Before Herring Cove Road: Ruth Goldman and the Nincompoop

A historical romantic comedy and the amusing and touching stand-alone prequel to the Herring Cove Road series.

During England's depression and with her mother's death two years earlier, her father's recent marriage to a woman she neither likes nor respects, and then finding herself engaged to a man she isn't even sure she loves, Ruth decides to take a year to discover what she wants in life. With her small savings, the support from her much older and life-long best friend (her family's servant) and little knowledge of the common world, she sets off to Cambridge, England, where she meets some 'different' characters, learns what life is like for a single, independent working woman during the depression and befriends a young man who makes up for his lack of looks with his wit, amusing idiosyncrasies and his love for practical jokes.

On her adventure of self-discovery, she'll find more than she ever expected. Unbeknownst to her, a secret hides within her family that will eventually enlighten her to herself and her family's past and permanently change the direction of her future.

ABOUT THE SERIES

Taking place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the series follows the sometimes amusing, sometimes heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes terrifying events that follow an introverted old Jewish man's retirement as he reluctantly befriends a naive and lonely boy, his struggling single mother, and lastly, a boy streetwise beyond his years.

"I don't usually enjoy books in a series but this was an exception. It was uplifting, and interesting with some twists I didn't see coming...It wasn't all sweet and goody two shoes either. It had some dark and realistic moments and characters. Very well written."-(Amazon Customer)

Volume 1) On Herring Cove Road: Mr. Rosen and His 43Lb Anxiety
Volume 2) Still on Herring Cove Road: Hickory, Dickory, Death
Volume 3) Off Herring Cove Road: The Problem Being Blue
Volume 4) Before Herring Cove Road: Ruth Goldman and the Nincompoop

OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

The Lovelys' Family Tree series

Following ten generations from the early eighteenth century to the early twentieth century, each stand-alone novel introduces old and new characters while mixing humor, romance and pathos to tell a story of life and love in America.

Volume 1) Indentured Bonds: The First Generation, Circa 1715
Volume 2) Family Bonds: The Second Generation, Circa 1735 (Coming January 2024)

Michael Kroft is from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and writes novels about the relationships between complex and lovable characters. Having completed his first series, Herring Cove Road, he is now working on his next, The Lovelys' Family Tree.

Current Works:

The Herring Cove Road Series:

Volume 1) On Herring Cove Road: Mr. Rosen and His 43Lb Anxiety
Volume 2) Still on Herring Cove Road: Hickory, Dickory, Death
Volume 3) Off Herring Cove Road: The Problem Being Blue
Volume 4) Before Herring Cove Road: Ruth Goldman and the Nincompoop
Volume 5) Still Before Herring Cove Road: The War of the Rosens (Coming January 2025)

The Lovelys' Family Tree Series:

Following ten generations from the early eighteenth century to the early twentieth century, each stand-alone novel introduces old and new characters while mixing humor, romance and pathos to tell a story of life and love in America.

Volume 1) Indentured Bonds: The First Generation, Circa 1715
Volume 2) Family Bonds: The Second Generation, Circa 1735 (Release Date TBA)
Volume 3) War Bonds: The Third Generation, Circa 1755 (Release Date TBA)