Carla de Guzman

“A holiday escape as fluffy and sinful as a Christmas pastry.” —Entertainment WeeklyAll’s fair in love and prank warsFor barista and café owner Sari Tomas, Christmas means parols, family, and no-holds-barred karaoke contests. This year, though, a new neighbor is throwing a wrench in all her best-laid plans. The baker next door—“some fancy boy from Manila”—might have cute buns, but when he tries to poach her customers with cheap coffee and cheaper tactics, the competition is officially on.And Baker Boy better be ready, because Sari never loses.Foodie extraordinaire Gabriel Capras want to prove to his dad that his career choice doesn’t make him any less a man. The Laneways might not be Manila, but the close-knit community is the perfect spot to grow his bakery into a thriving business. He wasn’t expecting a gorgeous adversary in the barista next door, but flirting with her makes his heart race, and it’s not just the caffeine.It’s winner takes all this Christmas. And more than one competitor might just lose their heart for the holidays.

There are only two reasons why Nina would come back home to Cincamarre--one, if Auntie Delia promises to stop butting into her business, two, if her father died and she was made to ascend the throne to be queen. Unfortunately for her, it was the second thing that brought her home. As a princess who's sunk a yacht and been caught kissing popstars, it's easy for her aunt, the regent, to think she's ill prepared for the throne. But Nina doesn't think that having to fake date Felipe, the handsome, squeaky clean Prince of Concordia was the best solution for that. Nina's ready to learn the ropes of her new role and make it hers, and reconnecting with Felipe only makes her want to be a better queen. But is the monarchy ready for Queen Nina?

Fans of Jasmine Guillory and Helen Hoang will adore this irresistibly engaging story of two Filipino celebrities caught between everything they want…and everything they are. How do you follow your heart when it’s in two places? Filipino musician and producer Mon Mendoza has been in New York for less than a day. Just long enough to feel like he doesn’t belong despite landing a life-changing opportunity. All he can do is set a date night for just himself and some pancit canton. Which, as it turns out, is the only invitation his gorgeous Pinoy neighbor needs… Actress Olivia Angeles can wear a character like a well-fitted dress. It’s her  real  self she’s having a hard time fitting into, craving a niche in Hollywood that doesn’t compromise her identity in the name of success. And right now, all she wants is comfort in the form of tasty noodles and her outrageously hot new neighbor. One night. Just enough to lose herself in his touch and the feel of his lips… Only their sexy little tryst isn’t  quite  what they signed up for. Because for the next month, Mon and Olivia are working on the same movie. Together. Now they’re discovering they have a lot more in common than Pinoyness and sizzling chemistry. But how do you find yourself  and  your person when you’re caught between two different worlds? From showing up to glowing up, these characters are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way. Don’t miss these other fun titles from Afterglow The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love by Katherine Garbera The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore Fake Flame by Adele Buck Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham  

Martha Aguas kind of has it all--she's an accountant who loves numbers, an accident-prone puppy that loves her, and the perfect wardrobe.  Yes, she wears a dress size 24, her bras don't fit and she's never had a boyfriend, but so what?  It becomes a big deal when her perfect cousin Regina announces her engagement to Enzo, the only boy she's ever loved (he doesn't know, so don't tell him!) Suddenly Aguases from all corners of the globe are coming for the event, and the last thing Martha wants is to be asked why she still prefers her lattes with a waffle on the side.  Thank god for Max. Goofy, funny, dependable Max, who finds himself playing the fake boyfriend at the family festivities. But why does it feel like only one of them is pretending? 

All’s fair in love and prank warsFor barista and café owner Sari Tomas, Christmas means parols, family and no-holds-barred karaoke contests. This year, though, a new neighbor is throwing a wrench in all her best-laid plans. The baker next door—“some fancy boy from Manila”—might have cute buns, but when he tries to poach her customers with cheap coffee and cheaper tactics, the competition is officially on.And Baker Boy better be ready, because Sari never loses.Foodie extraordinaire Gabriel Capras wants to prove to his dad that his career choice doesn’t make him any less a man. The Laneways might not be Manila, but the close-knit community is the perfect spot to grow his bakery into a thriving business. He wasn’t expecting a gorgeous adversary in the barista next door, but flirting with her makes his heart race, and it’s not just the caffeine.It’s winner takes all this Christmas. And more than one competitor might just lose their heart for the holidays.

Cora Justa Dumagat has had enough. She is tired of watching the corrupt, fat cats of the council override the monarchy and risk the people’s lives in exchange for a payday. Despite advice from her Queen, Cora has decided to take matters into her own hands and hit the Joaquins where it hurts—to steal their precious Juan Luna painting right from under their noses in Barcelona. The job shouldn’t be too difficult. If only Luis Ang, her ex-boyfriend, wasn't hired to be her bodyguard. Luis knows that Cora is up to something, and will stop at nothing to make sure she’s safe, even at the cost of Cora’s plans. As Luis and Cora become more and more deeply entangled into each other, the more dangerous the situation becomes. Will Cora have her revenge? Or will stealing Luna be the last thing she ever does?

Feeling the heat from her Filipino family, a frustrated florist reaches out to a romantic “good luck charm” in this hilarious and heartwarming retelling of the Pinoy rom-com classic Got 2 Believe. Some rumors turn out to be true… Love isn’t easy. Especially when everyone seems to have found it but you. For florist Mara Barretto, her romantic life—or lack thereof—has baffled her close-knit family for years. Now that her baby sister is getting married, however, the pressure to settle down is at an all-time high. Then she meets Jay Montinola, a fellow wedding guest who’s equally single. And rumor has it that every girl who kisses Jay finds The One immediately after. So Mara does what any girl would do: try it for herself. It's only a kiss—one that will supposedly put an end to her single life and thrust Mara into the arms of Mr. Right, wherever he is. Yet the moment Jay’s lips are on hers, Mara’s plan takes an unexpected turn. Will she finally find the relationship she longs for, or is true love a lot closer than she thinks? From showing up to glowing up, the characters in Afterglow Books are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way. Don’t miss any of these other fun titles… Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla de Guzman Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham The Summer of Perfect Mistakes by Cynthia St. Aubin