What do you think?
Rate this book
When Valentines Collide
When it came to revitalizing relationships, Dr. Chante Valentine and Dr. Matthew Valentine knew all the right moves—except when it came to mending their own volatile vows. Since divorce would jeopardize their respective careers, the love gurus reluctantly agreed to a two-week "sex-therapy" retreat.
Getting more from the seminar than they bargained for, Chante suddenly found herself appreciating her husband's strong, lean physique for the first time in years, and Matthew couldn't deny his attraction to sexy Chante. But when a devastating secret is revealed, will the love doctors lose their second chance at love...or add a new little Valentine to their family?
Getting more from the seminar than they bargained for, Chante suddenly found herself appreciating her husband's strong, lean physique for the first time in years, and Matthew couldn't deny his attraction to sexy Chante. But when a devastating secret is revealed, will the love doctors lose their second chance at love...or add a new little Valentine to their family?
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2007
4 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Adrianne Byrd
60 books280 followersNational Best-selling author Adrianne Byrd has always preferred to live within the realms of her imagination where all the men are gorgeous and the women are worth whatever trouble they manage to get into. As an army brat, she traveled throughout Europe and learned to appreciate and value different cultures. Now she calls Georgia home.
Looking back, Adrianne believes her passion for writing began at the ripe old age of thirteen. It was also the age when she was introduced to romance novels by a most unlikely source: her fifteen-year old brother. The book was probably given to keep her out her brother’s hair, but it was a gift that changed her life.
In books, Adrianne found a way out of her awkward teenage years and into a world of fictional friends that would stay with her for a lifetime. It wasn’t long before her imagination took flight and she was writing her own love stories. Within a year, she completed her first book, which she vowed would never see the light of day.
Writing remained a hobby until 1994 when a co-worker approached her with an article on Romance Writers of America. Who knew there was an organization of women just like her? By 1996 she sold her first novel, Defenseless, to Kensington Publishing.
Her first release received rave reviews by Romantic Times and fans. Her other novels were consistently selected as the Magazine’s Top Pick. In 2001 Slam Jam nominated, Say You Love Me, for best romance. Her 2003 release Comfort of a Man won Romantic Times Best Multicultural Romance, Romance in Color’s Readers Choice Awards for Favorite Book, Favorite Hero, and Favorite Heroine; Shades of Romance’s Best/Arabesque Romance Book; Slam Jams Emma Award for Favorite Traditional Romance; Romance in Color’s Reviewer’s Choice Award for Author of the Year, Book of the Year and Best BET/Arabesque Book. And lastly Comfort of a Man was a 2003 Georgia Romance Writers Maggie finalist for best Contemporary. In 2004 she released her first romantic suspense novel, If You Dare, with HarperCollins. In 2006 her novel Measure of a Man was nominated for Best Multicultural Romance while her Harper Torch novel Deadly Double was nominated for an Emma. In 2007 she won an eharlequin.com Joey Award.
In 2006 Adrianne along with fellow writer Niobia Bryant penned her first Urban Novel, DESPERATE HOODWIVES, writing as De'nesha Diamond. The book is set for release February 2008 from Simon and Schuster. For more information, visit http://www.deneshadiamond.com.
Ms. Byrd has been featured in many national publications, including Today’s Black Woman, Upscale, and Heart and Soul. She has also won local awards for screenwriting. For the future, she looks forward to continue creating characters that make people smile, laugh, and fall in love.
Looking back, Adrianne believes her passion for writing began at the ripe old age of thirteen. It was also the age when she was introduced to romance novels by a most unlikely source: her fifteen-year old brother. The book was probably given to keep her out her brother’s hair, but it was a gift that changed her life.
In books, Adrianne found a way out of her awkward teenage years and into a world of fictional friends that would stay with her for a lifetime. It wasn’t long before her imagination took flight and she was writing her own love stories. Within a year, she completed her first book, which she vowed would never see the light of day.
Writing remained a hobby until 1994 when a co-worker approached her with an article on Romance Writers of America. Who knew there was an organization of women just like her? By 1996 she sold her first novel, Defenseless, to Kensington Publishing.
Her first release received rave reviews by Romantic Times and fans. Her other novels were consistently selected as the Magazine’s Top Pick. In 2001 Slam Jam nominated, Say You Love Me, for best romance. Her 2003 release Comfort of a Man won Romantic Times Best Multicultural Romance, Romance in Color’s Readers Choice Awards for Favorite Book, Favorite Hero, and Favorite Heroine; Shades of Romance’s Best/Arabesque Romance Book; Slam Jams Emma Award for Favorite Traditional Romance; Romance in Color’s Reviewer’s Choice Award for Author of the Year, Book of the Year and Best BET/Arabesque Book. And lastly Comfort of a Man was a 2003 Georgia Romance Writers Maggie finalist for best Contemporary. In 2004 she released her first romantic suspense novel, If You Dare, with HarperCollins. In 2006 her novel Measure of a Man was nominated for Best Multicultural Romance while her Harper Torch novel Deadly Double was nominated for an Emma. In 2007 she won an eharlequin.com Joey Award.
In 2006 Adrianne along with fellow writer Niobia Bryant penned her first Urban Novel, DESPERATE HOODWIVES, writing as De'nesha Diamond. The book is set for release February 2008 from Simon and Schuster. For more information, visit http://www.deneshadiamond.com.
Ms. Byrd has been featured in many national publications, including Today’s Black Woman, Upscale, and Heart and Soul. She has also won local awards for screenwriting. For the future, she looks forward to continue creating characters that make people smile, laugh, and fall in love.
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
December 29, 2019
"Now he seems to think all he has to do is get his groove on and wait for a baby. A baby. That's all he ever talks about. After nine miscarriages you'd think he would give it a rest." pg. 3%
The problem with this book is the premise. Matthew and Chanté have been married for either 10 or 11 years (Byrd seems fuzzy on this) and in Chanté's hazy memories there was a time when the marriage was good. Let's say the first five years. However, in the most recent five years they have decided to try and have a baby.
We quickly find out that Chanté has suffered nine miscarriages in these five years. Honestly, I was horrified. Horrified. What kind of heartless, unfeeling, completely self-absorbed monster would badger and coerce their woman into getting pregnant again and again and again only to miscarry again and again and again? Did he even have a soul?
Byrd is like, "Oh, Matthew came from a huge family and he wants a huge family." I understand that, and I understand craving that. However, if your wife has nine fucking miscarriages I think you need to reconsider your strategy. Maybe entertain adoption? I can't believe he let it get to nine and happily will allow it to continue on until perhaps she hits menopause.
Chanté has kicked Matthew out of her bedroom five months ago (she should have done this YEARS ago IMO) and he talks non-stop about how he's suffering from being in forced celibacy. He does not see the irony of how he's caused her suffering by getting her pregnant over and over and over again when she apparently has a very hard time carrying a pregnancy to term.
Chanté is seriously considering divorce. She's depressed, tired, feels understandably that her husband doesn't love her but only loves the idea of being a father.
Also, we learn that even though Matthew MAY have been good in bed during the first five years of marriage - I'm going to have to take Chanté's word for this - for the last five years he's been a horrible, selfish lover and she basically just lies there and waits for him to finish. He can't be bothered with foreplay and doesn't give a shit that she doesn't orgasm. After all, only his orgasm matters to put a baby in her, right?
Honestly I don't know how or why she even stuck around for these five years.
...
Chanté is no saint. She is an abusive person (as is Matthew) IMO. Byrd tries to play it for laughs in a kind of "bickering couple" vibe, but this is not a bickering couple. These two are BSC and awful to each other. He chainsaws her Mercedes in half. (Fucking rich people. What the hell?) She swings at his head with a steel pipe. He buys a dog even though she hates dogs - which is abuse to the dog IMO. She hits him numerous, numerous times in the novel. Since she's a woman, this is portrayed as being meaningless and silly. It's not. It's abuse. She puts laxatives in his food.
You get the idea. They are violent and abusive towards each other. This isn't a marriage I think you should bring a child into, BUT OK.
...
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
I don't understand the whole "I hate you, now kiss me" dynamic. I don't get it AT ALL, and I fail to understand how these two are sexually attracted to each other after what they put each other through. It boggles my mind. When Byrd tried to tell me they were sexually attracted to each other, it was not convincing to this reader.
At about 29%, Chanté decides to allow Matthew to have sex with her, breaking her five-month celibacy. Why? I honestly have no idea. Matthew's reaction is this:
"Hey, baby. You finally decided to pay Big Daddy a visit?" 29%
Really? Really?! This is what you say to your woman when she FINALLY decides to allow you back in her bed?! He can't be this stupid.
But apparently he is that stupid, because the sex that follows is horrendous. Not only is it sloppy and rushed, but he engages in no foreplay and the sex is actually painful for her. It's a disaster, and like so many women, she just grits her teeth and waits for it to be over and for him to roll off of her.
On one hand, I have to give kudos to Byrd for giving us a scene where a romance hero is terrible in bed. And I mean: terrible. Oftentimes heroes are terrible in bed, but the author insists that the heroine loves it and is having a good time. But there's no pretending here. He's terrible in bed and she knows it. She not only is not enjoying herself, but she's experiencing pain and just bracing herself until it can be over.
But on the other hand, despite Byrd's bold move, do I really want a hero who is this callous? No, I don't. Do I think he can bounce back from this? He COULD, I guess, but it would be very difficult and require a Herculean effort on the part of the author, and certainly not one that will fit into Harlequin's page requirements.
So it's a dismal introduction to sex between the two. And Chanté assures us that this has been her sex life for the last five years!!!!
I don't know what kind of man could be worth this, and if I could imagine such a man it certainly wouldn't be the hero. I'm so confused as why she's so hellbound determined to stay married to him unless it's simply to avoid the stigma of divorce. Which is a shitty reason to stay married to someone.
So does the sex improve when the couple goes to the 'sex therapy' retreat?
Sigh. This book kind of reminds me of Talking About Sex... If you remember that book, the sex in there and the idea of sex in there were pretty weird. I feel the same about this book. So, the couple goes to a 'sex therapy retreat' where the founders teach them amazing ideas like, "Men, give your woman a night where you spoil her and engage in foreplay. Eat her out." Wow, what a concept. Their thrilling idea for night two is to have the women give into their "naturally submissive natures, and naturally caring for everyone else but not yourself" natures and give their man a night of pleasure. What did they have in mind for Night Three? The mind boggles, but we never find out what brilliant, amazing ideas they might have in store because our couple gets in a fight and leaves in a huff.
I didn't find any sex in this book sexually exciting at all. Also, the fact that the hero treated her that way sexually for five years makes me think he's an irredeemable asshole.
TL;DR Actually showcases a mutually abusive relationship. I'm not sure how this is a romance novel in all honesty. I definitely think these two should have gotten a divorce. The author ends the book with which I really don't think is a good message. But even that might not erase FIVE YEARS of his horrible sexual treatment of her. The uncomprehending of what nine consecutive miscarriages might do to his wife's sexual, mental, and emotional health AND his complete disregard for her sexual pleasure for FIVE YEARS were - IMO - too big of obstacles for the author to get over when the hero is 'redeemed' at the end. Also, I'd like to point out
I can't recommend this book.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
#OwnVoices Romance
African-American Romance
Contemporary Romance
Second-Chance Romance - Does this count?
Non-Virgin Heroine
He is a "Relationship Expert" who hosts a Jerry-Springer-type tv show. She is a "Relationship Expert" who hosts a radio talk show.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
The problem with this book is the premise. Matthew and Chanté have been married for either 10 or 11 years (Byrd seems fuzzy on this) and in Chanté's hazy memories there was a time when the marriage was good. Let's say the first five years. However, in the most recent five years they have decided to try and have a baby.
We quickly find out that Chanté has suffered nine miscarriages in these five years. Honestly, I was horrified. Horrified. What kind of heartless, unfeeling, completely self-absorbed monster would badger and coerce their woman into getting pregnant again and again and again only to miscarry again and again and again? Did he even have a soul?
Byrd is like, "Oh, Matthew came from a huge family and he wants a huge family." I understand that, and I understand craving that. However, if your wife has nine fucking miscarriages I think you need to reconsider your strategy. Maybe entertain adoption? I can't believe he let it get to nine and happily will allow it to continue on until perhaps she hits menopause.
Chanté has kicked Matthew out of her bedroom five months ago (she should have done this YEARS ago IMO) and he talks non-stop about how he's suffering from being in forced celibacy. He does not see the irony of how he's caused her suffering by getting her pregnant over and over and over again when she apparently has a very hard time carrying a pregnancy to term.
Chanté is seriously considering divorce. She's depressed, tired, feels understandably that her husband doesn't love her but only loves the idea of being a father.
Also, we learn that even though Matthew MAY have been good in bed during the first five years of marriage - I'm going to have to take Chanté's word for this - for the last five years he's been a horrible, selfish lover and she basically just lies there and waits for him to finish. He can't be bothered with foreplay and doesn't give a shit that she doesn't orgasm. After all, only his orgasm matters to put a baby in her, right?
Honestly I don't know how or why she even stuck around for these five years.
...
Chanté is no saint. She is an abusive person (as is Matthew) IMO. Byrd tries to play it for laughs in a kind of "bickering couple" vibe, but this is not a bickering couple. These two are BSC and awful to each other. He chainsaws her Mercedes in half. (Fucking rich people. What the hell?) She swings at his head with a steel pipe. He buys a dog even though she hates dogs - which is abuse to the dog IMO. She hits him numerous, numerous times in the novel. Since she's a woman, this is portrayed as being meaningless and silly. It's not. It's abuse. She puts laxatives in his food.
You get the idea. They are violent and abusive towards each other. This isn't a marriage I think you should bring a child into, BUT OK.
...
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
I don't understand the whole "I hate you, now kiss me" dynamic. I don't get it AT ALL, and I fail to understand how these two are sexually attracted to each other after what they put each other through. It boggles my mind. When Byrd tried to tell me they were sexually attracted to each other, it was not convincing to this reader.
At about 29%, Chanté decides to allow Matthew to have sex with her, breaking her five-month celibacy. Why? I honestly have no idea. Matthew's reaction is this:
"Hey, baby. You finally decided to pay Big Daddy a visit?" 29%
Really? Really?! This is what you say to your woman when she FINALLY decides to allow you back in her bed?! He can't be this stupid.
But apparently he is that stupid, because the sex that follows is horrendous. Not only is it sloppy and rushed, but he engages in no foreplay and the sex is actually painful for her. It's a disaster, and like so many women, she just grits her teeth and waits for it to be over and for him to roll off of her.
On one hand, I have to give kudos to Byrd for giving us a scene where a romance hero is terrible in bed. And I mean: terrible. Oftentimes heroes are terrible in bed, but the author insists that the heroine loves it and is having a good time. But there's no pretending here. He's terrible in bed and she knows it. She not only is not enjoying herself, but she's experiencing pain and just bracing herself until it can be over.
But on the other hand, despite Byrd's bold move, do I really want a hero who is this callous? No, I don't. Do I think he can bounce back from this? He COULD, I guess, but it would be very difficult and require a Herculean effort on the part of the author, and certainly not one that will fit into Harlequin's page requirements.
So it's a dismal introduction to sex between the two. And Chanté assures us that this has been her sex life for the last five years!!!!
I don't know what kind of man could be worth this, and if I could imagine such a man it certainly wouldn't be the hero. I'm so confused as why she's so hellbound determined to stay married to him unless it's simply to avoid the stigma of divorce. Which is a shitty reason to stay married to someone.
So does the sex improve when the couple goes to the 'sex therapy' retreat?
Sigh. This book kind of reminds me of Talking About Sex... If you remember that book, the sex in there and the idea of sex in there were pretty weird. I feel the same about this book. So, the couple goes to a 'sex therapy retreat' where the founders teach them amazing ideas like, "Men, give your woman a night where you spoil her and engage in foreplay. Eat her out." Wow, what a concept. Their thrilling idea for night two is to have the women give into their "naturally submissive natures, and naturally caring for everyone else but not yourself" natures and give their man a night of pleasure. What did they have in mind for Night Three? The mind boggles, but we never find out what brilliant, amazing ideas they might have in store because our couple gets in a fight and leaves in a huff.
I didn't find any sex in this book sexually exciting at all. Also, the fact that the hero treated her that way sexually for five years makes me think he's an irredeemable asshole.
TL;DR Actually showcases a mutually abusive relationship. I'm not sure how this is a romance novel in all honesty. I definitely think these two should have gotten a divorce. The author ends the book with which I really don't think is a good message. But even that might not erase FIVE YEARS of his horrible sexual treatment of her. The uncomprehending of what nine consecutive miscarriages might do to his wife's sexual, mental, and emotional health AND his complete disregard for her sexual pleasure for FIVE YEARS were - IMO - too big of obstacles for the author to get over when the hero is 'redeemed' at the end. Also, I'd like to point out
I can't recommend this book.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
#OwnVoices Romance
African-American Romance
Contemporary Romance
Second-Chance Romance - Does this count?
Non-Virgin Heroine
He is a "Relationship Expert" who hosts a Jerry-Springer-type tv show. She is a "Relationship Expert" who hosts a radio talk show.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
December 28, 2023
This was such a passionate and powerful story...I laugh, cried, got mad and sad...these two main characters, Chante and Matthew, when through so much changes, often voliently, to keep their love alive...
I love this author books...they are entertaining, appealing, and fun to read....the ending was so perfect...I highly recommended this book and all other books, by Ms. Byrd
I love this author books...they are entertaining, appealing, and fun to read....the ending was so perfect...I highly recommended this book and all other books, by Ms. Byrd
July 19, 2007
Here's A Collison I Definitely Enjoyed!
I just have to say that this book had me LOL! One of the funniest books I've ever read. But then it also had me pulling out the hanky, sometimes I laughed so hard I cried. Ms. Byrd has done it AGAIN! The relationship between Chante and Matt was definitely HIGHLY charged. One of the funniest parts was when Matt cut Chante's car in half. I couldn't believe it, but I could actually see him sawing away at her practically new luxury car! 'When Valentines Collide' shows that you can repair your marriage even if your at each others throat. And that you have to be able to identify where your marriage went wrong and be willing to apologize if necessary. A Definte MUST Read!
I just have to say that this book had me LOL! One of the funniest books I've ever read. But then it also had me pulling out the hanky, sometimes I laughed so hard I cried. Ms. Byrd has done it AGAIN! The relationship between Chante and Matt was definitely HIGHLY charged. One of the funniest parts was when Matt cut Chante's car in half. I couldn't believe it, but I could actually see him sawing away at her practically new luxury car! 'When Valentines Collide' shows that you can repair your marriage even if your at each others throat. And that you have to be able to identify where your marriage went wrong and be willing to apologize if necessary. A Definte MUST Read!
June 7, 2018
aww this book was just so sweet
February 22, 2012
Mathew and Chante Valentine are both relationship gurus. Mathew with a highly popular t.v. show and four bestsellers; Chante with a late night radio talk show and a her first book now on the top ten list. They’ve been married for eleven years, the first nine were blissful, but pressure was on to start a family. After nine miscarriages, Chante doesn’t want to try anymore, but she doesn’t have the heart to tell Mathew. It seems that everytime they make love he’s eager for it to be the time they finally make the one that sticks. As they both avoid the true issue in their marriage, the bickering starts. Both are passionate and this brings out their volatile side. And the war starts. First it’s Mathew’s comment on Letterman that makes fun of the school where she received her degree; then it’s a comment Chante makes in her studio when she doesn’t think she’s on air, that digs at Mathew’s on t.v. patients. The anger comes home, where Mathew has to glue down the valuables because Chante has a penchant for throwing things – at him! So their best friends con them into going on a conference for the last time as a couple, only it’s really a retreat for couples to teach them how to connect again in the bedroom. Falling in love again only makes the pain when all the secrets are out that much more painful.
