Sweet Beginnings by Max Hudson

When Harley Elliott returns to the small suburb of Portland he grew up in, he isn’t expecting much to have changed. He suspects the coffee will be more expensive, and there may be a few more hipsters lurking around, but overall, he figures it will still be Portland. That’s exactly what he wants as he figures out the next steps in his life after the military.

Raymond Benoit left St. George, Utah and didn’t plan to look back. His family had essentially abandoned him to an abusive uncle after childhood mistakes. When he finally escapes, he winds up in Portland with no money, an impounded truck and a hungry dog. A strange woman takes him in and gets him a job, and everything is going just fine…until Ray falls hard and fast for the woman’s grumpy son.

Harley and Ray now have to navigate around Ray’s inexperience and hang-ups, and dysfunctional family dynamics. Can they overcome the many obstacles before them and find true love? Or are they facing an uphill battle that’s not worth the fight?