England, 1887

After the death of her mother, seventeen-year-old Jenny Fitzgerald leaves London for the Oxfordshire countryside. There she makes a home with her grandparents at their cosy village inn, the Ring of Bells.

Charmed by the beauty of her new surroundings, Jenny soon falls in love with Roger Leyton, a gentleman farmer’s son. And when her grandmother dies suddenly, the young couple marry and take over the Ring of Bells.

As the years go by and Jenny and Roger’s family grows, their business expands into a prosperous chain of hotels.

But when war is declared and two of their children are sent to the front, their idyllic life is shattered. And as the conflict rages on, Jenny and Roger must find a way to navigate the difficult years ahead…

Can the Leytons find their place in a changing world? Will their family be reunited?

Or will the conflict abroad separate them forever…?

A wonderful read which I finished in 2 days!

A family saga encompassing generations of a family whose story began in the 1800's until 1939. The Leyton family had the hardships, joys and love told in a way that held my attention. This story told through the different decades was interesting and enjoyable. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE RING OF BELLS by BARBARA WHITNELL is the well written story of a woman’s life in England from 1887 until 1939. I found it a most interesting and worthwhile read as we follow Jenny Fitzgerald from 32 Ackerly Street in London, where she lived in poverty with her mother after her father deserted them when she was six, until her mother dies and she moves to the Ring of Bells Inn in Collingford to live with her grandparents, eventually inheriting it on the death of her grandfather, to her golden wedding and the start of WW11 in 1939.
Jenny, who is the protagonist, is a very real person and the author describes her emotions as she deals with life and all the ups and downs in her family most realistically..
I find the descriptions of life in England in the Victorian era, then the post WW1 period, extremely well done. Altogether it is a most enjoyable and well researched read.
I recommend The Ring of Bells to anyone who enjoys good historical romantic fiction.
I was given a free copy,of the book by NetGalley from Sapere Books. The opinions in this review are completely my own.