Amy Snow - Tracy Rees

"Abandoned on a bank of snow as a baby, Amy is taken in at nearby Hatville Court. But the masters and servants of the grand estate prove cold and unwelcoming. Amy's only friend and ally is the sparkling young heiress Aurelia Vennaway. So when Aurelia tragically dies young, Amy is devastated. But Aurelia leaves Amy one last gift. A bundle of letters with a coded key. A treasure hunt that only Amy can follow. A life-changing discovery awaits... if only she can unlock the secret."

I was looking forward to reading this, after judging it by it's very beautiful cover and I wasn't disappointed. A sweeping historical tale of love and friendship, I loved the relationship between Aurelia and Amy, even though it felt a little one-sided in places (and reasons for that became clear eventually!). The story handles the relationship not only between Amy and Aurelia, but also between Amy and the other people she comes across when Aurelia has passed on, and it was interesting to read how the difference between classes could mean the difference between acceptance in society, and quite frankly shocking treatment by others in society. 
A blogger friend, (Vicki - you can find her here: http://off-the-shelfbooks.blogspot.co.uk) said to me before I started reading that she could completely imagine this novel as a historical drama for television and I have to agree - it would make a fabulous drama! Although Aurelia's secret is not one that is difficult to figure out, the way Amy is led on a treasure hunt to uncover the secret is very well-thought out and makes for a far more interesting read.

Amy Snow is out now and you can get it here: 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amy-Snow-Tracy-Rees

**Thank you to the publisher for my ARC**