Trust

by Daines L. Reed

How do you free your family when you’re not sure how to free yourself?

For Ruthena Gentry and her book club friends, problems with relationships, kids, and money bring new frustrations every day.

But when Ruthena is forced to flee her tumultuous marriage—and the lives of her friends come tumbling down, too— the ladies fear that a future fraught with turmoil is becoming inevitable.

Caught in the quicksand of daily survival and desperate for a change, Ruth and her friends make a bold move towards freedom. Ending the legacy of poverty that has plagued their families for generations will require epic faith and these friends are down for the cause. The problem is that time is not on their side and freedom is never free.

Don’t miss Trust, the first novel of the Trust series by Daines L. Reed.

It’s an Inspirational, soul-stirring story about sisterhood and resilience that will stay with you long after you read the last page.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, African American, Book Club, Drama, African American Literature

173 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2019

Reviews

[Schae · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE: Full review with quotes, reflections, and vulnerability: https://schaesplace.com/blogs/books/b...

This… was absolutely incredible. It was a short read! I’m so surprised there isn’t more praise and acknowledgment for a book like this - it covers so many themes that would be great topics for book clubs (especially black women)

I wanted to find something that I could relate to, because I was having a really bad day and I needed something I could escape into but come out on the other side feeling better. This took the cake.

It makes me extremely grateful for the book club I’m a part of, bc we may be new to each other but it has potential to be something that brings black women together to uplift and inspire each other constantly. In this book the women mostly all work together, but they changed their cute little romance/fantasy book club into something much more transformative and beneficial to each of them AND their generations to come after them.

They trusted each other and themselves to hold one another accountable.

They trusted God and what He has in store for them.

They trust that things will work in their favor.

I could read this over and over again… looking forward to the other two in the series. Thank you for inspiring me to continue striving to be a better version of myself because I deserve that. <3

[Coffee&Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not... too bad. I was rooting for everyone and then the story just fell off of a cliff. Like... what happened? And why? Did anyone have any joy? Was a difficult read, subject wise. A lot of pain and trauma and then an ending that wasn't satisfying.

[Valerie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Confusing plot and story line

This book did not provide simple things a book should give. The beginning middle and the end. This book feels like it was all over the place with multiple messages. At one point I thought it addressed domestic violence, it appears the author changed her mind. Suddenly the abuser became a patient, I thought the book was embarking on forgiveness. No development of forgiveness. Suddenly money became a focus of discussion, and the author attempted to seemingly set up a trust account. I’m not a financial guru, but the actions didn’t seem to align with what a professional would advise.

This is a selected book for our April discussion. Often the discussion makes for a better experience with the book.

[Latrice Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ended weird

I liked that the book showed a realistic view on how people of the Black community can get into a financial rut. Not that we’re just “bad with money but uninformed. I didn’t like how it ended with the ladies just receiving the money. I would have like to know that they created something with it. Don’t know if I’d recommend it. Maybe as a motivational book I would.

[Mahoghani 23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life Changes

A book worth reading that takes several women down the road to making better monetary decisions for themselves and their families. There's humor, love, learning, abuse, mental illness, and death but nothing changes if we don't change ourselves.

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a heartfelt book. It hits on so many issues prevalent in the black community: financial literacy; the emotional, physical, and financial strains of being a caregiver; domestic violence; overextending ourselves for our children even when it hurts us; learning to say no to others so that we don't have to say no to ourselves; self love and care. Just so much.

Such a beautifully written story with genuine and flawed characters. You can probably see a little of yourself in all of these characters, or know people who are like these characters. An eye-opener and discussion starter for sure. A GREAT book for book clubs looking for a good read to begin the new year. There are sure to be some very lively and thought-provoking discussions with this one!

Warning: the ending is a jaw dropper!

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked that the author of this book focused on building black wealth through a story line, however the story was dull. I rushed through it because it did not hold my attention. There was no connection for me with the characters which I found odd since I used to run a book club for years. The only relatable incident was when she was talking to her son about wasting his money and making better decisions. That part was relatable to me, but still no connection to the characters. I really wanted to like this book, thought I had found another Christian author to latch onto, but I can’t even bring myself to move onto book no.2.

The quick rundown, you have a group of women who meet for a book club. They love to read romance novels and they also pool their money together. They invite a newcomer to the bookclub and she wants to introduce them to a better way of building their wealth and also change their mindset.

[Melanie S. · Rating 1 out of 5]

There’s potential in the storyline but somewhere the author must have gotten confused because there was absolutely no consistency in the plot. It started out “good” but the rising action and “climax” happened so quickly. The character and plot development was poor which contributed to reader frustration and confusion. And that ending? It made absolutely no sense. Maybe if the author had closed out the book with chapter 25 I could’ve given a better rating.

