Pasko Na, My Love, A Holiday Romance Anthology

by Maida Malby, Maan Gabriel, Mia Hopkins

Family, heart, and a Merry Christmas Happily Ever After.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all ‘round Hacienda Luz bustled in celebration of Natividad Luz Moore’s 100th birthday.

A Filipino American woman of courage, strength, and heart, Lola Naty has touched the lives of many. Celebrities and politicians make merry, fine dresses and barong Tagalogs shimmer, and food and drink flow freely. And it’s all to honor family, tradition, and the very essence of that thing called love.

While Filipino ballads fill the chilly Northern California air, hearts throb and passions ignite as six remarkable couples find love in all the right—or wrong—places.


From acclaimed and bestselling Filipino American authors—Elle Cruz, Maan Gabriel, Maida Malby, Mia Hopkins, Sarah Smith, and Tif Marcelo—comes Pasko Na, My Love, a holiday romance collection that is sure to warm your heart and uplift your Christmas spirit.

Genres: Romance, Anthologies, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Christmas, Holiday

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2022

About the author

Filipino-American author Maida Malby cooks up foodie, multicultural, and contemporary destination romance stories filled with heat, sizzle, spice, and a whole lotta love.

She is a member of select writing groups and romance book clubs. Her To-Be-Read Mountain and book reviews are featured here on her blog Carpe Diem Chronicles. Readers can also find her on Lone Star Literary Life via her regular Texas Reads Roundup Romance column.

When not writing, reading, or reviewing books, Maida discusses current affairs with her husband, records her son’s Travels and Eats videos, cooks the dishes she features in her stories, procrastibakes more often than she should, and watches golf and food shows on TV.

Reviews

[Bel lvndrgms3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re craving more Christmas-themed reading here’s one for you!

𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚 by Sarah Smith
anchors this anthology, introducing us to the vast Filipino-American Moore family gathered at their Napa vineyard and hotel, Hacienda Luz to celebrate the 100th birthday of their grand matriarch, Lola Naty.

Each of the 6 stories follows a member of the Moore family and is connected by reference points in the other stories. The overarching themes are love of family, tradition, and second chances for all the romantic couples involved.

Tropes include: enemies-to-lovers (𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚), brother’s best friend (𝙑𝙤𝙡𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚), instalove (𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙡), forbidden love (𝙄𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩), age gap (𝙎𝙤 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙔𝙤𝙪), and second chance/fake dating (𝙈𝙮 𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚). Some of the stories are told in dual POV.

The beginning of each new story also includes content warnings as some require them for the characters’ histories.

I don’t have a tendency for anthologies, but I loved every moment of reading this. Aside from Sarah Smith, the rest of the authors are new-to-me, each one’s with beautiful writing style brought together cohesively through these 6 interlocked stories. I also enjoyed the immersion into Filipino culture.

I came away from reading 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙤 𝙉𝙖, 𝙈𝙮 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 feeling content and comforted. A birthday party right around Christmas, you know the tone is set for festivities and joy!
Thank you to authors @authorsarahs @maidamalby @tifmarcelo @miahopkinsxoxo @maan_gabriel @ellecruzauthor for my complimentary copy for the purpose of providing an honest review.

𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙤 𝙉𝙖, 𝙈𝙮 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 - 𝘼 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 is available now in ebook and paperback!

[b.andherbooks]

3.5 stars for Mia Hopkins story - a forbidden romance between a woman and the now-priest she fell for and had a hot makeout session with before he went to seminary. For the length, it was well done, but i wanted a bit more heat and taboo for the premise? BUT still it is a Mia Hopkins and I glommed it up, and I'm glad those two got their HEA.

I'll read the other stories at some point :)

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A holiday romance anthology written by a group of amazing authors. The short romance stories surround Lola's 100th birthday celebration.  I absolutely love holiday stories and this one didn’t disappoint.  I will review each story.

