About the book

Pete Cruz lives a successful life—on the outside. But no one knows that his childhood haunts and torments him on the inside. 

Three belts hang on nails inside his dad’s closet. Demeaning, angry words usher Pete through his childhood. Eventually the physical scars heal, but the mental wounds fester. Pete careens into adulthood, simply getting by, all while living with acute depression, PTSD, anger mismanagement, chronic pain, and fears of failure and abandonment. 

When his daughter, Natalia, is born, Pete determines to give her the life he never had, providing for her, attending school events, and never raising a hand to her. However, she grows up with a father who is angry and critical. But when his daughter says that whatever she does isn’t “good enough,” those words strike him in the heart. 

No Tears for Dad: My Path to Forgiveness is Pete’s sensitive and raw memoir of recovery from childhood trauma—thanks to the pursuit of his heavenly Father.  For readers trying to move toward healing or who have paved their own recoveries, this book is for you.