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Crossroads of Grace #1
Ten Thousand Charms
Unfit for Love?
Pregnant—by a man who will never know or care. Gloria, born into a life of prostitution, sees only one solution: get rid of the child. But then she meets John William MacGregan, a miner, left with a newborn daughter and no one to care for her when his wife died during childbirth. So John and Gloria strike a deal. Gloria will care for Kate, and John will eventually raise her son. There is no offer of, nor seeking for, a hand in marriage. When John leaves the mines to seek his fortune in the new Oregon Territory , Gloria, Kate, and baby Danny must go with him. Yanked away from a life of prostitution, Gloria must finally face the pain that has always plagued her, and her longings for a home, a family, and a life free from shame. Ten Thousand Charms is a beautiful tale of an empty heart floundering…and falling straight into the arms of Christ.
Reader's Guide Included!
Pregnant—by a man who will never know or care. Gloria, born into a life of prostitution, sees only one solution: get rid of the child. But then she meets John William MacGregan, a miner, left with a newborn daughter and no one to care for her when his wife died during childbirth. So John and Gloria strike a deal. Gloria will care for Kate, and John will eventually raise her son. There is no offer of, nor seeking for, a hand in marriage. When John leaves the mines to seek his fortune in the new Oregon Territory , Gloria, Kate, and baby Danny must go with him. Yanked away from a life of prostitution, Gloria must finally face the pain that has always plagued her, and her longings for a home, a family, and a life free from shame. Ten Thousand Charms is a beautiful tale of an empty heart floundering…and falling straight into the arms of Christ.
Reader's Guide Included!
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2005
30 people are currently reading
793 people want to read
About the author
Allison Pittman
32 books655 followersAllison Pittman is the author of For Time and Eternity, Stealing Home, the Crossroads of Grace series, and her nonfiction debut, Saturdays With Stella. A high-school English teacher, she serves as director of the theater arts group at her church. She is also the co-president of a dynamic Christian writers group in the San Antonio, Texas area, where she makes her home with her husband and their three boys.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
September 6, 2013
I absolutely could not put this down! Fun-loving characters, gripping story line and a wonderful message of God's love! The hero in this story is so "real". I love to read books where the hero is the perfect gentlemen, has amazing self-control and who never gives up on his woman but that's more fantasy than realistic. This guy is not the most good-looking man she has ever laid eyes on, nor does he always say the right thing. He is just a "real" guy trying to get through life. I will be looking for more books by Allison Pittman.
November 7, 2017
Ten Thousand Charms by Allison Pittman
Time Frame: I seriously don't know…pre-1890 for sure
Location: Wyoming Territory and somewhere in Oregon
Main Characters:
Gloria: Prostitute
John William MacGregan: Ex-boxer
Wow.
I love to finish a story and say that. Probably because I am sure it will be a memorable book. The title is a bit odd. It's three words from a hymn, seemingly unrelated to the characters or story. But if you know the rest of the stanza it would give an indication of what the theme will be.
Synopsis
The characters were so real and so well described. Oh, Maureen was nearly perfect, but a lot of gentle, God loving older women are sweet and kind. But John William is not handsome, has messed up ears from boxing and is in no way perfect. Gloria is roughened, but in some ways fragile and really funny at times…not book-learned, but quite smart.
This book gave the gospel throughout the story. I've never read a book that gave so many clearly defined lessons on the grace of God, what His Son did on the cross, what salvation meant for so many people in the book, and the amazing love of a Father to allow his Son to die for people who could hardly believe they were worthy of that kind of love. Gloria had no good role models at any point in her life including preachers who used her body then shouted that a whore such as she should not be allowed in the house of God. But with the help of people who were not afraid to show her patience and love, she learned what her worth was to God.
Some reviewers were bothered by the prostitution subject matter in the book. But if Christians are bothered by this, then they would be bothered by the book of Hosea, the story of Rahab, John 4, Ezekiel 23, even Revelation 17. The point is, no one is beyond redemption, and a sad life of prostitution brought before the cross of Christ can bring about repentance and thankfulness greater than many can imagine.
I loved this book. The ending was a bother to some, but honestly, so many epilogues are the same. They get married, have children and live happily ever after. I like the way this book ended. You see changes in two hearts that God will make into one joy filled future.
Time Frame: I seriously don't know…pre-1890 for sure
Location: Wyoming Territory and somewhere in Oregon
Main Characters:
Gloria: Prostitute
John William MacGregan: Ex-boxer
Wow.
