Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

The story of Major Ernest Pettigrew, Englishman and widower, and his unlikely friendship/relationship with the Pakistani shopkeeper, Mrs. Ali, and the buzz that this creates in their small town.

This is a delightful, charming book. One of those that is good for a rainy afternoon spent on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate and a cat. (If you want to borrow a lap cat, my cat Roger would love to meet you. But he's just to borrow, not to keep.)