Introduction to Golden Girl Book Reviews
One of the things I've struggled with as a reader is searching for well-written books. Those are the stories with compelling plots, engaging scenes, and dynamic characters. I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this problem.
There are many people out there who struggle to find decently-written literature. One that tells an actual story. That engages the reader and their mind over being full-on smut without a plot.
Personally, I have nothing against smut. I'm just saying that's not something I or certain people would want to read. It's just that there are some people want written literature that makes them feel something other than lust.
Anyway, this author's spotlight is about one of those people.
Her name is Holly Shmit, and what she decided to do about it.
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Holly at her book signing for Girl in Gold in 2023. |
Meet the Author: Holly Shmit
Holly is a South African author in her mid-twenties, affectionately known as the Cabbage Queen by her older readers. Her fans are called Golden Cabbages, or Cabbages. It's odd, but that's what makes it so endearing.
Besides writing, she likes reading, painting, anime, and creating YouTube content. She is notorious for her gorgeous book trailers, funny anime reviews, and detailed and quirky How-to videos. Many of them have given several thousand views.
Anyway, I'll post links to some of the videos later on in this post or in my next post about her. That way, you guys can check out her videos on your own.
All right, let's talk about her books!
List of Golden Girl Books
There are three books in the Golden Girl trilogy:
- Two Gangs and a Golden Girl
- Three Gangs and a Silver Sin
- One Gang and a Bronze Battle
I'll provide readers with each book's basic info, summary, book cover/character images, and the links to where you can read the books. Then, I'll provide ratings and a detailed review for each one. Fair warning, there will be some spoilers.
This is for those people who have taken the time to read the books.
First up is TGAAGG, then TGAASS, and finally OGAABB.
Let's get started.
Two Gangs and a Golden Girl Basic Info
Holly began writing TGAAGG in April of 2018. She finished it later that summer. The genres are Action, Teen Fiction, and Romance.
It is the most popular of the trilogy, amassing over 24 million reads.
The status of the book is currently complete, and it has seventy chapters. Each chapter has a different POV-- Amber, Blake, Owen, and others.
Summary:
The West and East gangs of Tygerwell have been at each other's throats since the dawn of time. The leaders of those gangs want to end the fight once and for all.
Because fighting with their fists is easy, but fighting with wit and charm?
That is a whole other ball game.
Blake Bowmen is the Westside gang leader. He's known for his black leather jacket, motorcycle, and a killer glare. Anyone talking back to him would regret it.
Owen Rhodes is the Eastside gang leader. He's known for his fancy coats, sultry stare, and boxing. Any attempt at resisting him is futile.
Enter Amber, with hair of gold, oceans in her eyes, and too much sass for her own good. She always lands in trouble.
These boys have no idea who they are dealing with when she shows up.
But soon, Amber discovers she knows a little too much about guns and fighting. She must question everything she thought she knew about herself.
Still, three can play this game.
Link to Read on Wattpad:
https://www.wattpad.com/story/146776738-two-gangs-and-a-golden-girl
Book Cover Images:
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The original cover for TGAAGG. It's the one EVERYONE knows. |
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The new and improved cover. |
Main Character Info/Images:
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Amber Marigold-- eighteen years old, high school senior. Sassy, sarcastic, and never knows when to shut up. Has a surprising past. |
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Blake M. Bowmen-- 18, Westside gang leader, loves smoking, playing piano, and driving his motorcycle. The "brains" of the group. |
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Owen William Rhodes, 18, Eastside gang leader. He loves Jane Austen, boxing, flirting, and his family. The "muscle" of the group. |
Personal Book Ratings:
Overall Rating: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Characterization: 3/5
Grammar/Punctuation: 3/5
My Personal Review:
When I read the first chapter, I realized that it started in the middle of the action. That was something that caught my attention. Most stories have the character waking up to look at themselves in the mirror or something equally cliché.
