As I am not really a cat person (I find them cute to look at, but the fact that I sneeze like a banshee when around one for a bit, kinda puts me off!), I had absolutely no idea what a 'calico cat' was. Well, I thought it was either a cat breed, or a cat made of cotton, but then I thought I sounded daft and rebuked any ideas I had. So, with that in mind, this book intrigued me because of the cat and the tagline at the top; 'Can you ever break free from the past?'.


What a good question, can you? Unfortunately for Lottie, she had to find out the answer to that question the hard way thanks to her parents. Due to the lightening bolt which severed hers and her parents relationship, Lottie had to stand on her own two feet and become, what some people might say, 'hard nosed'. I found myself relating to Lottie in terms of her hard exterior and the way she displays herself to other people. Whilst I am sure that a lot of people may find her far too blunt, I couldn't help but nod along as I am very similar to the character in that sense. Yes, I say the things that people think, and yes, my brain doesn't connect to my mouth before my mouth opens - just like Lottie.

I did feel that the way Lottie projected herself was due to her past as it was probably a way of protecting her emotions from any further breakages. You can't really blame her though, can you?

I really didn't know what to expect from 'The Calico Cat', yet it ended up giving me something I still can't put my finger on. I know that doesn't really make sense but, due to the fact that the entire storyline is relatable and magnetic, I felt as though the author was telling my soul a story rather than my brain.

Amanda James seems to have become a voice for those without the confidence to use their own voices, by showing that it's okay to go through difficult times, and that it's okay to not be okay - if you're being true to yourself, what does it matter in the grand scheme of things?

'The Calico Cat' hit home and for those who know me personally, I am sure that they can understand why it did. I never expected a cat to be at the forefront of a novel where self discovery is concerned, but I am certainly not complaining.

A beautifully written, enchanting, and captivating novel which will highlight the importance of looking after number one (and no, I don't mean the cat).

This is my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I’ll definitely be looking to read more from this author in the future.

Lottie learns of a family secret when she’s thirteen years old. The secret changes her life.
Now as an adult Lottie is a teacher. One day she just walks out of her job to follow her dreams of being an artist.

I found this to be a great read of self discovery. The Calico Cat is a refreshing well written story. I loved the secondary characters and felt they added so much to the story.
A perfect beach read or as I did a perfect read sitting out in the garden enjoying the sun.

Let me just go straight to the point. The Calico Cat is one the most delightful and amazing books I have read in a long time! I picked up this book as I needed a break from my usual Crime Fiction reads. I have been so deep in death and gloom that I was starting to feel uncomfortable, and let me tell you don’t want that to happen to you. So, for a change, I thought of switching genres. And I’m glad I did. The moment I completed chapter one, I knew I was in for an amazing journey and that this book would be a five star read. I found a kindred spirit in Charlotte, or Lottie as she prefers to be called. Being a creative person myself, I could feel what Lottie was going through. I could relate to Lottie’s idea of being different and unique, that is what I strive to do too. I could also see how your past can play a major role in shaping your present and your future. Throughout the read, I had a smile on my face. There were moments of roaring laughter, cringing conversations and hurtful recollections, but overall this book made me feel SO GOOD! The supporting cast, oh god, is one of the perfect ensemble I have read in recent time! Can’t talk about them much because it might be spoilery but you should definitely read this book and meet them. Some of them might become your friends.
The Calico Cat is the most refreshing, charming, delightful, pleasing and healing book I have ever read. Oh! I just realised that Lottie doesn’t like the word ‘heal’. Sorry Lottie!

The Calico Cat by Amanda James gets 5 out of 5 stars from me.

Charlotte has had enough of her job and just walked out. She decides to follow in her grandmothers footsteps and become an artist. Her very vocal and disapproving mother doesn’t approve and believes Charlotte is making a big mistake.

Oh this is a book that I adored and so very different to the couple of other books I have previously read by this author. Set in beautiful Cornwall I got to meet Charlotte, or Lottie as she prefers to be called, and learn of her story. She tells of her family life from a teenager to present day. There have been changes, teen rebellion but also of a dramatic change in her family that still has a hold over her and her feelings. Lottie is not quiet or timid, she is quite vocal in her beliefs and extremely principled with a very matter of fact way in her conversation and thoughts, with an interesting way of voicing her opinion. I would say she is the sort of person that would be very easy to misunderstand, but that is the way she is and it is quite refreshing.

A chance of a holiday with a friend gives Lottie a chance to meet various people from different walks of life. Their experiences help Lottie to realise that there are different perspectives in all things. That sometimes in life a broader outlook is needed rather than a narrower tunnel version. She has to deal with

This is a gentle amble around the Cornish coastline and also Lotties life, it mixes elements of the dramatic landscape and personal heartache with hope and moving forward, with new starts and beginnings. The plot and story of how Lottie and those in her life has been done in a wonderful way that gradually drew me in. I wanted to know more about her and why she reacts the way she does, it held my attention and I loved being immersed in her world for the few hours it took me to read it. This also has a romantic theme, it is not your lovey-dovey, gushy sort as that wouldn’t fit with Lottie.

A book that was the perfect read for a sunny May day and that I think is perfect for readers of women’s fiction, contemporary fiction and romance. It is a book I would highly recommend.

