The Calico Cat

A Heart-Warming Novel about Self-Discovery

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Pub Date 03 Jun 2018 | Archive Date 17 Jun 2018

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Description

"A beautifully written story of betrayal and heartbreak."

At thirteen, Lottie discovers a huge secret which her parents have kept from her, the impact of which proves to be life-changing.  

Because of the way Lottie’s mother handles the consequent fall-out, the two become distant. Lottie’s rejected by her mother and deemed troublesome, rude and willful.  Ever since then, Lottie has struggled with fitting in and actively tries to be different from others.

As an adult, Lottie decides to quit her teaching job and follow her dreams to become an artist. But will she succeed and can she put her troubled past behind her?

As Lottie embarks on a journey of self-discovery she will come to examine the importance of life, love and friendship.

Praise for The Calico Cat
"I certainly couldn’t improve on this book in any way whatsoever, and am delighted to give it five well-deserved stars." —Grace Smith,  Reviewerlady: Good 'n' Read~y 

"The Calico Cat is a book to treasure and one which will strike a chord with readers everywhere." —Julie, Bookish Jottings 

"The plot and story of how Lottie and those in her life has been done in a wonderful way that gradually drew me in." —Yvonne Bastian, Me And My Books

"This is a beautifully written story of betrayal and heartbreak that leads to a journey of self-discovery and eventual happy ending." —Lena Baker, The P.Turners Book Blog 

"I highly recommend this poignant read, it truly is a beautiful book written by a very talented author." —Dash Fan Book Reviews 

"A beautifully written, enchanting, and captivating novel which will highlight the importance of looking after number one." —Kaisha Holloway, The Writing Garnet 

"The Calico Cat is a refreshing well-written story." —Philomena Callan, Cheekypee Reads And Reviews 

"The setting is stunning and the plot is brilliantly written. A fabulous read." —Katie Jones, Katie's Book Cave

Amanda James is the best-selling author of the domestic noir thriller, Another Mother. The Calico Cat is an emotional and uplifting read which will appeal to fans of authors like Amanda Prowse and Carol Mason.
"A beautifully written story of betrayal and heartbreak."

At thirteen, Lottie discovers a huge secret which her parents have kept from her, the impact of which proves to be life-changing.  

Because...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781912604371
PRICE $14.99 (USD)

Average rating from 33 members


Featured Reviews

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.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

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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.

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what a brilliant story of self- discovery and realisation. Charlotte 'lottie' as the main character is both a difficult and at times amazingly realistic character. at various points in her journey throughout we can each visualise ourselves as her.
as the trapped and struggled teacher (although I don't believe any teacher will have quite as easy a repercussions if they just walk out the classroom), to the woman whose brother struggles to find that familial bond, to the woman whose own mother is so casually, harshly, dismissive.
it is a story that is prone to different emotions as some points will make you laugh (Lottie's commentary in her head about the view to die for comment in the beginning made me laugh), where others will make you cry (Lottie's mother's words and attitude throughout the story made me shed a tear). Whilst as the story ventures further will make you cheer as Lottie finds a bit of herself slowly.
a fantastic story, that reads so well and flows fantastically well, scene by scene.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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5☆ A Compelling and Beautiful Read!

First of all I want to say how gorgeous the cover is. I'm an animal lover and it drew me straight in.

The Calico Cat is a beautiful coming of age story, a story of new beginnings and self discovery and learning to accept.

When Lottie was 13 she discovers a devastating secret that will change her life and the way she fits in growing up.
My heart went out to Lottie after discovering the secret her whole world was flipped upside down it's no wonder her personality changes. What with dealing with teenage hormones too.

What makes matters much worse is how her Mum deals with the fall out. Instead of talking to Lottie and helping her come to terms with her emotions she makes matters much worse. She behaves disgracefully.
It's no wonder Lottie rebels. Causing a rift between them. Mum's are meant to be your rock it's so sad.

Fast forward and Lottie is now a teacher. Unsure whether it's really what she wants to do, she walks out on her teaching job and decides to follow her true passion to become an artist like her grandmother.

What follows next is a heart warming journey of self discovery and new beginnings as Lottie discovers who she really is, putting her past to rest.

The Calico Cat is a compelling and heart warming read it's an engrossing, irresistible story that will leave am impression.
There are some sensitive subjects and Amanda has written them realistically and with sensitivity.
The Characters are somewhat flawed, unique but believable.

I highly recommend this Poignant read, it truly is a beautiful book written by a very talented Author.

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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).

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I will admit straight off the bat that I was drawn to this book by that gorgeous cover and the intriguing title. I don’t know much about cats but what is a calico cat? I started googling pictures of calico cats and they are stunning. With an idea of what the cat looked like in my mind, I dived into the book.

Lottie has had enough of teaching kids and walks out of the school one afternoon, vowing to become an artist. Lottie’s mother doesn’t approve of this choice and we soon learn that her mother is not the nicest of people. A big secret that blew Lottie’s world apart at the age of 13 has destroyed her relationships with family and has made her into the person she is today.