If anything, read the book off Libby because it’s not worth purchasing.

[Tammy Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

#GetTheBook
“How do you free your family when you’re not sure how to free yourself”
This book touches on so many things such as, overcoming domestic abuse, care giver fatigue, financial dispair and more.
This group of ladies was the perfect combination to helping one another to face another day.
Who is your one? Is your circle ⭕️ solid?

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to the books I've been reading, this story was definitely an improvement BUT it still let me down in the end.
***
Ruthana Gentry doesn't know how her life got this out of control. Why even the smallest of purchases can put her so far behind or why she's staying in a loveless marriage with a verbally and mentally abusive husband. After a near brutal assault, Ruth gets the courage to finally leave and she and her friends embark on a journey to better their lives as well as the lives of their loved ones.
***
This story started off slow but I stuck with it and it did end up picking up a bit. I will say that towards the middle of reading, I became disappointed with the direction the book was taking, which started to read as a little unnatural. Like it didn't really fit for the specific setup. But I was giving it a chance. And you guessed it, I was let down again!!! 😭😭 That ending. I could go on and on about how unexpected, poorly written and lazy it was. I wish I was inside the author's mind, when she decided that it was a good idea to go that route!! It was greatly disappointing and ruined the story for me.

[Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trust is the first book in the series. I read the 2nd book first, not knowing there was a series, as it was gifted to me. This book is a rich nugget in my season. I related to Ruth and Cynthia most, ending something you knew should have ended prior too, and making away for yourself when you give to so many.

I love how the Book Club women supported each other and found ways to uplift each other. The take-always from the financial books are important for everyone. Building and encouraging financial responsibility is major feet in itself. They were able to reach a goal together though their personal lives were completely different.

This book isn’t for everyone, as it has some slow moments, but it’s worth the read. African American women bringing together their knowledge of life, God, finances, love and books!

[Maria Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish the characters were more developed. I like the fact that they got together to help each other do better. It ended so abruptly, I really tried to appreciate all that the author was trying to do.

[Italy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did an awesome job at conveying what it is like to be a black woman that desires more out of life. The more was different for each woman in the book club but the yearning for better was the same. I think this is how the book club and eventually the trust fund were so successful. Each woman had made up in their mind that they wanted more, wanted better. It was the desire for change in their respective lives that resonated with me because each character had their own issues but knew that change needed to come. The sense of genuine friendship, womanhood, sisterhood is ever present for the women and that was very heartwarming. I was genuinely shocked by the ending and somewhat disappointed because it was too realistic to real life that when things are starting to align then something goes wrong. I will be reading the second and third installments.

[Chantae Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspiring

This book has given me a lot to think about. I really enjoyed it and look forward to more. Time to start saving!

[C.M. Lockhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust by Daines L. Reed was the Written in Melanin Book Club pick for January 2020. This is the type of book I wouldn't have picked out for myself, simply because I tend to drift more toward YA, New Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Sci-fi type books, and this book is not that! 😂

This book will make you introspective, let me just lead with that. Ruth is the main character and she's struggling, both financially and within her marriage. Her only refuge is the book club that she has with her coworkers once a month, but there's more to this book club than meets the eye, and these women are coming together to change their lives.

The author did an amazing job making this book relatable. All the women in this book sound like they could easily be a friend, aunt, cousin, or grandmother. The situations they face and the problems they deal with are things that anyone could understand and empathize with. The whole story feels like it could have been overheard in a waiting line.

This book gets under your skin, into your head, and these characters make their way into your heart. It touches on the aspects of money, family, work, and self-care and it makes the reader introspective. It wasn't in a bad way, but in the way where you look at your life and examine how your thinking is different from the women in the book, or if it even is different. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good story about people not afraid to face themselves, break cycles and change their futures.

There's a full review at https://WrittenInMelanin.com. The book club discussion of Trust can be heard on the Written in Melanin Podcast, episode 10, at https://anchor.fm/WrittenInMelanin or wherever podcasts are available at.

[JayBee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where do I begin?

The concept of this book could have been an inspiration to women of color, however something went terribly wrong beginning in Chapter 1.

I not only found myself reading a book filled with stereotype-casting of African-American women, riddled with misconceptions of financial illiteracies, I also found myself reading a book filled with financial, legal and investment misinformation.

As someone who has worked in finance and all that entails for 40+ years, I read several inaccuracies regarding land trust, investing, community property laws, mechanics lien laws of GA, and fiduciary agreements (to name a few).

I know we as women have struggles and challenges, however we are also smart, intelligent and educated. Could the author not share a "glimpse" of any of these attributes? Could the author not give any of the women in the book club a sense of power vs. poverty? Why were all the women struggling in some capacity? Is the author insinuating that "most" African-American women live from paycheck to paycheck, have no viable transportation, and settle for significant others that are "worthless"?

