The Renewal: A Project Restoration Novel

Leslie Ruskin has just purchased the historic Midlands Building, which—like her life—needs a little renovation. Starting over in a new town after a devastating divorce, Leslie wants a fresh start—and some stability for her five-year-old daughter. Still, standing on the sidewalk looking up at the seedy brownstone in Butler, Pennsylvania's reviving downtown, she wonders if she's done the right thing. Her plan is to live in one of the building's second-floor apartments, and rent out the first floor—a large commercial space with stunning architectural details that was once a locksmith's shop. But it needs work. A lot of work.

Jack Kenyon, a master carpenter, is starting over too. Beginning his own construction business, he seems to be the perfect man for the project, especially with his experience in historic restoration. But haunted by loneliness, his past failures, and the lost relationship with his own young daughter, Jack finds it difficult to maintain his sobriety.

As Leslie struggles to manage as a single mom, the work begins—and she's intrigued when the renovation exposes a mystery in the old locksmith shop. Even more exciting, she rents the area to a chic young couple who are experienced restaurateurs. As the run-down first floor is transformed into a vibrant café/bistro, Jack and Leslie discover an attraction that might become more than a business relationship ... and Jack's old demons begin to surface. Will the whole project derail—or will they find the renewal their lives so desperately need?