The Problem Being Being Blue

Herring Cove Road #3

by Michael Kroft, Steve Hart (Narrator)

With Blue's father in prison for selling marijuana and his mother estranged for over the last seven years, Blue is doing well, all considering. As the second addition to the not-so-nuclear Dixon family of Lisa, her ten-year-old son, Dwight, and the retired, Jewish introvert, Av, Blue finds himself living in a much better area of Halifax, Nova Scotia, going to a much better school and for the first time, actually applying himself academically as he struggles to fit in.

All that's soon threatened when Blue's estranged mother returns to take him away, and around the same time, he's harassed and threatened by his father's affiliation with the very dangerous, local biker gang to whom his father owes money.

Blue, his surrogate family, and Dwight's recent overachieving classmate/friend, Lyon, are forced to deal with the quickly escalating problems that threaten both the family unit and its members.

{{ 7 hrs. and 43 mins. }}

8 pages, Audible Audio

First published September 17, 2015

About the author

Michael Kroft is a Nova Scotian Haligonian and writes fun, easy-to-read character-driven novels about the relationships between complex and mostly lovable characters that are as important to the story as the plot itself. Having completed his first four-book series, Herring Cove Road, where each novel in the unique series is not like the others, he's now working on his next series, The Lovelys' Family Tree.

Michael Kroft's Current Works:

The Four-Volume Not-So-Nuclear Family Saga Series, Herring Cove Road:

●On Herring Cove Road: Mr. Rosen and His 43Lb Anxiety

●Still on Herring Cove Road: Hickory, Dickory, Death

●Off Herring Cove Road: The Problem Being Blue

●Before Herring Cove Road: Ruth Goldman and the Nincompoop


The Family Saga Series, The Lovelys' Family Tree:

●Indentured Bonds: The First Generation, Circa 1715



Michael Kroft's website: michaelkroft.com
Michael Kroft's Twitter: @michaelkroft

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Off Herring Cove Road: The Problem Being Blue is the third book in the four-book series Herring Cove Road. It takes place in a completely new neighborhood which Av had lived in before moving to Herring Cove Road. Av buys a big house in a new neighborhood and sends Dwight and his friend Blue to private school. This is a big change for Dwight, Lisa and Blue as they now live in an affluent neighborhood with hired help.

The story centers on Blue and his relationship with his drug-dealing father who is in jail. Blue gets mixed up with his father’s drug bosses and must extricate himself out of a very tricky situation without anyone getting hurt. He also has to learn to trust and to love. While I like Off Herring Cove Road, I would’ve preferred less motorcycle club and more Av and Dwight. However, I see where the inclusion of the club was necessary to tell the story but perhaps a tad less would have been great.

I was sorry to see this highly enjoyable series end. The fourth book is actually a prequel to the series focusing on when Av meets his future wife Ruth. I will definitely miss these especially well-drawn characters.

While still a lot of fun, this particular book was also heartbreaking only because we have come to love these characters as if this family was our own.

[Diana]

Oh AV!

Great read about what real family is all about-the importance of humor-and of course the essential of any quality of life: love

[Carol Trueson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific series

I read the first as a lark because of the unusual title. It was so good I couldn't put it down. I followed up with the other two just as quickly. I wish the were more books to the series.

[Renata · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked most of it, except for all the violence and deaths. I noticed the number of deaths increased in the second book ( nature of the killings, and the graphic descriptions were shocking to me). I wasn't going to continue with the series, but I had purchased all the books and was curious if this one was going to go back more to the original story.

The characters and first two thirds of this book were enjoyable. The last third part/mayhem/murders were too much. Not sure if I will read the last one. I feel there is a disconnect between the original characters, their age, nature of the story jumping to a very dark and violent latter part of the book. They just don't seem to go together.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 stars! This book series is the best I’ve read in a long time! They are super easy reads too.
I’m bummed there are only four in the series and I only have one left.
I don’t want this story to end!!!
I’ve been told book four is the best of all but I can’t imagine how Michael Kroft was able to top the first three. I can’t wait to find out!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this series to everyone! If you read it and don’t like it, there’s something wrong with you! 😂

**start with book #1(leave book #0 for last).

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

All move to a large house in a wealthy area. Boys start a new, private school. Younger black boy genius needs friends. Blue's dad is in prison. Motorcycle gang feuds. Drug feuds. Much danger.

[Bob Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dark but well written story. Decent way to end the series.

[Carolyn]

Third in the Herring Cove Road series based in Halifax....Nothing can top the first book with it's sweet and easy development of the relationship between young Dewey Dixon and his neighbor, "Mr. Jew" (Av Rosen). However, this family that was formed in book one and expanded in book 2 continues on n book 3. Interesting in how in book 1, they lived next door in a middle class neighborhood. In Book 2, the scenes are all in a lower income area and for this one, they all moved into a fancy high income area with a huge house, a housekeeper, lawn service and more. That actually is one thing I found a bit of a stretch - that Av would choose to live in such a fancy place when that really did not fit his personality. Av is a highly generous man but not one bit ostentatious which is what made this change in setting not seem right to me.

This book brings continued troubling topics and more death. Too much death hits the family over the course of three books and the body count in this one surpasses the total in the first two.

There were still the classic jokes between Av and the boys which was enjoyable. Then the author snuck in a joke for us:

"Since meeting Blue, he had come to despise his own ‘wimpy’ nickname and was uncomfortable using one, especially after going through the effort of repeatedly demanding that those who called him Dewey, including this narrator, to call him by his birth name instead."

[Kendra Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

Wow, I can’t believe Av died at the end. 😭 Though the story is quite unrealistic, as several things throughout the 3 books conveniently work themselves out on their own, it was still enjoyable…as I do love a happy ending. I continued to love the characters and also loved seeing their relationships grow. They were a short and sweet break from fantasy. I am looking forward to the next book and seeing what the beginning of Av and Ruthy’s life was like.

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5. WTF? I am flummoxed by this series of the same characters. The first book was deep and moving and had points.
Then it’s like a different author took it from there - as if the characters were pulled out of an award winning drama and dropped into a bad cable tv crime show. Everyone just put through misery after unbelievable misery without end. And then… the ending of the series - more misery and no happy ending for anyone. Some nice moments, I guess, but overall very disappointing.

[Barbie N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I fell in love with the characters:

I found the first book charming, so dove into the second which though still charming was much heavier in topics involved in the story line, almost too much for me. But I was hooked. Same with this book. Still, a we'll written story.

[Loyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book, read all of them! They made a wonderful family together. Will make you laugh, cry and want more!! 5 star read!

Great book, read all of them. They make a wonderful family together. You will laugh, cry and want more! A 5 star read!!

[Flo · Rating 4 out of 5]

From feel-good story to the fall back into reality

After moving away from their troubled neighborhood with his new untraditional family, the reader is led to hope for Blue's emancipation from his dark past life. But amidst his efforts is a greater pull from destiny.

[Rach ~ bookishreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, this has been a wonderful series to read! I have thoroughly enjoyed all the character development, particularly, of course, watching the main character grow.
Highly recommend these books!

[Cecil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, but with a sad ending.

[P Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in this interesting series. It was disturbing at times but overall less disturbing than the second book in the series.

[Kszr · Rating 4 out of 5]

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