I love to finish a story and say that. Probably because I am sure it will be a memorable book. The title is a bit odd. It's three words from a hymn, seemingly unrelated to the characters or story. But if you know the rest of the stanza it would give an indication of what the theme will be.
Synopsis
The characters were so real and so well described. Oh, Maureen was nearly perfect, but a lot of gentle, God loving older women are sweet and kind. But John William is not handsome, has messed up ears from boxing and is in no way perfect. Gloria is roughened, but in some ways fragile and really funny at times…not book-learned, but quite smart.
This book gave the gospel throughout the story. I've never read a book that gave so many clearly defined lessons on the grace of God, what His Son did on the cross, what salvation meant for so many people in the book, and the amazing love of a Father to allow his Son to die for people who could hardly believe they were worthy of that kind of love. Gloria had no good role models at any point in her life including preachers who used her body then shouted that a whore such as she should not be allowed in the house of God. But with the help of people who were not afraid to show her patience and love, she learned what her worth was to God.
Some reviewers were bothered by the prostitution subject matter in the book. But if Christians are bothered by this, then they would be bothered by the book of Hosea, the story of Rahab, John 4, Ezekiel 23, even Revelation 17. The point is, no one is beyond redemption, and a sad life of prostitution brought before the cross of Christ can bring about repentance and thankfulness greater than many can imagine.
I loved this book. The ending was a bother to some, but honestly, so many epilogues are the same. They get married, have children and live happily ever after. I like the way this book ended. You see changes in two hearts that God will make into one joy filled future.
May 11, 2018
The premise of this book was so much like Francine Rivers Redeeming Love that I wanted to try it.
Gloria was born into prostitution, and finds herself pregnant with no where to go. She makes a deal with a madam to stay outside her brothel until the baby is born, and then work for her.
Her friend Sadie is a good at helping birth babies and helps her bring her son into the world. She is called to help a local couple birth their baby, but the mother dies. So the father, John, uses Gloria as a wet nurse. He is ready to leave the area, and offers to take Gloria with him. She agrees, as long as when the babies are weaned, he will raise her son so he won’t be growing up in the same world she did.
There wasn’t a lot of chemistry between John and Gloria. You could tell he was attracted to her, but that was about it. The spark just wasn’t there.
I’d recommend just going and reading Redeeming Love and skip this one.
3.5 Stars.
Gloria was born into prostitution, and finds herself pregnant with no where to go. She makes a deal with a madam to stay outside her brothel until the baby is born, and then work for her.
Her friend Sadie is a good at helping birth babies and helps her bring her son into the world. She is called to help a local couple birth their baby, but the mother dies. So the father, John, uses Gloria as a wet nurse. He is ready to leave the area, and offers to take Gloria with him. She agrees, as long as when the babies are weaned, he will raise her son so he won’t be growing up in the same world she did.
There wasn’t a lot of chemistry between John and Gloria. You could tell he was attracted to her, but that was about it. The spark just wasn’t there.
I’d recommend just going and reading Redeeming Love and skip this one.
3.5 Stars.
April 30, 2021
So I’m not a Christian and came into this book because it sounded like an interesting historical fiction plot. I’ve read Christian themed books where the message was the biggest part and plot a secondary plot, which is very annoying, but I was happy to see that this book didn’t fall into that trope.
This book did so many things right, both in the plot and the overall coming to God themes. The slow progression, where Gloria questions, debates, and struggles to accept religions, of her becoming a believer was realistic. The religious themes were integrated into the plot well. It never felt like the author made the plot come to a screeching halt in order to preach to the audience for a while.
I appreciate that there was no real slut shaming here. Sure, the character herself (and a few side characters) felt shame, but at no point did it seem like the author looked down at the character. It portrays the prostitutes as good, if flawed, people who are just doing a job. It doesn’t glamorize it or show all of them as miserable all the time, but as individuals with different dreams and desires- these ladies felt like real women. On a similar note, it called out some Biblical sexism, so awesome.
It also depicted how people deal with trauma in different ways (and how those ways can change over time), from finding religion and taking comfort in it to steeling yourself against it and moving on as though it’s nothing. This also made the characters feel real.
My one big complaint is that the ending was super abrupt. It just...ended in the middle of a scene. There was no real closure, for the characters or plot.
