Shades of Winter

by E.M. Lindsey

The first time Dante saw Liam, he was in the club.

All leather.
And mesh.
And willing.

The second time Dante saw Liam, he was a client.

All cold.
And quiet.
And in danger.

Dante is nothing if not professional when it comes to his job as a bodyguard, but being hired on to protect the young cellist he’d once met in a dingy bathroom wasn’t high on his list of things to do for the holidays. Especially knowing that Dante can no longer touch him.

And it doesn’t help that Liam starts pushing every single one of his buttons after they find themselves snowbound with Liam’s stalker hot on their tail. Dante needs to find a way to draw a line between them, because he’s not willing to give up his career to have Liam in his bed. But he also knows he can’t ignore the one thing he’s figured out:

Liam needs a firm hand, and Dante knows how to give that to him.

At some point, Dante will have to make a choice between duty and pleasure, but he’s starting to wonder if that risk might not be worth everything.


Shades of Winter is a low angst, stand-alone, MM winter holiday romance featuring an age-gap, a grumpy size queen bodyguard, a cellist who just wants to feel delicate, a dash of gentle humiliation, and a piping hot-toddy of a happily ever after.

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Forced Proximity

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 14, 2021

About the author

E.M. Lindsey is the author of MM contemporary romance. She presently lives and works in the southeastern United States.

EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.

Reviews

[Florence . · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sweet, like you,” [...] “And strong, just like you.”
“I’m not,” [...]
“You are mine, yes?” [...] “And it’s not very nice of you to insult my things, is it?”

I'm in what I would call a really high amount of stress and I spend all night studying for a university final and reading this book was my way of taking breaks from studying and let me tell you, it was the perfect distraction. This was exactly what I wanted it to be and I absolutely loved it.

E.M. Lindsey and I have a strained relationship and I haven't liked many of their books, but I always want to read their books because they always include topics I love in books. But well played E.M. Lindsey, you can have all of my stars and even more if you want.

This is a daddy kink book where the daddy is a size queen and loves to bottom, how was I not going to love it? As soon as I saw this was included, I wanted to read the book. I love the reversal of the typical tropes in books and this was so lovely, I just adored it.

And god was this book sweet. I swear my heart melted while I was reading it. It gave me all of the feels and I just loved it, so much. This book was simply perfect for me at this time in my life, it was all I wanted and I just adored it.

I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this book hit all my buttons - grumpy bodyguard, age gap, virgin trope with sexy first times, some lace and light humiliation kink, other fun kinks, and forced proximity a la snowed in together - like really?! SO MANY good tropes all together in one book!
⠀
I adored Liam and Dante together - there were so many depths to both of these characters as they learn more about each other. After an explosive hook up, Liam, the young cellist prodigy, never thinks he will see Dante again. So he’s shocked to find out that Dante is is new bodyguard. Liam has a scary stalker, and now Dante is determined to keep him safe.
⠀
These two work so well together in the bedroom, and are perfect for each other outside of it as well. I love that it’s also a bit different in what needs they both have physically. They truly bring out the best in the other, and I loved the care and concern they each had for the other.
⠀
Thank you for an arc to read and review!

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!! I adored Liam and Dante!! They were both a little broken but also strong in their own right. Liam was such a little brat at times and Dante was a softie with a marshmallow center hiding behind a gruff exterior. The stalker mystery was well done. Overall, the story was fantastic, kept me glued to the pages! The story was well written with a group of fantastic secondary characters. Highly recommend! I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.

[Serra ᵔ·͈༝·͈ᵔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great blend of hot and sweet! I loved the exploration of d/s power dynamics within and between Dante and Liam. Power bottom bodyguard daddy gets a huge A+ from me.

Admittedly, the relationship progressed a little fast but I wasn’t really bothered. It read like a whirlwind romance and there was emotional depth to back it up.

I’d definitely recommend this, it was a lovely weekend wind down read.

[Drusilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yum Yum, very delicious. Liam is so interesting and the story gets in with a bang that makes it hard to put the book down. A beautifully sweet but also hot Christmas story.
The plot is actually just an annoying accessory. It's fascinating how Dante and Liam get closer and build up their very own special relationship. I really enjoyed that they cared and worried deeply for each other.

