The End is the Beginning

by Jennifer N. Lloyd

At 35, Sandy's life diverges from her idyllic dreams. Her husband, Johnny, once a seemingly promising partner, now embodies a monstrous abuser. Their turmoil affects not just Sandy but also her teenagers, Lisa and David.

When David steps in to defend his mother, Johnny becomes critically injured. During Johnny's absence, the Hansen family experiences freedom from his control. Sandy navigates single motherhood and finds herself drawn to a man who introduces her to a world of love and passion.

Simultaneously, 14-year-old Lisa faces her first date with a longtime friend and neighbor, prompting the will their bond evolve into young love?

Upon Johnny's return, Sandy confronts a pivotal choice: return to the all-too-familiar abuse or embrace this newfound connection, defying her oppressive past.

Set in 1975, The End is the Beginning, showcases how the women of a small town grapple with love, trauma, and the courage to rewrite their destinies in the face of adversity.

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Jennifer is a passionate creative writer with a deep love for crafting romance stories that explore complex emotions and relationships.

A lifelong Midwesterner, Jennifer finds joy in staying active outdoors, whether it's going for runs with her Weimaraner and her daughter, enjoying family bike rides, or simply soaking in the sun. Her most productive writing hours are between 8 and 11 PM, when her daughter is fast asleep. During this time, she channels her creative energy into crafting dark romance stories.

Jennifer enjoys creating storylines that form deep emotional connections between readers and characters. She roots for the underdog and crafts narratives where true love wins!

Your support truly means everything! Love you all! ♥️

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Reviews

[Kjia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received and read and ARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!

3.5 ⭐️

I enjoyed reading this book. it addressed some difficult topics and attempted to shine light on domestic violence in multiple perspectives. I felt deeply for the characters in this story.

I found myself confused at points when the timeline began to jump around. In Lisa’s perspective, it was a bit hard for me to understand that she was 14/15 years old. Her POV didn’t seem to quite fit her age.

the ending seemed to be a bit rushed and i wish that it had been fleshed out a bit more.

overall, this book held my interest and I am glad that I was able to read it!

[Courtney Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a domestic violence survivor, this was a very healing book. I encourage anyone who is on or was on their healing journey to read this. The fastest I’ve read a book. What a great read!

[Lindsey Wilhelmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I often have a hard time getting into books when the story has a slow start, but this once captured my attention from the first chapter. So much so that I finished it in 3 days because I read it during every spare moment I had (I’m a stay at home mom to a 3 year old so that says a lot). I don’t want to give any spoilers, but the way it ended has me begging the author for a sequel!

[Claire.V · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t. It was boring and just not written well.

[Sharon Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! After each page I wanted to keep reading. It was a mixture of family heartache and love with a twist. Highly recommend this book.

[Molly Kargougou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The storyline definitely brought unfortunate memories from my past but also thankfulness that it wasn't as bad as the characters had it in this book. Glad there was a happy ending but also surprised by the cliffhanger. 

[Summer Seelye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to preface this review by saying I thoroughly enjoyed this book and don’t regret reading it. There’s just opinions I would like to voice.

First off I felt the beginning really just throws you in there and is very abrupt. I would’ve liked a more gradual entrance to the book.

There was also some plot points where I didn’t see that they were very necessary or understandable.

The whole swinger party and Sandy making comments about Lisa’s boobs to the adults?? That just kind of grossed me out and seemed very out of character for sandy.

When bill and sandy met it was all very fast and just kinda skipped to them having sex and being in love with only one date. Lots more details could’ve gone into their meeting and relationship.

The ending where Lisa gets pregnant, I can kind of get as it shows a preview of Jerry potentially being abusive and having that anger in his eyes, but I don’t know if getting a 14-15 year old pregnant was the best option for that.


Overall I think it was a well written book for a debut author and I’m excited to see what comes next in the future.

[Cherin Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. The story was so well written, and relatable. I grew up with a similar life as Lisa, and I cannot tell you how happy I was at the end. Sandy married her high school sweetheart, despite her parent’s wishes and soon learns her parents were right. With her father adamant on not helping her, Sandy embarks a new strength to protect herself and her kids. This was truly an amazing story. Highly recommend, although please check trigger warnings before reading.

[Bookgal13 · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was Jennifer Lloyd’s debut novel, and I really tried to take this into consideration when reading. I’ve never written a book, so I give her props…however, I know what I like and this wasn’t it. The first few chapters held my interest, and I was eager to continue on. However, things began to unravel, and quickly.