This book did so many things right, both in the plot and the overall coming to God themes. The slow progression, where Gloria questions, debates, and struggles to accept religions, of her becoming a believer was realistic. The religious themes were integrated into the plot well. It never felt like the author made the plot come to a screeching halt in order to preach to the audience for a while.
I appreciate that there was no real slut shaming here. Sure, the character herself (and a few side characters) felt shame, but at no point did it seem like the author looked down at the character. It portrays the prostitutes as good, if flawed, people who are just doing a job. It doesn’t glamorize it or show all of them as miserable all the time, but as individuals with different dreams and desires- these ladies felt like real women. On a similar note, it called out some Biblical sexism, so awesome.
It also depicted how people deal with trauma in different ways (and how those ways can change over time), from finding religion and taking comfort in it to steeling yourself against it and moving on as though it’s nothing. This also made the characters feel real.
My one big complaint is that the ending was super abrupt. It just...ended in the middle of a scene. There was no real closure, for the characters or plot.
April 30, 2022
The cover model on this book intrigued me so I had to read it. I also love
the old hymn so there is that.
Once I started, however, I couldn't help but compare this book to Redeeming Love
by Francine Rivers the whole time I was reading. I have to wonder why the author chose
a topic so close to a very famous and classic Christian romance.
At the same time, it was an interesting exercise to consider the differences. In Redeeming Love, Michael Hosea is almost too good to be human, though he was a believable character. In this book, the hero is seriously flawed and maybe an easier match for Gloria. We aren't quite as involved in Gloria's past as we were in Angel's in RL because we never go back and experience the horror firsthand. That makes it easier on the reader but less impactful.
Finally, these characters share a tragedy in a way that the two in RL never did--no spoilers--but the dark moment is harsh. If I'd known, I might not have read the book because what happened is my worst nightmare.
In the end, though, as a person of faith, I am supposed to be able to trust God in everything. I hope I'm not tested, but these characters followed despite it all. That is something worth reading.
the old hymn so there is that.
Once I started, however, I couldn't help but compare this book to Redeeming Love
by Francine Rivers the whole time I was reading. I have to wonder why the author chose
a topic so close to a very famous and classic Christian romance.
At the same time, it was an interesting exercise to consider the differences. In Redeeming Love, Michael Hosea is almost too good to be human, though he was a believable character. In this book, the hero is seriously flawed and maybe an easier match for Gloria. We aren't quite as involved in Gloria's past as we were in Angel's in RL because we never go back and experience the horror firsthand. That makes it easier on the reader but less impactful.
Finally, these characters share a tragedy in a way that the two in RL never did--no spoilers--but the dark moment is harsh. If I'd known, I might not have read the book because what happened is my worst nightmare.
In the end, though, as a person of faith, I am supposed to be able to trust God in everything. I hope I'm not tested, but these characters followed despite it all. That is something worth reading.
December 13, 2012
3.5 stars
This book is compared to Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I can see the similarities but I think Redeeming Love is a better story. Ten Thousand Charms is an interesting story about a prostitute being needed as a mother and how she learns to accept true love.
I did have a question about the theology presented. One of the characters tells our heroine that "it's God and God alone that we sin against. You see? Not against each other. Not against our children" (299). Is this Biblical? I know she's referring to Psalm 51:4 but I'm not sure that one verse is enough to support an entire belief. If you don't sin against other people, why is forgiveness important?
This book is compared to Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I can see the similarities but I think Redeeming Love is a better story. Ten Thousand Charms is an interesting story about a prostitute being needed as a mother and how she learns to accept true love.
I did have a question about the theology presented. One of the characters tells our heroine that "it's God and God alone that we sin against. You see? Not against each other. Not against our children" (299). Is this Biblical? I know she's referring to Psalm 51:4 but I'm not sure that one verse is enough to support an entire belief. If you don't sin against other people, why is forgiveness important?
August 19, 2008
I was okay up till the end. **SPOILERS** Killing Baby Kate? Okay I know the author needed a reason to "test" the characters faith, but that just didn't do it for me, and then the ending itself I was just like...that's it?
Granted I don't read many Christian Romance novels, so maybe this is a standard ending, but I just expected something more.
Granted I don't read many Christian Romance novels, so maybe this is a standard ending, but I just expected something more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2022
This book has my heart 🥹 Similar plot to redeeming love, so if you loved that book you’ll love this one. It’s so easy to fall in love with the characters and it held my attention the whole time! I feel like ending left something’s out but other than that this is for sure a 5 star book! The only thing that would make it better in my opinion is if the series continued on with this story.
