Wild, Hard, Sweet

This is a story of two young mavericks bucking the system. Harry is smart, arrogant, and ambitious, in deep competition with his father, Ben George, who is smooth and successful. Harry made money selling marijuana in college; after graduation he decides to expand the business. He makes a big buy and hires Charley to help with the delivery, coming by boat to a lonely Maine cove. Charley is Harry's age, a local high school sports hero, a natural---amiable and good looking.
The shipment arrives after dark, but the cops have been tipped off and are staked out. Charley escapes the bust, diving into the water. Harry surrenders. Charley makes his way to Savannah, then to San Francisco and Hawaii, while Harry depends on his family connections and money to get him off without having to serve hard time.
Charley acquires a new identity in Hawaii. Harry is sentenced to a large fine and community service. He bribes his way out of the service after his first day and turns his energies to scoring real estate deals. Charley drives a taxi in Honolulu and falls in love. Harry marries and has an affair with a relative of a mobster who warns him away.
The story follows the two as their lives intersect dramatically. Each must face a hard choice. The writing is clear, often funny, and always believable. If you'd like to spend some time in Honolulu or on the Maine coast, Wild, Hard, Sweet will take you there.