When you begin reading this book, you swear you are right in the middle of a scene from the movie “War of the Roses”! Volatile, passionate, explosive, their battles only let out the steam but never get to the heart of their problems. And the sexual charge between them is enough to scorch the pages! These are great characters! I fell in love with them both. Ms. Byrd pulls you in with her witty dialogues and heated conflicts always making us smile at the antics of these two so called relationship experts. Then we get to really see the pain inside these two. Even I wondered how they were going to get over the pain and remember that they were soul mates. This is an awesome read! I read it in one sitting. This one is definitely going on the keeper shelf.
When you begin reading this book, you swear you are right in the middle of a scene from the movie “War of the Roses”! Volatile, passionate, explosive, their battles only let out the steam but never get to the heart of their problems. And the sexual charge between them is enough to scorch the pages! These are great characters! I fell in love with them both. Ms. Byrd pulls you in with her witty dialogues and heated conflicts always making us smile at the antics of these two so called relationship experts. Then we get to really see the pain inside these two. Even I wondered how they were going to get over the pain and remember that they were soul mates. This is an awesome read! I read it in one sitting. This one is definitely going on the keeper shelf.
August 3, 2013
This was laugh-out-loud funny - literally. The Valentines, relationship experts, by the way (with successful books and TV and radio shows), were out of control. The things they did to spite each other... (*shaking my head*) My favorites had to be taking a chainsaw to her car and what he did to her shoes. Oh, wait, and what the dog did to her room. Lol. Too funny. Despite everything they did to each other, they were in love. I thought it was sweet the way he would stay up late to wait for her, but pretend he was up because he was working.
One interesting note about this book is that it included a more mature couple (though you couldn't tell from their behavior!), which was a nice change from the usual twenty-somethings.
One interesting note about this book is that it included a more mature couple (though you couldn't tell from their behavior!), which was a nice change from the usual twenty-somethings.
March 18, 2012
I truly enjoyed this novel, not only was it hilarious but there is a powerful message regarding forgiveness, apologizing and the importance of communication. There is a thin line between love and hate and the antics between Mat and Chante was hysterical but I did feel their pain. Instead of dealing with the hidden issues of thier relationship it became easy to fight about insignificant issues…or to one up the other person’s retaliation. Nevertheless, this novel shows that where there is forgiveness and love... restoration and reconciliation can happen even is the most troubled marriage. Bravo Ms. Byrd another fabulous book
February 23, 2016
I read this book on my way to and from work today and it kept me entertained. I loved the idea of the story, but I was a little irritated by the couple's constant and sometimes childish bickering, especially considering their age and what they both do for a living. I am also not one to take 'revenge' by damaging a lover's property, so I found the wilful destruction a bit extreme at times. I have read several of the author’s previous works and wasn’t a huge fan of her sex scenes, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ‘chocolate massage oil’ love scene in this book…yummy!
October 15, 2013
Talk about doctors not being good patients is an understatement when it comes to love guru/relationship experts Drs. Matthew and Chante Valentine. This story was both hilarious, with the ridiculous revenge that they had on one another, and ever so passionate when they realized that they were truly still in love. They were able to give their audiences wonderful advice on love, but had an awful time practicing what they preached when it came to their own marriage and the problems that they did not want to deal with. Awesome read! I was in stitches with some of the stunts these lovers pulled!
January 12, 2011
A superb look into what happens after "I do". Not couple gets happily ever after. This novels is about two relationship doctors. When helping others they are know-it-alls, however when it comes saving their own marriage they are two educated fools. Every married couple has troubles that they have to work through, the Valentines argue, throw, kick, bark, kiss and yes even use power tools to get through theirs. All in all it was a wild ride with a happy ending.
June 17, 2011
The shenanigans of the Valentines are just too much! I was literally laughing out loud to myself while reading. The book had some steamy parts as well, but the comedy really kept it going. Great book!
September 24, 2018
A married couple that are therapist, have a television show to help other married couples, but are having so many issues that their marriage might not survive. I especially liked the antics between the couple.
October 25, 2012
All relationships have the ups and downs. Its what you do to make it right that makes it last.
March 26, 2016
Hilarious! An updated War of the Roses.
November 18, 2016
An excellent Read!!!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews