cover image POTTER SPRINGS

POTTER SPRINGS

Britta Coleman, . . Center Street, $18.95 (294pp) ISBN 978-0-446-57778-6

When Amanda Thompson, fiery and a tad impulsive, meets the handsome young pastor Mark Reynolds, they both know it's the love of a lifetime. But after learning the unexpected truth that she's pregnant with his child, their hasty marriage and subsequent trials reveal cracks in the foundation of their relationship. Mark takes a church in tiny Potter Springs, Okla., and Amanda spirals into depression; the story chronicles their gradual understanding of the reality of marriage and the depths of God's love and forgiveness. Coleman, a first-time novelist, overwrites in spots and employs some plot clichés, such as a climactic thunderstorm. Although Mark and Amanda are both nuanced and well-drawn, various minor characters (the self-righteous, meddling deacon; the congregation's voluptuous and ever-available divorcée) never transcend caricature. However, the story resonates with its essential message that "being lost is a good way to start getting found." (June 16)