At first I struggled to like Lottie, she spoke her mind but at times she said too much when in hindsight she should have kept her opinions to herself. However the more I got to know Lottie and why she is like this, the things she has endured I started to like her more and more.

Lottie embarks on a walking holiday around Cornwall with a friend where she meets a whole range of different people. I love Cornwall and I adored Amanda’s descriptions of this beautiful part of England. I really felt I was there with Lottie on this holiday and it was a wonderful book to read on a warm day.

The Calico Cat is a wonderful, endearing, thought-provoking read that touches on themes of love, family, secrets and the past. There are some beautifully written characters that I loved reading about, some that I wish I could meet in real life myself! The setting is stunning and the plot is brilliantly written. A fabulous read.

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I just love Amanda's style of writing. Every book I have come across is just so easy flowing and a dream to read.
The Calico Cat is such an inspiring book I feel and in some ways reminds me of mine and my siblings upbringing. No matter what your experience growing up, it's you yourself that defines your future.
Lottie is such a lovable character. She is one of those characters that when you finish reading the book you feel you will miss her somehow and you want to know how things turn out.
I'm sorry if this review does not make sense, I was up most of the night reading, as I couldn't put it down.

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A very well written and heart warming story about growing up and self discovery.
One those book that leads on a trip through memory and discovery, one of those book you're sad when it's over.
Strongly recommended!
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for this ARC

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This is the first book I have read by Amanda James. She immediately caught my interest with her beautiful cover and the title! Can you tell I love cats?
This is a wonderful and intriguing story of a young woman discovering herself and what she is meant to do in life. It details her ups and downs on her journey to self discovery. There are many very interesting characters in her life during this quest.
I loved every minute of reading this and I was sorry to reach the end. I would highly recommend this book! I will be looking for more books by this author.
I would like to thank Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

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13 Year old Lottie discovers a big secret that her parents have kept from her. As a result, she becomes estranged from her mother and things are not the same again. Her mother cannot understand her, so that seems to be that.

She enters the career of teaching until one day she just walks out. Out of her job and the school. She decides to follow her dream of being an artist, like her grandmother. She knows that she will definitely not get her mother's blessing, but the way that the secret was revealed, and how she was treated, Lottie embarks on a road to self-discovery.

This is an engaging book and the characters, although flawed, are believable. A great read from a great author.

I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.

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This is my first ARC received from NetGalley and my first ebook I have read. I didn’t expect anything from this book when I picked it and received it. I just gave it a shot and see if I’ll like it or not. Well… I was surprised that I LOVED this book!

Author created such life like characters and the way Charlotte was expressing her thoughts in the book- it seemed like she was communicating with the reader… speaking with YOU and telling her story just for YOU.
Another thing why I loved this book so much was… POSITIVITY. This book is soaked in it. No matter what painful events the main character had in the book, she manages to live on, fall in love, and find positive and inspiring people that help her to find her true happiness. This book is so warm that you can literally feel and see what she experiences.

Also, I found so many quotes in this book that I can’t agree more. And if I find many quotes that I like in the book- it means this book “had something in it”.

Summing-up: warm, positive, inspiring, happy end.

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A really good novel really felt I was travelling the Cornish coast line with Lottie and seeing in my mind's eye the beautiful places and views good story telling and some interesting characters a delightful novel and well worth a read

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Every stressed out teacher at some point of their career has wondered, "What would I do if I threw in the towel and decided to try something else?" In this book, "The Calico Cat," the author shows us a teacher who does exactly that. Right from the start, I was amazed at the main character's bravery and independence. Lottie gets up during the middle of the history class she is teaching, leaves the building, and heads straight towards her dream of becoming an artist like her grandmother. Luckily, Lottie has some inherited money so she can get by for awhile as she figures out her next steps in life. She befriends a former co-worker and they set off on a walking holiday together where Lottie meets other characters who help her in her road to self-discovery.
One of the things I liked about this book was Lottie's "voice." I felt like I was in the same room as Lottie and she was telling me her story. She even had me chuckling aloud at times. The author's use of metaphors and imagery really helped to paint a picture in my mind of the setting and characters of the book. One of my favorite examples of this imagery is the following line: "It's one of those humid August afternoons that have skies heavy with pregnant clouds. They are full-term and desperate to give birth."
Additionally, the author did an excellent job of keeping me in suspense. What was the secret revealed to her at age 13 by her parents? What happened to her after this reveal that dramatically influenced the rest of her life? I really felt hooked from the start and wanted to keep reading to find out if Lottie would get her "happily ever after."
Thanks to Bombshell Books and Net Galley for an advanced reader's copy of this book. I feel like I have presented an honest opinion of this book in my review.

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Loved this book. A tale of growing up and grown ups. A good romance and a book with a different slant on life with interesting characters.

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A refreshingly, easy read, Lottie takes us on her journey of self-discovery as she struggles with the concept of love; both the giving and receiving, acceptance, and following her heart. It is difficult to not love this plucky young woman, to empathise with her pain at the hand of her indifferent mother, and to rejoice at her successes, supported by the family that she chooses for herself.

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