The Right Attitude to Rain (2006)

Hurray! An Alexander McCall Smith heroine finally gets some in The Right Attitude to Rain. Isabel Dalhousie, the 42-year-old Scottish protagonist of his mild-mannered Sunday Philosophy Club series, continues her ruminations on everyday ethical dilemmas (do you call the person who cleans your house ''cleaner'' or ''housekeeper''?) and relishing small pleasures (a cozy chat with said housekeeper). But she also begins a mildly shocking romance with Jamie, the 28-year-old ex-boyfriend of her niece, Cat. This affair is a welcome break from the tea sipping and moral hair-splitting that have made McCall Smith's recent novels such effective sleep aids.