As I continued to read, I became increasing enraged by the lack of literary respect given to me and my sisters of color. Not only are women of color forming investment clubs throughout the country to learn more about mechanisms for building generational wealth; we are venturing into these meeting from all social/economic backgrounds and professions.

This book was a "travesty" on so many levels and if I could have awarded (yes, awarded) "0" stars, that would have been my choice.

We will be discussing during our book club meeting on Saturday; I am confident our discussion will be engaging with various points of view.

[April (whataprilreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recognize this book is the first in an ongoing series, but it felt unfinished. Characters felt grossly underdeveloped, the plot was thin, and the ending events felt far too abrupt. The concept behind this book is beautiful, and while it felt a tiny bit preachy at some points, serves as a perfect kick start to Black women’s financial freedom.

I wish this was longer! There’s so much more I want to explore on each member of the book club, some names were thrown in at the end and we heard nothing from them! It was a fast read, but left me wanting. I might check out the second book in the series, but from what I can see it explores a totally different story line — not based on money and finances — and that’s what drew me in to Trust in the first place.

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[Denise Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a quick, mediocre read. Ending lacked closure, how did Ruth die? Story about sisterhood and gaining financial freedom. I liked the spiritual and book club parts. It bored me talking about finances but I guess that’s what “trust” was eventually about. Discussed domestic violence, raising adult children, and caregiving. It was relatable about enabling relatives. Book club turned investment club. I tried reading the sequel “good morning beautiful” but I couldn’t get pass the fourth chapter. I was disappointed that it didn’t seem to pick up from last book ending, like Ruth’s death and how she died

[Alva Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good first novel

Not knowing what to expect, I was disturbed in the beginning by all the sadness. I had to convince myself to finish this book. I am so glad that I did. I even found God in these words. I especially enjoyed how today's problems could be seen in the pages of older and more ancient texts. I will wait patiently for the next installment.

[Tamecia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book as I was book shopping and decided to give it a try. I also bought the second book in this series not even knowing if I was going to like them. Best decision I ever made. This book was amazing. I feel as though I can't even put it into words how much this book touched me. Immediately going into book 2.

[Andrea J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome and thought provoking

I started reading this book as part of a book club. When I heard the title, I was thinking it was about trusting in relationships; but as I read, I found out that it was something totally different. I hope to implement what these ladies did in our book club. So empowering for women!

[Lillian Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome.

This book though is fiction really brings forth to light how important it is to be financially knowledgeable. How Financial Trusts are not just for the rich and the famous but low and middle income families can create generational wealth one dollar at a time. Makes me ensure I have my act together for my children and children’s children.

[Andrea D. Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to like it

Potential unfulfilled. Good characters that lack development. Story becomes preachy at times. Author should develop the story line and work on plot and dialogue. Will read the next story in the series to see if there is improvement.

[Charisse Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few friends join together for book club and walk away with so much more. Despite their circumstances they are able to form a trust to leave their loved ones a legacy. It is sad, funny and honest. I loved the novel.

[Elise Simmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel started off slow to me but it was setting the stage for what would come later for each of the characters. Surprisingly, I found this book to be more informative (about financial responsibility) than entertaining but that's a good thing :)

[ABAgail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book!!! I look forward to the day when I can start a book club again!

[Kanisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, inspiring novel to read.

