Throwback Thursday Review: Cry No More by Linda Howard

Posted October 4, 2018 by Casee in Reviews | 8 Comments

Throwback Thursday Review: Cry No More by Linda HowardReviewer: Casee
Cry No More by Linda Howard
Publisher: Ballantine
Publication Date: April 27, 2004
Format: Print
Source: Purchased
Point-of-View: Third
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 392
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five-stars

Fueled by an obsession to fill the void in other people’s lives, Milla Edge finds lost children—all the while trying to outrun the brutal emotions stemming from a tragedy in her past. Traveling to a small village in Mexico on a reliable tip, Milla begins to uncover the dire fate of countless children who have disappeared in the labyrinth of a sinister baby-smuggling ring. The key to nailing down the organization may rest with an elusive one-eyed man. As Milla’s search for him intensifies, the mission becomes more treacherous. For the ring is part of something far larger and more dangerous, reaching the highest echelons of power. Racing into peril, Milla suddenly finds herself the hunted—in the crosshairs of an invisible, lethal assassin who aims to silence her permanently.

Every Thursday, we’ll be posting throwback reviews of our favorite and not-so-favorite books. Enjoy!

This review was originally posted on October 2, 2009.

When I first read this book, it was only a year or so after I first discovered Linda Howard. After the Night, Shades of Twilight, Son of the Morning; I loved them. I wanted Gray, Web, and Niall to be real b/c I wanted to marry them. Going from that to Cry No More is not an easy transition. In fact, it’s kind of like the lights going on after you spent two hours in complete darkness. Now it’s clear that Linda Howard evolved as a writer. At RWA a few years back, a friend and I were in LH’s line. My friend had brought her hardcover of Cry No More. LH laughed and said that she didn’t think anyone would be bringing that book to sign. I was silently thinking the same thing. Now I wish I had brought my copy.

This book is the journey of Milla Edge. When her infant son is ripped out of her arms in Mexico, Milla almost dies trying to get him back. Her quest for answers and her relentless search for her son destroyed her marriage. She became a different person after Justin was kidnapped. Going through something that no mother wants to imagine made Milla harder. If she never would have lost her son, the core of her personality would have been the same, but she wouldn’t have gotten the edginess she has now.

After ten years pass, Milla starts losing hope but still won’t give up. When she finally gets a lead, she ruthlessly follows it even knowing that it could lead to her death. Diaz is a name that is whispered throughout Mexico. He’s thought to be an assassin. Milla doesn’t care who he is if he can help her find Justin. And that’s exactly what he does.

This book was an emotional roller coaster. There is little to no humor. The whole thing is very raw. Linda Howard did such an amazing job of writing Milla that I felt that I was Milla. I felt her anguish. I felt her heartache and her regret. I also felt her hope and despair. The whole thing was just very powerful.

Milla’s only goal is to find Justin, however that is not all she finds. Together, she and Diaz uncover an adoption smuggling ring and an organ smuggling ring. The path they travel will lead them to Justin, but it will also lead them somewhere that they weren’t prepared to go.

There is romance between Milla and Diaz, but it took a backseat to telling Milla’s story. Even then, it was still powerful stuff. Pure LH.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

five-stars


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8 responses to “Throwback Thursday Review: Cry No More by Linda Howard

  1. I think you said it best – the story is raw. It’s such a captivating story that I bought the audio and listen to it at least once a year or more. This one always stands out for me. That Diaz! Whoa!

  2. Casee, just loved your review, and you hit it on the nail!!! I felt exactly like you after reading LH’s CNM. It was heart wrenching and I cried for Milla’s anguish. Although not a typical romance I accepted the natural course of the story and its ending. Definitely one of the most moving and powerfully emotional books I’ve read.

  3. I have this book as paperback, hardcover and the ebook… that’s how much I love it. This is my most favorite book ever.

    I’m hoping she rights Justin’s story. I would love to see how this family made out.

    And it’s true what you wrote re: Milla. I have never felt for another character in a book, as I did for her. She was fascinating to me; and heart wrenching.

    I just love this book!

  4. Hey! You never told me you were secretly thinking that at RWA! LOL I’m glad you now agree with me. Muwahahaha! 🙂

    That was a great review. I think that’s what hit me so hard about that book: it was so raw. No sugar coating. All emotion. I remember just bawling through most of that book. So good. I’m going to go look at that autograph when I get home. 🙂

    Erin 🙂

  5. Nikki

    This is such a fantastic book. I’ve read it countless times, and I have it on audio as well. One day I was listening to it and I was driving home from school, sobbing (like you do in several parts of this book). I pulled up at a red light and while wiping my eyes and blowing my nose, I looked over, and one of my students and her mom were staring at me, mouths agape, eyes wide. I started laughing, I was so embarrassed. Love this book. Great review!

  6. Kareni

    Cry No More is rather an ironic title since this book had me Cry A Lot. Thanks for this throwback review, Casee!

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