Luck of the Irish 2:
Shades of Doubt
Loose Id

How far would you go to save someone you love? Would you challenge an organized crime syndicate? That is exactly what Charlize Deseu must to do get her best friend back. She won't let anything get in her way - not even Brock O'Bannon, who has a sinfully delicious body and an agenda of his own. In over her head and not knowing who to trust, Charlie must not rely on the logic she holds dear, but rather gut instinct and primal emotion. But is it enough?







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Excerpt:
Where moments before my heart had hammered in my chest with excitement for a job well done, it now thudded with dread. Same crazy cadence, far different emotion. I hated it when Mac took that tone. That nothing-is-that-easy tone. That someone-has-pissed-me-off tone. That tone that said a curve ball had been thrown. Yes, I knew that tone. "What?"

"Did you listen to all of the verdicts? Did you happen to hear there was a plea offered to Sorrenson? Henderson already brokered a deal. Lippencot apparently was in negotiation. I don't know yet about Treadway, but they'll all cop."

"Wh-hat?" No. I'd been so stoked to hear the guilty my mind had shut down after that. What had I missed?

"Charlie, there are some complications you need to be made aware of."

I knew that vagueness. When Mac became vague, it meant only bad things. I rubbed my eyes. They burned. I checked the back of my hand for mascara. No smudges. Good. That was all I needed, humidified hair and raccoon eyes.

"I take it from your silence, Charlie, you can appreciate the gravity of that statement."

Boy, did I ever.

"I also take it you understand that their copping out can raise ... further problems."

"No. It doesn't. I did my job." Why hadn't I listened? I knew appeals could go on forever, but I'd assumed if one were copping a plea, it would have been done before the very public trial, not after.

"Yes, you did. And you did it wonderfully, but it's not over."

"My part is."

"Not exactly."

Slowly, I slumped back against a tall support pillar. The solid structure gave me reassurance. I closed my eyes. The floor pattern continued to pulse behind my lids.

"Charlie? Are you still there?"

I don't know how I worked the pleasantness into my voice. "Still here."

"You understand the significance of what I'm saying?"

I remained silent.

Mac sounded sad. "That makes things easier. This stage of the prosecution, what you all took them to court for, was for the tax evasion and fraud. As much as it should be bigger crimes, it isn't. The Outfit has money and connections. Neither should be taken lightly. They'll get time served or a slap on the wrist with restriction."

"What? You mean you haven't heard?" The sarcasm in my tone was biting, and I felt petty and childlike. I heard what she was saying, and I knew she was right, but I could not accept that. "They'll all do time, Mac. Solid time."

"Look, we can't go into this right now, but I've sent a friendly face to tell you about it. You know why I can't do it in person. He'll explain everything."

That didn't sound like the Mac I knew. "Everything?"

"As much as you need to know, anyway."

There she was.

A brief silence filled the line. When she spoke again her voice dropped a notch. "Really, Charlie, I wish this call were only for pleasantries. You did a great job on your end, all you could do. Don't think I don't know it. I do, and I'll appreciate that, always."

Damn her! She sounded so sincere. "Not good enough," I sighed. Tears stung the backs of my eyes.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry. I'll be in touch." She hung up before I could ask about her contact.

"No!"

You can't do this to me, my mind howled. I stared at my phone. The LCD automatically powered down after five seconds. The muted picture of a tropical sunset replaced the timer. No more Mac. No more happy feeling. No more job well done. The resounding pulse resonating in the deep muscles of my shoulders from the pats on the back thudded.

Great. Just great. A beautiful day crushed to pulp in less than five minutes. Long distance, no less. That took skill. I snapped the phone shut. "Thanks, Mac."

"She says to tell you 'You're welcome.'"

That voice. I knew that voice. Deeper than I remembered, but it possessed that same strum of confidence and seduction. I looked up, my head nearly clipping his chin. "Bobby!" Then stopped. It was not a boy who stood in front of me, but a young man. "Bobby?"

"Yeah." He stepped right into my hug, like a long-lost friend. Which I suppose he was, in a manner of speaking. His arms -- much enlarged from the time of our last meeting -- encircled me. They pulled me tight to his chest. A hard chest. A defined chest. Rock hard with ridges. He smelled of some exotic blend that might have held the hint of flowers, but was too spicy to keep the floral impression long.

