Pirate's Alley

A lot of political shenanigans in this instalment but in the best of ways. Everything seems to have gone to hell in a hand basket at the end. Jean Lafitte has got himself a right motley crew! Poor Alex and DJ.

Four stars: Another exciting and thrilling installment! Don't miss this series.<br><br>DJ lights the fire, grateful for the heat. She still doesn't have a working heating system in her house, post Hurricane Katrina. Alex is supposed to install it, but he hasn't gotten around to it yet. So DJ is spending some time with her best friend Eugenia. The girls night quickly turns sour as Eugenia isn't feeling well. It turns out her illness is more than a stomach bug. Eugenia's illness becomes just one of DJ's worries as New Orleans is inundated with a freak weather pattern that delivers feet of snow. Treachery is afoot in the High Council when the acting First Elder is implicated in a murderous plot. DJ is thrown into situation after situation which has questioning her morales and loyalties. Will DJ find her way and make the right choices?<br><br>What I Liked:<br>*A book in the Sentinels of New Orleans Series never disappoints me. Once again, I was thrown into DJ's chaotic world. This time around, DJ is dealing with a couple of underhanded plots that will throw the paranormal world into disarray. This was a book with plenty of treachery, mischief and mayhem and lots of the sexy pirate Jean Lafitte. <br>*Speaking of Jean Lafitte, he has a large and active presence in this one. I have really grown to love this rascally pirate as has DJ. Jean manages to get into some trouble and help prevent some as well. He makes me laugh with his antics. If you are like me and you love Jean, you will pleased with his role in this book. He is turning out to be the dashing hero. <br>*Like any book in this series, there are several story threads to keep track of, and even though at first they seem a bit chaotic and unrelated, once everything is revealed, they all neatly interweave. I loved seeing how everything came together, and I was surprised a couple of times at the outcome. <br>*Even though this is an Urban Fantasy series, it features a romance. I appreciate that the romance is low key and not a main focus of the story. However, it is a romance that is still trying to gain its footing. This time around, DJ finds herself truly questioning whether she is going to be able to stay in the relationship for the long haul. I liked that she took her time to do some soul searching and the conclusion she came to. I was surprised and pleased with how it all worked out, even though I was left in a bit of a lurch with the end. I am eager to see how it will continue to develop from here.<br>*In the past, I have had a few niggling issues with DJ being a bit too rash and not thinking things through. In this installment, she has grown significantly. I didn't see her jumping in without thinking everything over. Instead she takes her time to talk things out and ponder the best outcome. I was most impressed with her new found maturity. I especially liked that she made the right choices when it came to protecting those she loves despite the consequences. I felt like I really connected with her in this book.<br>*This book is a bit different from its predecessors. It is one that is setting the stage for what could be a paranormal war. There is a lot going on, and many things in the works. Even though I missed that it wasn't as action packed as the others, I liked the plotting and scheming. Ms. Johnson is setting the table for something big, and I can't wait for what comes next. <br><br>And The Not So Much:<br>*This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. Not a throw your book against the wall type ending, but still, everything is up in the air. I need the next book now. Please don't make me wait a year and a half for more. <br>I had a bit of a struggle keeping track of all the players and their motives. The story centers around treachery in the High Council, and there were many people involved. It was a bit difficult to keep everyone straight. *There are many characters, motives and a lot to keep track of. You have to be patient with this one. <br>*I missed the action. Normally, DJ is getting herself out of one scrape after another, and fighting for her life. She is still landing into plenty of hot water, but it is of a different type. The problems she faces are the type she has to mentally work through instead of physically. This one lacked a bit of the action I have grown to love. Not a big deal, but I missed a bit of the mayhem, especially after the last book with the crazed Ax Murderer and the battle in the ruined Six Flags Park. <br>*This is absolutely a series you must read