upstairs door, the smoke had already reached him and he began to choke. He broke out a window, shifted into his cat form, and jumped to the branch of a tree as the fire trucks pulled up. What did surprise him, however, was that the ladder was put up against the tree… were they saving HIM? Tigs wouldn’t let the man grab him like he was too dumb to get down from the tree. So he jumped on his shoulders instead. The old deli wasn’t going to make it, so they protected neighboring buildings and let the deli burn out. The fireman, Dustin, told his buddy that the work crew on this place was terrific, hard-working, and immaculate about cleaning up, so he was certain they were not responsible for the arson. He intended to let the inspector know this also, which started Tigs purring until another guy stuffed him into a cat carrier. Fortunately Dustin said he would take him home with him rather than taking him to a shelter.
Tigs inspected Dustin’s apartment, not impressed. When Dustin’s partner had died, Casey’s family cleaned out everything they owned while Dustin grieved, leaving Dustin without dishes or a chair to sit in. So he furnished the apartment from the thrift store until he could earn more money to restore everything. He told the cat Tigs all about what happened. The cat was a good listener. Then he felt dizzy, hypoglycemic and having forgotten to eat, and he passed out. He woke to a handsome man kneeling over him ready to treat his condition with honey. Tigs picked him up and carried him to his bed where he fell immediately asleep. And he served him dinner as soon as he woke up! Dustin knew he was hallucinating, but he was enjoying the sassy man and loved his cooking! Tigs told him he would stay for a few days, but said not to get any ideas about collars, tags, or especially vets! Dustin asked why this didn’t make him feel like a traitor to Casey… and Tigs had the most beautiful, sensible answer Dustin had ever heard.
This story had snark, humor, serious moments, pain and grieving, and then hope. Tigs is wonderful with his honest look at the world, probably because of his cat nature. Dustin has a kind and loving heart that needs to heal. Will Tigs stay and show him that life doesn’t end if you let yourself heal and are willing to reach out for a second chance. I enjoyed the emotional aspect very much, the kink not at all so I skipped those parts. But Tigs’ comments had me chuckling often and this book was absolutely a new experience!
July 6, 2023
Short and fun story!
This is the first story I’ve read by Lena Austin and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s very short at only about 42 pages but the author managed to pack a good story into very few words; not all authors can do that.
Tigs is a cat shifter with attitude and Dustin is a firefighter who saves Tigs when he’s up in a tree that’s in danger of catching fire. Dustin doesn’t know that Tigs doesn’t need rescuing. 😊 Dustin finds out exactly what he’s gotten himself into after he takes Tigs home with him. They have a great night together but Tigs sneaks out because he doesn’t feel he’s good enough for Dustin.
Told in alternating points of view, Tigs is snarky and funny and Dustin doesn’t want to let him go. I didn’t expect the way that these two get reunited and I thought it was perfect!
I was a little surprised that the other books in this multi-author series weren’t about Tigs’ friends and co-workers. I’d love to see Lena Austin write stories for all of them.
A copy of this book was provided to me at my request and my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
This is the first story I’ve read by Lena Austin and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s very short at only about 42 pages but the author managed to pack a good story into very few words; not all authors can do that.
Tigs is a cat shifter with attitude and Dustin is a firefighter who saves Tigs when he’s up in a tree that’s in danger of catching fire. Dustin doesn’t know that Tigs doesn’t need rescuing. 😊 Dustin finds out exactly what he’s gotten himself into after he takes Tigs home with him. They have a great night together but Tigs sneaks out because he doesn’t feel he’s good enough for Dustin.
Told in alternating points of view, Tigs is snarky and funny and Dustin doesn’t want to let him go. I didn’t expect the way that these two get reunited and I thought it was perfect!
I was a little surprised that the other books in this multi-author series weren’t about Tigs’ friends and co-workers. I’d love to see Lena Austin write stories for all of them.
A copy of this book was provided to me at my request and my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
July 16, 2023
'I decided I was hallucinating. The cat I rescued from a tree about to burn down did not morph into a sexy, dark kitchen god with compelling eyes and a cocksure attitude. However, since I was actually enjoying myself, I saw no reason not to play along until I woke up...“I refuse to wake up. This is the best hallucination of my life.”'