May 6, 2016
I thought this was an excellent story. It wasn't always happy, but life is that way. This is really a story of two people finding their way to God and to each other after pain-filled pasts. Allison Pittman is an awesome writer who will tackle unpleasant situations--all to bring glory to God.
August 1, 2024
I have wildly mixed emotions about this book. Part of me wants to say: “The ending! The ending. The ending! Grrr. So unhappy. 😢😢😢 I hate this book,” but the other part of me feels like: “wow, um… I need to think about that some more.” The story is very raw. The tragedy of prostitution is not glazed over. Pittman holds no punches. There are two scenes in particular that were really upsetting to me. However, there were other sections that absolutely sparkled, where God’s word was used beautifully the way it was intended: to seek and save the lost. In the end, I both hate this book and respect it. If readers can stand the grittier parts there are diamonds to be found.
April 23, 2016
SUMMARY: Pregnant—by a man who will never know or care. Gloria, born into a life of prostitution, sees only one solution: get rid of the child. But then she meets John William MacGregan, a miner, left with a newborn daughter and no one to care for her when his wife died during childbirth. So John and Gloria strike a deal. Gloria will care for Kate, and John will eventually raise her son. There is no offer of, nor seeking for, a hand in marriage. When John leaves the mines to seek his fortune in the new Oregon Territory , Gloria, Kate, and baby Danny must go with him. Yanked away from a life of prostitution, Gloria must finally face the pain that has always plagued her, and her longings for a home, a family, and a life free from shame. Ten Thousand Charms is a beautiful tale of an empty heart floundering…and falling straight into the arms of Christ.
REVIEW: This is book 1 in the Crossroads of Grace series. Many readers may find the dominant theme in this book hard to read about as it focuses on prostitution during the development of the western US. But this has been a fact of life since Bible times with the temple prostitutes, and Jesus asked us to reach out to the least of these.
This is an engaging and well written story. Pittman has a great talent with words and detail and faith shines throughout the storyline as Grace is continually exposed to God's love through John, Maureen, and the church family. The chinks in her heart are opened one by one through each of them.
The main characters are gritty and real. Gloria struggles with leaving the only past she remembers behind and can't see any possibility that God can forgive her for the life she's led. John knows he's been forgiven for his past through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ even though sometimes he falters. I loved how patient John was with Gloria as he realized she had no skills whatsoever beyond being a good mother to trek into the wilderness with 2 babies. Maureen was such a sweet, loveable lady and served as such a wonderful surrogate mother and role model for Gloria. Strong in faith and rich in wisdom, Maureen was exactly who Gloria needed.
The abrupt ending was the only reason I gave this a 4 (really a 4.5) instead of a 5. I'm sure this was done purposely to coax the reader into book 2 in the series which it definitely achieved with me.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "We think our lives are in our hands...that we are in control of everything. But we're not. God is. And someday we'll have to answer to Him for every sin. Every wrong...And while I could never take bad all the wring that I did. I knew that God would forgive me for all of it. If I just asked Him to."
"Nothing on this earth every happens until God gives His hand to it...We can make all the plans we want to, can try to make people fit and fill our lives, but there's not a thing we can do outside his power."
"Funny how sometimes it is the people who love God the most that are the worst about lettin' Him do His work..."
REVIEW: This is book 1 in the Crossroads of Grace series. Many readers may find the dominant theme in this book hard to read about as it focuses on prostitution during the development of the western US. But this has been a fact of life since Bible times with the temple prostitutes, and Jesus asked us to reach out to the least of these.
This is an engaging and well written story. Pittman has a great talent with words and detail and faith shines throughout the storyline as Grace is continually exposed to God's love through John, Maureen, and the church family. The chinks in her heart are opened one by one through each of them.
The main characters are gritty and real. Gloria struggles with leaving the only past she remembers behind and can't see any possibility that God can forgive her for the life she's led. John knows he's been forgiven for his past through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ even though sometimes he falters. I loved how patient John was with Gloria as he realized she had no skills whatsoever beyond being a good mother to trek into the wilderness with 2 babies. Maureen was such a sweet, loveable lady and served as such a wonderful surrogate mother and role model for Gloria. Strong in faith and rich in wisdom, Maureen was exactly who Gloria needed.
