** 1/2 AMY GRANT : “Heart in Motion” : <i> A&M;</i>

As a Christian pop star, Grant took halting, sporadic steps to move past preachiness and toward a probing, personal dimension. Half-measures remain in effect on this bid to cross over to the secular music mainstream.

The best songs herald a nuanced singer and a songwriter able to speak from experience as she portrays the doubts and strains of marriage. The driving, funk-based “Hats,” the chastened “How Can We See That Far,” and the yearning, hymnal finale, “Hope Set High,” are impressive, and Grant gets it at least half right on another song that looks into the darkness of child sexual abuse before she flinches and opts for a facile, upbeat ending.

Unfortunately, Grant’s bolder instincts retreat before a slew of one-dimensional romantic ballads and dance-pop notions (like the hit “Baby Baby”) that are obvious, over-produced (although usually catchy) bids for mass success.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five (a classic).