After he kissed me on the cheek, he smiled. There it was, the kid's lopsided grin. "Not quite what you remember, huh?"

"No." That was a huge understatement. "It's not Robert or Bob or something now, is it?"

A huge smile, one that lit the room, graced his handsome face. "Nope. I'll always be 'Bobby.' It suits me."

My gaze slid from the top of his sun-bleached head to his toes. The caramel and tan of his trousers and overcoat, with the contrast of the crisp, starched white of his open-necked Christian Dior shirt set off his surfer looks perfectly. " Mon Dieu , you're a man now!"

"I was a man before," came his indignant reply. Though it was tempered with a laugh.

No. No. I definitely remembered a boy. "Let me look at you."

Humoring me, he did a three-sixty and posed. G-Q. "What'd you expect? It's been a long time."

Four years. A long time, indeed. Years of work that, apparently, was not enough. Four wasted years. Still trying to reconcile what I remembered with what he'd become, I ciphered the math. "That makes you twenty-one now."

"Yes, ma'am. Pushing the double twos."

His age and the ma'am thing shook me out of my stupor. Nothing like seeing the transformation before me to make me feel old. He'd grown up. I'd aged. "You look good." Great even. "Island life is good to you, it seems."

"For the most part."

"Ahh." I dropped the phone into my purse and slung it over my shoulder. "There's that vagueness I've come to dread. You've spent too much time with Mac."

He shrugged. "Love the water, the waves, and the babes, but I've got a new gig now."

"Me."

He nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"I don't like the sound of that so much."

He shifted uncomfortably from one loafer-clad foot to the other. They were nice shoes -- a deep caramel that matched his trench. Sebagos, if I wasn't mistaken, and when it came to quality shoes, I rarely was. At least he hadn't taken after Mac in fashion sense. Little blessings.

"Yeah. Mac said you'd probably say that, too. Wanna go grab a cup of coffee, and I can explain things?"

I shook my head. "Somehow, I don't think an espresso is exactly what this situation calls for." Double bourbon. That was what it called for.

"You're probably right," he conceded. "No use getting you more excited than need be, but I've been on a plane all night long, and I need caffeine. In a bad way. Stale pretzels and a half a soda don't cut it." He offered me a sheepish smile as he twisted his long torso from side to side. "It's going to be another long day. Besides, my sweet, beautiful attorney, I have my orders on how this works. A crowded diner or something."

Ahh, yes. The buzz of conversation to cover our own.

A general meeting place.

A location to blend and mingle.

I could almost hear Mac chastising me for slipping. How many times had she and I spoken down by the tracks with the rattle and clank to cover our words? I should've known that she would have ingrained her safety mechanisms in the kid, er, the man. I shook my head. That might take a little getting accustomed to. "There's a good place across the street."

Like a true gentleman, he offered me his bent elbow. "Shall we?"

I slipped my hand through his arm. The slick material of his overcoat rested easy under my palm. Its smooth, unwrinkled texture temporarily placated my growing frustration. The need for information warred with patience. Why all the need for secrecy? We'd just managed the impossible. The men were indicted on all counts.

As we departed the courthouse Bobby tilted his head a little to the side, whispering in a way that lovers might. I watched the admiring glances from young women as we passed. I was suddenly invisible, but he definitely wasn't. The reversal of my life sat a little uneasy on my conscience.

At least the rain had stopped.

"Natasha, please stop wrinkling your forehead. It doesn't suit you."

I cocked a brow at him. I hated that name. "It's Charlie, punk, and I need answers. That is why my brow is creased. I have things on my mind. Mac sounded worried and that worries me."

He laughed. "Natasha's better."

Taking a deep breath, I let him lead. We crossed the busy intersection. I couldn't believe he still insisted on the corny code name he'd created when we first met. What was wrong with Charlie? "Too bad, because Charlie's the name."

He frowned. "You're no fun."

"I'm not in this for the excitement. I'm not in this for the game, like you and Mac. I owed Mac. I paid Mac. And though, apparently, the trials are not completely finished, once they are, I'm no longer a part of this."

