Love Is Never Past Tense

By: Janna Yeshanova

Narrated by: Daniela Acitelli

An epic Russian romance saga

How could he possibly know that she, a complete stranger, would inexplicably affect his life and be with him forever, whether she was at his side or not? Drawn together in Russia on a romantic Black Sea beach, Serge and Janna fall headlong in love and rush into marriage. Their divorce months later leads to years of "if only".

Pressured apart by family and fate, they repeatedly cross paths, never quite reconnecting, never quite letting go. Changes in the world, their careers, and their lives, cause them to surrender to external influences. As they build separate lives and families, their destinies, shaped by post-Soviet political intrigue, collapse into a struggle for their very survival and dreams of a better life.

A long time later, distant memories of young, passionate love spawn emails that lead to international calls reviving an intimate, romantic connection to remind them - and us - that Love Is Never Past Tense....

©2011, 2014 Yevgenia Yeshanova-Stephens (P)2018 Yevgenia Yeshanova-Stephens

Love, rekindled

This story—a dual reflection of the lives of Janna and Serge, spanning decades across countries and continents—is not your run-of the-mill romance. She is an intense woman with a vital spark that drives the engine of their relationship. “Good Lord, what a ripe woman! She wasn’t a girl who’s never been kissed.” He is a contemplative man with piercing observations, colored at times by humor and other times by grand Russian pathos, of his own shortcomings. When his parents relay how insulted they were by his marriage to Janna, he observes their opinion that “Janna had wrapped him around her finger and put a ring on his.”

He recalls, “I do not remember how or when I came to the firm thought of divorce”, which is followed by his second marriage, second divorce. Longing at times for Janna, he asks himself, “Did you assume that it is impossible to glue together a broken vessel?” Following the collapse of the soviet union. she moves to the USA, but the full story of the intense, nervous crossing of the Soviet border will be told by her decades later, when they agree to meet again. Will they rekindle their love?

Five stars.

Disclosure: I was given this book as a gift in exchange for my honest opinion.

An endearing story of love

This is my first time reading (listening to) something written by Janna Yeshanova. This story is based on true life events and not normally a type of story I would read. It’s hard to “judge” a story when you know someone actually lived what you are seeing before you in the pages of a book.

But, I was intrigued. I love finding new authors and new tales to dive into. This was no different. It was a good read.

The story of love, loss, hardships and fighting for a change not only to better Janna’s life but that of her mother and daughter. The story itself is a lesson in history and how life once was in the USSR. Hard, and at times as dangerous as being locked in a shower with a cobra.

The younger Janna shows us the way of life and how a trip to the Black Sea starts a road to change for her. We learn of how love finds those that stumble upon it. Serge and Janna’s story had me laughing, and worrying right along with them.

No one knows what daily life can bring them, but in this story you see one woman’s journey to not only conquer new lands but to show that love is never past tense.

love is never past tense

This is one of the best audible books I have ever heard. A wonderful true story. The narrator is wonderful! I felt as if I was in the story. Serge and Janna had an enduring love that spanned over 20 years of separation. This book will make you feel.... make you cry... make you rejoice in how their love endured. Lost of historical content of government upheaval in Odessa, full of intrigue, drama, heart wrenching pain, This is a real love story.

High Expectations More Than Met

I read and enjoyed this book a couple years ago. When I learned it had been released as an audiobook, I was eager to hear the result.

My high expectations were more than met. Janna Yeshanova shares a realistic, complex, romantic story that jumps off the pages, but Daniella Acitelli's narration made me feel the story, not just grasp it. A perfect book for WhisperSync.

Awesome book!!!!

The narrator was amazing and I loved the storyline it kept me engaged and I totally finished this is under 24 hours I loved it so much!!!