We have Sandy who is a stay at home mom to two children, David and Lisa. She’s married to Johnny, who has physically abused her for years. The layout and flow of this book was confusing, how the chapters jumped around to different perspectives and dates. Some chapters are in the present, but the next chapter might be a few months into the future, with the next one in the past. Way too much work for the reader, flipping back and forth trying to figure out what’s what. Also, the author has the kids attending public school during the summer. I realize that some schools do go all year round, but if this is the case, the author should state this to lessen the confusion.

A good majority of this book was inner dialogue, which I am not a fan of. I enjoy verbal interaction between the characters to carry a story. I like a story with action between the characters, not just thinking about it. Another issue for me were the run-on sentences. My inner English teacher was pounding her head against the blackboard. There were so many, that it actually pulled me away from the story. A good edit was definitely needed in reference to this.

The plot was missing some major bridging. An example: You have Sandy who was beaten by her husband and ends up in the hospital. The police are involved, but everyone is just chill about everything. They find Johnny on the side of the house almost beaten to death by David, but no one questions it and the story moves on. Sandy ends up staying at the hospital pretty much overnight, even though she has facial fractures with multiple bruising, and then goes to work the next day, with no one commenting on her appearance! To top it off, she’s actually hit on by a male customer. Major red flags, Sandy, run!

Further into the story we have David and Lisa walking to the next town to follow/find their mother. However, the next chapter, Sandy makes it home to the kids waiting for her, and there’s no mention whatsoever of the kids walking to the next town searching for her. Very confusing.

Then we have a side story involving Lisa and her boyfriend. It was sweet watching things progress, until it wasn’t. The sex scenes between them, were pretty cringe worthy.

I could go on, but I don’t want my review to turn into a book in and of itself. I’m truly baffled how this story received so many 5-star reviews. Did we read the same book? Did I miss something? This book does end on a cliffhanger, but I have absolutely no desire to read book two.

[Rachel's Review! · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌈Title: The End is the Beginning

✍️Author: Jennifer N. Lloyd

📚Review: "The End is the Beginning" by Jennifer N. Lloyd is a poignant and empowering novel that delves into the difficult yet transformative experiences of Sandy Hansen, a woman whose journey from oppression to self-discovery unfolds with profound emotional depth. Set in 1975, this narrative does more than recount the tale of a struggling family; it captures the essence of a societal moment, exploring themes of love, trauma, and resilience.

At the heart of this story is Sandy, a character whose initial plight is one of hardship and abuse at the hands of her husband, Johnny. Lloyd portrays Sandy’s evolution with authenticity and sensitivity, as she transitions from a victim to a figure of strength and inspiration. The narrative gains complexity as it weaves the perspectives of her children, particularly focusing on her daughter Lisa’s nascent romantic experiences, juxtaposing youthful hope against the backdrop of familial strife.

The author brilliantly captures the era and its challenges, particularly for women seeking independence and self-identity in a small town. The novel’s pacing is commendable, with a tension that builds steadily as Johnny’s return looms, culminating in Sandy’s ultimate decision that symbolizes both an end and a new beginning.

Lloyd’s prose is elegant and evocative, adeptly drawing readers into the emotional landscapes of her characters. The novel’s exploration of abuse is handled with care, emphasizing not just the pain but also the resilience and agency of those like Sandy who dare to seek a better life. The romantic subplot involving Sandy and a new, nurturing love interest adds layers of hope and redemption, enriching the narrative with the promise of what true affection and respect can offer.

"The End is the Beginning" is more than just a historical drama; it's a story about the courage required to redefine one's destiny. It is highly recommended for readers who appreciate women’s fiction and novels that not only explore the depths of human suffering but also illuminate the profound strength of the human spirit.

[Claudia |✨Cushin Violeta's Bookish Realm✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑨 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆, 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑻𝒓𝒊𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 ❤️‍🩹

📢 𝑪𝑨𝑼𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑨𝑹𝒀 𝑪𝑨𝑳𝑳-𝑶𝑼𝑻: 📢

Please do read the author's content 𝗐𝖺𝗋𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 and TWs before starting this one as it delves into very dark subject matters and has shades of forbidden in it.

𝑴𝒀 𝑹𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾: 📝

I have not mentioned any tropes or Book Highlights in this review because you just cannot categorize a book like this which is an experience in itself and this spectacularly written book has all the essence in its incredible writing which makes this book unputdownable and entices you to keep turning the pages.

