'Real Housewives of New Jersey' Re-Hires Fired Star Jacqueline Laurita

Sources connected with the production tell us ... Jacqueline Laurita is back on the show. The reason -- it's been kinda ho-hum this season with no real conflict.

Producers say when Laurita is on she's great. They let her go because she was dealing with family issues at the time and she was so preoccupied she lost her edge.

We're told Laurita's sister-in-law Dina Manzo is pissed she's returning.

Bravo had no comment.