Deep End of the Lake

Lake Surrender #2

by Carol Grace Stratton

2023 First Place in General Fiction for Christian Indie Award
2021 Golden Scroll Award Winner

Who Says Giving Up Dreams Isn't Success? Ally Cervantes has all she wants in life—an upcoming wedding, a chance to prove herself with a writing gig, and two great kids. But her life turns for the worse when the unexpected happen and she soon finds herself struggling with a rebellious teen daughter, a shaky job, and a shakier engagement. With her newfound faith acting as a life preserver, Ally discovers if you’re in the deep end of the lake, you’d better learn how to swim. Although fiction, Deep End of the Lake , is written from the authors’ personal compassion for families who have the privilege and responsibility to care for a child with a disability. Having worked with autistic students, Carol has seen first-hand the stress and demands these parents face and wanted to capture in a story those pressures, all while providing the encouragement that a beautiful hope and faith can bring into the struggles.

251 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2021

About the author

I have been a freelance writer of articles for years before I got my first break with my devotional, Changing Zip Codes.

My debut novel, Lake Surrender came from experiences I had in an autistic classroom as I learned to step into these children's world. I have a soft spot for single parents and parents of special needs children.

I also love camp and have had some significant life events happen at a camp. It seemed the perfect setting.

Although I've moved many times, my husband and I are currently in North Carolina, enjoying the mountains and learning to like livermush.

Reviews

[Cheri Swalwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new to me author and I enjoyed this book. The themes were right up my ally (women’s fiction) and she captured my attention from the first page. I could relate to the struggles Ally was facing and at first, I have to admit, I didn’t like “Camp.” I thought he was going to stray, I thought he was too mean, and then I realized he had a different perspective on her life (seeing it from the outside looking in) and he was offering wisdom that was desperately needed. This book was a great combination of drama, keeping me turning the pages, with romance, such a sweet relationship between Ally and Will and restoration, grace, redemption, and love.

This book was given to me by the author but I was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Elaine Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep End of the Lake, sequel to Lake Surrender, is a joy to read. The realistic characters capture you emotionally with both their troubles and their joys. The difficulties faced by divorced protagonist Ally Cervantes, while raising a rebellious teenager along with a boy on the autism spectrum, are believably and sensitively portrayed on each page. I was totally caught up in this story as Ally’s engagement to Will seems in jeopardy, and she is forced to deal with her own insecurities. Lovely story with a satisfying ending. Five stars!!

[Deana Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing this book I am exhausted. Ally is one overcommitted person and I don’t think I would ever be able to keep up with her. She writes for a newspaper, has a teen daughter with an attitude and a son who has autism. She is also trying to plan her wedding while dealing with a certain person in her office who maybe is a little jealous of her.

I loved the setting of a small town and how it felt like a great place to raise a family. Will is a wonderful character and I like how patient he is with Ally. Or is he? Receiving a phone call from his ex fiancé may bring up old feelings for him. It is a unsettling situation for him when Ally continues to not make him a priority? I can see why he gets frustrated when she cancels plans with him and doesn’t listen when he tries to warn her about her daughter making bad choices when it comes to friends.

The story explores how easy our life can get out of control and before we know it we find ourselves in the deep end. Can Ally find her way back to the shallow end and allow God to help her? I’ve been thinking lately that I an struggling with my faith. Yes I have admitted it on paper now. I feel like Ally in the deep end and am drowning in life. What I learned from this story is how we get so caught up in things that we forget to include God in everything. Ally sees herself losing control and knows the only way to survive is to let go and let God.

I loved the ending and how the author shows how important communication and honesty is between people. We have to let go of our pride and admit when we are wrong and struggling. Ally and Will are a great example of giving their problems to God and trusting Him to work things out.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep End of the Lake by Carol Grace Stratton provides an interesting look at a woman, her two children, her fiancé and those in the community around them. Ally works as a reporter for the local newspaper while raising her 7 year old son Benjie and her teenage daughter Kylie. Will Grainger, Ally’s fiancé, works as a camp director and attempts to integrate himself into their lives.

Being on the Autism spectrum, Benjie provides challenges for Ally. But she works with him to help him deal with life’s changes. Kylie, missing her deceased father, rebels and refuses to accept Will in their family’s life. But when real challenges happen, and she can not reach her mom, she knows she can reach out to Will for help.

Will, as a camp director, knows a lot about teenagers. He looks forward to marrying Ally. But he finds himself in a hard place of trying to find his place with this family. He recognizes signs of the path Kylie finds herself exploring, but Ally initially refuses to accept his input and knowledge.

I loved reading this book and seeing how this group manages to overcome obstacles and become an actual family. Janice, Ally’s co-worker and office manager, proves to be an interesting character in this story. Janice often lashes out at Ally and seems to resent her very presence. But as the story progresses, the author takes time to develop both the storyline and the character. I must say, I definitely appreciated this fact as the story progressed.

So if you are looking for a work of Women’s fiction where faith and family play a major role, check out this book for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you go to a camp when you were a kid or a teen? I did. It was a church camp and I loved it. Within this book, there is a camp and it is part of the focus. It’s the setting for our story if you will.

Ally is trying to make this new life of hers work. She’s a new Christian. She’s a single mom to two kids. One is a teenager and that has its own set of problems and hard things to work through. The other child is on the spectrum and has some peculiarities of his own. Add in a fiance and some problems she’s not willing to face and life gets pretty interesting.

Will is the fiance to Ally. He’s bonding with her some Benjie by Kylie is hostile to him, to say the least. Will Kylie come between them and wreck any chances of happiness? Can Will and Ally work out their problems?

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a great example of Christian fiction and a nice quick-paced romance that doesn’t take long to read from cover to cover.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

[Patti Whitson Stephenson She Lives to Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

All throughout this family drama, we follow Ally’s journey as she struggles to to deal with several situations that make her feel as if she’s “swimming in the deep end of the lake”. She’s finding it difficult to find the time to fill all the roles of her life: Being the single mother of a special needs child; helping with the struggle of her fourteen year old daughter who is struggling with their move to Michigan and the death of a loved one; trying to establish herself as a reporter for their hometown paper; and finding time to spend with her beloved fiancé and plan their wedding. Her life is on overload, and she’s seeking to find some peace about all she’s doing.

I have to admit that as I began reading this book, I was at first a little annoyed with Ally because it seemed as if she was somewhat self-absorbed. But as I kept reading, I enjoyed watching her perspective in life change and seeing her learn to trust; grow in her faith; and change her priorities. I loved the way the ending of the book was also a new beginning for Ally, even though many of the difficulties in her life remained the same. There’s a light thread of faith that runs all throughout the story.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Connie Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep End of the Lake is written by Carol Grace Stratton. This is book two in the Lake Surrender series. This is the first book that I have read by the author. It's well written, with well developed characters and a intriguing storyline.

Ally Cervantes is a mom to two children and getting ready to marry Will Grainger. in a few months. Her son is on the autism spectrum and she loves that Will has been able to bond with him. On the flip side, Ally's teen daughter is doing everything she can to try and drive a wedge in between their relationship. Ally is juggling a lot and dealing with stressors from work.

The story is a good one - it's one that will take you on a roller coaster. I love the remidners of how we need to remember to include God in EVERY aspect on our lives. He knows what is best for us. The reminder that even when we stray, God welcomes us back with open arms is also a great one.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

[Heather Pulliam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep End of the Lake was a nice light and easy read. It is the follow up to a first book that I did not read before reading this one. But it didn't matter, the descriptions of what happened why the characters were where they were, made it to where you knew where the first book left off. It is a good, wholesome read.

As a mother of a 5 year old boy with autism, I related to Alley. Her struggle to maintain being a working mom and trying to balance taking care of her child with a disability, taking care of the rest of her family, while trying to maintain her own life hit home for me. Along with the guilt of feeling like she can't do it all. The way Alley had to give it all up to God was something that I have had to remind myself to do on many occasions.

I also appreciated the way Carol Grace Stratton really captured the characteristics of Benji's autism. I even shed a few tears.

I was given an advanced copy of this book to read and give an unbiased opinion.

[Carol Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author. Ally is like many of us. She's working, raising her kids, looking forward to her happily ever after, and then it starts coming apart. Could her soon to be husband know more about her own young teenaged daughter than she does herself? Can she get her special needs son to thrive and be okay? Has she taken on one project, one job, one challenge too many? I sure can relate that to that! While Will tries to decide if his upcoming marriage to Ally will work with all the issues popping up they are both going to have to trust God more than they ever have before. Not wonder it's called the "deep end" because it is swim, sink, or drown time.

It's a second book in the series and I didn't read the first one. It still stood on it's own. I found it to be engaging and very realistic with a strong faith filled message.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit for my digital copy of this book. This review is mine and a positive review is never required.

[Ashley Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really resonated with me. I liked and related to Ally. Her life is chaotic to say the least and she takes on so so much. I loved how Benjie was portrayed and the love/care Ally showed to him. Kylie is such a 'typical teenager'. I got that Ally didn't want her fiancé to be correct about the direction her daughter was taking, it's hard for a single mom.

I really did enjoy the whole story. It was well written and the small town aspect....all of it was just spot on. It kept me engrossed through the entire story and the interactions/feelings/problems were all so realistic. It just was a story I felt a connection to and truly enjoyed.

4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

[Janet Grunst · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Deep End of the Lake by Carol Stratton, we catch up with the characters we got to know in Lake Surrender. This stand-alone story is just as enjoyable as the first.
Ally Cervantes is a divorced single parent of two, a feisty teenager and a child on the autism spectrum. She’s trying to prove herself in her job at the local newspaper while raising challenging children and anticipating marrying Will Grainger. Insecurities from previous losses linger and complicate her efforts to rebuild a life. Deep End of the Lake is a story of faith, patience, and grace amidst life’s struggles and doesn’t disappoint.

[Mollie Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Deep End of the Lake is a fun, easy read. I zipped through it in four days because it’s a story where you always want to know what happens next! The characters with their quirks bring to life the sleepy town of Lake Surrender. The addition of the new job that Ally takes, the wedding plans, and family drama make for an interesting story that I appreciated.

Thank you, Carol, for bringing your gift to the page in this wonderful book!

I have received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

[Carol Heilman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Deep End of the Lake, Carol Grace Stratton creates a small-town world in Michigan filled with believable, flawed characters. They struggle against circumstances beyond their control as well as some bad decisions they make along the way. Even though I am not a single mom with a rebellious teenage daughter, an autistic son, or a fiancé with second thoughts of marriage, I can relate to Ally. We both reached the end of ourselves before we called out to God for help. The author has unfolded a story of truth, told with a compassionate spirit.

[Tracy Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to get an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The characters in this story and their daily struggles are something as a mother I could relate to. I love how Ali would call on the Lord to help her when things got tough in her work relationships, parenting and relationship struggles. It’s rare to see characters that are special needs and I think that’s important as a society that we see more diverse characters in novels and how society treats them. Carol Stratton’s characters touched my heart, and made me feel a real connection to them.

[Jean Holtof · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written story of a woman who is challenged by surviving in a new setting in Michigan. Ally Cervantes experiences a rescue from near drowning that defies logic. She has had her trust broken by her previous relationship and is now struggling to raise a teenage daughter and a son who functions differently to other children and is engaged to a man that loves her. An engaging story with interesting characters and incidents in a beautiful setting. Deep End of the Lake is also a metaphor for living life on the edge and learning about faith and trust and letting go. I enjoyed it very much.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend reading the first book in this series before reading this book. But if you don’t I suppose it could be enjoy as a standalone. This book is about a lady struggling with finding time to do her over demanding job and finding time for her teenager daughter and her special needs son. I could see this story being real life for some. I think it would also make a very good Hallmark movie. This story is not a sappy love story though it is a love story. I received a copy by the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

[Frankie Tipton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep End of the Lake is a light, easy to read novel set in Michigan where Ally has moved to restart her life after a divorce. Ally has been badly hurt, is trying to raise an autistic son and a budding teenage daughter. During this trying time she is planning a wedding and holding down a local newspaper job. This is the second book in a series but it can easily stand on its own. One gets to know Ally and family through Carol’s expert character development.

[Amy Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I have not read the first book in the series, Lake Surrender, I was able to identify with the characters right away. The author sucked me right in, and before the first chapter was over, I felt like Ally was a dear friend – I was worried about her and I was rooting for her. Carol Grace Stratton has a charming narrative style. Her dialogue is realistic and engaging. Her characters are diverse and interesting. I look forward to reading more of her work!

[Donna Schlachter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. The title was a hook in itself, with the opening scene expanding on it. And pretty soon the reader realizes that every character is in over their heads. Loved the way all the characters grew, including those you might think least likely to change. Satisfying conclusion. Will look for more books by this author.

[Mary Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep end of the lake.

A deeply moving love story. The characters are interesting with many hang ups from their past and present time. I loved that their Christian faith helped them through their problems.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book

[Sherry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEEP END of THE LAKE felt real and definitely one that so many readers could relate to. There was struggles, forgiveness, uncertainty, hope, and happiness. Very very good!!!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep End of the Lake is the first book I have read by Carol Grace Stratton. After reading this, it will not be the last. I thought it was a pretty good story to read. I enjoyed getting to know Ally and instantly felt a connection with her. I wanted to find how her journey would end for her. It was a beautiful story to read.

I am giving Deep End of the Lake four and a half stars. Readers and fans of clean fiction with a true to life plot will want to give this one a read. I will on the look out for more books by Carol Grace Stratton to see where else she will take her characters and readers to next.

I received a digital copy of Deep End of the Lake from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Konnie Viner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep End of the Lake, Carol Stratton’s sequel to Lake Surrender, tackles some difficult topics including bullying, single parenting, special needs and strong-willed children, depression and insecurity. Ally Cervantes and her fiancé Will persevere through realistic dating and family challenges to resolve family issues. Ally’s motherly instincts shine throughout the story as she models wisdom and unconditional love of her children, even in difficult circumstances. Stratton creates believable characters and weaves their stories together masterfully with themes of faith and forgiveness.

~Konnie Viner, author of Rested Soul Resilient Heart, Amaryllis Journey, and Blueberry Bungalow (projected publication July 2021)