This was a cute quick read. Tigs is an [tomcat] cat shifter, and his personality reflects that well. He escapes a fire by shifting and leaping into a tree, where he is rescued by a firefighter, who brings him home. Dustin is still grieving the loss of his husband and isn't handling it well or taking proper care for himself. When he passes out, he wakes up to a handsome naked man taking care of him and making him food. He is only too happy to stay in this dream hallucination/dream. And then things get steamy. A fun read. 4 stars.
This was a cute quick read. Tigs is an [tomcat] cat shifter, and his personality reflects that well. He escapes a fire by shifting and leaping into a tree, where he is rescued by a firefighter, who brings him home. Dustin is still grieving the loss of his husband and isn't handling it well or taking proper care for himself. When he passes out, he wakes up to a handsome naked man taking care of him and making him food. He is only too happy to stay in this dream hallucination/dream. And then things get steamy. A fun read. 4 stars.
July 6, 2023
**First Time Reader** 3.5 to 4 stars
The blurb looked great and I like reading new authors to me so I gave it a go. It was an interesting shifter romance. I had to get use to Tigs personality and his way of speaking...very arrogant but hey that's a tom cat...right? anyways he had his insecurities and fate had him meeting Dustin who had his own heartache and troubles. Both were in need and compliment each other. For a novella, not very angsty, some heated sexy scenes, kind of predictable, romance and HEA was nice. I wished the last chapter(blog) had ended a little differently with more introductions to Tigs' group but all in all this story was nice and I liked it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The blurb looked great and I like reading new authors to me so I gave it a go. It was an interesting shifter romance. I had to get use to Tigs personality and his way of speaking...very arrogant but hey that's a tom cat...right? anyways he had his insecurities and fate had him meeting Dustin who had his own heartache and troubles. Both were in need and compliment each other. For a novella, not very angsty, some heated sexy scenes, kind of predictable, romance and HEA was nice. I wished the last chapter(blog) had ended a little differently with more introductions to Tigs' group but all in all this story was nice and I liked it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 27, 2023
I will confess that I wanted to read Flash Point by Lena Austin because it features a cat shifter. And not a big cat but an alley cat named Tigs. Tigs is literally saved by Dustin, a firefighter. What caught my attention is how well the author captured the voice of a streetwise stray cat in Tigs. There is a meet-cute for the second interaction of the MCs which put a smile on my face. It was entertaining the way Tigs’ construction crew had positions fitting the animal the shifters turned into. Austin has created a fun little world that could sustain more stories, perhaps about Tigs’ coworkers. I received a free copy of this book from Changeling Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 20, 2020
Seems I read this some time in the past and completely forgot to post it here on GR.
July 8, 2023
Tigs is a cat shifter. Dustin a fireman. When they meet at a burning building, the sparks are instantaneous.
Tigs is full of snark. The very attitude I’ve attributed to my own cat if he could talk.
Dustin came across as sweet and vulnerable. I can see him, sitting in his mansion with Tigs stretched out on his lap, both living the good life.
As this is a very short story there was not very much storyline or plot. Just a fireman and his cat getting to know each other in very carnal ways.
A bit raunchy, a lot sweet, a tasty bit of goodness I enjoyed.
I’ve not read this author before but will be looking for more of her books.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Tigs is full of snark. The very attitude I’ve attributed to my own cat if he could talk.
Dustin came across as sweet and vulnerable. I can see him, sitting in his mansion with Tigs stretched out on his lap, both living the good life.
As this is a very short story there was not very much storyline or plot. Just a fireman and his cat getting to know each other in very carnal ways.
A bit raunchy, a lot sweet, a tasty bit of goodness I enjoyed.
I’ve not read this author before but will be looking for more of her books.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
December 15, 2010
Nice little short story about Tigs, a cat shifter and Dustin, a firefighter who lost his husband.
September 25, 2011
cute and funny short read. I laughed pretty hard at the knock knock joke, I have to admit
October 4, 2012
3.5... too insta-love
April 17, 2013
This book is sooo cheesy, and I definitely don't feel like the love is believable, especially after 1 night!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews