Eighteen-year-old Christy Kane has always been Daddy's princess. But on the first day of her music internship at his mega-church, reporters shatter her world with terrible news: Daddy's had an affair with the church preschool director. Christy feels as betrayed by God as the man she's always considered Prince Charming.
When Mom sends her to Buckeye Lake to help with Aunt Jo's School of Music and Dance in the restored Pier Ballroom, Christy's problems only increase. First, the ballroom sits on Buckeye Lake, making her face her greatest fear-water. Second, she must help lead a handful of semi-talented volunteers, who harbor racial tensions and mysterious underlying antagonisms, in a professional quality performance for the Grand Reopening of the ballroom. The stakes are high-Aunt Jo will lose the place if they fail. Third, Christy discovers a diary written by Lillian, who lived near Buckeye Lake in the 1920s, and becomes intrigued by the stories of thousands coming to play at the amusement parks and dance in the ballrooms. But her interest soon turns to concern as tragic events from the diary happen in Christy's world, ninety years to the date of their first occurrence.
Between her shattered past, her uncertain future, and her dangerous present, Christy doesn't know where to turn. Does Daddy's God really exist? If so, does He care enough to rescue her?