Restoration

Bronze Award winner for the 2021–2022 Reader Views Literary Awards in horror.Taking refuge in a cabin deep in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Cliff Phillips tries to come to terms with the breakup of his marriage. The natural seclusion is exactly what he needs, and he settles in for a month-long stay, soothed by the unspoiled beauty of his surroundings.But his peace is short lived, and he soon finds himself disturbed by the eerie desolation and marshy decay. Out paddling the lake in the center of the historic park, he is nearly capsized by a mysterious disturbance, and not long after, a neighboring lodger flees following a terrifying night and another one vanishes without taking any of his belongings.Cliff's worst fears are confirmed when he has his own frightening encounter. But how will he ever get anyone to believe what he now strongly suspects: that there is something hiding in the lake’s murky depths?Sharon Mikeworth’s latest novel, Restoration, is a new addition to the great wilderness horror tradition of Dan Simmons, Scott Smith, Jack Ketchum, and Adam Nevill.Recipient of the Readers' Favorite 5-Star Seal of excellence.

David Kempf, author of The Wager of Sin

"What lies beneath? Restoration is a horror novel that holds the reader hostage because you have to know what secret the lake is hiding. This is what horror fans of both books and films crave. The popcorn is important but not as much as finding out what secret the story is hiding from us to keep us hooked. Southern Gothic is a rich tradition of literature that I can deeply appreciate, being born in the south, and more specifically spending summers with my grandparents at their lake home in the woods. My grandfather would tell us scary stories at nighttime and at the center of his tales was the mystery of what might be out there lurking in the dark. Author Sharon Mikeworth brings us this horror tale with rich imagery in the perfect setting for slowly building menace, the Blue Ridge Mountains. The protagonist Cliff Phillps has just lost his job and his spouse. He needs to start over but this seemingly peaceful new environment is going to give him much more than he ever bargained for. The secret of the lake is what makes the tale A town local claims to see some kind of creature trying to get inside his cabin. People are seeing things but are those things real or imagined? Something sinister is lurking and soon Cliff notices the locals are beginning to disappear. While the characters are quite believable as real people in Restoration, the story's greatest asset is the mystery behind the menace. The way an audience waits anxiously to find out who the killer is or what the monster looks like also pertains to horror novels. The reader wants to know what lies beneath. This is a very well-written and satisfying horror novel so dim the lights and start your suspenseful reading journey. The popcorn is optional."

About the Author

Award-winning author Sharon Mikeworth was born in South Carolina, where she resides today. Before discovering her passion for storytelling, she worked as a computer programmer, instructor, and tutor. In her spare time when not writing, she can often be found hiking and canoeing in the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.

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