Liam was the most tempting offer he’d ever had. No sub, no twink, in any club had ever come close to fulfilling every single one of Dante’s fantasies.
...
He wanted a tiny twink with a monster cock and a delicate body and bratty mouth who needed a firm hand. 😳😳😳

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 4 out of 5]

They meet at a club, it was short and very intense. Dante knows instantly this is just the boy he needs, but he’s gone. Surprise… Liam is the client he has to keep safe.

Liam aches for Dante's control. Someone who cares for him, who sees him, he never had that.
Dante, as Liam’s bodyguard, wants to keep Liam safe and give him everything he needs.

The whole story is built around both men, their proximity, and their blooming relationship. There isn’t much story about anything else.
There is a stalker in this story but that’s slightly present, almost not worth mentioning.
We get to know both men, their lives, their past, their hurt, and what they want from the other.
Dante is the perfect Daddy for Liam.

I liked this story, for my pleasure it was a bit too slow, and a bit dragging, still I enjoyed it very.
Some palpable hurt comfort and sexy encounters made this story even nicer.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was technically both a Christmas romance and a suspense story, it was first and foremost a tale of two people who are hurting and looking for something they don't think they'll ever find. When they have a (very sexy) anonymous encounter at a club, they're both left wondering if they've found something special and let it slip away. Of course they meet again, but in a situation that prohibits them from acting on their desire for each other. I loved their dynamic, loved how Liam pushed Dante's boundaries, and how Dante happily let him. While I wouldn't say the kink here was hardcore by any means, it was prevalent, and I think I personally would have enjoyed this slightly more if I had been in the mood for something kinky. Nevertheless, the romance that develops is exactly what both of them need, and seeing how desperately they wanted to provide that for each was beautiful.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some holiday reads are sweet, some are steamy, but not many blend a hot, gruff marshmallow of a Dom with a needy, lingerie loving boy who is desperate for some structure and love in his life... and that's what you get from Shades of Winter by E.M. Lindsey!

Read my full review here:
http://www.mmromancereviewed.com/2021...

[L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars rounded up to 5.
I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book going in, but I ended up loving it. The chemistry between our two main characters Dante and Liam was fantastic, and I loved the mix of kinky and sweet. Even though the relationship progressed pretty quickly, it still felt completely believable, and I truly believed that these characters were perfect for each other.

[Judy Holle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Dante and Liam, there was sass humor, love and fire. This was a very good book, If you're looking for a good book to read, I highly reccommend this one.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so adorable.. it was sexy and funny.. it made me feel happy and sweet.. i enjoyed their story and their lives and seeing them become who they need to become and love.. it was wonderful and i liked it a lot.

[Kirstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed both Liam and Dante, and the minimal angst in this story, but it felt a little lacking in plot. The idea that a stalker was after Liam, to the point where he felt so endangered he had to flee wasn’t really backed by anything more than a single text. And the resolution was swift and final. I think this story and the characters may have been a bit more endearing and believable with more angst.

Still a very solid read with tons of emotion and family baggage on both sides.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I thought this was slow and boring. The beginning was great, but then it just dragged. Even the climactic resolution of the stalker storyline was underwhelming. I didn't feel the connection between Liam and Dante. For a book with BDSM elements and a little daddy kink, the heat level was low.

[Laura ~Passion flower · Rating 4 out of 5]

"An Exciting Winter Romance"                                                               
Shades of Winter, by E.M. Lindsey, is a sweet, sexy, angsty, and, heartwarming read of two men, each with their own needy desires, who rely on the other for that added strength and ultimate freedom. 

I really enjoyed this story as the main characters, Dante and Liam, were so addicting as their heartbreaking pasts were gut-wrenching and so very emotional, which collectively lead the way towards such a palpable and immediate connection. 

As a frequent reader of stories that are rich with a daddy/boy and bdsm kink, this story has all the makings of an excellent read, despite the need for more depth and development to the actual plot, the existence of a smattering of typos and slightly different kinds of kink. 

