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Golden Girl Books

One of the things I struggled with as a reader is finding well-written books. Those stories have compelling plots and dynamic characters that make readers feel everything at once.

I know I'm not the only one who has this ideology. And this post will be about one of those people.

My longtime friend, Holly Shmit.

Holly is a South African author affectionately known as the Cabbage Queen by her readers. Don't ask how she got the nickname- it's got a weird origin story. I am not sure how she got the nickname.

Anyway, her fans are called Golden Cabbages (for her Girl in Gold/TGAAGG series) or simply  Cabbages. It goes long with her "Cabbage Queen" moniker if I do say so myself.

Yeah, it's odd, but that's what makes it so endearing.


A brunette haired girl in a sparkling golden dress signing a book with a pen.
Holly's book signing for Girl in Gold.

About Holly Shmit and Her Fabulous Life 

Before she began writing, she thought about the ideal book she wanted to read, then went from there. And of course, killing off readers' favorite characters. It causes her to make fun of their misery, but in a playful way.

When Holly is not writing, she has a multitude of other hobbies. She's reading fantasy novels like Game of Thrones, painting pictures of sunsets and objects like Amber, watching and reviewing anime, and creating YouTube videos.

Those videos often contain content related to her novels, or they are How-to videos. She is planning to update her videos in the future.

Her goal is to write a story in every genre, and so far she has covered several: billionaire romance, thriller/mystery, action, and teen romance.

Which leads me to......


Her Golden Girl Trilogy of Books

There are three novels in this series:

  • Two Gangs and a Golden Girl
  • Three Gangs and a Silver Sin
  • One Gang and a Bronze Battle

I'll give you the information on each as well as my personal ratings & review.

First up is TGAAGG.


Two Gangs and a Golden Girl

Holly began writing her first novel on her new account, Two Gangs and a Golden Girl, in April 2018. She finished it in the summer of that same year. 

The genres are Action, Teen Fiction, and Romance. It is currently complete with seventy chapters. It has had three known covers, but I can only find two of them. It was her first book as Holly Shmit.

The main character, Amber Marigold, is notorious for her blonde hair, blue eyes, and a sarcastic attitude. It often leads to other characters becoming amused, annoyed, or confused about her, depending on the situation. 


Cover Images:

As I mentioned earlier, it has three known covers, but I only have access to two.

A chessboard with golden and silver pieces against a dark backdrop. The words "Two Gangs and a Golden Girl" are above with the word "Gold" in gold lettering and the rest of the title and author's name in white.
TGAAGG original cover


A blonde woman in a golden dress with a paint splatter under the arm. Two other men in suits are with her, and the words "Two Gangs and a Golden Girl" and "Holly Shmit" are above their heads.
TGAAGG modern cover

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.

Fighting with fists is easy, but fighting with wit and charm? That's a whole other ball game.

Blake Bowmen is the Westside gang leader. Known for his black leather jacket and a killer glare. Anyone talking back to him would regret it.

Owen Rhodes is the Eastside gang leader. Known for his fancy coats, toxic stare, and flirtatious nature. Resistance is futile.

Enter Amber, with hair of gold, oceans in her eyes, and too much sass for her own good. She always gets into trouble.

These boys have no idea who they're dealing with.

Soon, Amber discovers she knows a little too much when it comes to guns and fighting, so she must question everything she thought she knew about herself.

Three can play this game.



Character Images: 



A girl with light blonde hair, icy blue eyes, and fair skin. She has very attractive features.
Amber Marigold


A dark haired boy with stormy blue eyes and tan skin. He has piercings above his right eyebrow and cross earrings in his ear.
Blake M. Bowmen

A boy with slicked back bronze hair, dark eyes, and fair skin. He's wearing a green hoodie and has a scar on his nose from being broken.
Owen W. Rhodes






My Personal Ratings:

Overall Rating: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Writing Style: 4/5

Characterization: 5/5

Grammar/Punctuation: 3.5/5

My Personal Review:

When I read the first chapter, I saw something I loved immediately. It started in the middle of action. Most Wattpad stories do not do that.

They will often have the character waking up to look at themselves in the mirror or something equally cliched.

The storyline was engaging. There were plenty of heart-stopping shootouts, thrilling car races, playful teasing, and passionate kisses that had readers squealing. 

However, there are also dashes of Holly's signature humor within the characters' personalities. The moments where Amber called Blake and Owen "Mister Fancy Coat/Mister Leather Jacket" were great. And the "Alvin Chipmunk" incident was perfectly hilarious.

Some of my other favorite scenes included the sizzling Owen vs. Amber fight and the occasions where Amber met Owen and Blake's families. I'll even admit I died laughing when Amber and Jessy came home from Cam's party/the car race to find Uncle Anton (Jessy's dad) stroking a pair of socks like they were a cat.

Anyway, Amber is a lively girl with a tendency to get herself into trouble. She's protective of her family, so that balances out the troublemaking part.

Owen is a charismatic boxer with a fierce love of family, especially his sister. He's also quite entertaining with his cocky and flirtatious personality. He and Amber bantering back and forth is priceless!

On the other hand, Blake is primarily a gloomy character, but the way he listens to others is thoughtful. He's the "therapist" of the group. However, he has his moments of immaturity, such as in his arguments with Owen.

Anyway, seeing each chapter from a different character's perspective was unusual. Most stories I read are third-person perspective as opposed to the first-person. It was perfect, though.

It allowed readers to see inside the characters' heads. They would then understand their thoughts, feelings, and personalities.

A unique thing about Holly's stories is that the chapters end in a thrilling or otherwise engaging cliffhanger. 


Three Gangs and a Silver Sin

TGAASS is complete with eighty chapters. It has the same primary/secondary genres as the first novel. It also has the same components and characters as the original.

Summary:

In the first novel, readers are introduced to Amber Marigold. She's feisty, and with gold in her hair, oceans in her eyes, and paint on her clothes. She was the girl who wanted to save the world, and to be a hero just like her mom.

But what happens when gold falls?

Amber has a dark side, and it's time for one of those bad boys in Tygerwell to learn how to tame it, or should I say men?

This is the book where Amber finally answers the readers' big question....

"Who is she going to pick?"

But with Xavier Jilten's supposedly nefarious plan lurking in the background, it's going to be difficult.

Get ready for the next level-- things are bigger, more expensive, and much more dangerous.

You've just seen the beginning of Amber Marigold's story. It's about time we get to the good part.

Link:

https://www.wattpad.com/story/150995697-three-gangs-and-a-silver-sin


Character Images: 


A blonde girl in a dark long sleeved t-shirt. The background is gray.
Amber Marigold/Rebma D'logiram, leader of Sterling




A fair-skinned boy with black hair and blue eyes.
Blake M. Bowmen



Boy with messy copper-brown hair, dark eyes, and a white sweater.
Owen W. Rhodes


An auburn haired man with fair skin and green eyes wearing a dark suit.
Xavier Jilten


My Personal Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Writing Style: 5/5

Characterization: 5/5

Grammar/Punctuation: 3/5


My Personal Review:

In TGAASS, readers get introduced to badass gang leader Amber Marigold, now Rebma D'logiram. She's the emotionless fighter/leader version of the Golden Girl. We cheer her on because Xavier will get what he deserves from her.

I also enjoyed the intriguing intro to the North's inner gang. They all had contrasting personalities, but it was clear they were loyal and protective of each other. They each have their notable moments. 

One of the Northern characters I love to hate is Xavier Jilten. His smug attitude is annoying yet hilarious-- it depends on the situation. However, it mainly amused me whenever Amber embarrassed him, such as when she forced him into a red wig and dress for Halloween.

Another character that stood out was Myra Abston.

Myra integrated herself into the group despite only using intellect and strategic pressure point techniques.

Moving on....

The writing style of this book was like the first. It was very engaging and easy to follow the storyline from start to finish. I never once got bored.

Like all her books, Holly ended chapters with a captivating cliffhanger. It left readers wanting to know what would happen next in their world.

Overall, it's a mix of dynamic characters, great action, humor, & romance, and thrilling or surprising cliffhangers! 


One Gang and a Bronze Battle 

The final book in the trilogy is One Gang and a Bronze Battle. OGAABB is more intense than TGAAGG and TGAASS. This story has sixty-six chapters and is not complete.

It was originally supposed to have 100 chapters.

There is still humor and romance to balance out the intensity of gang battles, shocking moments, and car chases.

Book Cover Image:


The only cover of OGAABB


Character Images:


Girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Amber Marigold 

A boy with messy copper hair and dark eyes
Owen W. Rhodes
\
A scruffy-looking auburn haired guy with fair skin. He's wearing an open green shirt.
Xavier Jilten



A dark haired guy with tan skin and brown eyes wearing a light colored suit.
Jaccobah Wessils


A guy with dark hair and white skin.
Kyle Brass (Bowmen)


Summary:

You have been on Amber's journey since she arrived in Tygerwell to live with her family. Now join the end. We're leveling up with bigger races, more intense fights, and much more death.

It's not just Tygerwell or the country that's at risk anymore. It's the whole world.

In the final battle of blood, loss, and pain, victory is not a certainty. The good guys don't always win the fight. The lines between good and evil are blurred.

Not everyone will make it out of this last fight alive.

Link to Read: 



My Personal Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Writing Style: 5/5

Characterization: 5/5

Grammar/Punctuation: 4/5

My Personal Review:

In OGAABB, it was worth it to see Amber and Xavier get married. I loved how Amber had her family there to support her, despite their disagreements. I even started liking Xavier, who wanted the best for Amber and wanted to help her.

The only thing I disliked about this book was that it was incomplete. It kind of drives me crazy. But I understand why it was not finished.

The descriptions of the scenes were enchanting, engaging, and vibrant. They proved that Holly's brilliant writing style shone through. Just like with the first two books, I believed I was in the book.

I truly look forward to when the book is finished! 


Conclusion:

I sincerely hope you will consider reading my friend's books. She has put a lot of work into them. You all will enjoy them just as much as my friends and I have if you give them a chance! 

So, if you're interested in reading more of her content, visit her Wattpad profile:

And also read the accompanying post about her modern books to learn how her writing style has changed since her Golden Girl days.

I wish you all happy reading!

Victoria








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Location: 652 Wellington Drive, Winder, GA 30680, USA

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 31, 2025 at 4:11 AM

    About Two gangs and one girl

    The summary is sharp, exciting, and instantly gripping. The gang rivalry, strong personalities, and Amber’s mysterious edge create perfect tension. It promises action, humor, and chaos in the best way, making the story impossible to ignore.

    I really loved how clearly you explained why the opening chapter stood out. Pointing out the action-first start versus common clichés shows your reading experience. Your excitement comes through naturally, making it easy for others to trust your opinion and feel curious about the story.

    Your breakdown of the characters was especially enjoyable. You captured Amber’s chaos, Owen’s charm, and Blake’s quiet depth perfectly. The way you highlighted their banter and humor made those moments feel alive, almost like inside jokes readers would love experiencing themselves.

    I appreciated how you mentioned both structure and emotion—like the shifting perspectives and cliffhanger endings. It shows you paid attention beyond just the plot. Your review balances excitement, humor, and thoughtful insight, making it engaging without feeling overly critical or forced.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 31, 2025 at 5:46 AM

    Three gangs and a silver sin

    The summary feels bold and dramatic, perfectly capturing Amber’s darker evolution. It raises intrigue with higher stakes, dangerous choices, and emotional tension. The mystery of her decision keeps readers hooked, while the promise of chaos makes it impossible not to continue.

    I loved how you highlighted Amber’s transformation into an emotionless yet powerful leader. Calling her by both names really emphasizes her duality. Your excitement about her confronting Xavier is contagious, making readers root for her strength while appreciating how far she’s come.

    I appreciated your balance between character analysis and overall reading experience. Mentioning the smooth writing style, pacing, and cliffhangers shows why the book stays gripping throughout. Your conclusion neatly sums up the action, humor, romance, and suspense without feeling rushed or exaggerated.

    Your thoughts on the Northern gang were especially engaging. You explained their contrasting personalities and loyalty clearly, which shows how well the author builds group dynamics. The way you pointed out each character’s moment made the gang feel memorable rather than just background figures.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 31, 2025 at 5:50 AM

    One gang and a bronze battle

    The summary feels intense and emotional, perfectly setting up a high-stakes finale. The promise of blurred morality, loss, and an uncertain victory creates real tension. It clearly signals that this ending will be powerful, painful, and unforgettable for readers.

    I liked how honestly you shared both love and frustration. Your reaction to Amber and Xavier’s marriage felt heartfelt, and mentioning the family support added warmth. It shows you connected emotionally with the characters, not just the plot.

    Your praise for the descriptions and immersion really stood out. Saying you felt inside the book is a strong compliment to the author’s writing. Ending with excitement for the completion makes your review feel hopeful, supportive, and genuinely invested.

    ReplyDelete

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