This book has deeply affected me and I'm actually quite shaken and feeling emotional after reading it but what did surprise me was the storytelling is weaved so beautifully that I just couldn't stop reading the book in spite of the extremely heavy subject matter.

Chapter 1 itself had tears in my eyes, watching the struggle and resilience of a woman who lives for her family and does everything she can for her children.

Told from the POVs of mother Sandy, age 35 and daughter Lisa, age 14 makes for an interesting and suspense filled take on this ride.
I didn't know what the next chapter would bring and what turn the story would take next.

I have to applaud the author for writing such a sensitive story matter with such a finesse and yet making it so relatable and unable to put the book down because I feel, Yes we need books like these but sometimes they don't make for an interesting read but yet this one had me hooked onto it and kept me on my toes.

I'm definitely looking forward to more books from Ms. Lloyd. Loved loved this one.💕

[Heather Huggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is told from the mother and daughter's perspective. It's about an abusive household and what it's like living with that day and night. What kinds of choices do you have to make to survive and how hard it is to get out? What it is like for the children and everyone involved.

I think this was a good story about the happening of such a household. It made you think about what these women and children go through daily. How hard it is to escape. It showed how the mom is isolated in the home with no money of her own and has to beg for grocery money. She isn't allowed to have a job or go anywhere. She isn't allowed to have anything.

I think the story was a good one, but also had a few issues. For example, Mom/ Sandy ends up in the hospital and then goes to work at her new job the next day like nothing has happened and then a random guy hits on her. In reality, is she going to work with a black eye, and whatever else happens to her to end up in the hospital? And the son. After he puts Dad into the hospital it's like it never happened. I think there could have been a little more about the trauma involved. It just left a lot of questions. But that could just be me.

P.S. If you like a suspenseful, abusive, romantic story this could be for you. It gives you some insight into an abusive relationship. I highly recommend you read the trigger warnings before reading.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read and was very well written! I love the split POV between the mother and daughter and how fast paced the scenes were. I feel like the setting and time period played a critical role in understanding some of the content in the story and why certain things were taking place and were not necessarily seen as “acceptable”, but were ignored by those around the family.

Jennifer is a new author and recently released The End is the Beginning. The book tells the tale of a mother, her two children, and an abusive husband. The story mainly follows along with Sandy and her teenaged daughter, Lisa, as they navigate major life changes. I often found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, anxiously reading through scenes, hoping my prediction of what happened next would come true. It’s a page turner for sure!

I highly recommend checking out The End is the Beginning! You can find it for purchase on Amazon or on your Kindle (it is currently a part of KU)!

I’m really hoping there’s a follow up on Lisa’s storyline! I’m interested to see if she ends up in a similar situation as her mother. I feel like this has the potential to turn into a great series!

Highly recommend!

[Makenna Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not going to lie, the plot is good. The delivery fell short. Not only was the book written in a way that didn’t flow for me, it also failed to make sense half the time. One POV never matched up with the second for the first… 40% of the book or so, which bugged my brain. As soon as the medical portion of it started, I was done with the book. Blood thinners? In that situation? Absolutely NOT. You’d be at risk of killing the patient. I don’t know how anyone in emergent healthcare will be able to read this without ripping their hair out like I was. Pushing through to the end only happened so I could give an honest review of it. Now, I’m giving it three stars because the content was AMAZING! My review is critical of the editing errors and research errors, not the story. This brought an in depth thought process of not only a first hand victim, but also of a secondhand victim which I found to be very thought provoking. You’re seeing the first hand trauma as well as the trauma those that are witnesses go through.

[Kim Singley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. It’s very well written and is honestly a great read! There a few typos and sentences that should be rewritten. But they can be easily fixed or overlooked.

It’s nice to read a book from a mother and a daughter’s perspective. It’s a sad yet empowering story. Sandy is a mother to David and Lisa, and a wife to Johnny. Lisa is Sandy’s daughter and her mother’s caring child. David is the quiet child who will fight for his mother. Johnny is a drunken father who abuses his wife.

This story is how Sandy survived her abuse, over came the challenges thrown at her and how she in the end found love and happiness. Lisa is witnessing the abuse and telling us what she thinks and feels about it. But she too soon finds love with a friend.

It can be hard to digest certain parts if you are sensitive to verbal, physical and sexual abuse. Pay good attention to the trigger warnings before starting this book. I enjoyed this book and the story behind it.

