Broken Rose by Stefan Vučak delivers a compelling drama about love, family, and the quiet battles that shape a life. Mason Adamov is a high-powered IT consultant with all the makings of success, except for any sense of peace. Burdened by years of conflict with his domineering father, Mason finds new hope in Leola Lanaro, a woman who seems to offer the love he’s been missing. But love is complicated, especially when Leola’s family seeks to control Mason as fiercely as his wants to control him. As he struggles to keep his autonomy and win Leola’s heart, Mason must decide whether happiness is worth the cost of family expectations or whether it’s time to break free for good. With emotional nuance and psychological depth, Vučak crafts a character-driven narrative that explores what it means to love and to fight for yourself.
Stefan Vučak offers a strong dramatic sense in this novel with its bold and emotive dialogue, yet there’s a subtle confidence to the narration in between these moments that grounds the story and never allows it to feel too over the top. This results in a layered, emotionally intelligent exploration of family pressures and personal freedom that readers from all walks of life will be able to relate to, especially Mason, looking for peace after such a turbulent relationship with the male role model in his life. The argument about masculinity and power is well-shaped and strongly reasoned. Stefan Vučak’s beautiful prose brings raw honesty to the modern male emotional experience in ways that more novels ought to, and without losing any of the tension or psychological depth that the story deserves. It takes true talent to capture the tension between love and autonomy in such realistic terms, and also deliver a well-penned plot with lots of interest, and a capable, strong central hero who can be vulnerable and open but still be a man we admire and root for. Overall, Broken Rose is a relatable and mature drama about carving your own path through complicated relationships, and I certainly recommend it to fans of well-penned dramas.
This book is available on Amazon.