Last Minute by Sarah Smith. Ruby was catering her grandmother's 100th birthday party. Yet when her head chef bailed last minute her replacement was the hunky Mason that pissed her off years ago in culinary school. My opinion was that it was a great start to the story. Ruby and Mason had chemistry and sizzle. Very yummy story. ❤️

Volcanic Love by Elle Cruz. Sophie was secretly in love with Travis for years. Can she find her happily ever after with him after not seeing each other for years?  It was a cute story of  them finding each other. A very satisfying ending.

The Deal by Tif Marcelo. Oliver wasn't on his grandmother's guest list for her 100th birthday.  Event planner Norah striked a deal with him to get him into the party. I had to admit this was a bit slow for me. I stepped away just a bit because I couldn't find myself liking Norah nor Ollie.  Which was a bummer.

Illicit by Mia Hopkins. Event planner Eden and priest Nick reunite in this short story. Very cute and surprising story.

So It's You by Maida Malby. Vida was Lola's granddaughter and right hand person for decades. Lola's physician Rafa fell for Lola a year ago. Their relationship was a secret but he wanted everyone in the family to know about them as a couple. I loved this story. It was sweet and cute. ❤️ 

My Only Love by Maan Gabriel. Drew and Angelica broke up years ago while in law school. Now he wanted them to pretend they were together for his grandmother's 100th birthday. The chemistry between them sizzled. Though being apart for so long was questionable, I thought 10 years apart was too long.  The ending was very cute.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience reading this anthology.

The authors did an amazing job collaborating on the Christmas/birthday celebration stories. I was fortunate to be gifted with an early copy by one of my favorite authors. Thank you for my copy!! My review is all of my own.

[Vinsci Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

“I’ve worked enough with the Moore family to know that love is big among you all.”


You expect nothing but the best when six amazing Filipino-American authors collaborate. I love so many things about this book I don’t even know where to start. I experienced nostalgia and felt homesick reading how the Moore family prepares and works together as they celebrate the 100th birthday of the matriarch of the family during the Christmas season. You can feel the roller coaster of emotions as family members give their best, making sure they bring pride and joy to the clan and the insecurities each character possesses despite their success. You also see how families stick together, how they have each other's back, and how they love you regardless of your life choices. I love the Love Actually vibes of this book. Six different stories intertwined by the love for family and love for Lola Naty. Another thing I love about this book is how each story stands out on its own. Six authors with different writing styles and different tropes, but all stories were special on their own without overpowering one another. This book is not only for Filipino readers,but I love how captivating it is for me as a Filipino. It gave a “Teleserye” (TV series) vibes. As I mentioned earlier each story was special,but I have to share my OMG moment when I read Illicit by Mia Hopkins. I am not a newbie reading forbidden love affairs. I read The Priest by Sierra Simone for goodness sake. But reading that story while in my Filipino reader mood (conservative reader mode) my eyes went 😳 with “Hala ka!” (Oh my gosh!) moment, then I started giggling. It was a joy reading this book. I only wish the stories were longer. I feel like each story can be a book on its own.

To all the authors, Thank you for the ARC copy of this book. Thank you for writing about our Filipino culture and sharing how much we value family and love.

[Diane RB (booksandthensome) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always crave holiday stories this time of year. I want to savor the festive mood of Christmas, feel nostalgic over (lost) traditions, and simply bask in the extra joy and love that surround us both between the pages, and in reality. As a romance reader, what better way to indulge other than to get comfortable and fall in love by vicariously living through our books? ❤️

Pasko na, My Love (It’s Christmas, My Love) is a highly anticipated romance anthology by Filipino-American writers. I requested and got the ARC three days ago and easily devoured the (virtual) pages! Gosh! This book totally delivered!

I was served with a variety of love stories - all so sweet and comforting that ranged from hate to love, brother’s best friend, playboy/redemption, illicit, age gap, public personality, fake dating and second chance romances. Each story was distinct. I can easily distinguish the characters and their love interests. The journeys of these pairs finding love (again) made me laugh, cry and swoon. I didn’t realize a short story could tell and satisfy so much❤️ I’m definitely up for more anthologies as good as this.

