★Caña, Natalie. A Dish Best Served Hot. Mira: Harlequin. (Vega Family Love Stories, Bk. 2). Oct. 2023. 352p. ISBN 9780778333500. pap. $18.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Rebellious Lola León and conventional Santiago “Saint” Vega were unlikely high school sweethearts. After graduating from high school, they lost contact when Lola mysteriously disappeared without a word. Decades later, Lola, now a dedicated activist, is back in Chicago, working for the local community center. Saint, who lost his wife in a fatal accident, is now a single father working for his family construction business, helping to turn a building that used to be a shelter for LGBTQIA+ kids into expensive condos. He knows he’s on the wrong side of the gentrification issue and quickly realizes he is on the opposite side of the struggle from Lola, but his sense of family duty overrides all else. Reunited under the worst of circumstances, their love still burns bright, but they’ll need to forgive past mistakes and work through their seemingly insurmountable disagreements to find a happily ever after. VERDICT Highly recommended for fans of contemporary romances with strong social justice and family themes. This second “Vega Family Love Stories” book (following A Proposal They Can’t Refuse) works well as a stand-alone.