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Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 12:32 AM

Allsion's Book Review - “A Dish Best Served Hot” by Natalie Caña

Allsion's Book Review - “A Dish Best Served Hot” by Natalie Caña

Author: Photo by Allison Diegel

My reading this week was interrupted by, I hate saying this, a bad book. I know, I know. I tell you all the time that not every book is for every person. There are good books and blah blah blah. So maybe “bad" isn't the right word. Let's just say that while Britney Spears has a sad and fascinating story to tell, her recent memoir was written in a style that made me want to fire her ghostwriter and throw her book out of the window of a moving vehicle. Thankfully, for me and for you, once I got over poor Britney and her very regrettable choice of ghostwriters, I moved on to something better, so you don't have to read an entire Book Report about how Britney's book read more like a list of bullet points than a heartfelt memoir.

You may remember a while back when I reviewed a cute little rom-com called “A Proposal They Can’t Refuse” by Natalie Caña. Well, Caña knew we weren’t done with the Vega Family and their loud, meddling ways, and she has just released another installment in their story. “A Dish Best Served Hot” follows single dad and military vet Saint Vega. Years ago, Saint walked away from the girl he loved to fulfill his duty. Now he’s struggling to build bridges between his drifting family, take on more responsibilities at his uncle’s construction company, figure out why his daughter refuses to talk at school, and curtail his mischievous abuelo’s escalating pranks. Then Lola León walks back into his life, and he knows there's no turning back.

Like the first book in this series, “A Dish Best Served Hot” is funny. There’s a particularly hilarious family moment when the adult grandkids discover a very hungry Abuelo after he has gotten his hands on some edibles of another kind. While throughout the story, the tender way Saint cares for his daughter, Rosie, made my heart melt. There are certainly enough meddling family members to go around. I am hoping for a third book, this time with the youngest brother, Leo. Fingers crossed.

There you have it for this week. I hope you all have a lovely holiday weekend and you get a chance to spend a little bit of time with a book. If you choose to go the Britney Spear's route with your reading this week, good luck. If you choose to take a break from your own meddling family and join the Vega Family in their hilarious love lives, good luck. Either way, come follow me on Instagram @allison.the.reader, and let’s talk about it.


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Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I knew Sam as a member of our church growing up. He always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a great sense of humor! He will be great missed!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:57 AMComment source: Obituary -- Samuel Bruce WickizerComment author: Mike HinzComment text: Great teacher, great coach, but even a better person!!! Rest in peace Mr. BeachComment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:53 AMComment source: Obituary -- Jack Victor Beach, Jr.Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I had Mrs Hedges for First Grade at Northside Elementary in 1969. I still, to this day, remember her as a wonderful teacher…one of my favorites!!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:29 AMComment source: Obituary - Nancy Marie Hedges C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITOR
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