[Éireann S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming from a childhood home with domestic violence this book hit hard for me. It was brilliantly written and showed how much each family member becomes affected by the continuous trauma of abuse. In 2024, it is not easy for a woman to walk away from an abusive situation when children are involved and that is with so many resources at hand. This book is based in 1975 when there was basically nothing available to help women. In fact most had to stay because they had no other options, like Sandy most women did not work, did not have more than a high school degree and divorce was frowned upon. Sandy found new life in her relationship with Bill and her children got to witness a stronger version of their mom as she slowly gained confidence and independence from their father. It’s a shame it took so long because you can see the effects the abuse had on both Lisa and especially David. You can only hope that they do not follow in their parents shoes and live better lives. The book ends with a life changing discovery for Lisa and I am curious what her outcome is.

[Gwen Shafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read. The storyline is told from 2 different perspectives a mother and a child. A mother going through the worst possible trying to protect her children and herself. A child watching her mother attempt to survive and keep her children safe. Both dealing with the same man that is trying to destroy their peace. A father and husband who should be protecting them not hurting them. This was a touching gripping storyline. I absolutely loved Sandy. She was a well written character. Jennifer brought out her feelings, emotions and show what her life was really like. Lisa is also a strong character that has you wanting to see what is going to happen with her and her life. This was an enjoyable book to read. The only issue I had was the ending of the book. I am hoping there is going to be another one to find out what happens with Lisa.

[Jenn Ciecko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got the opportunity to read this book from a new author!

Do your research on the book if you have some triggers. It does cover some heavy topics, such as physical/emotional abuse, alcohol abuse, rape and so forth. The book takes place in 1975 and jumps between the daughter and the mother’s perspective.

Overall, I thought the author did a wonderful job and I thoroughly enjoyed the book from start to finish. I often found myself saying “just one more chapter” over and over because I just couldn’t put it down until I finished. The end left me wanting more, so I do hope there’s a second book to follow!!

There were a few confusing points when the book did a flashback in time that I felt was a bit unnecessary. I also would have enjoyed having some perspective from the son and/or husband too.

[Bob Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a book in this genre before, but as my 3 year old grandaughter used to say when she observed something amazing, "Holy Pokers!" I now fully understand what 'dark romance' means as the author paints a very vivid description of the lives of the characters and their physical, emotional, and mental intertwining with each stroke of her pen! Her literary level was on point for me. The emotional description/detail was very colorful and effectively put you in the characters' lives/moments/experiences throughout the story. I particularly enjoyed how the book was written from two of the characters' perspectives that actually began with two separate time lines that eventually merged later in the book! Overall, I thought the author adeptly developed all the characters and told a, macabre at times, enkindling tale about family, life, and relationships.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

This is the story of Sandy who at thirty five thought she had the perfect life. She married her high school sweetheart despite what her parents were telling her. It isn't very long until she wishes she had heeded her parents'warnings. Her father now refuses to help her and we take off on a journey with a super strong female character that you go on this journey along with her kids and feel like you have a front row seat to everything that is happening. This book does contain domestic violence but I loved the way it was written. I don't want to say anything else about the story and give something away. However I would recommend this book. I really loved reading it. Once you pick it up you won't be able to lay it down.

[Morgan Jacques · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is dual POV with a mother and her daughter. It centers on the mother’s abusive relationship with her husband. She is constantly being beaten for every little thing. One of her beatings was so bad that she could have died if her son did not step in and both the husband and wife end up in the hospital. The husband ends up staying in the hospital a lot longer and while he is in there, the wife ends up finding real love.

I honestly was not sure where this story was going at the beginning of the book. Once I started getting into the book, I would catch myself saying things out loud and rooting for the FMC. One of the things I love to see in a book is when the characters mature and grow up, and you definitely get that in this book. And that ending!! I need to know what is going to happen!!! I will definitely be following this author so I can read her future works.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a debut from this author, and my word, she is definitely a name to look out for in the future!
This is Sandy’s story, about how she married her high school sweetheart Johnny, against her family’s wishes, and over time he has become more and more abusive. Sandy has two teenagers, Lisa, and David, and when David steps in to protect his mom, Johnny is critically injured.
This is a well written story which is an action packed, emotional roller coaster, with family, friendships, mystery, suspense, intrigue, tension, second chances, turmoil, trauma, making choices, and love, which leads to an entertaining, twisted, haunting, tragic, and steamy small town romance.
Be aware of the trigger warning due to the sensitive content!
I look forward to reading more from this author whose work I recommend.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a very well written book about domestic abuse. While I haven’t gone through it myself I witnessed firsthand on multiple occasions with a family member and went through it with them so I know how hard it is to get out of.