The abrupt ending was the only reason I gave this a 4 (really a 4.5) instead of a 5. I'm sure this was done purposely to coax the reader into book 2 in the series which it definitely achieved with me.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "We think our lives are in our hands...that we are in control of everything. But we're not. God is. And someday we'll have to answer to Him for every sin. Every wrong...And while I could never take bad all the wring that I did. I knew that God would forgive me for all of it. If I just asked Him to."
"Nothing on this earth every happens until God gives His hand to it...We can make all the plans we want to, can try to make people fit and fill our lives, but there's not a thing we can do outside his power."
"Funny how sometimes it is the people who love God the most that are the worst about lettin' Him do His work..."
July 27, 2008
Synopsis of the book:
A woman with no future.
A man with no hope.
A God who knows the key to their deepest need lies in each other?
Wyoming Territories, 1860. Gloria is in trouble. A mining camp is a merciless place when you're young, pregnant--and a prostitute. No matter. Life will not defeat her.
John William McGregan is in despair. His beloved wife died in childbirth. And while John is a resourceful man, raising an infant daughter on his own seems impossible.
Thrown together by a seemingly cruel fate, Gloria and John William make a pact: She will nurse his daughter; he will raise her son. Neither asks for marriage. They are joined by necessity, nothing more.
But after a move to the new Oregon territory, facing John William's faith day after day, and receiving an older woman's motherly mentoring, Gloria longs for something more. For the love she's been denied all her life. If only that life hadn't made her unfit, not only for John William--but for God.
Then tragedy strikes--making even the resolute John William question his faith. Terrified, Gloria turns to the One she has never been able to trust. But can even God save what now means more to Gloria than life itself: her newfound family?
My review:
Ten Thousands Charms was such an emotionally gripping story that I had trouble putting it down. But even when I had to work and do other things, I was still thinking about the story. I know so many women like Gloria who have been so hurt that they are emotionally dead inside and when someone offers them hope, they are terrified. I could totally see that struggle in Gloria and it was a beautiful thing to watch how God slowly wooed her to Himself through the love of believers. And while no one in this story was even close to perfect, they were totally believeable and likeable characters. John William was heroic in so many ways even with the flaws he carried with him. And Gloria was such a good mother to the babies. It was impossible not to grow to love her as she cared for the children and learned how to take care of herself and her "family," which was the one thing she never believed she would experience in her lifetime. My eyes filled with tears every time Gloria took a tiny step in faith. There were so many things she learned, and the reader learns along with her as she learns to trust. The author also does a fantastic job writing the male point of view and the intense emotions John and Gloria both felt, both positive and negative. I highly recommend this story because it nurtures both the heart and the spirit, and because I loved, loved, loved it!
Ten Thousand Charms was published by Multnomah and released in 2006.
A woman with no future.
A man with no hope.
A God who knows the key to their deepest need lies in each other?
Wyoming Territories, 1860. Gloria is in trouble. A mining camp is a merciless place when you're young, pregnant--and a prostitute. No matter. Life will not defeat her.
John William McGregan is in despair. His beloved wife died in childbirth. And while John is a resourceful man, raising an infant daughter on his own seems impossible.
Thrown together by a seemingly cruel fate, Gloria and John William make a pact: She will nurse his daughter; he will raise her son. Neither asks for marriage. They are joined by necessity, nothing more.
But after a move to the new Oregon territory, facing John William's faith day after day, and receiving an older woman's motherly mentoring, Gloria longs for something more. For the love she's been denied all her life. If only that life hadn't made her unfit, not only for John William--but for God.
Then tragedy strikes--making even the resolute John William question his faith. Terrified, Gloria turns to the One she has never been able to trust. But can even God save what now means more to Gloria than life itself: her newfound family?
My review:
Ten Thousands Charms was such an emotionally gripping story that I had trouble putting it down. But even when I had to work and do other things, I was still thinking about the story. I know so many women like Gloria who have been so hurt that they are emotionally dead inside and when someone offers them hope, they are terrified. I could totally see that struggle in Gloria and it was a beautiful thing to watch how God slowly wooed her to Himself through the love of believers. And while no one in this story was even close to perfect, they were totally believeable and likeable characters. John William was heroic in so many ways even with the flaws he carried with him. And Gloria was such a good mother to the babies. It was impossible not to grow to love her as she cared for the children and learned how to take care of herself and her "family," which was the one thing she never believed she would experience in her lifetime. My eyes filled with tears every time Gloria took a tiny step in faith. There were so many things she learned, and the reader learns along with her as she learns to trust. The author also does a fantastic job writing the male point of view and the intense emotions John and Gloria both felt, both positive and negative. I highly recommend this story because it nurtures both the heart and the spirit, and because I loved, loved, loved it!
