In the Law’s Hands

by Gareth Chris

Amazon FirstforRomance

Part of the The Men of White Pines series:

Next Door Dads
In the Law's Hands

Editions:Kindle - First Edition: $ 7.99

ISBN: 978-1802503678
Pages: 345

Paperback - First Edition: $ 19.95

ISBN: 978-1-80250-394-4
Pages: 377

In the quiet town of White Pines, Chief of Police Mitch Winslow finds his life entangled in a web of crime and desire. When a string of burglaries plagues the town, all eyes turn to Keller Alden, a young man with a troubled past. As Mitch investigates, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to Keller, igniting a forbidden romance. But as the investigation deepens, secrets unravel, and the town's dark underbelly threatens to expose their love and destroy everything Mitch has worked for. With danger lurking around every corner, can Mitch solve the crimes and protect the man he loves, or will the truth tear them apart? A thrilling gay romance mystery.

Published: May 5, 2026
Publisher: Entwined Publishing
Editors:

Rebecca Scott

Cover Artists:

Erin Dameron-Hill

Genres:

Gaylit

Tags:

author - american, format - kindle, format - novel <100K, format - paperback, what - concept - acceptance, what - concept - resilience, what - emotion - angst, what - emotion - hope, what - emotion - love, what - sex - role-play, what - sex - spanking, what - topic - crime, when - season - winter, where - country - usa, where - general - small town, where - state - Vermont, who - description - brat, who - occupation - cops / law enforcement

Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 3
Romantic Content: 4
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Bisexual, Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 36-45
Protagonist 2 Age: 18-25
Tropes: Age Difference, Badass Hero, Class Differences, Coming Out / Closeted, Criminals & Outlaws, Enemies to Lovers, Forbidden Love, Hurt / Comfort, Love Can Heal / Redemption, May/December, Opposites Attract, Small Town
Word Count: 96609
Setting: Vermont, United States
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters

Excerpt:

“Keller, get tested tomorrow, okay? I have bloodwork done every six months because of my job and just got results a couple of weeks ago. You’d have nothing to worry about.”

He chuckled. “Oh, now you’re impatient. We’ll see. Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t. You only control me when I let you.”

I applied pressure to his throat—not nearly enough to hurt, just enough to show the level of dominance he craved. “Is that right?” His eyes blew open, but his slight grin showed he liked where things were heading. “Because you’re about to find out who’s in charge, Alden. Are you wearing those loose sweatpants because you’re hiding something that would upset me?”

“Huh?” Now he was bewildered.

“Uh…the roleplay thing you mentioned before,” I whispered, unsure if I was timing things badly. “The frisk-down? You want to?”

His puzzled expression turned to a wicked smile. “Oh.” He became serious and fell into character. “Um, I don’t think what I have in my pants is any of your business, Copper.”

The nickname almost made me burst out laughing, but I managed to maintain my composure. “Get up, walk to the wall, and stay facing away from me. Hands up, legs spread.”

COLLAPSE

About the Author

Gareth Chris is the author of the forthcoming 'All on the Line' series, where heroes you'll root for risk everything for love. He has a passion for storytelling and creating compelling characters that find romance in the most difficult situations. His unique writing style and ability to craft stories that are simultaneously suspenseful, humorous, and sexy will have you hooked.
Gareth brings to his writing several years of experience in executive positions with international corporations, mostly in the areas of Communications (leveraging his bachelor's degree in English) and Human Resources (capitalizing on his abilities to forge productive relationships and appreciation for diversity). When he's not at his keyboard or enjoying nature in his native New England part of the United States, he volunteers for various organizations that assist the disadvantaged.
Subscribe to the mailing list to stay up-to-date on his latest releases, blogs, and events.

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