Moving from one story to another had been so smooth I hardly notice there were different authors telling them. I didn’t want to put down my book as I couldn’t wait to read about the next character. They are all cousins and a big event celebrating the centennial of their beloved matriarch reunites their big Filipino-oriented family. It was a delight to put details of the different stories together and imagine these interconnected characters, with snapshots of their past, deal with the romance unfolding during and after the occasion.

I felt so deeply the way the authors imparted how Filipino they are at heart. There is that invisible pull giving me a sense of belongingness and of being seen. I didn’t expect that several scenes would touch me at such high intensity.

As I took a step back, I am certain that the love, family and community themes will draw in non-Filipino readers too. Kindness, courage, forgiveness, hope and LOVE abound in these stories. Overall, this book is a great source of that much welcome holiday spirit.

Then, there is also Lola Naty, the centenarian who is highly celebrated because of the life of service and generosity she lived. The stories of her grandkids assure us how her strong positive influence will outlive her. And if there is one thing I would want more from the book- it is that I crave to know what’s going on in her mind ❤️❤️❤️

I recommend everyone to read this bingeable book that comes out December 6. E-book preorder is only $1.99 💯

[Barbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is honestly one of the best I've read! One of the things that I liked most is that the stories are all interconnected, yet separate.

The tropes represented in these stories are all different, though the cohesion between the stories is unmatched. While each story is unique and the romance is amazing, it isn't too over the top, despite it being a short story. It was nice to read about how close the relationships are with Filipino families, and those who are lucky enough to be called family.

I would love to read more from these authors. Amazing and quick read to add to your holiday reading list. *****5 out of 5 stars.*****

Thank you to the authors for a complimentary e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥



This anthology felt like home.

Every story reminded me of me or someone in my life, in my family, and I could not have asked for a better series of holiday reads that made me proud of my heritage and nostalgic for my family's traditions.

Every story revolved around Lola Naty's 100th birthday celebration, and it made me miss my own Nanang. She would have turned 110 a few weeks ago. Each novella tackles the challenges of love during the holidays for a certain family member, and if you grew up in a prolific family just like mine, this anthology would feel like someone has taken your family' love stories and put them together.

Last Minute by Sarah Smith

This was one of my favorites from this anthology. I love a great rivals/enemies-to-lovers, and Ruby carrying a grudge against Mason since culinary school was a brill foundation. I love how he's back in her life to save the day, forcing them to work together and find out what truly happened years ago.

Volcanic Love by Elle Cruz

There is always that cousin whose livelihood makes the Titas blush and gossip. Sophie is that cousin. The podcaster reconnects with her older brother's friend Travis, the one who got away. Has her crush waned over the years, and will she finally figure out how to not let him go?

This short read was so sweet. I also love that the family was very coy about being matchmaker..which I found atypical because my family is the kind that would judge every boyfriend or girlfriend. LOL.

The Deal by Tif Marcelo

Divorced event planner Norah just wants to get this party done and done well. But Oliver is on her to get him into the birthday party because the slacker forgot to RSVP (yeah, we all have THAT cousin). When she tries to sneak him into the shindig, they find themselves connecting in more ways than letting a party crasher in.

This read went too quickly for me (yes, I know it's a novella). I would have loved to see more of Norah and Ollie's connection.

Illicit by Mia Hopkins

Did I skip the other stories first to jump into this one? Perhaps..and it was worth it. As someone who once stupidly fell in love with an up-and-coming priest, I felt like Mia Hopkins took what should have my story and put it into paper. Don't get me wrong; I eventually found my own romance story, but this definitely brought some happy memories and added some fun fictional ones. My only beef is that it could have used some more sili between Eden and Nick.

So It's You by Maida Malby

This was my unexpected favorite. Vida not only was Lola's primary caretaker, but she also shares the same birthday. So she knows the importance of this milestone celebration and is doing what she can to make it memorable not just for Lola but for everyone. That includes keeping her beau a secret. It certainly does not help that Rafa is Lola's doctor and ten years younger than Vida.

I love Vida and her dedication to Lola, but Rafa stole the show for me. He is such an adorable cinnamon roll, especially with supporting Vida and her adamant ask to keep their relationship a secret.