Ten Thousand Charms was published by Multnomah and released in 2006.
April 4, 2017
I mean what a great title. Whimsical, imgainative and promising.
Yet the actual story proved to be lacklustre, unengaging and dull.
It's a long string of limbo - nothing happens and the story goes no where.
If I don't know where the story is going in literally the first few pages then that book's not worth bothering with. And with this one the reader has no idea where the story is coming from, very much less what it intends or where it's going. Fail.
May 3, 2024
I enjoyed the characters of this story, it does involve a woman who is a prostitute, but the author keeps it PG rated. You do know what she does for a living, and you learn of the abuse that she endured both as a child and as an adult, but it's not necessary to go into full details to understand she has suffered trauma. This is a story of self-discovery, forgiveness, and redemption. The man that is in the story has dealt with his past and is trying to help her deal with her past. I do feel like there was more stress or focus placed on the sexual path of the main female character than the murderous path of the main male character. I think that's because the focus is actually the woman in the story, I don't think the author's intention was to make it seem that her sins were greater than his. In fact I appreciate that the author showed that life as a prostitute was not a choice for this young woman, but she was rather sold into it.
my ratings:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved it. Couldn't put it down. I will probably read it again and it has a place in my library.
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Enjoyed it. Good characters, great story. if nonfiction, great information, interesting topic.
⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Glad I read it, but won't read again.
⭐⭐: okay, I won't read it again, it will not be kept for my library.
⭐: I didn't like it, don't recommend it.
my ratings:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved it. Couldn't put it down. I will probably read it again and it has a place in my library.
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Enjoyed it. Good characters, great story. if nonfiction, great information, interesting topic.
⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Glad I read it, but won't read again.
⭐⭐: okay, I won't read it again, it will not be kept for my library.
⭐: I didn't like it, don't recommend it.
May 23, 2024
4 Stars
First read from this author and I'm hooked. I loved this book. the plot was so good. But the whole book i kept thinking, Gloria is an idiot. She got on my last nerve towards the end of the book. i hated how she had the worst attitude towards John. He was nothing but nice and respectful to her, but she talked to him crazy and out of the side of her neck. She was never pleasant. She was only nice to the babies. I can't stand where in books, the author writes the FMC and she is unlikable, she is mean for no reason, but then everyone is supposed to love this woman. She is supposed to be fun and beautiful. In reality, John would have only wanted to sleep with her. Other than that, there was nothing else to like.
Also, I think the author spent way to much time on how flawed and stupid Gloria was, that she had to rush her character development. I would have liked to see her transformation and how that effected the union between her and John, and also the way she compared herself to other women.
If it wasn't for the plot and plot twist, I would have DNF'd. I didn't like Gloria at all.
I loved the writing style and the plot of this book, so I will read the next book. Hopefully I will love both the MC's of the books.
First read from this author and I'm hooked. I loved this book. the plot was so good. But the whole book i kept thinking, Gloria is an idiot. She got on my last nerve towards the end of the book. i hated how she had the worst attitude towards John. He was nothing but nice and respectful to her, but she talked to him crazy and out of the side of her neck. She was never pleasant. She was only nice to the babies. I can't stand where in books, the author writes the FMC and she is unlikable, she is mean for no reason, but then everyone is supposed to love this woman. She is supposed to be fun and beautiful. In reality, John would have only wanted to sleep with her. Other than that, there was nothing else to like.
Also, I think the author spent way to much time on how flawed and stupid Gloria was, that she had to rush her character development. I would have liked to see her transformation and how that effected the union between her and John, and also the way she compared herself to other women.
If it wasn't for the plot and plot twist, I would have DNF'd. I didn't like Gloria at all.
I loved the writing style and the plot of this book, so I will read the next book. Hopefully I will love both the MC's of the books.