"It's not like turning a television on and off. It's not that simple."

I allowed him to hold the door to the restaurant open for me. "Yes. It is."

The restaurant was hopping with the lunch crowd significantly increased by the early dismissal of court. All types of businesspersons filled the tables and booths. They lined the counter as well. The waitress, short, cute, and with huge blue eyes batting up at Bobby, sat us near the kitchen. It was noisy, busy, and perfect.

Bobby took the north seat, the one facing the entrance. As he sank onto the creaky turquoise plastic seat with the easy grace of the confident, he informed our server, "I'll take the Grand. Maple syrup. A large Coke, and a water with lemon." He cocked his head to the side. Tapping the Formica tabletop he asked, "Natasha?"

If it wouldn't have been so obvious, I'd have used the blessed pointy-toe of my shoe to tag him. Hard. In the shin. Deep down I've always harbored the belief that my Weitzmans could draw blood. Instead, I swallowed my pride and swore I would get my revenge later. "The Reuben. Light on the dressing. With fries, not touching. Ranch, on the side, and a water, please. With lemon and a straw."


Reviews:
Ms. Surbeck writes Shades of Doubt in the first person, not something that is always what readers look for, but her writing in such a manner draws a reader into the characters lives quicker and in a fulfilling way. I can't imagine these stories being written in anything but first person; a reader can really feel the story more significantly the way it is. Ms. Surbeck does an amazing job with this sequel, Shades of Doubt, is fast-paced adventure, intrigue, sensuality, desire and adrenaline. It's an edge of your seat read that shouldn't be missed. Shades of Doubt stands on its own, but even more thrilling if you've read book one. Having two men, such as Gabe (book one) and then Brock at your fingertips is an adrenaline rush in itself!

Readers don't want to miss Shades of Doubt or the Luck of the Irish series. It simply has everything readers can enjoy from page one, straight through to the end.

Tracey West
The Road to Romance
Shades of Doubt was full of adventure and suspense. Charlie is a strong woman who is not as secure in her abilities as she wants, but is loyal to a fault. Charlie goes after her friend without worrying about the consequences. Brock is a good man who will do whatever it takes to keep the women in his life safe. Kally Jo Surbeck's characters are full of life and she lets the readers into their lives without a moment's hesitation. Shades of Doubt is a non-stop action ride and it does not stop until the very last page. Overall, I enjoyed Shades of Doubt, but I think that had I read the first book in the Irish series, I would have had a bit more insight into the goings on. I will be reading all the books that go in the Irish series. Kally Jo Surbeck knows how to draw her readers in and I look forward to more from her.

Gracie
Joyfully Reviewed
Shades of Doubt is an electrically charge read that keeps the reader in suspense until the end. It had me in awe with every page. The roller coaster ride that Charlie faces is mind-boggling. Kally Jo Surbeck lends emotions and strong characters in this story. She has penned a magnificent read with every element to satisfy the reader and I give it 5 cups.

5 Cups, Cherokee
Coffee Time Romance
Welcome to the world of organized crime and the lengths to which someone will go to get what they want back. Charlie is a tax attorney, skillful in dissecting numbers and details, and in way over her head. She will be met with many challenges but will rise to meet them face-to-face even if she is trembling in her shoes at the same time. Driven by the desire to save the only family she has left, her personality will shine though. Readers will love her as well as a couple of the men she meets along the way. Shades of Doubt is the second story in the Luck of the Irish series by Kally Jo Surbeck. This story offers readers a suspenseful, emotionally packed plot with twists and turns along the way that will leave readers guessing until the very end. There will be questions left unanswered and personal tasks left to complete at the conclusion of this story. However, the journey that this reader experienced was mind-blowing. Kally Jo Surbeck has a wonderful gift of creating realistic emotions and beautiful imagery. Readers will feel they are experiencing Charlie's frustrations, uncertainty, and passion as their own. Shades of Doubt is definitely worth the time it takes to read it, will cause any that have not read the first story to go back and get it, as well as have many fingers crossed hoping for another installment to come along. 5 Angels!

5 Angels, Jessica
Fallen Angel Reviews