The Smile of the Stranger

Rating:
Summary: I thought this was a great book
Review: I thought this book was really sweet. I can't believe I was rooting for Captain Davenport, Count Van Weckler is much better. I thought it was nice that her Grandfather showed her he loved her. I also thought that the balloon ride was delightful this was a great book!

Rating:
Summary: Another great work from Aiken
Review: This novel starts off as a romantic fiction, but becomes more of a typical Joan Aiken mystery and adventure as you read on through it. You see the story from Juliana's point, little realising the plots and schemes being devised by the other characters. The book starts slowly, I felt, but like many of Aiken's works, builds up to a nail-biting climax. Not quite as good as its (sort of) sequel, The Lightning Tree (aka The Weeping Ash), but nonetheless, a great read if you like Aiken's other books.