My Only Love by Maan Gabriel

Ah, second chances. It is one of my favorite tropes, and I am glad the anthology ended with this banger. You would think a US Senator like Drew could have the power to have almost anything he wants, but he had lost the one person he covets the most in law school years ago. Now Angelica is back in his life. Can they rekindle what they've lost ten years ago?

This was probably the most angsty read of the anthology, but I am a sucker for love's ups and downs. Maan Gabriel captured that perfectly with Drew and Gel's story. It also helped that she delivered one of my favorite romance scenes: a good kiss in the rain.

----

I highly recommend this anthology to anyone, Filipino or not. Each story has so much heart, and I love that at the center of it is family.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to the authors for providing an ARC. **

[Kali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Christmas romance anthology has all your favourite tropes!!! 🎄 These sweet and short stories are the perfect read for this busy season. Centred around a Filipino American family and their Lola Natty’s 100th birthday party, seven of the Moore cousins find love during this very special occasion at their family hotel in Napa.

I adored these short stories. They got me into the Christmas spirit, out of my reading slump and gave me all the feels.

Having different writers write each cousin’s story was the perfect way to create unique and individual characters and stories that were connected through this shared experience of the 100th birthday party. Every cousin faces their fears and conflicts with their family in a meaningful way on their way to falling in love. Each story was romantic and funny, giving the reader a full picture of their family history.

Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Brother's best friend
- Second chance romance
- Forbidden romance
- Secret romance
- Fake dating
- Dual POV

Thank you for this ARC Elle Cruz, Maan Gabriel, Maida Malby, Mia Hopkins, Sarah Smith, and Tif Marcelo!

[Amanda Kollar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to send a thank you to one of the authors Sarah Smith for sending me the eARC to be able to read before launch day on Dec. 6th!

I loved how each author wrote a section for the anthology and how they are interconnect around Lola Natty's (who is Filipino) 100th Birthday Party! All of these are love stories based on those who loved Lola one way or another and were at her big party! It shows how families take care and love one another through thick and thin. Family does make mistakes and they do their best to make right when they can even if it does take years in the process. Each one is a different type of romance too you'll have to read to figure out how! ;)

It's one you'll definitely want to read and will give you aww moments and even some tears. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Na · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s that time of year when I look for a book to help me get into the spirit of the holidays. I am grateful to be able to get an advanced copy of Pasko Na, My Love because it was just what I needed. The individual stories flow together connecting the characters in this sweet anthology. It all happens at Naty Lola’s 100th birthday party celebration. Their hotel, the Hacienda Luz, is full of family and friends, holiday festivities, karaoke, secret kisses, and even a drunk Santa. Coming from a large family myself, it reminded me of the parties we had growing up with all of the cousins, and cousins and more cousins and the antics. It kept me on the edge of the page waiting and hoping for some holiday magic to unfold. It does not disappoint and I’ll be reading this again very soon. I’m very excited to dive into the additional books by these authors. This is a must-read!

[Arzum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly genius authors with great stories. I thought I would end up loving Mia Hopkins’s and Sarah Smith’s stories more because I am familiar with their writing and amazed by them already but everyone did a great job. Never got bored even for one second

[Tess Blanch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas is around the corner and what better way to celebrate than to read holiday romance stories from some best selling Filipino American authors!

Pasko Na, My Love, a collection of six interconnected short stories written by six authors, is about a Filipino American family celebrating the 100th birthday of Lola Naty, the matriarch of the family. It was the night before Christmas and Hacienda Luz is in full swing. Families, relatives and guests celebrate wearing fine dresses and Barong Tagalogs, serving traditional Filipino food, with singing and dancing. Six stories, six couples find themselves mesmerize with the Christmas spirit.


Reading all stories will make you feel “at home’. The Filipino trademark is present in all the stories and I love how it made me feel seen and understand in a way that I can’t find in other stories. Six different stories, each has their own personal issues that gravitates toward this main celebration, finding or rekindling love at the right time. As with short story collections, some come on strong, making you want to know more of the characters, wanting the stories to last long. But one thing for sure, these stories will excite you to celebrate Christmas with your loved ones.