in order. I have read every book, and I struggled a bit with book amnesia as I tried to recall all the intricate plot details from the previous books. There is no way you can plunge into this book without having read the others, you would be hopelessly lost. No big deal, just grab the first three books and have fun. Nothing like some binge reading. <br><br>Pirate's Alley is another exciting and engaging book in The Sentinels of New Orleans Series. I love that this series is complicated, smart and filled with many interesting paranormal characters. If you want a sophisticated and thrilling UF series, I urge you to check out this series. I am a big fan and eagerly awaiting the next book. <br><br> <br><br>I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review. <br>Posted@<a href="http://www.rainydayramblings.com" rel="nofollow noopener">Rainy Day Ramblings</a>.<br><a href="http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380311755i/688599.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> <br> </a>

Poor DJ, as the Sentinel for New Orleans she has her hands full. No heat and freaky weather force her to seek shelter at her friend Eugenia’s house. Between all of the healthy food in her friend’s cupboard and Eugenia’s, stomach bug that is about to complicate all of their lives. Toss in unexpected Elfish side effects thanks to her bonding with a pain in the ass Elf, DJ is beside herself and in dire need of a vacation. All that will have to wait as political maneuvering, revenge and more within the high council have DJ juggling between duty and friendship. How this will effect her and Alex, not to mention her friendship with a certain dashing pirate provides one heck of a tale.<br /><br />Johnson delivered an incredible story that forced DJ to think fast on her feet. While I would have been a little more hesitant, DJ tends to follow her gut and react first. Thankfully, she has good friends and allies to help her pull of some of these crazy stunts. I love how overall arc threads and new threads begin to weave together as each novel progresses.  While things are certainly not resolved, Johnson keeps things tight and the reader on track. This book has a lot of set-up as Johnson moves us towards a battle. I love the setting, and after my recent visit to NOLA, I appreciated the mention of the hotel, buildings, streets and the college. I felt like I was walking the streets with DJ and Jean Lafitte.<br /><br />The overall series has a romance and while it is kept in the background, it does create interest and this time we feel the impact it has on DJ both personally and in her position as the Sentinel of New Orleans. I was worried but pleased with the overall development in <em>Pirate’s Alley</em>. I am curious to see what lies ahead for Alex and DJ. <em>Pirate’s Alley</em> wasn’t as action intense as its predecessor but the pacing and character development more than made up for it. We get to know a certain FAE and spend time with the council. We are introduced to new characters and become closer to favorites.<br /><br />Copy provided by author.<a href="http://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2015/04/pirates-alley-by-suzanne-johnson.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer</a>

Have I mentioned how much I adore this series? Because I do, I really really do.<br /><br />Suzanne is such an amazing writer, no matter what it is that she writes, truly, but this series, set in the heart of New Orleans, is just something special and by far my favorite of her's. And then there is Jean, really, if you have read this series before, you know exactly what I mean about “Jean”. The sexy as all get out undead pirate. Jean, 'nough said. Okay, maybe that isn't quite enough said, but close. <br /><br />Truly, this series is packed full of wonderful characters. Some I already loved, and others, after this book, I love even more.<br /><br />This was not a disappointment, in fact, I am so in love with this series and I already loved it but there was just something about this that was...more. More action, more danger, more mystery, more romance, more magic, more deception, more adventure, more, more, more.<br /><br />I am in awe with the fast moving plot line, the fun premises, even better setting, and characters that are hard not to root for and fall in love with.<br /><br />D,J, has been through so much and even though she was already one tough, fierce chick, she grows even more. So much happened and so much left is still to happen. I can't even begin to tell you that this was a fabulous addition to the series and the ending left me almost in tears because I wasn't ready for it to be over and I simply wanted more. Johnson is a bit mean for leaving it the way she did but it also makes me that much more excited for what is to come. <br />

