Embracing Silence by N.J. Walters

In the erotic first installment of the Project Alpha trilogy, a violent wasteland becomes the backdrop for two assassins who arouse in each other much more than fear and suspicion

Earth 2133

The hunter becomes the hunted

Tienan is Alpha One, created by the privileged few who live shielded from a lawless land. He’s been honed into the perfect involuntary weapon—vengeful, adaptable and ruthless. Finally free of the evil organization that created him, he’s on the run with one option to survive outside the Gate: avoid recapture, even if that means killing again. But the sexy little stalker following him is too delicious to take out.

The captive becomes the captor

Silence is a tracker with the Resistance, a rebel force amassed to end the reign of terror. For Silence to trust Tienan is a risk, but to resist his brutal prowess is impossible.

Enemies become lovers

As raw sexual need takes over, alliances will shift and treachery could become as potent—and as lethal—as desire.

Previously published, newly revised by author

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 stars

Ms. Walters has done an excellent job of world-building and describing in vivid detail what life would be like in 2133.

Tienan had escaped through the Gate into the ravaged landscape that surrounded the pristine city within its walls. His continued survival depended on his abilities to hide from those who wanted him dead, those who had created him thirty years before. Only one other Alpha had escaped the termination order – that was Logan, the man he considered his brother. Together they vowed to destroy the labs that had created them and then ordered them killed.

Silence grew up outside the walls and all she knew was poverty and despair until she was rescued by Adrian, who was the leader of the rebellion. Never one to follow orders, she tracked the man she'd never seen before, never realizing that he was tracking her.

The story is romance, but it also has other elements of great storytelling: intrigue, betrayal and lust. I can't wait to see where the story goes.


Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
Let me start by saying that this is not the first time I’ve read Embracing Silence or the Project Alpha series. I actually own the original Ellora’s Cave ebooks, purchased and devoured over four years ago. Because of that, I jumped at the chance to read and review the re-releases of the series. Walters is one of my favorite paranormal and sci-fi romance authors, especially sci-fi erotica. Normally, I wouldn’t mention the previous publisher in a review of a re-release, but considering that EC is known for their erotica, I kind of feel compelled to include the information because a new reader unfamiliar with Walter’s writing might be surprised with just how erotic the novella is. And frankly, I’d hate for the author to be penalized for that because there are plenty of sci-fi erotica lovers like myself who will be titillated by Walters’ writing.

Embracing Silence is a futuristic novella set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Tienan is an Alpha – a genetically engineered super soldier who escaped destruction and is now hoping to bring down the very people who created him to kill. However, he doesn’t have an actual plan and has spent the time since his escape trying to develop a plan, find allies to help him with his mission, and avoid being caught by General Caruthers. Enter Silence. Now, now, she’s not the bad guy (or girl, I should say). She’s part of the resistance and, like those she is aligned with, has noticed the uptick in military activity in the area and is determined to find out if the stranger who is eluding the military is a danger to her leader, Adrian, and their people. Unfortunately for Silence, Tienan is better at stealth than she is and she soon becomes his prisoner when she gets too close in her pursuit. Neither trusts the other, but neither can deny the unusually strong attraction between them – at least not to themselves – and when the dam breaks, they drown themselves in one another. Whew! When Tienan’s guard is down, the timing of Silence’s escape couldn’t be worse because of the conclusions Tienan is forced to draw, and that puts a bullseye on Silence’s back, one that Tienan isn’t entirely sure he can follow-through on despite his feelings of betrayal.

If, like myself, you own the original editions of Embracing Silence and were wondering how much revision the book has undergone, I’m going to have to tell you that I really don’t know. It’s been several years since I last read it, but there really wasn’t anything that jumped out at me as far as the story itself goes. Because it has been several years since I last read it, it was almost like reading it again for the first time and it reminded me why I enjoyed the book and Walters’ writing so much – she combines just the right amount of action, attraction, and romance to keep me coming back for more. If you’re not a fan of insta-love, this might not be for you because the bulk of the story takes place over about a week’s time. However, if you’re a fan of sci-fi erotica and like a story with your steam, then you might want to check it out. As for me, I’m diving into the second book in the series.

Once upon a time N.J. had the idea that she would like to quit her job at the bookstore, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years.

One day she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first erotic romance novel and life would never be the same. N.J. has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Embracing Silence (Project Alpha #1) by N.J. Walters to read and review.