July 16, 2019
I wasn't going to write a review until the read the first review, which I completely disagreed with. I loved this book and I thought the ending was perfect. Pittman does an excellent job of building up both main characters and you empathize with them no matter who you are. She does such a great job conveying Christ's sacrificial love for us and the story is both heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time. I also do not like to compare authors or books because each author is unique and each book has a new and different story to tell
September 14, 2024
"It was ok" is probably not an accurate star rating - but it's the closest I could give. I got bored quickly. John William seemed like a nice guy. His faith was encouraging. Gloria was, whiny. I made it about halfway when I finally skimmed and jumped to the last chapter, which ended abruptly. I won't be continuing the series. There were days when I never picked the book up to read, hence the 13 days it took to "finish" it.
Rating: PG:13 -some adult situations
Language: clean read
Recommend: not at this time
Rating: PG:13 -some adult situations
Language: clean read
Recommend: not at this time
March 7, 2025
I started out loving this book. Well written, great story, characters full of spunk and life that I did not want to put the book down.
I got to the middle had a little bit of lull but still a good story.
I do not want to put any spoilers out here but I get near the end chapter 22 and I can’t believe what just happened. Then it just goes south from there. I got so frustrated with the way it was headed then bam it just ended. I turned page looking for maybe epilogue nothing.
The overall meaning of the story for redemption is great.
I got to the middle had a little bit of lull but still a good story.
I do not want to put any spoilers out here but I get near the end chapter 22 and I can’t believe what just happened. Then it just goes south from there. I got so frustrated with the way it was headed then bam it just ended. I turned page looking for maybe epilogue nothing.
The overall meaning of the story for redemption is great.
January 31, 2015
**This review was originally posted at: http://majesticgoldenrose.weebly.com/blog/ten-thousand-charms-by-allison-pittman
Title: Ten Thousand Charms
Author: Allison Pittman
Publication Date: March 24th 2009
Rating: 4.5 Stars (between “It Was Pretty Good” and “Absolutely Amazing”)
Title: Ten Thousand Charms
Author: Allison Pittman
Publication Date: March 24th 2009
Rating: 4.5 Stars (between “It Was Pretty Good” and “Absolutely Amazing”)
December 29, 2017
Comparisons to Redeeming Love are probably unavoidable. In some ways I liked this one better. The character Maureen is wonderful, and I think this story maybe a little more realistic. However, the ending left me feeling the book was unfinished. Yes, she made her peace with God, but I feel more healing was needed between her and John. He needed to apologize to her. I think reconciliation was implied, but I would have like to have seen it in print.
May 9, 2018
This was an amazing story of redemption, hope, and forgiveness. God's love touching a life and wiping away shame and doubt. As a Christian woman, I rarely find novels that tell a well-rounded story and share a meaningful message. Ms. Pittman succeeded in both, making the Word of God not only accessible but the gift that it truly is. Wonderfully done!!
May 14, 2018
I had wanted to read this book for a long time, so was excited to find it on sale for my kindle. I enjoyed it overall. I liked Gloria and John William, and especially enjoyed Maureen. I didn't quite feel the connection with the characters that I expected, but am still happy I read it as I always enjoy this author.
September 19, 2018
I really enjoyed this Christian historical romance novel. It is written well and has well developed characters. In it, through a series of difficult circumstances, Gloria gradually finds faith in God, freedom from her past, and a future full of hope with a good man who loves her son as his own. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.
June 24, 2019
This entire series is amazing! One of the best series I have read in a long time! It shows you the other side of life in 1800s America from the point of view of the people living in the other side- great reads all of them could not put them down!
February 8, 2017
Life on the frontier, real people, hard choices, and unrelentless grace.
Definitely a recommended read for anyone looking for more than just a sweet Christian romance.
Definitely a recommended read for anyone looking for more than just a sweet Christian romance.
February 26, 2017
It's a book about how people can change. Even if you have done wrong, it doesn't define you or your worth. You can always change for the better!
June 2, 2017
4.5 I liked it better than Redeeming Love (Francine Rivers), which seems to be the standard
July 13, 2017
Very good Christian story
A man w/a newborn baby asks for help from a mother w/her own newborn. Travel along w/them across country to find a new home
A man w/a newborn baby asks for help from a mother w/her own newborn. Travel along w/them across country to find a new home
March 31, 2018
This is the third book by Allison Pittman that I have read. Her books (so far) have been consistently readable, engrossing, and clear on salvation. The characters are realistic and fully-fleshed, each with their own problems and weaknesses.
April 19, 2018
I really enjoyed this book!
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