Blog Tour Review & Giveaway ~ Hope is Lost ~ Emma James

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Emma James' Hope is Lost. My stop includes all the details on the book and the Ocean Beach series, as well as my review, an excerpt, and a giveaway!

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Hope is Lost
Ocean Beach #2
Release Date: February 20, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
-Jimi Hendrix

Keanu Lee, the funny man, finds himself on the sticky end of a night out with his best friend Levi. Keanu's life is about to take another unexpected, sharp turn. New friends will be found under the most unique circumstances.

Hope Walker is a lost soul, and Ajax, the street performer, is her unspoken protector. Together, they survive the streets of Ocean Beach.

Life has a way of righting wrongs when you least expect it.

Come join this sexy crew as they show you that, even though life may take from you, it can also give back when you least anticipate it.

The Ocean Beach series continues with the brotherhood, passion, and laughter you have grown to love, and through the eyes of these survivors, you will realize love can truly heal.

The past will never be forgotten, but there is hope if you just allow yourself to have a little faith.

***The Men of Ocean Beach***

In A Little Faith, I knew James was promising something special with this series. In Hope is Lost, she made good on that promise. She's hit her stride and the story, with it's multiple alternating POVs, flows seamlessly. 

Hope is Lost focuses primarily on Keanu. After suffering yet another close call with death, he finds himself in a position to offer three individuals their own second chance at life -- or at least a better one.

Things also heated up on the romantic front for Keanu and Hope, Slade and Phoenix, and Faith and Jase (Text). I'm anxious to see things progress with all these couples. They all deserve some happiness. I'm also eager to see how things will work out for Harley, now that his brother has laid claim to Faith, and for Levi.

With the Ocean Beach series, James not only gives up an incredible story of a brotherhood of survivors. She also conveys the power of friendship, love and its ability to heal all wounds, and she weaves together this diverse cast of characters that make you think -- prick your social conscience. None of us know the pain hidden behind the humor in this person with a missing limb. None of us know the reasons why that kid would choose to mug someone. None of us know the talent behind that beautiful, homeless girl. But James is showing us the possibilities. And giving us a reason to hope.

“Do you want to come join us, Keanu? I just realized you were sitting over here by yourself.”

I look over at Slade and then back over at Phoenix. “So, kids, what’s up with you two?” OKAY, so I’m starting to slur a little.

“Sounds like you’ve had enough alcohol for the night,” Phoenix says. 

Slade grunts and pretends he’s busy, wiping the bar down, even though he has wiped the same place in front of Phoenix several times. Phoenix turns her back on Slade and aims her boobies in my face, which I think is funny, so I start getting that drunk man-giggle going. Wanting to annoy Slade, she pretends I’m not being a little 
school boy, but she’s doing it with the wrong person. I am not getting in between those two. 

Slade clears his throat. “Is there an order you’d like to put in for you and your friends?” The friends bit is said not so friendly.

“Oh, hey, Slade. I didn’t see you there,” she quips over her shoulder at him.

How could she not see him? He’s huge. I think I’m seeing two of him, which makes me chuckle.

“I’ll be right with you. Keanu and I are talking.”

Ooooh, she did not just use me to make Slade wait. On that note, I decide I shall move on home and slam my hand down a little too hard on the bar. 

“Okay, guys, sorry to be a pooper, but I’m heading on home, and I will leave you two to whatever this is you two are doing.” I lean over and give Phoenix a kiss on the cheek and catch the possessive glare being directed at me from Slade. “I think I will call a cab.” 

“I’ll do it for you. You go wait out front, and there will be one with you shortly,” Slade growls out to me. 

Somebody is a bit grouchy.

“Thanks, bro. Enjoy the rest of your night, and same to you, too, Phoenix.” I shake Slade’s hand and head off to take a piss before I leave. 

I’m wearing the doppelganger tonight, so I’m a bit slower with taking a leak. After what happened with Levi today, something inside me just wanted to make me feel a bit more normal tonight, so I chose to wear the doppelganger prosthetic under my loose fitting long sleeved t-shirt. I should have fought the insecurities which had decided to rear their ugly head and just worn the ‘big gun.’ Sometimes, I let them creep up on me and take over then wonder if I’m whole enough for somebody to love me.

I zip my pants up and think, F#ck it! I’m quite a catch. Then I have another chuckle to myself.

I head on out, yelling goodbye to Slade as I leave and waving to Phoenix. Slade raises one arm in the air to wave at me yet doesn’t take his eyes off Phoenix, whom he seems to be having a heated discussion with. Those two kids need to just give into each other.

Almost as soon as I walk outside, a cab pulls up, and he calls out to me through his open window. “Are you Keanu?”

I move towards the back passenger door. “The one and only.”

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Emma James lives in Queensland, Australia with her smexy husband, three children and a big black Labrador. Life is busy and most entertaining in the James household.

Writing has been a part of her life for many years. Life was getting on and it was time to put her fears aside and do what she does best. It was time to show readers what she was made of, take that leap off the diving board and see where it takes her.

Emma is a creative person at heart. She loves to read as much as write, devouring books into the wee hours of the morning.

Who needs sleep, right?

Photography is another great passion of hers.

A Little Faith is the first book released in the Ocean Beach series and proved to be quite the surprise read of 2014 for contemporary romance lovers with Hope Is Lost following closely on. 

Emma James is one determined snowflake who is here to make her imprint in the writing world.

Stalk Emma Here

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