4.5/5<br /><br /><a href="http://www.betweendandr.com/2015/04/16/pirates-alley-de-suzanne-johnson-vo/" rel="nofollow noopener">Mon avis en Français</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.betweendandr.com/2015/04/16/pirates-alley-by-suzanne-johnson/" rel="nofollow noopener">My English review</a><br /><br />It’s been a while, I admit it, that I was waiting for some new adventures from our beloved DJ. Oh yes, I had even forgotten about some events but everything came back rather quickly after the first chapters. What a pleasure to find all the characters from the previous volumes and to discover a new story. I’m sure that you’re wondering if the volume is up to the others and I can tell you now that this is the case! So yes if you liked the series so far, you will not be disappointed because Suzanne Johnson still has many ideas for us.<br /><br />Let’s go back a little more to the story … DJ has a lot to manage and nothing will get better, oh no, that’s for sure! Indeed, she must make some important choices that will severely impact on her life. While it’s hard to create a real relationship with Alex, to overcome their problems, their trust is now put to the test here. Alex has an unwavering loyalty compared to his bosses while Drusilla prefer to think and act as best as she can … Unfortunately for her, she is sometimes forced to lie to her lover who does not necessarily would place her first. In addition to this, our heroine is also forced to deal with her feelings towards our pirate. Ah Jean … How not to fall under his spell and I admit that I was passionate about their conversations and scenes. To complicate matters, we also have Randolph, our elf with an oversized ego … Randolph, Randolph … it’s hard to love this character and yet sometimes our heart softens for him to start to hate him once again. I’ll let you discover the reasons for all this.<br /><br />A war is brewing, different species are starting to take side to know with whom to ally. This is a fairly difficult environment to manage, but it was very interesting to see the actions of the characters. I really enjoyed seeing that DJ is realizing that nothing is black or white and that she is sometimes forced to make decisions alone even if it puts her in undesirable positions. New players come into play, especially with the faes and I admit that I’m curious to see what will happen afterwards. There are a lot of things going on in this novel and I was quite surprised to see the situations in which DJ is found. I must say that everyone is trying to accuse her of their problems.<br /><br />I will not go into too many details because it would be easy to tell everything but I can tell you that I loved the novel once again. The end also triggers a lot of new problems and I’m very curious to see how our heroes are going to go out of all that again. A really good read!<br />

4.5*S<br />Review posted here...<br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/review-pirates-alley-sentinels-of-new.html">http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...</a><br />Pirate's Alley is the fourth book in the Sentinels of New Orleans series and it was great to be back with this cast of characters. Things are about to get all political for DJ as her personal and professional lives are about to clash and force her to re-evaluate every relationship she has with various people. We begin with the fallout from book three, those responsible are to face a trial and DJ is required to be there but there’s a twist straight away when they try to pin the blame on her and when she responds….she opens up a whole can of worms that leads to a power struggle between the council of elders. Not only that but she is forced to officially babysit Jean Lafitte to be sure he can’t exact revenge on those who betrayed him and her best friend Eugenie makes things more complicated when she shares her news – leaving DJ stuck between a rock and a hard place.<br />I thought this was a turning point for DJ, she has many issues in her life that she didn’t have before she let people in and now she has to make a stand and sort out who and what she can be to these people. Her relationship with Alex is in a weird state, Alex is all about rules whereas DJ likes to bend them and where he is a black and white, kinda guy – she totally sees all of those shades of grey… and that is becoming a problem between them which will reach critical here. I still love these two together, I hate the drama between them because it seems like the author is letting us down gently, so that we can see it isn’t going to work and I’m actually a little nervous that these two might not survive what’s coming which would be such a shame considering how long it took them to get together.