Ten Thousand Charms (Crossroads of Grace #1)

I found this book on a 2nd hand stall and put it in my bag as I traveled on the train interstate. I could not put it down and found this to be a charming and inspiring escape. I could not relate to the main character really, but found the whole story quite entrancing. This is a book that simply incorporates God and the scriptures as part of the whole. This is the first of a trilogy of un-put-down-able books and that draw you in and hook you from the very beginning. They are stories of hope and inspiration. There is a readers guide at the end of this book as well.

If this is the very first book for Allison, where will she go from here? This book kept me interested, it was not predictable, and I certainly never bored. The characters were so realistic, I just loved big John William as he humbled himself in order to keep his baby daughter alive. This is a poignant story of a young, pregnant prostitute trying to plan for some kind of life all alone in the world. She, instead, makes some very good friends who give her the strength to take a chance. She is a feisty, pesky little gal, and the story is both funny and serious. The "deal" which she has cut with John is simply to nurse his child in exchange for her needs being met. As hard as Gloria tries to remain bitter and aloof, she is changed by a gentle older widow woman who takes her under her wing and teaches her how to be a wife. Emotions, suspense, surprise and tragedy all play a proper role in this Christian fiction book, and there is rarely if ever a page that does not hold a surprise for the reader. Thank you Allison Pittman, you have a new fan.

I absolutely loved this book! Very well-written, poignant and filled to the brim with God's grace and forgiveness. This is a story that will stick with anyone who reads it for quite some time. I can certainly see why this book is up for a Rita award. Highly recommend!!

This is a beautiful work of art... a story of a prostitute finding meaning in life through God's mercy and love... a man trusting his broken heart to love again... This is indeed an "up-until-three-in-the-morning" book... I couldn't put it down... If you love inspiring and romantic tales of God's love and mercy i encourage you to read this great piece of work...

I had been anxiously awaiting the author's debut, and I was not disappointed. Few books compel me to read them all in one sitting, and Ms. Pittman's book is now among those few. Though I could predict Glori-A's future, I had to read how she came to God and how she came to forgive her past. The historical realities add to the adventure of traveling to Wyoming; the harshness of the wilderness add to its reality. I do not usually read Christian romance but the references to religion were integral to the character's development. I had to agree with Gloria and John William - we do not sin against each other; we sin against Someone bigger than us, and only He/She/It can grant us that forgiveness. Great read. Back to waiting - for the next book in the series.

Pregnant Gloria returns to the nearest thing she can call home, Jewel Gunn's fancy brothel in Silver Peak, Wyoming Territory where she expects her former mentor to perform an abortion for her. However, Gloria changes her mind, but plans to abandon the baby at the brothel so she can reclaim her freedom. Also pregnant is haughty Katherine, wife of miner John William MacGregan. The two women give birth with Gloria surviving quite nicely after her daughter is born while Katherine dies after her son is born. John pays Gloria to be his son's "milk cow". However, when he concludes that the mine will close soon, he persuades Gloria to take her child and come with him and his son to start over in Oregon. She agrees to remain the cow if he raises her daughter as is; her plan being to leave them once the infants no longer depend on her milk. As she meets the kind Maureen Brewster who encourages her to believe that even a whore has room in the Lord's tent, tragedy strikes the unorthodox family, which in the past would have driven Gloria away, but this time she has a chance for a better life if she accepts God's grace. This is an interesting Americana romantic character study that looks deep into the mindset of a prostitute who sees a bleak future for herself. The cozy story line allows the reader to understand Gloria and why she feels the Lord would never accept someone like her. John and Maureen add friendship, love, and belief to the fine mid nineteenth century tale, but this is Gloria's story. Harriet Klausner