If you want to experience full blown Christmas season, go visit the Philippines or better yet read this book and it will get you into that Christmas vibe!

[Eleonora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a choral short stories collection where an extended family comes together to celebrate their grandmother 100th birthday. I really like the way the narration is set, as each story is about two characters but they all recur in other stories as well.

I picked this up because of Mia Hopkins and I would absolutely advice to read her contribution even as a standalone. It is a rollercoaster but so nuanced in depicting the characters and dealing with extremely complex themes.

I really liked the many ways Filipino American culture shone through, starting from the cover itself to all the references to food, clothes, music and the use of language itself.

For me it was the perfect read for the Christmas holidays, small bites but still coherent, entertaining and full of heart.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the authors for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a fast and fun read. I read it in one sitting. Loved it!

My favorite part about this book is how different each story was. The stories are all connected as a large family gathers for their grandmother's 100th birthday party, but they were all so distinct that I never felt confused about who I was reading about.

The romances were all amazing and the different tropes were great. There's a hate to love, a brother's best friend, a second chance romance, and more. There's something for everyone to enjoy.

The authors all did a fantastic job. Their writing styles were all different, but they blended together to form a seamless anthology. This cohesion was one of the reasons it was such an easy read.

I can't recommend this book enough.

[shar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this holiday anthology. It gave me all the kiligs... And the best part is that they were written by six talented Filipina-American writers.

I'm a fairly new fan to modern romance books and the more my love for this genre grows, the more I seek stories that feature people of colour, particular immigrants or first-/second-generation people of colour, navigating love and life in this modern world. This anthology hit all those notes and then some.

Each of the six short stories are connected to a central event -- Lola Naty's 100th year birthday party on Christmas Eve. I appreciated the quintessential Filipino-ness captured in this event. And while I don't come from a large, influential family like the Moores, I could clearly picture it all -- from the food to the dancing and singing -- it is both familiar and totally grandiose.

Beyond this central event are stories of love, lust, hope and joy through the eyes of various members of the Moore family. Many romance tropes are packed in this quick-to-read (i.e., devour) book so there's something for every romance reader. I especially enjoyed Elle Cruz's "Volcanic Love" and Mia Hopkins' "Illicit" because I'm a sucker for a forbidden love story and these two were standouts for me. I'm a fan of Sarah Smith's work so I knew I'd like "Last Minute," an enemies-to-lovers story that made me crave Filipino food as I was reading it. Tif Marcelo's "The Deal" was at times light and funny, but ultimately is a story of forgiveness and what better time for that than during Christmas. Maida Malby's "So It's You" is a sweet story steeped in familial loyalty and sacrifice. It speaks of a lot of Filipina women called to serve and care for family at the expense of their own freedom. I found myself rooting for Vida and Rafa wishing nothing but happily ever after for them. And finally, Maan Gabriel's "My Only Love"-- another standout for me -- is a story of lost (and found again) love that pulled on alll my heartstrings. She's created a huge fan out of me after this story.

Thank you Sarah Smith for the ARC e-book. I already have a few copies of the paperback on pre-order at Amazon to give as gifts to family -- I gotta spread these holiday romance vibes!

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time reading an anthology and I was pleasantly surprised with each story! Each story follows the life of a family member/guest/employee of the matriarch of the family, lola Natty and takes place right before or during Lola's 100th birthday celebration.

Pasko na, my love will get you into the holiday spirit, with so much love, hope, forgiveness, and family intertwined into each story! With romance at the center of it, and some hot and steamy bits too. A second chance at love, steamy forbidden love, and chance encounters, I think anyone can really enjoy or feel kilig over a story.

My favorites have to be illicit and my only love.

Something else I really enjoyed as a person who was born and raised in NorCal is that the location itself is centered around Napa CA. I felt that the authors really got the location down.

