What do you think?
Crash into your Heart
Marriage proposal cards pile up in Lady Amani’s hands. Society says it’s time. Her family insists it’s her duty. No maiden, not even a princess, has the privilege of escaping an arranged marriage. But it’s worth a try, Lady Amani decides, even if she can escape for a little while.
Fiercely independent and adventurous, she boards a ship and sails away from it all. One last trip, she thinks wistfully. One last taste of freedom before she resigns herself to a life behind the manor walls. But she must return in time, otherwise she risks losing all her suitors.
Disaster strikes, and it’s no smooth sailing across foreign seas. She accidentally lands herself in trouble, and into the arms of one formidable man who won’t let her run anymore.
Fiercely independent and adventurous, she boards a ship and sails away from it all. One last trip, she thinks wistfully. One last taste of freedom before she resigns herself to a life behind the manor walls. But she must return in time, otherwise she risks losing all her suitors.
Disaster strikes, and it’s no smooth sailing across foreign seas. She accidentally lands herself in trouble, and into the arms of one formidable man who won’t let her run anymore.
- GenresRomance
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Did Not Finish
August 24, 2026I stopped reading because I wasn't feeling a connection with the characters, and I wasn't curious to know what would happen next. I was like, "Oh, okay, X happened," but that was it. Also, I felt she was a bit distant from Javier, in the sense that he dies/disappears after what happened on the boat, but she only notifies the authorities and doesn't do anything else to look for him.
I don't want to give up completely, and maybe in the future I'll try reading it again and see it from a different perspective.
I don't want to give up completely, and maybe in the future I'll try reading it again and see it from a different perspective.
October 1, 2026
100/10
Okayyyy where do I even begin with this book?!?!❤️🔥
Crash Into Your Heart gave me legit EVERYTHING I want when I pick up a romance: adventure, mystery, political intrigue, beautiful settings, complicated relationships, emotional tension and a romance that had me INVESTED and in a chokehold legit!!!
Ayana was such a memorable heroine for me. I loved her strength, but also the fact that she felt human and not a caricature: she has her own vulnerabilities, makes mistakes and has to navigate some seriously complicated situations. I found myself rooting for her throughout the story and genuinely caring about what happened to her. 💕
And then there’s Zyaire. Let me just say… this man TESTED me. There were definitely moments when I was questioning him, but that’s also what made his character so interesting to me. His relationship with Ayana has so many layers, and I really enjoyed watching their dynamic develop throughout the story. The tension between these two, like hellloooooo😍
I also really loved how cinematic the story felt. I could genuinely visualise so many of the scenes in my head, like the settings, the characters, the action, and the emotional moments. Tianjin especially was such a well described setting for me, and there were several moments where I caught myself thinking, “This would look SO beautiful as a TV adaptation.”
The world-building also gave the story that extra sense of adventure. There are so many different places, situations and little details that made the journey feel bigger than just the romance. And I really enjoyed the unforgettable friendships and relationships surrounding Ayana too because they gave the story so much more emotional depth.
Overall, Crash Into Your Heart was such a fun, dramatic and immersive romantic adventure. If you enjoy romance with adventure, mystery, political intrigue, beautiful settings, complicated characters, emotional tension and a male lead who will make you go from “SIR???” to “…okay fine, I love you” 😉, this one is definitely worth checking out and deserves a spot in your “100 books to read before you die” list for sure!
Okayyyy where do I even begin with this book?!?!❤️🔥
Crash Into Your Heart gave me legit EVERYTHING I want when I pick up a romance: adventure, mystery, political intrigue, beautiful settings, complicated relationships, emotional tension and a romance that had me INVESTED and in a chokehold legit!!!
Ayana was such a memorable heroine for me. I loved her strength, but also the fact that she felt human and not a caricature: she has her own vulnerabilities, makes mistakes and has to navigate some seriously complicated situations. I found myself rooting for her throughout the story and genuinely caring about what happened to her. 💕
And then there’s Zyaire. Let me just say… this man TESTED me. There were definitely moments when I was questioning him, but that’s also what made his character so interesting to me. His relationship with Ayana has so many layers, and I really enjoyed watching their dynamic develop throughout the story. The tension between these two, like hellloooooo😍
I also really loved how cinematic the story felt. I could genuinely visualise so many of the scenes in my head, like the settings, the characters, the action, and the emotional moments. Tianjin especially was such a well described setting for me, and there were several moments where I caught myself thinking, “This would look SO beautiful as a TV adaptation.”