Shades of Winter, has all the fixings of a beautifully warm and comforting read.  I really liked it....:) 



*star rating: 4.30 'I really liked this story' stars*     


   

[Badh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that Dante and Liam were seriously hot from their very first meeting. I liked the struggle Dante had with himself trying to deal with his past, what he was feeling for Liam, and what he was supposed to do for Liam.

I hate Liam's dad.

[Liz [reads books] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. My only complaint is that it was slow to start and I almost DNF. Glad I didn't, though! 4½ stars

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I was a bit hesitant about the stalker subplot but wow did I fall in love with these characters and the dynamics they creat. Great consent discussions as well.

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shades of Winter was a solid 5-star read for me until one incident where Dante’s Daddy/boy punishment for Liam could’ve turned deadly. It was careless for a bodyguard who was supposedly one of the best in the business. I get that he was upset over something Liam had done, and rightfully so, but he allowed his emotions to override his duty as a protector. More than once I felt he let things happen that really shouldn’t have happened. Even so, I liked him and Liam together.

I also had a major problem with how the stalker was supposedly this big part of the story but the resolution with this guy was more of an afterthought. Same with Liam's father, Richard. Richard was the reason Liam had so many issues, yet all that was said about him at the end was a quickie line or two.

Full review can be found at -

[Becky A · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Shades of Winter" received FOUR stars.

The novel gained *stars* for these items:

* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."

* gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."

* gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."

* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"

The novel failed to gain stars for this item:

NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything she/he/they writes."

[Allyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4 stars. Shades of Winter was only ok for me, especially when I compare it to some of Lindsey’s other books. It started strong and had a lot of potential, but it started to drag a little in the middle for me, and the stalker felt like an afterthought. Dante and Liam had fabulous chemistry together once Dante gave in to his feelings, and I liked how they complimented each other. Liam was the perfect boy for Dante, giving him someone to nurture and protect, and Dante gave Liam the structure he needed. Their scenes together were super sexy. I just didn’t feel a deep connection to either of them.

[DD · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Daddy/boy, insta-love, low-angst, hurt/comfort; lots of tropes I adore. The particular kink in this book isn’t my favorite to read, but it didn’t bother me too much to read it and enjoy the story around it. I enjoyed how protective grumpy Dante is. You can’t help but feel for Liam and want him to find some real love in his life. I like how Liam put it: they’re two puzzle pieces, carved from the same piece of wood, separated and waiting to come back together again. Extreme compatibility. 100% meant to be.

[Merkur · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bitch, even I could be better bodyguard than Dante. And I'm 55 kg. Cos you just don't go recklessly after someone with the victim next to you. You're trying to do what exactly? To get him in danger? Or you don't leave him in motel room, so you could put distance between you and the person you're suppose to fucking protect. Wtf Dante.. And we're suppose to believe you own the best security company?

[Anne Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable
Firstly let me say that I got this book from gay romance reviews and now I am choosing to leave my honest review.
Dante needed to just distress so he ended up in a club where he met Liam. He knew the guy had security with him, but he said that he could give him 10 minutes. What they share does something to both of them. After 10 minutes Liam leaves and Dante Knows that he’s made a mistake by not getting the guy’s number before he disappeared.
Liam was a child prodigy the way he plays classical music is just breathtaking. But sadly his parents seem to think that he was not allowed a life outside of classical music. No TV and no friends! His father is extremely controlling and even now as Liam is 21 his father is still controlling him. Liam has security to follow him round because he has a stalker. And the stalker manages to get extremely close to Liam on a few occasions. Going to the club to celebrate his 21st birthday was worth it just because of the guy he met. But he knew the paparazzi caught pictures of him leaving. The next morning his father calls into the office and starts to treat him like a five-year-old telling him that he has sacked his security staff and got him new. Liam is not impressed. Carlo one of the security has been The only person to treat him like a human being and now because he celebrated at the club he’d lost his job. But it seems his father was just playing mind tricks with him again as Carlo had been reassigned to another area.
Dante is nothing but professional when it comes to his business. He offers topknot security to celebrities and around the Christmas period it was usually quiet. Dante was happy to take on this security job for the Senator. But he got the shock of his life when the person that he would be keeping safe was none other than Liam the guy he met yesterday at the club. And his stalker sounded like he meant business. Could Dante stay professional and keep his hand off Liam????
I really enjoyed this book this is the first book I read by E. M Lindsey and I Gotta say I’m very impressed. I really enjoyed the storyline but what really grabbed me was the attraction and chemistry between Dante and Liam. My heart broke to hear what Liam had to go through and go without from his childhood. And how much he craved to have somebody who would be honest with him. Dante was all about control And keeping him safe. It was just like they were made for each other complete soulmates. I can’t wait to read more from this author and look forward to more books in the series.

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam and Dante's story was wonderfully sweet, with lots of gentle comfort and steamy attraction. Work may have been what brought them together again after an insanely hot anonymous hookup, but the core of this book was all about Dante and Liam's developing relationship. While I never quite forgot about the dangerous stalker that could reappear at any time, Liam and Dante were so fascinating to explore that I spent most of my time captivated by the intricacies of their romance. These men had so many layers, and as they peeled back more and more of them to expose the inner truth of what they wanted from each other, all I could think about was how beautiful their connection was. Of course, Liam didn't make it easy for Dante, especially in the beginning. He was downright bratty about not getting his way, and though I understood Dante's reasons for not pursuing anything, I itched to see him give Liam the spanking he deserved. The two of them had some heated arguments, and for a while I wasn't sure if they would ever get on the same page. I wasn't fully satisfied with Dante's decision to be with Liam before catching his stalker, but seeing how happy it made them went a long way towards convincing me that their relationship was inevitable. I got so distracted by the all-consuming nature of their romance that the whole bodyguard/stalker plotline felt weirdly rushed together in the end. I don't know why I was expecting a big spectacle, but the casual way the two of them took out the threat felt disjointed and out of sync with the rest of the book. In a story where I was paying close attention to every little moment Liam and Dante spent together, I think it just surprised me that something so massive could creep up on me like that. It certainly didn't take away from my enjoyment of Dante and Liam's romance, and honestly their happily-ever-after was even sweeter knowing that Theo didn't leave a lasting impact on either of them.

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsey is officially the only author I know who can write a “low-angst” book that still leaves me absolutely aching for the characters. Liam and Dante shouldn’t work together, which of course means that they absolutely do. I adored the way this story switches up the traditional bodyguard trope formula by having the characters hook up before being forced together in a slightly less sexy pairing. I think they still would have ended up together, but the path would have been much different and less dramatic than presented. The push and pull between them was so much fun, and I didn’t even mind Liam’s spurts of immaturity. They fit his character so well, and it was an integral part of the dynamic that develops between them.

Even with relationships that contain an element of power exchange, I don’t find it particularly healthy when characters use each other to “fix” a problem in their lives. Liam and Dante are both walking wounded due to the way they were raised and events in their past, respectively. This pain is not erased with the development of a new romance, but I can see how the support they can lend each other will help them become better men (for themselves and for each other).

Lindsey shows their writing experience in multiple ways throughout this story, especially in how they subvert numerous tropes (beyond the bodyguard/client story line) that elevate this from a standard forced proximity romance with a dash of kink into something entirely unique. I should really know better by now than to put off reading anything by them, because I get sucked in and love the writing and story every time.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

Shades of Winter is a sweet and sexy holiday story about two men finally finding just what they need in each other. Lindsey sets things up well here, giving us a good sense of both Dante and Liam, what they are missing, and what they want. Their initial meeting is steamy and gives both men a taste of what they have long been needing, but it seems fleeting. And of course, when they meet again, there is this roadblock here as Dante is now hired to protect Liam. That conflict gets in the way for a little while, until Dante basically decides he is going to move forward with Liam regardless, certain they can wrap up the stalker case fast enough that it won’t really be an issue. Not necessarily the most professional, but it does open things up to allow these guys a chance to really explore all their desires and realize how perfectly they fit together. This is a Daddy/boy dynamic, but they also share some other kink, including a desire on Liam’s part for some light pain and humiliation play. The men are very sexy together and there is a lovely sense of two people finding exactly what they want in one another.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sweet, like you,” Dante said. He grabbed Liam by the back of his hair again, tugging him close so he could mouth at his neck. “And strong, just like you.” “I’m not,” Liam started, but Dante pulled hard, and he went quiet. “You are mine, yes?” Dante asked, leaning back just a fraction. When Liam nodded, Dante sighed. “And it’s not very nice of you to insult my things, is it?”

