Trust is a contemporary women’s fiction novel written by Daines L Reed. For Ruth, life had become a razor-sharp struggle. Her husband was a violent alcoholic, and she slept fitfully behind locked doors, with her Bible and a hammer under her pillow. Her sleep, what little there was, was marred by terrifyingly realistic dreams. Awakening, she’d tiptoe quietly out of the house that had become a prison. Ruth pulled double and even triple shifts at the hospital where she worked. For breaks, she’d go to the nearby YMCA and pound out five miles on the treadmill and then return to work. The naps she’d take in the on-call room were the safest moments of rest she enjoyed, and still those nightmares tormented her. Ruth’s daughter was grown now and on her own, so there was little need for her to stay in an abusive relationship that held nothing for her anymore. Her life, her family, were her friends from the hospital. Somehow they would help her through the challenges of getting her life back on course, even as she helped them with theirs. They were there for each other, and it meant the world to each of them.

Daines L Reed’s contemporary women’s fiction novel, Trust, is a well-written and moving story about faith and trust, and how the characters in this novel reconcile the difficulties and disappointments in their lives with the precepts of a faith that promises that God has good things in store for them. Reed’s characters are real, strong and enduring women who are inspiring in their resilience and care for each other. I loved being witness to their book club meetings and witnessing how they empower themselves. Reed’s story is hard to put down as their stories are so compelling. Trust is most highly recommended.

Trust by Daines L. Reed is a story full of inspiration. It features a group of women working in a hospital in various capacities. Ruth, the main character, is in the middle of a turbulent marriage owing to her husband’s abusive nature and alcoholism. She lives in fear and dread of him every day until she decides she has had enough. Ruth begins to find out that the process of divorce is much more difficult than she realized initially. On top of that, her grown-up daughter requires financial help from her consistently. Even so, Ruth and her friends decide to turn their lives around and start saving for their future. They refuse to remain bound by financial limitations their whole lives and they begin to take conscious steps as a team to change their circumstances.

Daines L. Reed’s Trust shows what is possible when a decision is made to change one’s mindset and redefine their future. As a team, the group supports each other through multiple challenges. The themes of sisterhood and financial freedom, prominent in the book, are very relevant to many women today. I especially liked how the women stood together and helped each other out when any of them was in need. The characters are also authentic, each having their own flaws and struggles. Through Ruth’s abusive marriage I was able to understand why many victims choose to remain and how support and love from friends can help in such a situation. I loved reading Trust because it is relevant; it also features real issues affecting many women and it also provides practical solutions.

Trust: A Novel by Daines L Reed is a compelling narrative with strong female characters, a story that is as inspiring as it is entertaining. Ruthena Gentry’s life hasn’t been ideal and the challenges come up every day — kids, difficult relationships, and poverty. Her marriage only gets worse as the days go by and she is forced to run. Things aren’t working well for her book club friends who struggle with poverty and hardship. Ruth and her friends make the resolute decision to free themselves from the shackles of poverty by embracing a bold idea. But how long do they have to make it work? And can they build the unshakable trust in themselves and in each other that will see them through the challenging days as they work towards their freedom?

The suspense is strong as the reader wants to see what becomes of the characters in the book and if they can stick together and allow their friendship to reward their choices in the end. The story is beautiful and the author does a great job in exploring the lives of typically poor and driven people. It is interesting to notice how Ruth and her friends take inspiration from their painful existence and decide to transform their lives. The author develops themes of friendship, family, and love with a unique skill and writes about family relationships from an experienced and convincing perspective. The characters are real and they are enriched by their backgrounds and relationships. Daines L Reed teaches readers in Trust: A Novel that great dreams are possible and that no one succeeds alone; here is a book that explores the power of friendship and the rewards of resilience.