<br />Then we have Eugenie her BFF and her little drama is about to cause all sorts of problems for DJ, not only is she forced to be a mediator for her but she could also be forced to end the problem in a way that wouldn’t be good for anyone involved. When she lets one person in on the secret, she gets betrayal in return and puts her in a spot she doesn’t want to be in, making her make yet another choice.<br />Jean Lafitte is next in line for DJ when she is made to babysit him so that he doesn’t go after vengeance – which he feels is his right. DJ understands where he is coming from and the Elders don’t understand how the Historical Undead do things, so her relationship with Lafitte comes to a turning point also. DJ owes him her life, she shares a bond with him and also a friendship and before she makes any sacrifices for him – they need to know where they stand with each other. I really like the relationship these two have, it’s a weird part of a love square that hasn’t been acted on but gives DJ options. TBH I wouldn’t mind seeing where these two go but Alex is the best for her without a doubt. It was good that they finally clear the air between them and he makes her see things in a different light. He’s a dark horse is Jean Lafitte and I really want to see where his story goes.<br />Then we have Rand, DJ’s husband/not husband/pain in the ass! We get to see a couple of sides to him throughout this and poor DJ is forced to deal with him a lot. I don’t trust him as a character, he is part of the love square but has no chance other than the fact that he tricked her into bonding with him. He’s sly and manipulative and I could have throttled him by the end of the book but there were times when we saw a vulnerable side to him – just not enough for me to like him.<br />Now, all of that relationship drama is weaved into the story of a power struggle. Following the revelations of the trial, the accused and some others are fugitives and that has left the council leaderless and the alliances with each magic sect in ruins. There is a lot of manipulation going on and more than one person will be left wondering whether to do what they know is right or what they have been ordered to do. There are multiple assassination attempts on multiple characters that will definitely rock their world and send the powers that be into a tail spin. Jean Lafitte tells DJ that war is coming and you can believe it with all of the strife caused in this book and whilst it may seem that DJ is the one to come to a turning point on where she stands with people, there are a lot of people who make themselves and their agendas known. Things are going to totally change for DJ from this moment on and I can’t wait to see what’s next for her.

<strong>Originally posted at <a href="http://thebooknympho.com/2015/05/pirates-alley-by-suzanne-johnson/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Book Nympho</a></strong><br /><br /><br />The streets of NOLA is running amuck with paranormal creatures like wizards, elves, merman shifters, vampires, and faeries. And this time there's a freak snowstorm in NOLA that's making things interesting for DJ and the gang.<br /><br />I love Suzanne Johnson's Sentinels of New Orleans and I've been stalking her site for a release date for <strong> <em>Pirate's Alley</em> </strong> ever since I finished the 3rd book, <a href="http://thebooknympho.com/2013/08/review-elysian-fields-by-suzanne-johnson/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> <em>Elysian Fields</em> </a>. It's been a long wait but all is forgotten and forgiven while I lived and breathed DJ and her inner circle of friends.<br /><br />While DJ is usually involved in more physical action, this time around she's having to work around interspecies political crap and mind games. This all comes about after the events in <em>Elysian Fields</em>. DJ is dealing with what the bonding to Rand means and she gets a few surprises in that department. DJ and Alex are having to work hard on keeping their relationship together. DJ finally learns how the undead pirate, Jean Lafitte, truly feels about her. And the whole gang is bobbing and waving to keep afloat the in upcoming war between the Interspecies Council members.<br /><br /> What I loved <br /><br />Damn near everything! I love the world and characters that Johnson has created. They are complex, funny and very entertaining. I really enjoyed getting to see more of some of the secondary characters that's been introduced over the span of the series so far and we even get to meet a couple of new ones.