Book Review: Crude Ambition
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
Where do I even begin with this review? First off, this book was unquestionably not what I was expecting, in the best of ways. The author had us glued to the story from the very mysterious beginning to the sweet, sweet ending. You'll find yourself having questions, getting said questions answered, then having even more questions that are all answered by the last chapter.
If you're from Texas, you'll also appreciate the author's attention to detail. There's a part of the story where our main character, Carolyn, visits San Antonio. A.K.A where I'm from. I was happy to read the very real places that our fictional characters visit. I always enjoy it when an author takes the time to research and create a fictional story in very real places. This makes the book seem more real and true.
You'll also learn a thing or two with each chapter. From learning about the Clean Water's Act to the way lawyer stuff works, the knowledge is endless. You can tell our author used her expertise to create something creative and unique. She could've made up laws and acts, but instead incorporated real living documents.
I also found that as I was reading, that I kept thinking what I was reading was non-fiction. With the settings in real-life places and realistic characters, it feels like you're reading someone's life.
And lastly, I enjoyed Carolyn's character. I loved how determined, brilliant and strong she was living in a "man's world." I also just really enjoyed her honesty throughout the whole book. She was honest with her feelings and in her words and I appreciate such open honesty with any real or non-real characters.
Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5. It was interesting all the way through, it felt real and the use of details is prominent. I enjoyed reading it and it's definitely on my top list of books for 2021. Until next time, Happy Reading!
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.
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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 |
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8/12/21 |
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8/13/21 |
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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 |
Great review & I loved the vlog post, too. It sounds like the author did everything right for an engaging read. Thanks for sharing!
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