The world-building also gave the story that extra sense of adventure. There are so many different places, situations and little details that made the journey feel bigger than just the romance. And I really enjoyed the unforgettable friendships and relationships surrounding Ayana too because they gave the story so much more emotional depth.
Overall, Crash Into Your Heart was such a fun, dramatic and immersive romantic adventure. If you enjoy romance with adventure, mystery, political intrigue, beautiful settings, complicated characters, emotional tension and a male lead who will make you go from “SIR???” to “…okay fine, I love you” 😉, this one is definitely worth checking out and deserves a spot in your “100 books to read before you die” list for sure!
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 ⭐️
This was such an interesting debut, and I think there is a lot to love here. I was immediately intrigued by the premise, and the writing itself was beautiful. I particularly loved the way the author blended Bridgerton vibes with the Chinese and African cultures of the MCs, it felt fresh and different from the historical romances I’ve read before.
For me, the strongest part of the book was definitely the romance. The chemistry between the characters felt natural, and I really enjoyed watching their feelings develop gradually rather than everything happening instantly. I personally loathe insta love so this was great for me. There was also a lovely emotional depth to their relationship that made it feel like more than just attraction.
I also really enjoyed the pacing. It kept me interested and wanting to continue reading, while still giving the characters room to develop.
I did find myself becoming a little lost when it came to the wider plot. There were moments where the story seemed to lose some of its direction, and a few plot holes and repetitive sections did pull me out of the story. I think this ultimately stopped it from being a higher rating for me, as the concept had so much potential.
For a debut, I think there is plenty here to be excited about. The writing, the romance and the cultural elements really stood out to me, and I’m definitely interested to see how the author’s writing develops in future books.
This was such an interesting debut, and I think there is a lot to love here. I was immediately intrigued by the premise, and the writing itself was beautiful. I particularly loved the way the author blended Bridgerton vibes with the Chinese and African cultures of the MCs, it felt fresh and different from the historical romances I’ve read before.
For me, the strongest part of the book was definitely the romance. The chemistry between the characters felt natural, and I really enjoyed watching their feelings develop gradually rather than everything happening instantly. I personally loathe insta love so this was great for me. There was also a lovely emotional depth to their relationship that made it feel like more than just attraction.
I also really enjoyed the pacing. It kept me interested and wanting to continue reading, while still giving the characters room to develop.
I did find myself becoming a little lost when it came to the wider plot. There were moments where the story seemed to lose some of its direction, and a few plot holes and repetitive sections did pull me out of the story. I think this ultimately stopped it from being a higher rating for me, as the concept had so much potential.
For a debut, I think there is plenty here to be excited about. The writing, the romance and the cultural elements really stood out to me, and I’m definitely interested to see how the author’s writing develops in future books.
Did Not Finish
August 13, 2026At 25% I want to DNF. The storyline is very choppy and jumpy, the flow of the days and the connections between the characters do not flow well to me. The characters are getting closer but there is no “meat” to their connection, leaving me wanting for moe. There have also been a few scenes where present day terminology and slang was used when this is described as a historical romance. I will continue on in hopes this is due to work building and me just needing to be more patient.
DNFing at 35%. I had set a goal for myself to see if it would get better and make it to at least 45%. However, as I continued to read, I noticed myself pushing to get to that 45% so I could stop reading.
For me, this story was incredibly slow. The FMCs internal dialogue was boring and didn’t hold my attention. The only thing that had gotten better between the beginning and where I am stopping is her connection with Nahari (a new friend). Outside of that, I still felt and saw no true connection between her and the love interest.
I also want to note that it felt very odd for her to lose a beloved friend who she believes may have been taken, but not go looking for him outside of telling local authorities. If I lost a dear friend like that, I would not rest until I found them, dead or alive.
I hope others enjoy this book, but it is not for me.
