Crude Ambition
A Novel
by Patricia Hunt Holmes
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Pub Date Jun 08 2021 | Archive Date Aug 20 2021
Greenleaf Book Group | River Grove Books
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Description
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. Something terrible has happened. She is taken to a hospital by the only other woman there, but the next day the intern is gone without a trace. Those involved decide to keep silent about the incident in order to further their own career ambitions, but the two women are haunted by what happened. Time passes. Ten years later, crime and hubris bring the former intern back into the lives of those that hurt her. Only this time, she has the power, and the truth is finally brought to light. 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.
Advance Praise
“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 US Congressman and author of The Grand Duke of Boys’ Ranch
“I just finished Crude Ambition, and it’s a winner. Well researched and compellingly written by a true raconteur. A Texas story at its best.” —Senator Don Adams
“A lively feminist thriller—set in the Texas oil and gas world.” —Elizabeth Gregory, PhD, director of Women’s Studies and professor of English, University of Houston
“Crude Ambition is the story of ambitious people in Texas, some of whom are crude, and some are good people who are ambitious for the right reasons. The plot takes us into a high-end law firm in Houston, a ranch in the Texas Hill Country, a fancy beach house in Galveston, and a company where the new wealth in fracking is an incentive to do almost anything. These interlocking places are the stage where stories of violence, betrayal, revenge, and loss play out—as well as generosity, love, and ultimately justice. The legal issues raised are eye-opening.” —Lois Zamora, professor of English and Comparative Literature, University of Houston
“After leaving the Texas Hill Country to fulfill her dreams, Carolyn Page faces numerous crises of conscience in both her professional and personal lives, as she excels and works tirelessly to become a partner in a prestigious Houston law firm. In her second novel, Crude Ambition, Patricia Hunt Holmes weaves a great story of the good and evil that exists in the booming Texas oil industry. Patricia has developed a rich cast of characters to deliver a riveting story that is sure to please.” —David Rohlfing, author of the Detective Sasha Frank Mystery Series, Deliberate Duplicity and Cold Consequences
“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, JD, author of The Best People: A Tale of Trials and Errors
Marketing Plan
Advance distribution of Digital ARC via NetGalley to reviewers, bloggers, journalists, librarians, booksellers, and media
Online marketing campaign including targeted advertising, advance giveaways, and trade advertising
Watch for author and book updates at patriciahuntholmes.com
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781632993816 |
| PRICE | $16.95 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Susan H, Reviewer
Crude or Refined?
Ann and Carolyn are separately climbing their respective corporate ladders while navigating firm politics and dicey co-workers. They’re smart, ambitious, and ethical.
However, not everyone they encounter is guided by a similar moral compass. Beneath the veneer of Houston’s elite society lie vile proclivities in a few individuals. Joe Bill Hawkins, to name one.
Embodying the oiliness of spirit as well as profession, Joe Bill and his entitled ‘boys’ have taken the low road to prosperity and hurt others in the process. He's a villain you’ll most likely want to meet his comeuppance.
I loved this story about two career driven female attorneys!
Intelligent successful women always occupy a spot on my want to read list although I would classify this as more of a Women’s Story than Thriller. I especially recommend reading when you’ve wearied of dumb and dumber characters.
In addition, the author’s research regarding the Securities and Exchange Commission, oil industry, and accounting laws are evident. I love learning about businesses of all varieties so that was another positive for me.
Thank you to the author, River Grove Books, and NetGalley for my electronic review copy in advance of publishing June 8, 2021.
Cynthia K, Reviewer
Crude Ambition follows the lives of two young women who attend a law firm party, leading to vastly different paths. It is a story of choices due to unfortunate circumstances and the consequences of those decisions. The author paints a story of ambition amidst lies, secrets, and coverups at the expense of a young woman’s honor.
Carolyn brings Laura, a young intern, to a law firm party at a Galveston Island beach house and finds her violated and unconscious the following morning. Horrified, Carolyn takes her to the local ER while the partners watch in disgust and panic. The next day Carolyn discovers that Laura has disappeared and left the hospital, unknown to the medical personnel. This experience leads the two women on separate career paths, forever changed by that single event. With many twists and turns, the author weaves their stories with different POVs as they navigate among the corruption and greed of oil firm executives, environmental issues with fracking and ranching in South Texas, and the legal and moral issues involved. There is a little bit of everything in this novel—greed, romance, revenge, and justice.
The title, Crude Ambition, captures the essence of the story. Although not familiar with the oil industry, fracking, and intricacies of the law, I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and characters. The author Pat Holmes gives the reader a compelling inside view of law firms, the oil industry, and Southern Texas life. I’m looking for a sequel and a series on Netflix. I recommend this intriguing, fast-paced story and thank NetGalley for allowing me to read and review it. #NetGalley #CrudeAmbition #womensfiction #legalthrillers
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