The story was engaging with heart-stopping shootouts and car races. Readers were always on the edge of their seats. They also wanted to see the playful teasing and passionate kisses that had them squealing.
Not to mention the emotional scenes resonated with readers, making them sympathize with the characters' current situations.
However, it's not all doom and gloom. There are dashes of Holly's signature humor within the characters' personalities/actions. Moments like Amber calling Owen and Blake "Mister Leather Jacket/Mister Fancy Coat" or coming up with a fake boyfriend to evade them.
That was funny, considering it blew up in her face big time.
I also loved Holly's descriptive writing style and how it made readers feel like they were in the book too. They were experiencing the same things as the characters.
Some noteworthy scenes for me at least included.....
-The sizzling gym fight between Owen and Amber, which ended in a passionate make-out session, and of course, Owen was shirtless.
- The moment where Amber and her cousin Jessy came home after the party and car race to find Anton (Jessy's dad) in the dark. He was stroking Tessa's (Jessy's mom) cat socks since he didn't have a cat.
Anyway, moving on to the characters themselves!
The characters are not what I'd expect from a gang book..... because they're teens.
Amber is lively with a tendency to get herself into trouble. She also loves her family fiercely, and has a strong sense of justice.
Owen is a charismatic, flirty boxer with a love of Jane Austen and his silver Lamborghini. He is also protective of his sister. He also took over the East gang's leadership from his father.
Blake is a gloomy young man but with a brutal mouth. However, his listening to Amber or other characters is thoughtful. He's the "therapist" of the group, and his heated arguments with Owen never fail to entertain.
Seeing each chapter from a different perspective was different from any story I'd read. It allowed readers to see what's going on inside someone's mind. To get a feel for their thought processes, feelings, and personalities.
It's quite brilliant, really.
Another unique thing about Holly's writing style is that she tends to end her chapters in a way that has readers wanting to read more.
Overall, the first book is a mix of humor, romance, and cliffhangers.
Three Gangs and a Silver Sin Basic Book Info:
TGAASS is complete with eighty chapters, having taken slightly longer than book 1. It also has the same primary and subgenres as the first novel. It even contains the same key elements that made readers crazy about TGAAGG.
And not only that, but the same humor, characters, and writing style that made readers fall in love with the first book.
Book Summary:
In the first novel, readers were introduced to the feisty Amber Marigold. The same Amber, with gold in her hair, oceans in her eyes, and paint on her clothes. The girl who wanted to save the world and be a hero, just like her mom.
But what happens when gold falls?
It turns out Amber has a dark side. And it's time for one of these bad boys in Tygerwell to tame it, or should I say, men?
This is the book where Amber answers the readers' question of "Who's she going to pick?"
But with Xavier's nefarious plan lurking, it's going to be difficult.
Get ready for the next level- things are bigger, more expensive, and much more dangerous.
You've all seen the start of Amber's story, but now it's time to get to the good part.
Link to Read on Wattpad:
Book Cover Images:
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Three Gangs and a Silver (original) cover. |
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Three Gangs and a Silver Sin (updated) cover. |
Book Character Images/Info:
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Amber Marigold, still eighteen, but going by Rebma D'logiram. Leader of Sterling. Her cold "silver" side comes into play here. |
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Blake M. Bowmen, still the brains of the operation. Now the brains of Sterling. |
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Owen William Rhodes-- still the muscle of the group. And still a flirt. |
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Xavier Jilten-- 24, leader of the North, and a Nutella lover. He was Mysterious Fucker in Book 1. |
Personal Book Ratings:
Overall Rating: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Characterization: 5/5
Grammar/Punctuation: 3/5
My Personal Review:
In TGASS, readers are introduced to badass Amber. The emotionless fighter/leader version of the Golden Girl.
We cheer her on because Xavier will get what he deserves.
As a reader, I enjoyed the introduction to the North's inner gang. With contrasting personalities and relationship dynamics, there are plenty of notable moments.