DNFing at 35%. I had set a goal for myself to see if it would get better and make it to at least 45%. However, as I continued to read, I noticed myself pushing to get to that 45% so I could stop reading.
For me, this story was incredibly slow. The FMCs internal dialogue was boring and didn’t hold my attention. The only thing that had gotten better between the beginning and where I am stopping is her connection with Nahari (a new friend). Outside of that, I still felt and saw no true connection between her and the love interest.
I also want to note that it felt very odd for her to lose a beloved friend who she believes may have been taken, but not go looking for him outside of telling local authorities. If I lost a dear friend like that, I would not rest until I found them, dead or alive.
I hope others enjoy this book, but it is not for me.
October 4, 2026
Swoony, diverse historical romance
Batseba clearly has a way with words; Zyaire had me swooning, and the female main character, Ayana, matched his energy too. They got off to a shaky start, but what blossomed through the story felt real. I loved how descriptive and lyrical the author's writing is. It equates the beauty of the cover and gives the story a strong sense of place in China. I enjoyed the banter between the main couple and how it was simultaneously surrounded by meaningful friendships and found family. Each character had a distinct personality and chemistry with the MCs. The commentary on women's social status was also woven seamlessly into the narrative. The story was emotional as promised, and I often wanted to read "just one more chapter." My only downside is that there are quite a few typos, and even a duplicated scene that briefly confused me. Otherwise, this is an enchanting historical romance that balances charming love with rich culture. Thank you to the author for the advanced copy!
Batseba clearly has a way with words; Zyaire had me swooning, and the female main character, Ayana, matched his energy too. They got off to a shaky start, but what blossomed through the story felt real. I loved how descriptive and lyrical the author's writing is. It equates the beauty of the cover and gives the story a strong sense of place in China. I enjoyed the banter between the main couple and how it was simultaneously surrounded by meaningful friendships and found family. Each character had a distinct personality and chemistry with the MCs. The commentary on women's social status was also woven seamlessly into the narrative. The story was emotional as promised, and I often wanted to read "just one more chapter." My only downside is that there are quite a few typos, and even a duplicated scene that briefly confused me. Otherwise, this is an enchanting historical romance that balances charming love with rich culture. Thank you to the author for the advanced copy!
October 1, 2026
As an ARC reader for this book I loved the vibrant world Batseba has created for us to experience. With beautiful sceneries and amazing characters. I was personally very pleasantly suprised about the Asian influences and our FL with beautiful curls.
I got swept away in the story of our MC and the hurdles they needed to overcome. I got also very invested in our side characters Xavier and Koda. I hope we will get more books about them. I miss them. The ending was very satisfying for me. Not only that but I like a ML that knows what he wants and will fight for it. Zyaire gave me that and all the happy feelings I get when I read romantic books. I will not say any more because well, I hate being spoiled so I will not do that to others.
What also makes me really happy is that it is one book. No other parts.
This book reminds me of a Chinese Romance Drama. If you like those you will for sure like this book. Happy reading!
I got swept away in the story of our MC and the hurdles they needed to overcome. I got also very invested in our side characters Xavier and Koda. I hope we will get more books about them. I miss them. The ending was very satisfying for me. Not only that but I like a ML that knows what he wants and will fight for it. Zyaire gave me that and all the happy feelings I get when I read romantic books. I will not say any more because well, I hate being spoiled so I will not do that to others.
What also makes me really happy is that it is one book. No other parts.
This book reminds me of a Chinese Romance Drama. If you like those you will for sure like this book. Happy reading!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
This book really felt like one of those stories you start reading “just for a little bit” and suddenly you’re completely invested. I loved the way the relationship developed; it had that perfect mix of tension, emotions, and moments that made me want to keep turning the pages.
What stood out to me most was the chemistry between the characters. Their interactions felt natural, and I enjoyed watching their feelings slowly become harder to ignore. There was also something about the emotional side of the story that made the romance feel more meaningful instead of just being about attraction.
I also really enjoyed the pacing. The story kept me interested without feeling like everything was happening too quickly, and I appreciated how the characters were given room to develop.
