Sweet Thoughtful Valentine is a short story in the Isabel Dalhousie series by Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith. Having hit upon the right gift for Jamie’s birthday, Isabel Dalhousie, owner and editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, treats herself to a wander around her favourite gallery. While there, she encounters an acquaintance and finds herself making a somewhat rash promise. It’s a promise that, with the hindsight of some later-learned information, causes Isabel no small difficulty. A little later, she indulges in a slightly mischievous courtesy that backfires on her.

Back home, sorting through young Charlie’s pockets, Isabel accidentally discovers a secret, something she really would rather not know about. Both situations are discussed with Jamie, whose sound advice always gives Isabel pause for further thought. Her dilemmas give rise to questions about promises and obligations. Things do eventually sort themselves out, but Isabel learns that sometimes it’s impossible to please everyone. McCall Smith uses the events in Isabel’s everyday life to spur the reader into considering the philosophical aspects of our daily decisions. A small but very enjoyable dose of Dalhousie.