Book review of “Field of Schemes”
“Field of Schemes” by Jennifer Coburn
Book Description:
Let the games begin! Newly widowed Claire Emmett leaves Los Angeles so she and her eleven-year-old daughter, Rachel, can have a fresh start in the picture-perfect suburb of Santa Bella, California. But the simple, quiet life she seeks is nowhere to be found in the town where soccer is king and parents are far, far too involved in children’s sports. When Rachel is scouted for an elite travel team, Claire is sucked into a world of high drama, backstabbing and deceit. The team manager plots a Wall Street-style hostile takeover. Parents sabotage players, serve as sports agents, and trade sexual favors for playtime. Off the field, Claire must navigate the brave new world of the suburbs and build a life that doesn’t revolve around kids’ sports. Nothing is simple in Santa Bella, though. Claire’s neighbor is an outrageous flirt. She stumbles upon some dark secrets and unwittingly becomes the target of a very powerful enemy. As Rachel’s team moves to the State Cup championship, Claire must develop a game plan of her own. It’s time for her to fight back and show her daughter what it means to be a soccer mom who plays to win when it matters most.
My Review:
I was excited to receive a copy of “Field of Schemes” because I’m a huge fan of Jennifer Coburn. She has the ability to create wonderful and funny characters who you won’t forget, and Claire in “Field of Schemes” was no different. Being a recent widow and single mother, I felt sorry for her and was curious as to see how she handled her daughter playing soccer.
While I never played sports, my brother played soccer as a kid, and I remember seeing how parents can be when it comes to wanting to be the best team. The actions of a few soccer parents was very well written, especially the soccer dads. Without giving any spoilers, Claire’s attraction for her next-door neighbor intrigued me, and liked who she ended up with, though thought the ending came on a little too fast for them . I wondered also what Rachel thought of her mom’s new relationship. I would have liked to have seen a little more interaction between Claire and her daughter, but thought that she was doing the best she could. My favorite parts were the conversations between Claire and her mother-in-law.
Some parts in this book I felt lagged “Field of Schemes” was a good book. I’m not a mom, but if you’re looking for a cute mom-lit you would enjoy “Field of Schemes.”
I give this book 3 1/2 stars.
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