The Moments Between Dreams by Judith F. Brenner

The Moments Between Dreams by Judith F. Brenner

Carol’s husband Joe has a need for control, dashing her hopes and dreams. Trouble escalates during WWII as a polio virus hits Chicago. When daughter Ellie learns to walk again, a handsome journalist sparks Carol’s zest for life, but accepting his help puts everyone at risk of Joe’s violence. This courageous story tackles empowering issues from the 1940s relevant today.

Did you know October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month? And Polio Day falls in October? According to the national statistics on domestic violence, nearly 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States every minute. The crime impacts 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men.

The Author includes hotlines and websites in the back of the paperback book, eBook and there is a PDF file on her website, www.judithfbrenner.com, for Audiobook listeners who may know someone or need help themselves to find shelter or create a safety plan.

Five Star Reader Reviews: “The Moments Between Dreams tells the story of a woman who chooses the wrong man yet does everything in her power to stand by her choice. I doubt there is a woman alive who cannot on some level relate to wrong choices. Brenner has created a historical novel that resonates with issues that are not just historical, but contemporary as well, yet she digs deep and gives us hope. The Moments Between Dreams will stay with you long after you read the last page.”

“Once I started The Moments Between Dreams, I could not put it down. The story hooked me right from the beginning. I was transported to Chicago's southwest side during the 1940s to a primarily Polish neighborhood...(The book) also took a close look at the way women were viewed by males during that time...A blind eye was often turned when a woman suffered from the hands of an abusive husband. Divorce also favored the husband, so many women learned to live with the abuse (or face poverty or worse, lose custody of their children). Author Judith F. Brenner did an excellent job developing characters in The Moments Between Dreams. They were vivid, complex and so believable. Her research was impeccable and her writing flowed without flaw. The book is a work of fiction, but the author notes that her own mother was a victim of the polio virus. She witnessed her mother's courage, determination and passion for life first hand. This only enhanced the authenticity of this book. I really admired the character of Carol and that of Ellie. Neither of them every gave up hope even when things appeared to be dark, desperate and hopeless. The Moments Between Dreams opened my eyes to the realities of polio before the vaccine was available. I look forward to reading more books by her and highly recommend this book.”