Mina’s Books

Six 32 Central
Adult contemporary romance, Filipino characters. Published 2018 to 2021, this is set in fictional business district “Six 32 Central” and involves characters who are “older” (at least based on books I’ve written before). The youngest main character here is turning 30, the oldest is 41. I’ve seen these described as “low angst” but what that probably means is I rarely have a third act major conflict or breakup, or life-at-risk drama. The main characters here have lots to say about society’s problems, how they’ve been affected, how they try to make things better. “The world’s terrible” is pretty much an underlying conflict.

What Kind of Day: Senator’s speechwriter goes on an accidental tour of his own city, and bonds with the tour guide who sees beauty in the chaos of Manila.

Kiss and Cry: Figure skater Cal and hockey player Ram were not allowed to date when they were younger. Ten years later, on his last three weeks in Manila, they get a second chance to see what their relationship might have been like.

So Forward: Ex figure skater/secret MBA student Colin and ex hockey player/MBA prof Lexa make a deal to help each other — with business school defense demos, dance lessons, and lazy, cozy weekends.

Totally Engaged: Rose is 41 and (believe it or not) doesn’t want a green card marriage, so she asks Pascal to be her fake fiancé while her balikbayan family is in town.

[Short story] Saved by Hope: Hockey players Hope and Elias are hanging out at the rink on a Friday night because they’re each avoiding something, so they decide to make a game out of it.

Chic Manila

Adult contemporary romance, Filipino characters. My first series (not originally intended to be a series), these books are standalones with somewhat connected/acquainted characters. Published from 2009 to 2017, most of these books are in first person, single POV, and depict common romance tropes but “localized” to the Philippines, with Filipinos are main characters.

My Imaginary Ex: Zack and Jasmine never dated, but no one else knows that. That story started in college, because she was being a good friend, and he needed help with something. The friendship and affection that followed were very real, but the lie kept causing trouble.

Fairy Tale Fail: Ellie Manuel is a hopeless romantic, stuck in a cubicle all day. She’s in her twenties and should be having more fun. But instead of doing what she really wants, like traveling wherever her Philippine passport can take her, she’s hung up on the guy who dumped her for not being “ambitious enough.”

No Strings Attached: Carla’s 29 when she meets hot, smug, sexy Dante, and he’s everything she didn’t know she liked. He’s also five years younger, and she thinks it makes him perfect for the non-relationship she had in mind. What happens to that plan when he thinks he’s met the one for him at 24?

Love Your Frenemies: Yes, Universe, Kimmy Domingo knows that you hate her. But she’s a nice person, she really is — as long as you ignore the stories of people she’s bullied, manipulated, and annoyed in the past. She totally gets that you’ve gotten back at her by having her fiance’ dump her a week before their wedding.

That Kind of Guy: Yes, it’s true: “Good girl” Julie Crisostomo dated that guy Anton Santos for almost a year. Julie is everyone’s loyal and concerned friend, but she has no experience being someone’s girlfriend. Then Anton, a “player” she never thought would be interested in her, swoops into her life and doesn’t seem to want to leave it.

Welcome to Envy Park: Moira Vasquez is a doer. A planner. A get-up-and-goer. At twenty-two, she left her hometown, to satisfy a need to travel as well as give her savings account a boost. Five years later and she’s back in Manila, with a shiny new apartment to her name, but no job, no career, no boyfriend. Is her constant search for the next big thing keeping her from seeing what’s already there?

What You Wanted: It’s the classic one-night stand: Beach wedding, bridesmaid, groom’s friend. When Andrea and Damon meet, sparks fly, and they give in to the attraction. Sounds simple, but Andrea’s still getting over someone, and Damon thought he’d be hooking up with another person that night. It could still be simple, really, if they chalk it up to a weekend tryst and move on. But is that what they want?

Iris After the Incident: Whether she likes it or not, Iris’s life has been divided into two: Before the Incident, and After the Incident. Something very private was made very public, and since then life has been about recovering from being shamed. Two years later, she connect with a guy again. He doesn’t know what happened. But he also won’t give her his name—which has to mean he’s got something to hide too.

Better at Weddings Than You: Daphne is the best wedding planner in Manila, and she’s been hired to take over a wedding in crisis mode. Aaron had that job but he’s new to the business, is an old friend of the bride, who might be falling for him…it’s a mess. Who’s the planner who can fix this disaster?

Chic Manila collection (9 novellas, 5 short stories)

Just the short stories

Chic Manila Short Stories

Georgia Lost and Found: Georgia wants to finally talk to Ken about this “thing” that’s between them, but he seems intent on avoiding it, even if they’re spending a weekend at a music festival together.

Creation Myths: Kat’s a film student, all moody and artsy. Carlos is an engineering major who was convinced to be in her movie. It’s either the beginning of a beautiful collaboration, or the flop that’ll ruin them both.

We Were So Yesterday: Roxie and Peter’s notebook. Cover features calligraphy by Faith Yeo.

Wedding-Night Stand: Andrea Crisostomo is no longer your Ms. Right Now, thank you very much. She’s had enough of guys who like her “free spirit” but then break up with her before things get serious. Damon Esquibel enjoys the slow and steady chase, and it looks like his two-year pursuit of Geraldine is about to pay off. He’s at his friend Anton’s destination wedding only because of her. But then he meets the sister of the bride, who doesn’t seem to want to be there, and it’s enough to question his plans for the evening—and the rest of the weekend.

All You Needed: Andrea and Damon’s first Christmas together. From the Make My Wish Come True #romanceclass anthology.

[Bonus short story] Kissing Day: Chris is a somewhat-minor character from my books Playing Autumn and Tempting Victoria.

Older YA, new adult, fantasy/mythology, Filipino characters

Interim Goddess of Love: College sophomore Hannah Maquiling doesn’t know why everyone tells her their love problems. She’s never even had a boyfriend, but that doesn’t stop people from spilling their guts to her, and asking for advice. So maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise when the cutest guy in school tells her that she’s going to have to take on this responsibility — but for all humanity.

The Goddess of Love has gone AWOL. It’s a problem, because her job is to keep in check this world’s obsession with love (and lack of it). The God of the Sun, for now an impossibly handsome senior at an exclusive college just outside of Metro Manila, thinks Hannah has what it takes to (temporarily) do the job.

Alternate universe, new adult political romance

The Future Chosen: In the future, Maria Lourdes and Andres Miguel could very well be their country’s best and most influential leaders. Marrying another politician is against the law, but why should it matter? Today they’re just young people who want to be together. They’ll deal with the rest of it tomorrow.

High society con artists, Filipino characters

Jane likes to pretend to be other people. Don’t trust her with your money, your things, or your heart.

YOUNG AND SCAMBITIOUS…Who is Elizabeth Madrid, exactly? She’s Manila’s latest It Girl – stylish, staple of the club scene, new best friend of famous-for-being-famous Chrysalis Magnolia. She’s also a jewelry clan heiress, a former model, an Ivy Leaguer… except no one actually knew of her until last year.  