cover image Breaking Gentle

Breaking Gentle

Beverly Lowry. Penguin Books, $8.95 (336pp) ISBN 978-0-14-014772-8

Hale and Diana Caldwell lead outwardly enviable lives in the Texas hill country but secretly face shortcomings in marriage and as parents. According to PW , ``There are good sketches of minor characters, lifelike dialogue and a gripping conclusion--but the reader's interest is seized too late, and the final drama does not substitute for lack of depth, coherence or a commanding voice.'' (Apr.)