Hickory Hollow Series by Kris T. Bethke

Hickory Hollow Book 1. Barrett McKinnon is at a crossroads. Newly retired from the Marine Corps, and at loose ends, he heads back to the town he was forced to spend half of his childhood in. He never thought he’d ever set foot in Hickory Hollow again. He tells himself it’s only for the holidays. Just to spend some time with his uncle, the only family he has left. Come January, he’ll head out and start the next phase of his life. But Hickory Hollow is not like Barrett remembers... moreHickory Hollow Book 1. Barrett McKinnon is at a crossroads. Newly retired from the Marine Corps, and at loose ends, he heads back to the town he was forced to spend half of his childhood in. He never thought he’d ever set foot in Hickory Hollow again. He tells himself it’s only for the holidays. Just to spend some time with his uncle, the only family he has left. Come January, he’ll head out and start the next phase of his life. But Hickory Hollow is not like Barrett remembers. Morgan Hawley is the driving force behind the town’s now booming economy. The festivals and events Morgan plans have taken it from ghost town to tourist destination. When Barrett unwittingly gets roped into helping Morgan get ready for the Holiday Festival, he starts to see the town in a new light. Morgan loves the little town he’s adopted as his own, and Barrett can’t wait to get away again. But the more time the two men spend together, the more things change. No matter how much he fights it, Barrett is drawn in to the holiday magic Morgan is creating. And, more importantly, to the man himself. But when the daze of attraction and Christmas cheer settles, it’s up to Barrett to figure out if Hickory Hollow, the town he thought he hated, is now the place he can call home. less

Tyler Galloway wasn’t ready to leave the Marine Corps but his body had other ideas. Medical discharge was never in his plans, but with time to kill until he finds his next path in life, Tyler heads to the small town of Hickory Hollow to deliver a sleigh to his old Marine buddy. The last thing he expects is to be charmed by the town and its inhabitants, especially the handsome owner of Wayfair Ranch... moreTyler Galloway wasn’t ready to leave the Marine Corps but his body had other ideas. Medical discharge was never in his plans, but with time to kill until he finds his next path in life, Tyler heads to the small town of Hickory Hollow to deliver a sleigh to his old Marine buddy. The last thing he expects is to be charmed by the town and its inhabitants, especially the handsome owner of Wayfair Ranch. Harris Emery thought he left his hometown in the rearview, but when he learned what his father was doing, he raced back. Now he runs the ranch as an equine sanctuary, with guest cabins and sleigh rides to appease the tourists and supplement his income. Harris still has feelings about Hickory Hollow, but it’s a different place than the one he grew up in. Tyler and Harris hit it off right from the start, and with Tyler taking some much-needed R and R, he’ll be around for a while. Neither man intends for their time together to last forever. But the more they get to know each other, in and out of bed, the more they are reluctant to say goodbye. It could just be the holiday magic, the step outside of reality. But with Christmas and New Year’s looming, the men need to make a choice. Walking away from each other might be the smarter choice. But if they take the leap and try to make their love last past the holiday season, they might just get the happily ever after they never saw coming. less