Oh my gosh…I just can’t. This book was amazing! All the stars for this one. I love this author’s works but this one absolutely blew me away! Liam is a brat who just desperately wants to know that he matters to someone other than his stalker. Dante wants to be the man to prove just how worthy he is but first he has to keep Liam safe and stop the stalker that Liam’s father doesn’t really take all that seriously. The man is more worried about his image and how it looks for a senator to have a musical prodigy of a gay son and trying to impress the right people. Ugh, the care Dante takes with Liam and how he shows attention to the other man and gives him the security and safety he craves. I highly recommend this one. And the wintertime stars!!!!

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shades of Winter is a really enjoyable bodyguard, Daddy/Boy, kinky romance with a bit of angst from both MC's.
Dante and Liam share a very hot 10 minutes together in a club bathroom with all the likelihood of never seeing each other again, except for Liam's father hiring Dante as his new bodyguard to deal with a stalker.
Their chemistry is intense from their first scene together, it's definitely not a hardship to read them together. They seem to click in all the ways that matter to them regarding chemistry, compatibility, wants and needs. Liam has been neglected by his parents and left to his own devices so he enjoys pushing buttons and being told what to do which matches perfectly for Dante who lives getting his boy to do what he's told whilst ensuring he's well loved and looked after. Both men have drama from their family history but in each other they find peace, even whilst protecting Liam from a stalker that is still out there.
A snow meltingly hot read from EM Lindsey which has some great festive feels whilst carrying a lot of strong emotion with an occasional darker moment.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[purely.romantic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be spending the holidays in a warm climate but it was still a delight to read EM Lindsey’s low-angst, steamy holiday romance starring a gruff and firm bodyguard and his sassy but also starved for love, protectee. Liam and Dante’s story was the perfect mix of sweet and sexy with the two MC’s learning to navigate their desires amidst Dante’s job of protecting Liam from a dangerous stalker. As always, EM Lindsey takes some well loved tropes and breathes new life into them with nuanced characters, and a beautifully choreographed dance of push and pull as the characters find their footing with each other. I loved Dante’s honesty and his ability to be true to his own desires as well as knowing his own limits, while Liam made me want to wrap him in blankets (kind of like Dante does) and give him all the affection he has been denied. I am deeply appreciative of EM’s ability to create low-angst stories that contain deep poignancy through the small, resonant moments between the characters. A perfect winter romance that definitely won’t keep you cold with its beautiful writing and the characters’ fiery connection with each other.

[Showarst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, did I love this book. The beginning when we met Dante and Liam was hot and sexy. I really enjoyed how they met before and had this immediate connection, and then we got to see that connection deepen and develop over time.

I loved Liam's sassy personality and his sweetness. He just wanted to be loved and made to feel worthy. Dante was a great Daddy for him. It was so great to see him blossom and grow under Dante's influence. I also loved how we saw a Daddy who loved to bottom. That is definitely not the norm in most Daddy/boy books, so it was really nice to see that dynamic play out.

If I'm being nit-picky, I didn't really like how Dante treated Liam after finding out he was his new assignment. It felt a little cold and like he was blaming Liam for being the boy he couldn't get out of his head but couldn't pursue. I also didn't really like how he rarely said "I love you" to Liam (per the epilogue). Liam seems to be the kind of boy who needs to hear the words and not just assume they are true. Otherwise, the book was phenomenal. Over the past few years, E.M. Lindsey has become one of my favorite authors and this book is just one of the many reasons why.

**I received an ARC for my honest review**