Shrew & Company Series by Holley Trent

Pub owner Patrick O’Dwyer disappears right before his pub’s locally-famous Saint Paddy’s Day 5K race. His staff suspects foul play and engages Durham’s surliest private eye to find him. Dana Slade is a former police detective who got canned after a botched research study warped her DNA. She’s a Mutant-American, and none too pleased about it. Her special gifts, unique as they are, hardly make up for her nearly losing her life to an untested drug... morePub owner Patrick O’Dwyer disappears right before his pub’s locally-famous Saint Paddy’s Day 5K race. His staff suspects foul play and engages Durham’s surliest private eye to find him. Dana Slade is a former police detective who got canned after a botched research study warped her DNA. She’s a Mutant-American, and none too pleased about it. Her special gifts, unique as they are, hardly make up for her nearly losing her life to an untested drug. If anything, they remind her to never trust a sweet-talking man ever again. It was her ex who signed her up for the study. She takes the case. Within three hours, she locates Mr. O’Dwyer in a Great Smoky Mountains cabin. He’s not only hiding. He’s keeping a secret. Patrick is enamored of the straight-shooting Dana, and knows not to bother trying to tame the shrew. In fact, he likes her attitude almost as much as he likes her curves. For the first time in three years, Dana thinks she might be able to let her guard down, but that changes when Patrick drags himself home beat up and covered in mud. Apparently, there’s a feud raging in the mountains and he’s right in the middle of it. As good as he makes her feel, the charming bartender could make her life even more complicated than it already is. Just her luck that the Irishman would come with a heap of baggage instead of a pot of gold. less

After six weeks working a grueling undercover job, the last thing Sarah Miller wants is to jump headfirst into another assignment. She doesn’t have a choice. Business is booming at Shrew & Company, and besides the boss lady herself, Sarah’s the only woman equipped to handle the latest were-bear drama. When she gets to the mountains—ready to go in with guns blazing—Dana reassigns her. The circus is in town, and their most famous acrobat has gone missing. Except…he hasn’t... moreAfter six weeks working a grueling undercover job, the last thing Sarah Miller wants is to jump headfirst into another assignment. She doesn’t have a choice. Business is booming at Shrew & Company, and besides the boss lady herself, Sarah’s the only woman equipped to handle the latest were-bear drama. When she gets to the mountains—ready to go in with guns blazing—Dana reassigns her. The circus is in town, and their most famous acrobat has gone missing. Except…he hasn’t. Felipe Castillo is on the run, and whatever is giving him chase is scaring Dana, too. Dana won’t tell Sarah why, but it’s now her job to coax the slippery Spaniard out of hiding and get him someplace safe. That is, assuming they can keep their clothes on. Felipe may not speak English well, but the way his body moves needs no translation. Sarah’s not interested in commitment, especially not with a man who cheats death for a living. Something about the acrobat has her enthralled. Maybe it’s because he has just as many secrets as her…or even more. less

Believed to be kept under guard by his traveling circus’s owner, Fabian Castillo hasn’t been seen or heard from for more than seven months. Astrid Falk has one week to root him out. The private investigators at Shrew & Company always find their men, and Astrid is no exception. When Astrid pulls the bewitching acrobat from captivity, however, he refuses to cut and run. He’s got a score to settle with his former foster father Jacques, and Astrid can’t leave Fabian on his own... moreBelieved to be kept under guard by his traveling circus’s owner, Fabian Castillo hasn’t been seen or heard from for more than seven months. Astrid Falk has one week to root him out. The private investigators at Shrew & Company always find their men, and Astrid is no exception. When Astrid pulls the bewitching acrobat from captivity, however, he refuses to cut and run. He’s got a score to settle with his former foster father Jacques, and Astrid can’t leave Fabian on his own. He speaks no English, and she speaks no Spanish, but when they touch, they don’t need words. There are some perks to being psychic. Solitary Fabian wants Astrid to be more than just his translator, and she just might be on the market for a new partner. But, the last man she gave her heart to left her high and dry when she needed him most. Committing to Fabian would require a leap of faith she’s not sure she can muster, especially if there’s no net below to catch her if she falls. less