However, one of the characters I have a love-to-hate thing for is Xavier. His smug attitude is annoying or amusing, depending on the situation. It amused me whenever Amber embarrassed him, as such, when she forced him into a dress for Halloween.
Another character that stood out to me was Myra Abston.
I loved how she integrated herself into the group. She only had experience in a fight using her intellect or strategic pressure points. She still managed to make it work though.
Moving onto writing style.
The writing style was quite similar to the first. Engaging and easy to follow from start to finish. I never once got bored and looked forward to reading every chapter.
Like all her books, Holly concluded chapters with a captivating cliffhanger. It either had me laughing, crying, or worried about what was going to happen next.
Overall, it's a mix of dynamic characters, thrilling action, great humor, and steamy romance, and cliffies!
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One Gang and a Bronze Battle Basic Book Info:
One Gang and a Bronze Battle is the finale in Holly's trilogy. It is also the longest. Holly had originally planned to write 100 chapters for it.
It's the most intense out of the three.
Still, there is plenty of humor and romance to balance out gang wars, shootouts, and car chases. The story has sixty-six chapters and is not complete.
It will be published fully in the future when Holly gets the funds.
Book Summary:
You have been on Amber's journey since she arrived in Tygerwell to live with her family. Now join the end. We level up with bigger races, more intense fights, and much more death.
In this book, Amber has married Xavier in a lovely wedding and enjoys being Mrs. Jilten. But now
that they've come together, they realize that there is a lot more going on.
It's not just Tygerwell or the country that's at risk of war or destruction anymore.
It's the entire world.
In the final battle of blood, loss, and pain, victory is not a certainty. The couple and their friends know that the good guys don't always win. The lines between good and bad actually become blurred.
One thing Xavier, Amber, and co know is that not everyone will make it out alive.
Link to Read on Wattpad:
Book Cover:
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The final book in the Golden Girl series. |
Book Character Images/Info:
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Amber Marigold- co-leader of the North and Xavier's future wife. Still sassy. Still friends with Blake and Owen. |
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Xavier Jilten- Amber's husband. Co-leader of the North. |
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Jane Marigold- Amber's cousin and the new leader of Sterling. One of the main antagonists of OGAABB. |
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Blake Bowmen-- found out a BIG family secret, and now he's thinking of choosing sides. |
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Kyle Bowmen-- Blake's older brother thought to be deceased. He's the co-leader of the South. |
My Personal Book Ratings:
Overall Rating: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Characterization: 5/5
Grammar/Punctuation: 4/5
My Personal Review:
Another thing I remembered that was interesting was that there was a sympathetic side to Jane. Jane may have been horrible to Amber, but now I can kind of guess why. And seeing her and Sean together was so sweet.
Then there was the Kyle Bowmen reveal..... and I was not ready for that. He was like a male Amber with some of Xavier's sleazier traits thrown in. Part of me hated him for trying to get in between Amber and Xavier, and part of me hoped he could be redeemed and see his brother again.
Anyway, the descriptions of the scenes were amazing.
They were enchanting, proving Holly's brilliant writing shone through. Just like with the first two books, I believed I was one of the characters in the story.
I truly look forward to seeing when this book is finished!
Conclusion:
All of these books have their good and bad points. As does any book. There isn’t a novel that is 100% perfect, and that’s okay.
That’s what makes them great!
Anyway, I hope I highlighted enough of the good points of those books to make you guys want to read them. Well, without spoiling them too much. If I did, I am so sorry, Holly, and so sorry to everyone else!
I will soon be re-structuring my second post on Holly's modern novels, so be on the lookout for that.
And be sure to check out my "About Me" section if you want to know more about me. If you want to contact me, please be sure to use the Contact Form or "Contact Me" info.
Those can be found under the “Pages” section on the right side of the website.
Have a great week, everyone!
-Victoria-