Cry No More

This book was a definite roller-coaster ride. I think that this has to be every mother's #1 worst fear: That their child will be kidnapped and they will have to live the rest of their lives not knowing what happened to their baby. Milla's baby was taken from her at 6 weeks old, and she has spent the last 10 years searching for him, even founding an organization dedicated to finding lost and missing people.

This was an extremely fast read, and I finished it in less than a day. I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen, but I also feared it a little too. Every twist in the story, every new revelation or hint was like a punch in the gut. I never expected some of the things that happened during the course of the show more story, and I have to admit that I was shocked by them. I kept turning the pages, because I just had to know what happened, like Milla herself.

It was easy to identify with Milla's loss and determination. I'm not (yet) a mother, but I could not imagine ever, ever giving up on my child if they were lost or taken from me. Howard's writing was simple and to the point, but still felt real and honest. Milla's emotions and responses are understandable and legitimate. She acted how I think that I would have acted had I been in the same situation. I really felt for her at times, when her heart was breaking and she felt all alone. I was appalled at the callousness of people who thought that there should be an expiration date on the search for a lost loved one. That kind of heartlessness is unforgivable. But Milla is strong, and dedicated, and determined to do everything that she can. I was proud of her too, for the way that she handled situations that would have broken most other women completely.

But, what I absolutely loved most about this book was Diaz. He is what made this book for me. He's a tracker, and is well known for finding and eliminating the people he's been hired to find and eliminate. And oh my goodness, is the man not the sexiest thing ever when he's angry. He's deadly, but underneath, he has himself a heart of gold. Cliche, yes, but he doesn't FEEL cliche. He feels real and complicated and human. That he helps Milla, in so many ways, made my heart just melt. And that he hinders her in one major way makes my heart break.
In his own way, and for his own reasons, he matches Milla's levels of dedication and single-mindedness, and that is sexy. Diaz is a man you definitely want to see at your side, not over your shoulder.

There were some things in the story that I thought could have been improved a bit, such as the dialogue. In places, it felt a little forced and wooden. I also would have liked to find out what the punishment was for the perpetrators behind everything, but I understand that that part wasn't really Milla's story.

The writing was really good, otherwise, and compelling. There were twists that I did not see coming, and which kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for an emotionally thrilling romance to occupy a chunk of their day. I think this one is one I'll be reading again. :)

Good choice, Allison! show less

Milla Boone's 6 week old baby boy was snatched out of her arms on a bright sunny day while she was shopping in an open air market in Mexico. The aftermath of the kidnapping had a profound impact on her life. She founded an organization to help people look for missing children and she continued to look for her own son.
Ten years pass and Milla is no closer to finding her son, despite the fact that her son's kidnapping made news headlines. Her single minded drive to recover her son has alienated her family, cost her her husband and sent her into very dangerous situations.

Heartbreak and obsession are two key elements that drive this novel, but it's the intense plot and interesting characters that will have readers up-all-night.

Milla Edge is a fierce, courageous and strong woman. Since the kidnapping of her son, Justin, snatched away from her arms when only a baby, that she dedicated herself and her strength to find the lost ones and returned them to their loved ones. Milla never gives up and never loses hope on finding her son, no matter how much time had passed.
While receiving an anonymous tip about someone that keeps turning whenever she ask questions, Milla goes to the city of Guadalupe in hopes of finally confronting the one eye man by the name of Diaz but what she gets is much more that she could hope for.

This is a powerful book, a powerful and scary story, that can make you cry and laugh and hope and even questioning yourself. How far would you go for a show more lost one? How long would you keep searching for a son? How long is how long?
Milla is the mother that everyone wants to have and wants to be, it's the courage and suffering, and love and strength and hope and despair, it's Mother Courage. The suffering makes her a hard woman, a woman with a cause and will to live, with a powerful goal: to find her son; that is what makes her attractive to Diaz, a sort of outcast, a mystery man that we can't learn nothing about, who lives in a gray zone and we never get to really know. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? Is he working to the right side or the bad one? I believe that with this story we found ourselves confronted with some very hard questions: what would we do if it was us?
He's the perfect man for Milla and she's the perfect woman for him. Beyond the desire, the raw need, the instinct to protect, is the reconnaissance of something much more primitive, that keeps them bounded.
This is a must read. show less

I had no idea this was going to be such a sad book (in places) and made me a bit weepy. Ten years ago, young mother's baby is snatched out of her arms in Mexico - never to be seen again. She becomes obsessed with finding him, running an organization called Finders to help others who have lost loved ones. Then she meets Diaz, an assassin who can help her find out who stole her baby. I was not as into this book due to the sad premise and it was hard to really fall for Diaz, considering his background and how remote he was. Not my favorite Linda Howard, but good, and on audio I did whiz through it!

Many years ago Milla Edge was almost killed when her son was kidnapped. The kidnapping destroyed her marriage and made her single minded. Now she's getting closer to the truth and it's going to be hard. She finds James Diaz, who is dangerous and determined. They join forces, mostly because her agenda coincides with his, but what will happen when they find the truth, and what will she do if she finds her son.

I was a little annoyed at the semi-constant stress on her feminity and feminine dressing. However the resolution and subsequent events were well drawn and logical within the story. Not a bad story overall, I found it interesting.

A GREAT BOOK! I devoured it in 24 hours. A friend gave it to me, picked up from a second hand book stall, it’s tattered and stained but I gave it a go and I am so pleased I did. The heartbreaking story of a mother searching for 10 years for the baby ripped out of her arms is mesmerizing and the ending had me in tears.

Milla Edge lives in Mexico, where her doctor husband, David, is posted. She has just given birth to her first child and is basking in a maternal glow when baby Justin is stolen literally out of her arms, with chilling efficiency. A decade later, Milla is divorced from David and has become the devoted head of an organization called Finders. Finders members help locate lost children and assist police with Amber alerts all over the US. Milla continues to look for her baby as she hunts others. Two men are assisting her for different reasons. This was filled with mystery and action. Very well done.