[Noelle N · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I disliked about this series was how short the stories were; I just wanted them to keep going! I felt all of the characters backgrounds and feelings though, despite only having a short time to pull one into their lives! As a fellow Filipina, it was so beautiful to see so much of our heritage on the page and even things I wasn’t familiar with before. Each author seamlessly tied each set of key characters into one interconnected tale. And hello steamy nights 😏 Just the right amount of spicy!
These are the perfect Christmas-time non-holiday-specific stories ❄️

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you in need to have your spirits uplifted this holiday season, like me?? If so, "Pasko Na, My Love: A Holiday Romance Anthology" by Elle Cruz, Maan Gabriel, Maida Malby, Mia Hopkins, Sarah Smith, and Tif Marcelo released today! Favorite romance tropes are included: enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, fake dating, and love triangles, etc. and all are effortlessly woven together centering around the Filipino American family's matriarch, Lola Naty. Six different glimpses into the lives of people among this family and how they're interconnected. And while they all lead different lives, these stories remind us that people are not perfect; we're flawed and beautifully human. This anthology of six intertwined stories will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions, warm your soul, lift your spirits, and put you in the mood to enjoy the upcoming holiday festivities. 

Romance Fiction Lovers: Move this book to the top of your current reading list!
Diverse Literature Readers: I am always proud to see Filipina American fictional characters --written by Filipina American authors-- that look like me, featured in these romance stories!

For the longest time, I've steered clear from reading romance fiction. Yet, I gave it a try in the summer of 2021. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that such a thing -- Filipina American authored romance fiction featuring Filipina women characters -- existed. Now, I realize it's one of my favorite genres to read! Being transported into a fictional world where I can relate to so many aspects of the main character, yet still feel safe is a huge comfort. Because no matter the drama, it's not actually happening to me. I'm on the outside looking in, and these stories demonstrate how much work goes into making relationships work, which ones to cut off, or how to handle complicated relationships with not just our partners, but our extended family members.

I felt the entire roller coaster of emotions with this anthology as it pulled at my heartstrings. It had me thinking of the things I've wanted most in life (and didn't have growing up or even now) when it comes to extended family: (1) to have loving, supportive parents, (2) motherly affection, and (3) extended family that treats you as one of their own -- not the forever outcast, scapegoat, or black sheep of the family. And even while in the middle of my own family's intercontinental move these past few days (from the U.S. east coast to Europe), I made this book a priority to read, hoping it would uplift my current homesickness.. It did not disappoint! 

[Shanaia]

In the Philippines, the Christmas season starts as early as September. You'll start seeing lights and parols (star-shaped lanterns) in houses, hearing Christmas songs on the radio, and tasting specials like puto bumbong and bibingka. It's the grandest holiday of the year, filled with parties and family reunions. If you want a taste of a Filipino Christmas, look no further.

Pasko Na, My Love (translated 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴, 𝘔𝘺 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦) is a collection of short stories from Filipino American authors which celebrates the Filipino values and Christmas traditions. Comprising love stories with a variety of tropes (including rivals to lovers, second chance, forbidden, age gap, famous personality, among others), it follows the lives of the grandchildren of Lola Naty (grandmother Naty), the family matriarch.

All of the stories intersect on December 24, the traditional 𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘢 and Lola Naty's 100th birthday. But the backdrops have been woven way before, some stories going years back. This is a great read to put you in the holiday mood as all of the stories are sweet, with a kick of depth. Perfect for Christmas! It was such a delight to read - the setting so familiar despite it being in another country, the imagery vivid and the emotions palpable.

I wanted to read more about all the characters, maybe in full-length novels? If I can wrap it up in one word, I'd say... 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯!

Even though you're not Filipino, you will still get to appreciate the heartwarming chances in love and life that Christmas affords all of us.

This is also a great introduction (for me) to several Filipino authors and I definitely have more books to check out now! 😁

[Arystine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful feeling to escape to a holiday read during Christmas eve, co-written by Filipino-American authors. I felt the Filipino heritage atmosphere, despite that the stories were set in Napa, Northern California.

