I Have People

I Have People is available at:

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About

Missing any memories?

Holly Sinclair is happily married to the love of her life, Gabriel. Young and in love, Holly hopes to have their first child soon. Of course, Gabriel wants to wait till Holly’s health is restored, much to Holly’s dismay. She feels perfectly fine. So what if she just woke up from an eight-month coma? So what if some of her memories are missing? She remembers Gabe and that’s all that matters, right?

That is, until HE enters her life again . . . she forgot about HIM.

Behind the Story

My reasons for writing I Have People are highly personal. Although I have never been the victim of an abusive man, I have seen the effects this kind of behavior can cause. This book is my way of saying abusive behavior is NOT okay. I found the writing of this novel to be therapeutic. If you have something that's weighing on you, I suggest writing it down, even if you are the only one who will ever see it. There's something about putting all of your aggression onto paper that somehow frees you of your burdens and helps you to let it all go. At least it did for me. 

The name of the book is also rather personal. Recently, I found myself with an empty nest for the first time in my life--and feeling rather alone. Writing is an isolating profession, even though your characters are alive and well inside your head. To my surprise, and pleasure, I was inundated with phone calls from my precious children, and other family members, which was exactly what I needed. I realized very quickly that my children may have all left the nest, but motherhood is far from over. I realized, I Have People, and I always will. That's when the name for this book was born.

THE OLD COVER

Five-Star Reviews

I can’t help but eat up taylor dean’s books, like the M & Ms that I love. She makes me so tense, sitting on the edge of my chair, racing through the pages. An amazing writer. She can tell a story that makes you hold your breath, as you wait in suspense for the tale to play out.

This book may not be for everyone, but I feel everyone should read it. Sometimes all it takes to make a difference in someone’s life, is to let them know you care.

An amazing story of life and how the people around us can help us overcome the bad in our life and enable us to rise above it.

taylor dean can weave a story that will keep you on pins and needles. As Holly remembers, tears form in my eyes. The suspense and anticipation of what is to come, makes my heart beat faster, my palms sweat and chills run up and down my spine.

To write about domestic abuse cannot be easy. The fear and terror a person experiences as they are being terrorized by someone they love and trust, must be one of the worst things that can happen to a woman. taylor dean handles it with style and grace.

Gabriel is a boy scout. Squeaky clean, kind, gentlemanly, helps people, courteous and polite. He doesn’t even curse, helps her put on her coat………pulls out the chair for her.

This is another roller-coaster ride, compliments of taylor dean. The range of emotions she covers go from heaven to hell, and everything in between.

                                                                                             ~Sherry of Fundinmental

I loved this book! It starts out as a nice, sweet love story, even though you know there's something that's being kept from Holly. After Holly wakes up from an 8 month coma, Gabe is so careful with her and works hard to re-create their life before she went into a coma. Her best friend, Angela, is also there to help her out but neither of them will tell Holly how the accident happened or jog her memory--they tell her she needs to recover her memories on her own. She is happy and life is perfect and then HE comes into the story and there's a different tone. His name is Cal and he's likable enough, at first, and then reveals his true self after they get married. I really felt for Holly as she was humiliated by Cal over and over yet hung in there and acted like nothing was wrong. She tried to convince everyone she was clumsy and it got harder to make up stories as time went on. As she learns more about his dark secrets, though, she realizes that she needs to leave asap. I was frustrated that she didn't just leave but understand why she wanted to wait. At times it was hard to read how Cal treated Holly and I thought Taylor Dean did a great job of describing the abuse, where you could feel Holly's pain, without being too graphic. I'm so grateful that I have never personally had to deal with domestic abuse and I know that there are worse stories out there than Holly's and hers was hard enough for me to read. 

This book kept my interest from the first page and didn't slow down. I highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys reading about second chances and finding real and lasting love.

                                                                                           ~Mel of Mel's Shelves

I love Taylor Dean's books. They always feel so real. The characters are realistic and her style of writing makes her books easy to fall in love with.

I Have People is a story that is both beautiful and painful at the same time. It is a story of love, abuse, and deep friendships. Parts of it are so hard to read because the abuse is so real, and Holly is so trusting. This story makes you want to reach in and take control of the situation. I wanted to shout out warnings constantly!

I'm sure we have all jumped head first into a situation without thinking much about what we were doing before we did it. Maybe it was jumping into a relationship with someone without really knowing who they were or maybe it was something as simple as eating a whole row of Oreos....you know you've done it! Knowing this makes it so easy to see how Holly got herself into a relationship where she did not really know the person first.

It is so easy to be in love with being in love. You get mushy feelings and want to be around the person you are in love with all of the time. You ignore any warning signs or imperfections because this is the person of your dreams! But they may end up being your nightmare. Holly is human and makes the same mistakes we all make in some way or another.

Thankfully, Holly is rescued by a deep and lasting love. A selfless and sacrificing love. Though her memories may be impaired, the rescuing love she experiences is as real as anything could ever be.

As with all of Taylor Dean's books, I highly recommend I Have People to anyone who loves a great story! I was captivated from the start and couldn't put this book down. It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. One minute you're feeling giddy with happiness and the next you're filled with dread! It's a great ride...take it!

                                                                                         ~Christy of Christy's Cozy Corner

I think I'm going to start a Taylor Dean fan club and become President because she has seriously become one of my favorite authors of all time. I inhaled I Have People like there was no tomorrow! Once again, Taylor did not disappoint me at all.

I don't like to give spoilers BUT this book does deal with an extremely sensitive issue of physical abuse in a relationship. It hurt to read certain scenes, I won't sugarcoat it. Taylor delivered a very raw and painful story in I Have People. She did it with class though, and she kept the main character Holly a little naive in the beginning but matured her into an intelligent woman who does the SMART thing in the end.

I just kept thinking how I would feel if I didn't have my people in my life. How lonely and cold that must be for people who aren't lucky to have families like most of us. I felt so sympathetic towards Holly and rooted for her and Mr. Sinclair the entire time during the flashback.

This is a beautiful love story but it's also a LIFE story about what is important to an individual, what means the most to them. I was so happy that Holly finally found her 'people', because she truly deserved it!.

This is a beautiful story and deserves to be read immediately by all! You will not regret it! Bravo Taylor, great job!

                                                                       ~Brandy of Book Worm Brandy

Holly Noel Sinclair wakes from an eight month coma to find out that a lot has changed. She can't remember how she wound up in the coma. The doctor urges her to remember on her own with no help from her wonderful husband Gabriel or her best friend Angela.

Her husband sets out to recreate past events in her life in hopes that her memory will return. She can remember her childhood and her wedding day but the past two years are gone. When someone from her past returns will she finally remember what she has kept deeply hidden? What are here husband and best friend hiding from her? Was the past as wonderful as she remembers or is something more sinister lurking in the background?

Where to start with this amazing book? I have found a wonderful new author. Taylor Dean is officially on my favorite author list! I have never read her novels before and I have missed out. This is one of those books you can't put down. I lost many hours of sleep until I finished it. I can't stop gushing about it! It is hard to review and talk about without giving so much away. You find out bits and pieces of Holly's life as she does. You fall in love with the character. The flow is perfect with the flashbacks of her life. I would recommend this book to anyone.

                                                                              ~ Tammy of Oh, the Books You'll Read

Every once in a while a book comes along that tugs at the heart strings, for me that book is I Have People.

Holly Sinclair has awaken from eight months in a coma after a traumatic accident that caused her extensive injuries, in fact the doctors considered her recovery a miracle of modern science. She has amnesia and the only memories she has is that of her loving husband Gabriel. Frustrated with the missing pieces of her memory and her inability to recall what happened to her, Gabe recreates their dates in an effort to make new memories and a fresh start for their relationship. But things aren't always what they seem: an attentive Gabe and best friend Angela are holding back information on the traumatic accident which causes Holly to become suspicious .... and when she does regain her memory of the accident, the shocking revelations changes everything.

I Have People is a poignant story of love, hope, domestic abuse and redemption. Author Taylor Dean weaves an emotionally charged tale about one woman's life story and how she recovers from a traumatic experience to discover the warmth of being loved and having people who really care about her. Written in the third person narrative, the author draws the reader into the life of Holly Sinclair as she recovers from a traumatic experience of domestic abuse. I was fascinated with the progression of Holly's growth: from her naivete when she awakens from the coma, to her frustration at her memory loss, to the recovery of her memory and strength to stand up for herself. You can't help but feel for Holly and what she's been through, her story will take you on a roller coaster ride leaving you emotionally spent.

Author Taylor Dean does a wonderful job of thoughtfully writing about a very serious and sensitive issue that unfortunately does occur in some domestic relationships. The storyline is told in the present day with a flashback to two years prior, and the intriguing twists and turns keeps the reader engaged as Holly's story unfolds. With realistic and complex characters; engaging dialogue and interactions; and various settings and a multi-layered storyline that is rich in detail and vivid descriptions, I Have People is a powerful and compelling read.

I Have People is an amazing story that will bring out all the emotions, and will stay with you long after the words have been read.

                                                                            ~Kathleen of Jersey Girl Book Reviews

From the very first word I loved this book. It was such a powerful story about love, abuse: both mental and physical and Taylor Dean did a wonderful job. I truly felt like I was right there with Holly and wanted to knock the crap out of Cal. He came off as so loving and wonderful but when his true colors started showing Holly was there for him to treat anyway he saw fit. I loved Gabe so much and Angie too. Both were there for her even when she had no idea that they knew. Gabe was the most wonderful loving caring kind handsome understanding man and he loves Holly so much. She never had a family, never had anyone, so the name I Have People really fit this book perfectly. I loved every single page and felt so sorry for Holly for what she went through and so happy for her when she did find true love and a best friend in Gabe and Angie. It is a story that will definitely stay with me for a long time and no one ever has the right to judge someone who stays in an abusive relationship unless they have walked in their shoes or know someone who has. This book hit my heart for personal reasons. I had a best friend who was in an abusive marriage, only she did not make it. He killed her and now is spending the rest of his life behind bars where he belongs. But her son is without him mom. He is grown now and her parents raised him. It is sad that he never got to know his mother, she was a wonderful young woman who did not deserve to die at such a young age. So yes I loved every page, every word of this story and if one abusive woman can read this and get the courage to get out then that will only make it that much more special. Thank you Taylor for such a heartwarming beautiful story. I loved it and would give it way more than 5 stars if I could.

                                                                                         ~Linda Moore (Goodreads Review)

The suspense never lets up; I was hooked from the beginning and never once felt bored or lost interest. This book deals with a difficult subject – spousal abuse – but the way in which the story is delivered is just spellbinding. Holly Noel is a strong-minded, independent person who suffers a horrible ordeal and wakes up with amnesia. Her circumstance is unusual but she has some friends who stand by her, trying their best to help her make a new future and keep the past troubles from interfering in her new life. 

I read Sierra a few months ago by this same author and found it mesmerizing, so I jumped at the chance to read this book. I am so glad I did because I Have People is another winner. It is wonderfully constructed so that the story flows smoothly from start to finish, but it is also an exceptionally emotional tale. I became so caught up in Holly’s troubles and triumphs that I pretty much hung on every word. 

For all that transpired, these characters lived and breathed for me. They were recognizable individuals who were also unique. I became frustrated a few times when decisions were made that I feel showed poor judgment…but those choices were still, in almost every instance understandable. Ms. Dean is a new favorite author of mine. Pick up a copy of Sierra or I Have People and I bet she will become one of your favorites, too.

                                                                               ~Laurie of Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews

I think I might have mentioned that Taylor Dean is one of the best discoveries I've made this year as far as authors go. I've read 3 of her books so far, Lancaster House, Sierra and now I Have People. There's one element that binds them together, suspense.

I'm so glad that my copy of I Have People was an ebook, because the suspense in this book would have been to tempting for me otherwise. I know if this had been a physical copy I would have been flipping the pages to find out what happens.

Like all of Taylor's other books, I find it hard to review the story without giving away things that you really shouldn't know unless you've read the book.

Here are some things I can tell you.

1. This book deals with domestic violence.

2. Holly is at times the stereotypical battered wife as well as a head strong female. You will love her and be frustrated with her all at the same time.

3. Gabe is the man you absolutely want to have in your life.

4. Ange is the bff we all need and want.

I really liked how Taylor built the suspense around Holly's accident and the other characters in the book. She gave you just enough information to keep you turning the pages, but not enough to make you go "A ha!'

If you haven't read one of Taylor's books yet, you really should pick one up. They are all emotionally charged and full of wonderful characters that you can't help but love and root for.

                                                                                      ~Andrea of A Chick Who Reads

In my opinion, I Have People should be a bestseller. I loved this book. I had to wait a while after reading it to review it because I couldn't even wrap my mind around how much I loved it, and even now I feel like I just can't write a review that will do justice to this book. I don't really want to even give a short synopsis because all I knew about this book when I started it was the short description at the top of the page, and that is all you need to know to start the book.

What I can say is that I Have People is not just a "fluff" romance novel. It is a deep book that deals with very relevant and sensitive issues without glossing over the problem or making light of it. She described an abusive relationship in such an honest way. I think so many different people could relate to this book in so many ways. But the book isn't all heavy emotion. There are parts that are so light hearted and so incredibly sweet. I loved Holly and her people. :) Heck, I want people like Holly's people. This book is definitely one of my favorites, and I recommend it to everyone!

                                                                                       ~Rachel Spring (Goodreads Review)

This book is definitely a love story that is not without its difficult times. I really enjoyed how the author has woven the various parts of the story together to provide such reading enjoyment. I could not read it fast enough. It’s like she has written many cliffhangers throughout the book.

This is my first book by this author and I can tell you it definitely will not be my last. As soon as I finished reading this book, I purchased Sierra by Taylor Dean. I just hope I can find time to read it soon. There are very few authors that can write such a dramatic story, but Taylor Dean has just proven that she can. 

I don’t even know what else to say without giving anything away. I liked all of the characters, but not really. If that makes sense. The author has created some remarkable characters and their lives that intertwine amongst one another. She has also been able to take such a sensitive and upsetting topic and write a wonderful love story. This story is definitely not for the faint of heart, but is also for the hopeless romantics. 

My favorite line from the book: 

Listen to me, you can take a precious jewel worth millions, dip it in mud, leave it dirty and stained, its beauty spoiled, and underneath it all it will still be worth millions.

Taylor Dean. I Have People (Kindle Locations 6902-6903).

I would definitely recommend this book to all readers of romance and women’s fiction. If you love Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult, or A.L. Jackson, this book is for you.

                                                                                               ~Dalene of A Date with a Book

Most of you know how big of a Taylor Dean fan I am and this book was no exception and it's totally not because I have a quote on the back of the printed copy! I loved this book, but not quite as much as Lancaster House. This is one of those books that I can't really talk about too much for fear of spoiling so I am going to keep this review brief.

At the beginning of the book I had a little trouble with how Holly spoke to everyone. I felt like she came across as really artificial, but as the story unfolds you realize that there is a reason why she is acting this way. Holly is so naive in the beginning, but she grows tremendously during the course of the story. There were times that I was so frustrated with her for the choices that she was making, but her situation is so real and as you are reading it you can't help but hurt for her.

This was a hard book to read because of the subject matter, but Ms. Dean does a wonderful job handling these scenes. Readers should be aware that this book does deal with domestic abuse. This isn't an issue that I have dealt with on a personal level, but I believe that the issue is handled well in this story. You feel for Holly deeply and you will root for her to make better choices. At it's heart this is a love story and has a great element of hope. It's wonderful to see that moment when Holly realizes that even though she started out alone she really does "have people".

I can never say enough about how great a storyteller Taylor Dean is. She writes stories that tug at your heart and make you feel no matter what genre. I highly recommend all of her books if you like wonderful, heartfelt stories with great characters and clean romance.

                                                                                             ~Shelly of House of A La Mode

I Have People is an emotional journey of a young woman named Holly Sinclair. She was in foster care all her life because her mother couldn’t stay clean long enough to take care of her and she never knew her father. As soon as she turned 18 she was released from foster care with no family or friends to go to. Because she doesn’t have anyone, she becomes the perfect target for domestic abuse. 

I don’t really want to say too much more about this wonderful story because I don’t want to give anything away. What I will say is that I totally admire Holly’s character. While I have personally never dealt with the types of situations she went through, I can completely see how and why she does the things she does. 

I recommend this book to any woman. I think it might even help some who find themselves in a dangerous relationship with someone. I smiled and cried and I will defiantly re-read this book one day!

                                                                                                ~Dani of Paulette's Papers

Taylor pens "I Have People" with realistic and relateable characters. The plot deals with love, domestic abuse and the characters healing process. A very well written story with a roller coaster of emotions in a difficult read, but totally well worth it. Highly recommended for all readers.

                                                                                                     ~Susan of My Cozie Corner

From the synopsis and the prologue you get what this book is about, or do you?

Yes, it’s about domestic abuse, about spousal abuse. A tough subject to write about.

Taylor does it as gently as she can. You read about the abuse Holly suffers at her husband’s beefy fists. The physical and emotional terror he inflicts.

You also read about Holly’s courage, her spirit that rises up when she’s had enough.

She awakens from a coma 8 months later and the first thing she says is “Gabriel.”

Where is her angel, her husband.

This is where you discover you don’t quite know where the story is going.

There is a mystery to be delved into. One that Holly’s husband , Gabriel, and her best friend, Angela are keeping hidden from her.

On several occasions, Holly catches them whispering when she enters the room.

I was waiting for her to get mad, to finally yell at them to tell her what they were hiding from her.

She knows they won’t tell her. Insisting she must remember on her own, when her mind is ready.

At first I thought she gave in too easily. But the more I thought about, I could see where she was probably terrified to remember. She knew it would be painful.

One scene I really liked was where Holly was explaining about her imagination and how it worked.

“Well it goes something like this. I’m in the elevator, staring at the back of a woman’s red coat, and I begin to think that maybe I should paint my living room wall red which leads to thinking that I really need to vacuum the living room, which leads to wondering what I’ll do this weekend…….” I’m just like that! My mother always told me, I think too much.

I adore Gabriel. He really is the boy scout Angela accuses him of being.

And who wouldn’t want a friend like Angela. She’s sweet and funny and a loyal friend. I’d like to read her story. And I’d like to get to know her pack of brothers too, especially Dimitri.

Maybe we’ll here from these characters again.

Until then, I urge you to read i have people. You’ll cry, you’ll laugh, you’ll want to kick someone, but most importantly, you’ll want to hug someone.

You’ll want to hug “your people.”

5 Stars for i have people

While I received this book to review, I went ahead and bought it so I could read it on my kindle. I have most of Taylor Dean’s books as paperbacks and will soon be adding this one to my bookshelf. Her covers are beautiful and when I love a book I have to be able to hold it. I’ll be adding more of Taylor’s books to my shelves as she releases them. Each and every one:)

                                                                                     ~Laura of  FUONLYKNEW

Other Reviews

I Have People is a deeply touching tale of sorrow turned to joy. Holly lives most of her life alone in the world. She is an easy victim for a bad relationship, until she gets the right job where she meets true friends who help her change her life. It has many elements that echo the difficulties so many in our world face today. The powerful message of the book is that through friendship and love--and the PEOPLE in our lives--we can overcome the bad to find true joy in living. As all of Taylor Dean's books, it is immensely enjoyable and brings each character to life like a lost friend. I highly recommend it.

S. Beckstrand, Folsom, CA

I found this novel to be romantic and yet mysterious in the way the story unfolded. It kept me questioning what would happen next in the life of this woman who I came to feel like was my best friend. This story has some phyiscal and emotional abuse in it which is so common these days in relationships. The story brings to light many of the heartaches this poor woman went through as she dealt with all of this. Is there a knight in shining armor to save her? Taylor Dean has a way of getting you into the plot so well that you feel like you are living the life of the characters right along with them. I loved this book as it was entertaining along with really making me think about life and what is truly important. Thumbs up once again Taylor!

C. Newgren, Canby, OR