One Golden Day


Young Adult - Coming of Age
159 Pages
Reviewed on 06/11/2022
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Charles D'Amico is a husband, father, writer, and business owner. Having grown up in the Metro Detroit Area, he acknowledges much of his success to his upbringing and schooling at St. Mary's Prep in Orchard Lake. He graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor's degree, where he studied Criminology and Psychology. Charles is continuing to write, as well as publish other great authors through Blue Handle Publishing, LLC. He currently resides in Amarillo, TX.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Joseph Ogbonna for Readers' Favorite

One Golden Day by Charles P. D’Amico is about twenty-seven-year-old Travis Golden and his twin sister, Terra, who is twelve minutes older than him. Travis uses his life to teach you to make the most of yours. Growing up as kids, they were great at sports. Travis and Terra loved and inspired one another. They were close, even though they led different lives. However, they shared one thing in common: they hated losing. Travis was full of dreams and potential. But his life took a new turn when his twin was diagnosed with bone cancer because of a freak accident she suffered while playing softball. That event turned the Goldens’ joy into sorrow. A happy family is now a tearful home. Will they ever find happiness again? Grab a copy of this amazing book, One Golden Day by Charles P D’Amico, and find out.

One Golden Day, penned by Charles P D’Amico, is a great read that will keep you transfixed. Indeed, Mr. D’Amico knows how to use words to create stimulating mental images, conveying a simple message of love and perseverance with realistic descriptions. I learned a lot from this book—from the manifestation of mental and emotional strength to the effects of sheer willpower and empathy. It was so educative and impactful that I had no choice other than to be inspired. The characters in One Golden Day are loaded with enviable qualities, particularly Travis, with his perseverance and winning mentality. Also, the portrayal of Travis’ relationship with his sister is worthy of admiration. You could literally feel the strength of their feelings for each other. If you are like me, reading One Golden Day will make you place more value on familial relationships. Young people will find One Golden Day to be a reorienting and inspiring read.

K.C. Finn

One Golden Day is a work of fiction in the interpersonal drama, coming of age and inspirational fiction genres, and was penned by author Charles D'Amico. Set in the life of protagonist Travis Golden, we meet the young man on his much-anticipated wedding day and then undertake a journey with him back through different stages of his life, all of which led him to become the man he is today. Dealing with a difficult family life alongside his twin Terra, from coping with loss through to first loves and high hopes, this is a revealing book which reminds us that behind any picture-perfect image of a young couple in love, there is bound to be a tale of triumph that got them there.

Author Charles D'Amico has crafted a charming slice of life drama which will be sure to inspire those who enjoy both realistic dramatic works and inspiring true-life stories, as this work feels like a combination of both. I liked how such realism was achieved by homing in on pivotal moments from Travis’s formative years, and the crafting of those different scenes really showcases the author’s flair for creating different moods and emotions. There were some structural choices that were a little jarring for the overall flow of the story, but the quality of the drama stays consistent throughout and certainly delivers what it promises from the offset. Overall, I feel that One Golden Day will be a highly enjoyable read for fans of deeply emotive drama and fiction with a clear perspective.

Vincent Dublado

A guy in his mid-twenties may still be considered too young to tie the knot, but Travis Golden is lucky enough to find the woman of his dreams. Yes, in One Golden Day, author Charles D’ Amico believes that it is still possible to find the person of your dreams. As for his protagonist, Travis Golden, he seems to have it all. The professional basketball player marries his college sweetheart, Leighton, who comes from a “perfect” family. As he dresses on the day of his wedding, Travis narrates his life’s events leading to the most special day of his life. Page by page, the reader will discover that his wedding is one for the ages, as it leads to sweet and painful events involving the arrival of a new family member, the death of a lifelong family friend, and navigating through relationships.

Charles D’Amico has fashioned a novel with heart and a sharp ear for dialogues. One Golden Day finishes well, and the Travis-Leighton pre-wedding story is engaging. You'll grin at reading how Travis met his wife and the plot is interesting without being cheesy like typical romance stories. It simply works. It is not the best coming of age romantic novel out there, but it is a fascinating interpretation that life is full of surprises. It has a winning joy and sadness that lurks in the aspect of how the unexpected jumps out at the reader. The narration is clean and devoid of artifice while mixed with the realities of hope, anger, love, and faith. The story’s genuine soul is what helps it connect.

Romuald Dzemo

One Golden Day by Charles D'Amico is an enthralling tale that features wonderful characters. The narrator is Travis Golden, a twenty-seven-year-old man, who has found the perfect woman. On his wedding day, he takes readers on a journey through the last ten years of his life, with the intensity of what he experienced and felt in the last three years. Growing up with his twin sister, Terra, and in a dysfunctional home, he has had his fair share of struggles. The story begins with the freak accident that Tera suffered playing softball, breaking her ankle and leg in multiple places, and the painful journey through rehabilitation. The novel explores the challenges and setbacks that the protagonist experienced and a bond between brother and sister that is strong. The narrator brings to readers a tale of hardship, struggle, passion, and success and weave threads of beautiful relationships into the fabric.

I loved the way the story starts, introducing readers to the setting; it is the middle of nowhere, and that once in it, one feels like being everywhere. From that instant on, I knew that Amarillo, TX, will play a great role in the narrative and the setting comes across in the writing like a character in the story. This is an inspirational story that will inspire strong emotions in readers, and I loved how the author plays with the idea of appearance versus reality. The narrative is written in beautiful prose and the characters are well-explored. I loved the confident tone in the writing, and even when the author is in a “telling” instead of a “showing” mode, it still feels real and absorbing. One Golden Day by Charles D'Amico is an engaging story that follows a young character’s struggles until the day of his wedding and inspires readers to dream in spite of the challenges and difficulties thrown at them by life. The resilient human spirit permeates the writing and the realism infused into the story will keep readers connected to the characters.

Foluso Falaye

Charles D'Amico presents a tale about love, celebrations, loss, and sacrifices in One Golden Day. Travis and twin sister Terra have one thing in common: a competitive spirit. Travis is a basketball player who puts in extra hours to improve his skills. Terra was also into sports before she had an injury and chose to devote herself to being at the top of her class. However, she still finds ways to support her brother's basketball career. Travis's mother and grandmother are also major players in his improvements. Eventually, a fourth woman would come into Travis's life and add some charm to it through love and marriage. As he relates his story about his basketball career, eventful wedding day, and relationships with friends and family, Travis shares some insights and memories that will bring you smiles, laughter, and tears.

One Golden Day is one of those books that get more endearing and heartwarming as they progress. What really won me over in Charles D'Amico's narrative was how Travis usually finds ways to project the things he learns from his basketball career into other aspects of his life. I found Travis's insights useful myself and have highlighted a few gems I feel should be remembered in particular situations. It was fantastic how the first-person narration and strong character development made the story feel so real. Although there is no exciting goal or quest to follow, I enjoyed the smooth experience and did not regret giving it a try. One Golden Day would appeal to readers seeking a calming and relaxing book for a sweet escape.

Rabia Tanveer

One Golden Day by Charles D'Amico is the story of a man who reminisces about his past as he waits for his bride to walk down the aisle to marry him. Travis Golden was a 27-year-old man about to get married to the woman of his dreams. On his wedding day, Travis remembered his life as it was before this happy day. He retells his past as to how he grew up with his twin sister only 12 minutes older than him. When people looked at Travis now, they only saw a successful basketball player and nothing else. They didn't know basketball was once his stress release when things were bad at home. His only respite was his sister and shooting hoops. However, his journey of passion, of regrets, and determination was exactly what he needed to become the man he was today.

One Golden Day was such a beautiful story. It felt intimate, like talking to a friend and remembering a cherished past together. Charles D'Amico did a wonderful job of building the story, giving Travis plenty of room to share his stories, and allowed him to share his worries at his own pace. We got to know that Travis loved his sister, his mother, his grandmother, and of course, he loved Leighton a lot. His connection with his mother was strong, his friendship with Chris was funny, and his love for Leighton was heartwarming. The way Travis jumped from one memory to another was very genuine as the author didn’t try to make it artificial or give a sequence to it all. That was such a nice touch of realism. It made Travis human, and I loved that. It was such a good, light-hearted, and wonderful story to read. Perfect for readers of all ages.

Delene Vrey

One Golden Day by Charles P D'Amico introduces us to Travis Golden as he prepares for his wedding. As he readies himself, he reminisces about the path that led him to this specific day. He remembers how dedicated he was to his future as an NBA player and his twin sister’s determination to succeed both academically and in sports. He specifically remembers particular incidents in his and his twin sister’s lives, the defining moments that put them on the course that ultimately led them to where they are at the time of his wedding. Travis remembers the trials and obstacles both he and his sister had to face growing up, their father who was mostly away for his work, and a beloved grandmother succumbing to Alzheimer’s disease. Both of the siblings were shaped by the circumstances that they had to deal with both personally and in the greater family unit. One Golden Day is a fly-on-the-wall look into the life of a family that faced obstacles and tragedy but through their love and devotion came out on top and were there for each other,

Charles P D’Amico has written a heartwarming account of the childhood and coming of age of Travis and Terra Golden. He shows a unique understanding of the bond between twins and the way in which Travis and Terra support and balance each other. He focuses on the events that shaped both twins through their teen years and through college. He uses the story as a means to convey truths that many parents try to instill in their children as well as highlighting the close relationship between Travis’s mother and the twins that are unique in today’s fast-paced reality. Ultimately the story shows a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people fighting for their dreams and balance in their lives. It shows the real hardships and joyous circumstances that people have to deal with every day as well as the Goldens' unique way of treating obstacles and tragedies.