The Struggles of Men
A novel about fatherhood, courage, and the quiet strength of both genders, each represented in their own manner.
Ethan Blake is just a regular man trying to hold his world together. A skilled HVAC technician in a quiet Utah town, he's spent years building a life with his wife Madison and their bright, curious daughter Vi. But as the seasons shift and pressures mount, Ethan begins to feel the weight of something far heavier than tools and invoices - the growing strain on his role as protector, provider, and partner.
When a seemingly minor issue with a school-issued tablet spirals into a disturbing discovery, Ethan finds himself facing not only institutional indifference but a threat that strikes at the very heart of his family's safety. What begins as a father's worry slowly unfolds into something much darker, testing Ethan's patience, resilience, and the very idea of trust in the systems meant to safeguard children.
Meanwhile, Madison navigates her own path - balancing her professional life with the emotional undercurrents of a marriage tested by fear, uncertainty, and sacrifice. As the investigation deepens and local whispers grow louder, she finds herself not only reassessing her career, but rediscovering the quiet strength in Ethan she once admired during their early days in California.
Told through shifting perspectives that reveal the layered complexities of modern relationships, The Struggles of Men explores themes rarely given center stage:
The burden of silent responsibility many men carry
The fragility of trust in a digital world
The resilience of love when the stakes are highest
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and the modest rhythms of small-town life, this grounded, emotionally intelligent novel offers a role-reversed reflection on the quiet battles fathers and husbands often fight behind the scenes - not out of heroism, but out of love.
Inspired by Florence L. Barclay's The Wheels of Time (1910) - but seen through a contemporary male lens - The Struggles of Men is not about victimhood or superiority. It's about balance. About what it takes to build something lasting in an increasingly fragmented world.
It's about the fear of losing what matters most... and the courage to face that fear with integrity, one day at a time.
For readers who appreciate character-driven storytelling, realistic emotional arcs, and a story rooted in values of family, accountability, and human decency - this novel will linger long after the final page.