<br /><br />I really liked the addition of the faeries. They are weird and scary, I'm not sure if they are good or evil but they were fun to read about.<br /> <br /> Jean Lafitte - the French undead pirate is always a hoot and I loved the heart to heart that he and DJ had. <br /> Jake - He seems to be back to his fun and carefree self and working towards a HEA. <br /> Renee - what's not to like about a cajun merman shifter?! <br /> Quince Randolph (Rand) - I love to hate him. Like DJ, I like him when he's not being the self-important elf asshat. I think he is a character that could go either way. <br /> Christof - the Faerie Prince of Winter, again a character I'm not sure if he can be trusted but he was a fun addition to the group. <br /> <br /><br /> What I didn't love as much <br /><br />I waffled so much about Alex in this one. I almost wished he and DJ would break it off then he would do the right thing instead of being a straight-laced tight ass he can be. Alex sees the world as black and white with no move for a gray area. DJ lives in the gray area, knowing that sometimes you have to bend if not break a few rules to keep your friends and loved ones safe.<br /><br /> <br /> Why I took off 1/2 star <br /><br />Hurricane Katrina . . . I don't want to sound like an ass or uncaring but I feel like 4 books into the series we can let some of the references to Katrina go. I know in real like it was a horrible event that reshaped NOLA. And it played a big part of the world building in the Sentinels of New Orleans series, it was the event that brought down the walls between NOLA and Old NOLA causes all kinds of trouble for DJ. BUT I feel like the references could be cut down a little at this point. Maybe I'm being picky.<br /><br /> <br /> Recommended <br /><br />I have grabby hands for the next installment and hope the wait for it is no as long. I highly recommend to fans of strong, sassy and magical heroines. Pick up a copy of <strong> <em>Pirate's Alley </em> </strong>today. It's full of snarky humor and great secondary characters that keeps the heroine on her toes. If you have not read the Sentinels of New Orleans series by Suzanne Johnson you should start with book 1, <em> <a href="http://thebooknympho.com/2012/12/review-royal-street-by-suzanne-johnson/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Royal Street</a> </em>.<br /><br /><br />

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://badbirdreads.com/review-pirates-alley-by-suzanne-johnson-blog-tour-giveaway/">http://badbirdreads.com/review-pirate...</a> <strong>At A Glance</strong> <br />Seriously, I love this series.<br /> <strong>The Good</strong> <br /><strong>I have so much damn fun with this series</strong>. I feel like I have been waiting forever for book 4! And <em>Pirate's Alley</em> really did deliver. So much crap is changing. I am still dizzy from the twists and turns.<br /><br />DJ starts out in a strong position. Her life is finally coming together. And then it isn't. How many enemies can one girl/wizard/elf have? A lot, apparently. In this book, we find out who really are DJ's allies, who she can trust, and who her enemies are. DJ faces some tough lessons but she has never been as close to becoming who she truly is meant to be. She can't let politics or ambition affect her like it does so many others. <strong>She is the one true heart amongst all these a-holes!</strong><br /><br />We get to see all of our favs. <strong>Jean is the same smirky, snarky pirate we all want in our pants.</strong> But he becomes so much more in this book. Him and JD have a "for-reals" talk and I am still wow'ed by what they revealed. Alex is still Alex. So duty-bound and always conflicted about right and wrong and what he is told is right and wrong. Then he have Rand. Oh Rand, what are we going to do with you?<strong> I don't know if I want to admire him or punch him in the throat.</strong><br /><br />Intrigue, deception, lies. DJ's world as she knows it is collapsing. War is coming. Choosing the right side is what matters now.<br /> <strong>The Bad</strong> <br /><strong>I missed the action from the other books.</strong> There was still action, but this book was more about politics.<br /> <strong>The Snuggly</strong> <br />Wow, how complicated is JD's love life right now? Alex is a great guy in many ways but he is not right for JD. I don't know who is right for JD, but I LOVE Jean. Jean is the shit! Oh, and yeah, we get some bow chicka wow wow with JD and Alex but it's pretty much skipped over.<br /> <strong>Final Thoughts</strong> <br />Everyone needs to give this series a chance. It's addicting. Perfect for UF lovers. Highly recommended.<br /><div> <br /> <strong>Quotes</strong> <br /> <em>DJ, are you awake?</em> <br /> <br /> <em>            Freaking elf. “Go home, Rand.”