What stood out to me most was the chemistry between the characters. Their interactions felt natural, and I enjoyed watching their feelings slowly become harder to ignore. There was also something about the emotional side of the story that made the romance feel more meaningful instead of just being about attraction.
I also really enjoyed the pacing. The story kept me interested without feeling like everything was happening too quickly, and I appreciated how the characters were given room to develop.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really wanted to love this, and I honestly did at least halfway into the book. But there was one huge decision the MMC, Zyaire, made that completely threw me off, and I just can’t see it as romantic.
That one choice from Zyaire took every choice away from Ayana, and it resulted in the one thing she was running away from. Until that moment, I thought the relationship between them was growing slowly, and their banter was so cute. I was rooting for them.
Outside of this, there were a lot of little things that didn’t make sense to me, but they didn’t change how much I was enjoying the story.
Overall, this definitely had the potential to be a great read. The writing was simple and engaging, and the characters were fun.
Thank you to the author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
That one choice from Zyaire took every choice away from Ayana, and it resulted in the one thing she was running away from. Until that moment, I thought the relationship between them was growing slowly, and their banter was so cute. I was rooting for them.
Outside of this, there were a lot of little things that didn’t make sense to me, but they didn’t change how much I was enjoying the story.
Overall, this definitely had the potential to be a great read. The writing was simple and engaging, and the characters were fun.
Thank you to the author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Batseba Lamola’s Crash Into Your Heart was an amazing of a POC historical romance that gave me all the feels and left me utterly shook. Adulting is hard, but escaping into Lady Amani's chaotic flight from an arranged marriage into a high-seas forced proximity situation is the exact cozy comfort food my soul needed. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is pure perfection; the banter is top-tier and the chemistry is totally rent-free in my mind. The perfect slow-burn romance done right, and watching this formidable, hardened hero completely soften and choose to safeguard Amani's freedom literally melted me. Honestly, it’s the fiercely protective love and ultimate emotional payoff for me.
Did Not Finish
September 3, 2026Congratulations to the author on her debut novel. I loved the premise of this book and thought the writing style was very beautiful. I was intrigued from the beginning, but the plot got lost along the way. I thought it was interesting how the regency era customs were mixed with the Chinese and African cultures of the main characters. That’s not something I’ve seen done before. However, several anachronisms and plot holes took me out of the story, and it was repetitive at times. I appreciated the opportunity to read this book before its release and look forward to seeing how this author grows in future works.
August 2, 2026
This book was given to me as an ARC by BookFunnel and Author here is my voluntarily review.
4⭐️ I went into Crash Into Your Heart expecting a sweet romance, but I got so much more. It was emotional, heartfelt, and full of moments that reminded me that love isn’t always easy, but it’s worth fighting for. I really enjoyed this book 📕 watching them work through their fears, open up, and slowly let each other in made their relationship feel authentic instead of forced. Will definitely recommend.
4⭐️ I went into Crash Into Your Heart expecting a sweet romance, but I got so much more. It was emotional, heartfelt, and full of moments that reminded me that love isn’t always easy, but it’s worth fighting for. I really enjoyed this book 📕 watching them work through their fears, open up, and slowly let each other in made their relationship feel authentic instead of forced. Will definitely recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a cute book and a fast read. If you're looking for something different and/or are a traveler yourself, I recommend you give this book a try.
Some common theme in this story is what home is and how home can change and you age, meet new people, and explore new places. Another theme is the influence of friendship and how that too plays a role in what and where home is.
Some common theme in this story is what home is and how home can change and you age, meet new people, and explore new places. Another theme is the influence of friendship and how that too plays a role in what and where home is.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book so much! I loved the characters, loved the setting, loved the period, loved the relationship development, loved the writing. Literally loved everything about this story!
*I received an advanced reader copy from the author & this is my voluntary, honest review.
*I received an advanced reader copy from the author & this is my voluntary, honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Fast paced, romantic, and delightfully entertaining. A must read for fans of rebellious heroines and forced proximity drama!
September 13, 2026
the ROMANCE is page turning in this read, the premise was beautifully delivered !
5* no notes. I have a new favourite indie author 😌
5* no notes. I have a new favourite indie author 😌
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews