<b>Unfit for Love? </b> <br><br>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. <i>Ten Thousand Charms</i> is a beautiful tale of an empty heart floundering…and falling straight into the arms of Christ. <br><br><b>Reader's Guide Included!</b><br><br>“If you took Fran cine River 's classic <i>Redeeming Love</i><b> </b>and merged it with Janette Oke's quaint prairie style, you could almost envision the masterpiece Allison Pittman has created with her poignant tale of God's redemptive power. If you're in need of a fresh touch of God's grace, <i>Ten<b> </b>Thousand Charms </i>is the story for you.” <br><i><b>-Janice Thompson, author of Hurricane </b></i> <br><br>“Are you thirsty, weary, or heavy laden? Come—rest and let Allison Pittman take you to another place and time where you will find joy resting in the arms of Jesus.” <br><i><b>-Lauren L. Briggs</b></i><br><br><b>“<i>Ten Thousand Charms</i> </b>is a terrific debut for writer Allison Pittman, a tale of love and redemption that grabs you and won't let go. It will leave you like it left me—anxious to see this author's future work.” <br><i><b>-James Scott Bell, bestselling author of Presumed Guilty</b> </i><br><br><b>Story Behind the Book</b><br><br>“Having grown up watching reruns of <i>Gunsmoke</i> , I knew all about Miss Kitty and the prostitute-with-a-heart-of-gold cliché. But when I looked at those women, I couldn't imagine their hearts full of gold. Their hearts were just empty. That's when Gloria was conceived. The story itself came about much later, when at church we sang 'Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy.' The chorus promises, 'In the arms of my dear Savior there are ten thousand charms.' This was the gold Gloria's heart needed. I wanted to write a story about a woman who <i>falls</i> into the arms of Christ, not even really knowing that she is seeking Him.” <br><i><b>—Allison K. Pittman</b></i>