An affecting, emotional and beguiling tale that will pluck at the heartstrings, touch your soul and make you ponder, The Calico Cat is a wonderful tale of secrets, self-discovery and courage from Amanda James, a fantastic writer with a terrific talent from plumbing the depths of the human heart.

When thirteen year old Lottie discovers a shocking secret, her entire life changes in a heartbeat. Shocked that her parents had kept something of this magnitude from her, Lottie’s attitude changes overnight and she becomes rude, hard-headed, troublesome and defies authority at every turn. With her mother handling the consequent fall-out from this time-bomb in an appalling and atrocious manner, their relationship becomes strained and distant and their bond is severed forever. Changed by this sudden turn of events, Lottie soon begins to have problems fitting in and does her absolute utmost to be different from her peers and to shock and scandalise those around her.

Now an adult, Lottie has become a teacher with a desperate yearning to become an artist. When one day, she walks out of her classroom and keeps on walking, Lottie realises that the time has come for her to follow her dream, so she quits her job and decides to try her hardest to make her childhood dream a reality. But on her journey to achieve her objective, she realises that in order to succeed she must first put the past behind her and vanquish those old ghosts that have held her back for so long.

Is happiness within reach for Lottie? Will the past continue to exert its malevolent hold upon her? Or will she find the courage to strive for the fulfillment which she has been craving for so long?

The Calico Cat is a book that is guaranteed to stay with you for a very long time. Although it is far from an easy read, The Calico Cat is a thought-provoking, uplifting and captivating novel that kept me riveted to the page as I was swept up in Lottie’s journey of self-discovery and her struggle to lay old ghosts to rest.

I thought Lottie was a wonderful heroine. Believable, flawed, independent and resilient, she is a character you can relate to and cheer on as she has fears and experiences that we can empathize with.

Amanda James has written a visceral, lyrical and scintillating work that I highly recommend. The Calico Cat is a book to treasure and one which will strike a chord with readers everywhere.

After a crime thriller, this is the perfect read for me. Warm, honest, touching on dysfunctional families (I know quite a bit about them!) and friendship.

We meet Lottie as an adult and it soon becomes obvious that what relationship she has with her mother is not a happy one. Slowly, throughout the story we are let into what Lottie refers to as 'the big fat secret' of what went wrong fifteen years ago when she was a new teenager. Labelled as a 'journey of self-discovery', this truly is exactly that.

A warm, comforting read and a thoughtful one where my admiration for Lottie increased throughout this story as she herself grew. The characters are fabulous; varied, different, from all walks of life but all down-to-earth in their own way. There are ups and downs - as indeed there are everyday for all of us. Lottie herself has a very direct way of looking at life and I found myself both agreeing with her and giggling at her observations. She is very likeable! Amanda James is definitely an author to look out for.

This is the kind of novel which makes you look at those around you and think about what kind of relationship you have with them. The writing flows beautifully and makes for compelling reading. I was sad to reach the final page, but then all good things come to an end, don't they? I certainly couldn't improve on this book in any way whatsoever, and am delighted to give it five well deserved stars.

My thanks to publishers Bombshell Books for approving my request via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

I wasn't expecting much from this one and was pleasantly surprised at how well written it was. Lottie's journey of self-discovery was written in the first person, so I felt more invested in the character.

I have to admit I wasn't quite sure what a Calico Cat looked like even though we are told in the book, but as the title had me so intrigued I couldn't wait and had to go in search of some images myself. After numerous gorgeous cat and kitten images, I would certainly be able to spot one a mile off!

The actual cover ties in with the wonderful setting in the book. The author writes best about the surrounding areas where she herself is from and this really shines through in her writing. I felt like I could easily see everything as it was described to me and it makes for quite an atmospheric read.

Lottie is quite an odd ball. She seems quite rigid in her ways and yet a bit of a free spirit. She likes to speak her mind, which at times did make me cringe, though she only really says what a lot of us are thinking. Some parts I would be cheering her on for speaking exactly what I wouldn't have the nerve to say and at other times I was willing her to keep quiet as I was dreading how the other person would take it.

The story is told in the first person by Lottie herself. I enjoyed finding out about her past and seeing her develop as a character. There are numerous lovely characters that we get to meet along the way of which Caleb and Louisa had to be my favourites.

The Calico Cat for me is a journey of self discovery and going with your heart. It's about overcoming past issues and finding peace within yourself. A tender and engaging read of which I was reluctant for it to end.

The Calico Cat- Amanda James- 5*
(Possible trigger warning: childhood psychological abuse.) Charlotte is a geography teacher- or at least she was. One day she decides to walk out and keep walking. Her mother thinks she has lost the plot, her colleague thinks she is brave and wonderful to be able to take a different path. Lotties grandmother was an artist and she has decided this is the route she would like to take, also having received some inheritance from her grandmother- much to her mother’s disdain. There is a family secret which eventually she tell Caleb who is fast becoming a close friend. When he tries to help Lottie pushes him away. A walking holiday and meeting people along the way starts to put life into perspective for Lottie. This is written in the first person - in parts almost like a diary where the narrator is speaking to the reader. This book took me on a journey as it did with Lottie. Not everyone has had a wonderful childhood and for some this may trigger memories that are not of a good nature. That said, it was good to read how someone can be themselves despite everything and be true to themselves which is different and is not always easy. “Bruises heal but words remain raw many years afterwards”. A brilliant read, an unusual plot. One to make you think about yourself for a while hopefully in a good way.
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