[Ashley Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A black woman's strength is unmatched, especially coupled with faith and a good hammer by her side. Ruth is a married woman who is constantly working to avoid the discomfort at home. While her daughter is grown, with a child of her own, Ruth is in an insufferable marriage, which sadly has become so routine and customary she's reduced herself to staying with him. He's a drunk with health problems and over the years they have just grown apart. A sterilization clerk at the hospital, Ruth usually works two shifts, with a visit to the Y in-between shifts, to avoid being home. There is nothing more unattractive than a man who doesn't care for himself, and if she's laying out his meds for him, chances are he doesn't have the capacity to love her like she needs. Luckily Ruth has community at work. Every day she works side by side in the sterilization closet with her best friend Irene. They look out for one another and support each other like sisters. Irene knows the issues that Ruth has to deal with in her home life, so it is no surprise to Irene when one night Ruth's husband comes after her with a knife and she's forced to leave the house through the window. When Ruth's safety is called into question, (she's already been sleeping with a hammer under her pillow every night), she decides it's time to give up on the marriage that has long since fizzled out, and file for divorce. Ruth is forced out of the marital home however, because the land that the house is on, belongs to her husband's family. Nonetheless, Ruth goes to stay with Irene in her trailer. With bad money management skills, Ruth is forced to withdrawal from her 401K to file for the divorce and put a deposit down on her own trailer. Life continues on for Ruth as she embarks on new beginnings. She's a bit unsettled under her new roof, but luckily, she has her friends at the hospital as well as the book club which meets monthly. Cynthia, a church member as well as a coworker helps to lead the book club. Cynthia is facing some life challenges as well. She's taking care of her mother because she is so rude, all the home health nurses quit! Cynthia still wants to meet a man, marry, and have kids but she feels like she's going to miss her destiny since she's forced to move in with her mother and her mother will not let her take any time for herself. Distraught at how life is going, the book club is a great distraction. Julene is invited as a newcomer to the club, and she gets angry and leaves upon realizing that it is Irene's birth month, and she is gifted with a thousand dollars. Julene has never been more offended! Who has money like that to throw around?! Ruth lets her in on the ways of the club. Each person gives $100 a month and there are 10 members. When your birth month comes around, you are gifted with an envelope. An idea sparks and Julene thinks that they should start a trust fund and contribute so that everybody's family can benefit and develop their own financial freedom instead of asking the bank for money when they need it. She explained that's how other cultures do it, to keep money in their family to help with tuition and mortgages. It's then, that they start on their way to creating financial awareness. After a couple of books, they establish an organized business meeting with officers and meeting minutes. They are doing this and taking it seriously. They are getting advice from trust attorneys and saving their coins! It's hard for Irene and Ruth who have grown children that they are trying to help, to turn them down in order to stay committed to the growth of the trust. It will only benefit them in the long run to keep contributing to the trust. Cynthia, who works in hospital administration, searches for Ruth to get a signature for some paperwork. Ruth has some benefits that she needs to decide what to do with since she took money out of her 401K, but the forms doesn't make any sense to her. After reading a couple finance books in her book club, she decides to call an attorney for some advice on the paperwork to decide what to do with her benefits. She discovers that in the beginning of her journey at the hospital she saved the hospital money organizing the surgical instruments and creating a procedure for the surgeons to get their needs met that would have cost the hospital a lot of money had they used outside consultation. To compensate her, rather than giving her a raise, they issued her hospital shares that were probably worth minimal at the time of issuance but today, as Ruth sat in the attorney's office, they valued $500,000! The look of bewilderment she must have had on her face! Can you imagine all the obstacles and financial strife Ruth faced only to realize that she did have a nice savings! As the book concludes, it is unfortunate that we learn that Ruth passed. In her wake she left sold hospital shares to the book club participants as the augmentation of their trust fund in which they were able to implement. Ruth was such a beautiful and faithful person, the glory of her life with live forever through the established trust and her friends that live on to tell the story of her legacy.

[Loretta Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful debut novel!

I usually don't review series until I have read all of the book's related to the series but I felt compelled to comment on Trust. I was an Estates and Trust Paralegal during my working years. The reason I chose this profession was because I was a single mom with medical issues and very concerned about my child's future of something were to happen to me. I discovered something fascinating while I was in school. Black people don't like to talk about death. I've seen families fall apart after the death of someone because the deceased didn't take the time to put in writing what their final wishes were. Then during our life time we don't want to consider how our death will affect our love one's when we don't leave money to pay for final expenses. We get our nails done, but those red bottom shoes but don't think about investing in an insurance policy. Most of my Caucasian friends have parents and grandparents who take out those Gerber Life Insurance policies, in best in stocks or give out monetary gifts to their children as soon as the child is born. They think about future legacies and how they can provide for the next generation. We have to do better people! This book illustrates how we can prepare for retirement and leave legacies without hurting ourselves financially and improving our live and the lives of our love one's if we just take time to prepare. God is not going to bring us home just because we have a discussion about live after death. If you don't want that certain someone to have that special treasure you love you better write down or give to who you want to have it before you leave this world. Cause once you're gone you have so rights.

[Valarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost didn't finish this title but I told myself this was my push thru year and I'm going to finish what I start so I made myself pick this book back up. It is definitely not a bad book, it just left a lot of loose ends. They women were all connected through their place of employment but the majority of them were never flushed our characters. It seems like they were just thrown in to fill up the book club but there were not connections to them. I also didn't like that everything was told about the books they were reading except for the titles. I figured out the first book by the clues but why put so much into describing the books just to leave out the title. I kept going back after the first book trying to see if I missed something.
I also didn't like there there was never an explanation for some things. Such as why a husband as controlling and mean as Ruth's husband seemed to be he just let her go without a fight or why he ended up in the hospital or why was Julene a CNA after being a paralegal or what happened to Ruth.
And I really didn't like the ending. It just ended so abruptly. Plus why would Ruth being the type of Mother that she was leave all her money not to her only child and grandchild.
Now I did like her prayers and that aspect of the book. I also felt like I learned some thing from the financial side because o wrote out the list she had. I also like the friendship between Irene and Ruth and the beginning bone between Ruth and Cynthia. I liked that the ladies decided to hold each other accountable and were able to be there for each other.