Date of Publication: June 8, 2021
A Texas Reckoning
In the early morning hours after a law firm recruiting party at a beachside house on Galveston Island, a female summer intern is found lying on the floor, bruised, bleeding and unconscious. Four men and one young woman attorney who were staying at the house know something terrible happened.
The woman attorney takes her to a hospital but the next day the intern disappears. All of them decide to keep silent, doing nothing about the incident in order to further their own career ambitions while the events of that night haunt the two women. Time passes and then ten years later, crime and hubris bring the former intern back into their lives. Only this time she has the power and the truth is finally brought to light, uprooting everyone’s plans.
From the power centers of Houston law and oil to the fracking fields of South Texas to the Jersey Shore and Washington D.C., this story chronicles the struggles of two ambitious young women in their quest for legal success and justice.
PRAISE FOR CRUDE AMBITION:
“Crude Ambition is a great read. It is an authentic look at big law in Houston and the Texas oil business. Patricia Hunt Holmes weaves a story of ambition, greed, romance and revenge that kept me turning the pages until all the just desserts were served.”
— Marc Grossberg, J.D., Author of The Best People: A Tale of Trials and Errors
“In Crude Ambition, Patricia Hunt Holmes shows she knows Texas in the way Grisham knows Mississippi—politics, environment, strong men and strong women, egos, oil, arrogance, influence and hunger for power. I don’t think anyone could have nailed it better.”
— Bill Sarpalius, Former U.S. Congressman, Author of The Grand Duke of Boys’ Ranch
This review is hard to begin because my brain is overwhelmed by how much I loved this book! I may sound like a broken record, but once again, this was a 5 star hit out of the park! This book is almost a twist on The Firm with a nefarious law firm, a dangerous clientele, and so much intrigue! I particularly loved the strong female characters that were the focus of the action and the 1st person narrative style. The author brings large set pieces and backdrops of Galveston, Houston hot spots, and the surrounding area to focus in the action.
If I told you that this book has everything you want out of a good thriller, strong characters, intricate plot, fast moving action, a complementary setting, and oh so much drama, you should believe me! It has all of this and more! Carolyn and Laura are incredibly smart characters and the author has really put time into researching, understanding, and living in the world that she is writing! The world of the oil business is a dirty one, with environmental issues, legal challenges, and so many unsavory characters. I mean, how aptly named was Joe Bill?
Being from an area that is similar and in a profession that can be dominated by the “boys club”, I relate to this book a little bit more than most. Though it is a work of fiction, there is some truth to what happens in the story. There are some MAJOR plot points that will have you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the next page turn. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend to those interested in thrillers, women’s fiction, intellectual stories, and heck, this could even be a beach read! Just not at a Galveston beach house!
Thank you to the author and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for having me along on this tour! This is a 5 out of 5 book for me and I am recommending it to all of my friends!
Patricia Hunt Holmes spent 30 years as a public finance attorney with a large international law firm, specializing in nonprofit healthcare finance and rural electric cooperative finance. Consistently listed in Best Lawyers in America, Texas Super Lawyers, and Top Lawyers in Houston, she was a frequent speaker at national public finance and health care conferences. Patricia has also served on the faculty of the University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Tennessee, and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She has written and published in the fields of intellectual history and law.
In addition to her legal career, Patricia has been a member and board member of several social service organizations throughout Houston, including the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast Women’s Initiative, Dress for Success Houston, the University of Houston Women’s Studies Program, University of Houston Law Review Board of Directors, is a Trustee of the Houston Grand Opera, and Houston Justice for Our Neighbors.
Patricia grew up in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey but has lived in Houston for over 40 years. She has two daughters, Hillary and Ashley, who have successful careers as an attorney and a geologist, and three adorable grandsons. She is an avid golfer and traveler.
Patricia holds a BA in English and History, an MA in History, and a PhD in Russian and South Asian History with honors, all from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and was an editor on the Houston Law Review.
2nd: $50 to Bookshop.org.
(US only, ends midnight, CDT, 8/20/2021)
Or, visit the blogs directly:
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8/10/21 |
Guest Post |
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8/10/21 |
BONUS Post |
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8/10/21 |
Review |
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8/11/21 |
Review |
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8/12/21 |
Review |
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8/13/21 |
Review |
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8/13/21 |
Scrapbook Page |
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8/14/21 |
Review |
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8/15/21 |
Excerpt |
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8/16/21 |
Review |
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8/16/21 |
Guest Post |
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8/17/21 |
Review |
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8/18/21 |
Review |
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8/18/21 |
Author Spotlight |
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8/19/21 |
Review |
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8/19/21 |
Review |
katiepaul680311227.wordpress.com 
Your enthusiasm for the stories in Crude Ambition really shines through — what a great way to launch the book blog tour. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. This book’s on my TBR for sure.
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