It was a little confusing with the time line jumping around between Sandy and Lisa with it not being the same months. Also the swinger party I felt like was wayyy out of character for Sandy and the way she was being towards Lisa during that.

The development between Bill and Sandy was definitely rush but seeing this first I can see why she did that because it does happen in real life sometimes.

Overall I enjoyed this book and find that this could be a could book for someone going through the same thing. Definitely can’t wait to read more from this author. Thanks for the ARC.

[Chris Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can honestly say, I read this book in one day. Not only was it reflective of too many situations in my life, it was written simply and directly, explaining the main characters plight. It was descriptive, heart wrenching, frustrating, heart warming, and many other feels along the way. This was my first time reading this Author (and her first novel..lol), and I am a extremely picky reader/Author selector (if you don't grab me in the first couple pages, I am not reading your book). I would definitely read another of her books (I am hoping there is a follow up???), but more importantly I urge you to get snd read this book, especially if you have had mental or physical abuse (some may find it both uplifting and intriguing).
Sincerely, Chris Lindsey, Quincy, MA

[Alicia Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very confusing and emotional book.

It is written in the view of a mother and daughter and their life in an abusive home. The story is written where time jumps a lot and although the chapter headings tell you the person, month, and year of that chapter I had to continuously go back to the last chapter to figure out the time Jump and I was not a fan of that.

This story was also quite rushed and left a lot out. What happened once the police truly got involved? Why is almost every male in the story the way they are? I get that it’s as back in the 70s but even the love interest after the husband was in the hospital/rehab center had a lot of red flags. Also that ending….. not something I will read again or recommend

[Kathi Tidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one jumps around a lot! Okay, this is a story that is told from both the mother and the daughter's point of view. So you have to put yourself in the mindset 35 year old 1975 housewife trying to survive her particular situation. As well as a 14 year old girl witnessing everything happening around her.

Overall, it was a decent book that was well written. But honestly, the whole back-and-forth was just a lot for me.

I would HIGHLY recommend you read the trigger warnings for it before reading it. Because it does involve spousal abuse and teenage pregnancy.

[Kate Delrosso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to. I was immediately sucked in within the first few pages and I was engulfed, I don’t get to read as much as some so it took me longer to finish but it was a very interesting read. I would definitely make yourself familiar with the trigger warnings but it was so well written, duel stories between a mother and daughter. I hope that there is a sequel to dive deeper into the daughter’s story and learn more of a background to the relationship with her mother and father.

Highly recommend

[Brandi Kiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously, I knew I was going to be able to relate to this story, having gone through domestic violence and an abusive relationship. I had no idea that I could also respectfully understand what it was like growing up as a child in a broken home filled with abuse. Nobody deserves to go through anything even close to this, but it is wonderful to know so many of us are not alone. It's been humiliating for me to ever share my experiences, but relating to a book while doing something I love, reading, I was overwhelmed with the feeling of being seen and heard!!

[Courtney Bucey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to start this by saying I throughly enjoyed this book, to the point where it was hard to put it down!

I liked that there was a good amount of information and backstory within the first few chapters and got right into the plot. It definitely had me hooked instantly!

Set in the 70’s, Sandy married her high school sweetheart despite her parent’s concern and wishes, and soon finds out her parents were right and he is abusive. With her father refusing to aid her, Sandy begins a new journey of strength and recovery while protecting herself and her children in the process.

Lisa, 14, has grown up in an abusive environment and is navigating her parent’s turmoiled marriage, while also figuring out everything that comes with getting older and becoming a woman.

This was both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story of resilience, strength and the importance of having a support system. An absolutely amazing book that had me crying, laughing and everything in between!

This book HEAVILY discusses DV and child abuse, please read trigger warnings.

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice- 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[katlovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing book. The book was written in a way that I as a reader felt like I was there with the characters. Sandy married her high school sweetheart against her parents wishes and learned soon on that her parents were right and figured it out how to stand on her own. There are some deep topics portrayed in this story, such as abuse and cheating, so I would heed the trigger warning for content description to make sure it’s in your comfort zone.