</em> <br /> <br /> <em>            I am home. Where are you?</em> <br /> <br /> <em>            I frowned and burrowed my face into the soft down pillow. Which wasn’t my pillow.</em> <br /> <br /> <em>            Holy crap. What had happened?</em> <br /> <br /> <em>            I sat up and took in several observations at once, none of which made sense and all of which sent my heart rate jack-rabbiting hard enough to send my blood pressure into the ozone.</em> <br /> <br /> <em>            First, I was lying beneath a heavy bedspread woven in a rich blue-and-cream print. The bed was an elaborate confection made to look like an antique half-tester, and a brass chandelier hung overhead.</em> <br /> <br /> <em>            I recognized the Hotel Monteleone. I recognized Jean Lafitte’s bedroom in the posh Eudora Welty Suite in the Monteleone. I didn’t have a clue as to how I got here.</em> <br /> <br /> <em>            Second, I wore only underwear. My clothes were thrown across a chair in the corner. I had no recollection of removing them.</em> <br /> <br /> <em>            Third, the pillow next to mine still held the clear indentation of a head, and there was water running behind the closed bathroom door.</em> <br /> <br /> <em>            What in God’s name had I done?</em> <br /> <br /> </div><br />  <strong>Giveaway</strong> <br /><p>This is a tour wide giveaway<br /></p><p> <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112ffc1015/" rel="nofollow noopener">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <br /> </p>

Although barely any time has passed in Ms. Johnson’s thrilling Sentinels of New Orleans series, it’s been about twenty long months since the last book. I was worried that I wouldn’t remember all of the details of the complex and ever-changing world. However, Ms. Johnson does an amazing job bringing readers up to speed and recounting the truly important facts. There were some pretty huge revelations and world-changing events that happened during the previous book, Elysian Fields, and I strongly urge any who may be new to the series to at least start with Elysian Fields before jumping into Pirate’s Alley.<br /><br />I’m going to say right up front that I really enjoyed Pirate’s Alley and honestly couldn’t put it down. With that said, it’s not really its own story, but rather a continuation of the previous book, chronicling the repercussions from Elf Quince Randolph, aka Rand’s faux romance of DJ’s best friend, Eugenie, and subsequent forced bonding/mating with DJ. The book unfolds like a huge conspiracy theory plot, uncovering subterfuge at every turn. It was completely different and unexpected, yet altogether entertaining. I kept waiting for a big bad to show up and start causing mayhem, sending DJ on the hunt for a mysterious killer or such. But it never happened. That’s not what this book is about.<br /><br />However, Pirate’s Alley is filled with gripping plot twists and intense emotional moments. Ms. Johnson balances the fallout and duplicity in the preternatural community generating from Rand’s mischief with DJ’s personal and emotional development. DJ explores her friendship with Eugenie, attraction to Jean Lafitte, and feelings for boyfriend Alex Warin, as well as evaluates her place within the preternatural world and wizarding community. I was prepared to be very angry with Ms. Johnson if certain things didn’t go the way I wanted, and yet, when they did go against my desires, I was completely awed by the author’s storytelling. She nailed it and made a better story for it.<br /><br />Pirate’s Alley is emotionally gripping and intellectually stimulating, and may be my favorite of the series. It is a must-read for fans of the series. While there really isn’t an overarching plot line, the story was engrossing nonetheless. Dealing with the fallout and repercussions from the previous book, the story transitions to a point where lines are drawn and the potential of war is on the horizon. My heart was totally tugged back and forth: expecting one thing, getting another, only to have it be something completely different in the end. I am very happy with the direction Ms. Johnson takes the primary characters, and it's the characters and their actions that make this book and series so compelling. I want more. Now.<br /><br />My Rating: A- Enjoyed A Lot<br />Review copy provided by author<br />Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About.

3-1/2 stars<br /><br />People that we thought were good guys were not so good and the ending was a "What The Heck!" This book got such a good average rating (above 4 stars) that I was hoping for something stellar. I think the high expectations kind of ruined the book for me, which makes so sense.