Maria Weisz has always been Shrew & Company’s most easygoing investigator and the sisterhood relies on her soothing empathy during times of stress. The Shrews have no idea, though, that Maria’s outward calm disguises long-simmering turmoil. For years, she’s relied on her secret lover Eric Falk to chase away her demons, but he’s tired of an outlet for her anger... moreMaria Weisz has always been Shrew & Company’s most easygoing investigator and the sisterhood relies on her soothing empathy during times of stress. The Shrews have no idea, though, that Maria’s outward calm disguises long-simmering turmoil. For years, she’s relied on her secret lover Eric Falk to chase away her demons, but he’s tired of an outlet for her anger. He’s ready to call it quits; however, when his alpha and Maria’s boss make them partner up to fetch a couple of kidnapped Bear shifter kids, he has no choice but to reevaluate a commitment. With unsettling revelations about Maria’s nomadic childhood surfacing and the formerly mellow Eric becoming a Bear with power that rivals his alpha, she’s desperate to shut him out. Although he claims he loves her in spite of her hang-ups, she’s used to the people who claim to love her lying to her. A Shrew and a Bear might make an impressive duo both on the job and off, but Maria can’t trust giving him her heart. She doesn’t want to give Eric the chance to prove that he’s yet another liar. ___ Other Shrew & Company stories available now: 1 - The Problem with Paddy 2 - Framing Felipe 3 - Bryan's Betrayal 4 - Following Fabian less

Peter Ursu is a Bear without a home—an alpha without a clan. As a mercenary, he pays his bills by eliminating shifter rogues, and in the past, he never lost any sleep over his occupation. But when his fated mate turns out to be the meek younger sister of the Ridge Bear clan alpha, he struggles to rein in his basest impulses so he doesn’t scare her away. The thing is, Andrea Ridge doesn’t expect him to... morePeter Ursu is a Bear without a home—an alpha without a clan. As a mercenary, he pays his bills by eliminating shifter rogues, and in the past, he never lost any sleep over his occupation. But when his fated mate turns out to be the meek younger sister of the Ridge Bear clan alpha, he struggles to rein in his basest impulses so he doesn’t scare her away. The thing is, Andrea Ridge doesn’t expect him to. In spite of Peter being a killer-for-hire, he’s one of the few Bears she feels completely at ease around. She’s used to being the weak link—the victim—and believes that when mating season passes, he’ll change his mind. Sweet Drea is the soothing mate Peter craves, and bold Peter is the protective companion Drea needs. But if they can’t convince themselves that they deserve each other, they’ll miss the only shot they’ll ever get at true love. --Promising Peter is a Shrew & Company novel and part of the BAD BOY ALPHAS collection. Each Shrew & Company story contains a complete romance.-- less

When solitary Marcella Bailey ventures to join her sister on the staff of Shrew & Company, she doesn’t anticipate being partnered with the man she’s been avoiding for weeks. Bear shifter Soren Ursu claims she’s his mate. But witches like Marcella don’t get mates. Soren hopes he can convince Marcella to accept their connection, but she’s got a one-track mind. She’s focused on winning the job and ending the company’s crusade against the unscrupulous research firm CarrHealth... moreWhen solitary Marcella Bailey ventures to join her sister on the staff of Shrew & Company, she doesn’t anticipate being partnered with the man she’s been avoiding for weeks. Bear shifter Soren Ursu claims she’s his mate. But witches like Marcella don’t get mates. Soren hopes he can convince Marcella to accept their connection, but she’s got a one-track mind. She’s focused on winning the job and ending the company’s crusade against the unscrupulous research firm CarrHealth. He needs her to understand that nothing bad will happen if she lets him love her…in spite of the fact his parents are trying to pull her into the family’s supernatural assassination business. Marcella can’t help but to be skeptical. Getting close to Soren would force her to reveal shocking secrets about herself that not even her sister knows. She might be perfectly suited to navigate the demands of one of Bear-kind’s most notorious families, but to save Soren from the obligations of his clan, she must be willing to let him rescue her as well. less