Lori M. Jones is a genius! This is not your standard boy meets girl, girl falls in love story. Throw in a teenage daughter, a gay soon to be ex-husband, and a smoking hot new famous boyfriend and you've got yourself a story to hold your attention for hours.

With gay marriage such a hot button issue here in Nevada (and many other states), I liked how Jones shows us the effects of hiding in the closet can do to not only the gay person, but those around them. On of the main takeaways that I got from this novel was "be true to yourself." I know it sounds corny, but corny is often 100% true. Loving, being honest with, and caring for yourself has to come before you can truly care for others. It is lesson many struggle their entire life to learn and this book hammers it home without jamming it down. ( )

After fifteen years of marriage, from which was born Lily, Amanda is left by her husband. Can not explain what could have happened, then the husband turns out to be gay. Amanda is very hurt, lost confidence in herself and especially in her ability to judge others. Search in all ways to protect and bring to life the situation in the best way possible to their teenage daughter. At 40 years alone, hurt and disappointed arrives on her way Bradley, the quarterback of her favorite team in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers: a boy of 29 years old, handsome and interested in her. It will be the right person to start to love? Will be able to follow her heart?
It 's a modern and contemporary comedy, on second chance in life, the courage to get up after a nasty fall. Amanda is a real woman, strong and fragile at the same time, a protective mother who will be able to find the thread of her life. Bradley is the ideal guy, gentle and sweet, sexy and a great champion. Derrick is really irritating, offensive to the ex-wife
In the background to the novel and to make the story even more interesting and exciting football matches. The final remains uncertain until the end and makes you want to read it all in one breath.
It 's a great book, funny and romantic ..... ( )

This is the first book I have ever read of Lori’s and I must say, WOW! Only 4 pages into the book and I was STUNNED. I did NOT see that coming! It had been such a while between the time I applied to this book tour & actually started reading it, I completely forgot what was going to happen! I made the mistake of starting this book at 10:00 at night. I NEVER stay up past 10:30, so it was really hard for me to put it down! Amanda’s husband, Derrick, left her for another man. She meets Star Quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers through work & they hit it off.
The way Derrick treated Amanda, I came to really dislike him. He reminded me WAY too much of my biological father, who I have NOTHING to do with! I mean, I saw some really really BIG resemblances between the 2 men! I never went through having parents who got a divorce. My mom met my dad when I was around 8 & they married when I was 10. Enough about me, though! One thing I really liked about Amanda, she tried to make her 15 year old daughter, Lilly, understand that her fathers sexuality did not make him a bad man & that he didn’t choose to be gay.
From the time Ms. Jones introduced us to Bradley Errickson, I could tell sparks were going to fly between him & Amanda. There is a 12 year difference in their age, but in my opinion, that’s a no big deal type of thing! Age is only a number!
This book had me laughing out loud many times & my husband would look at me like I was goofy!
Fantastic read! ( )

First off all of you Pittsburgh area peeps should check this book out just to enjoy the random references to the city throughout. This story has everything you could possibly want. It has hot sex (but not raunchy in any way), scandal, love, loss, and lessons. It was as if the author took me on a ride on the Jack Rabbit at Kennywood! My heart and stomach dropped so many times every time there was another plot twist! I loved the strength that Amanda showed even though she had some hard times. Doesn't everyone? She bounced back and I loved how she was such a great role model for her daughter too.

The struggle between Amanda and Bradley made me feel it down in my bones. I wanted so badly to help any time they had a setback. Make Amanda realize it when she sabotaged herself. I was totally invested in their relationship. Lori did an amazing job with these characters and I can't wait until I have to make a list so all of my friends can borrow the book from me!!! ( )

Renaissance of the Heart by Lori Jones is a 2014 Soul Mate Publishing release. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The first chapter sucked me into the story right away as I tried to imagine 15 years of marriage to a man who now confesses he is in love with someone else.. and no it's not another woman, it's another man.
Amanda goes through the grieving process, but manages to pull her self up rather well, I thought , under the circumstances. She has a fourteen year old daughter and a sister who is both very supportive and very honest and who keeps her grounded.
When Amanda meets Bradley, the quarterback for a professional football team, she agrees to go out with him. Why not? However, there is a little bit of an age difference, but Amanda is trying not to let that bother her. However, her subconscious mind has other ideas which includes some rather vivid dreams.
The main theme running through the book was that despite the way her marriage ended, Amanda is still going through a the painful divorce process and the author does a wonderful job of putting the reader in the midst that pain and angst. Remembering Derrick as he was when they first dated, then the signs she missed, the good times, the bad times, the bitterness, anger, confusion, the whole ball of wax. Trying to keep comments and actions neutral for the daughter's sake, but not always succeeding, having Derrick be a class A jerk one moment and perfectly reasonable the next was adding to all the stress. One minute she was positively giddy when Bradley was around or when they were exchanging text messages and the next she was depressed over her failure with Derrick and doubting the relationship with Bradley. The problem was that she was jumped into the relationship with Bradley before she had her feelings settled about Derrick. It was about the age difference, but it was also about Amanda not being ready for something this serious so soon. So, what to do? Does she enjoy her time with Bradley now and let things run their course? Break it off before things get too serious and someone gets hurt? Will her head rule her heart or will love conquer all?
This story is a well written and absorbing book with a realistic tone and deep subject matter. If I had a complaint it was that Bradley as just a little too perfect some of the time and his character remained a little underdeveloped, but that's just my personal take on it. I thought overall the book was evenly paced and the emotional aspects were real and raw, but not over done. I am not sure what genre this was officially placed it but contemporary romance is probably where it landed, which works fine, but I think this one might appeal to women's fiction readers as well. This one is 4 stars. ( )