The common denominator in the stories is the 100th birthday of lola Naty Moore. The main characters are cousins, all descendants of lola Naty, who are anticipating her birthday celebration which also coincides with Christmas day. The big event took place at Hacienda Luz, the hotel owned by their lola Naty since time immemorial.

There were various distinctive Filipino traits and issues, such as being unable to leave an elder behind, desire of the “bunso” to be taken seriously, search for acceptance for a liberated career, and the need to give second chance to a stubborn cousin.

There were stories of newfound love and rekindled old flames. Each love story was uniquely told, and the romance made possible probably due to that magical holiday feeling during Christmas—making it easier to forgive, to fall in love, and to let your hair down.😊

Expect Christmas ballads, Filipino food with a twist, family reunion, and… ignited passion.😁 I recommend this to lovers of holiday romance and closely-knit family stories.

I remember smiling the whole time while reading this. And that feeling of “bitin”, as I got attached with some characters and would want to read more.🎄

[Aisys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so happy this was both my 50th book to reach my reading goal for the year and the first holiday read of the season :’)

I loved the flow from story to story, the characters and the backstories, and of course the HEAs. Honestly, if these were all full standalone novels I’d eat every single one of them up but there was something special about getting them in this format. It really gives you a sense of this family as a whole and what an absolute LEGEND Lola Naty is.

It’s really hard to pick favourites because I truly did enjoy them all but the last three stories by Mia Hopkins, Maida Malby, and Maan Gabriel stood out to me the most.

Maligayang Pasko!! :) (Merry Christmas!!)

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pasko Na, My Love is an adorable holiday romance anthology. Each story was written by a different author and everything flowed so well. I enjoyed getting to see all the different love stories that surrounded the 100th birthday of Lola Naty. It has the best romance tropes—enemies to lovers, second chance, age gap, brothers best friend….All of which I love! If you’re looking for something to get you into the whirlwind of holiday romance, this book is a quick and fun read!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each story of this holiday romance anthology is unique yet still flows together nicely as a family gathers together for their grandmother’s 100th birthday.

The characters are well written in a short amount of time and each story is well rounded leaving the reader satisfied. This book has a variety of tropes - everything for the romance lover.

It was such a fun and cute read, especially during this time of the year. It also brought back memories of my own Lola’s 100th grand celebration.
Special thanks to Sarah Smith for the ARC!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun collection of romantic holiday stories! I really enjoyed that all the stories followed different couples but all surrounding the same night, which was a big family gathering on Christmas Eve. Each couple’s story was written by a different person and had very different romantic journeys but all of them ended with a happy ending.
Great for a feel good holiday read.

[Kath (kath_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read Christmas-themed book but I couldn’t say no to this anthology by Filipino-American romance authors. There’s enemies-to-lovers, age gap, second chances, fake dating and other romance tropes. It's sweet and steamy. It will make your heart warm and fuzzy. It's perfect for the holiday season.

[Fil-Aurelio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maligayang Pasko!
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As a Filipino after reading this fantastic book... I want to go home and be with my family. As an overseas worker, occasions like this is just near to my heart. Family oriented stories, with some spice makes you feel the heat and giddy at the same time. Im like watching a Star Cinema movie for the holidays (like a Hallmark Christmas Tv Movie). I just love all the stories in it.. Any family oriented, I became a mushy one!
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Happy Holidays!

[Ava (jeepneylit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgic

[Sherri Lupton Hollister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love learning about other cultures. This was an enjoyable taste of Filipino Christmas, rich with family drama, culture and romance.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this as an arc and absolutely love reading short stories! all of these are quick easy reads and really enjoyable! Holiday stories are my favorite! Sarah Smith is one of my favorite authors and I was thrilled to see one of her stories!

[Christina C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Being Filipina American, it was totally relatable, but I appreciated each love story. And of course the most logical way to intertwine these stories and characters would be to make them cousins!

I like how the stories became progressively spicer 🌶️😉

These were novellas so I get that they’re supposed to be short. I wish the stories were longer - more back story, character development and epilogue. Or maybe the authors could write a full length part 2!