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A Setting Sun Can't Save My Soul
The setting sun was all I ever knew. I vowed I'd die alone. The strips of purple, pink, and deeper blues that waved across the skyline above the shore and behind the haystack rocks... these were the only companions I ever knew or wanted. But then my drug dealer swept me up in a rush I'd never experienced. When the high wore off, we'd never been more buzzed. Maybe a setting sun couldn't save my soul. That didn't mean this man couldn't steal my heart. ✦✦HEA standalone. Trigger novel does contain some sensitive material dealing with mental health, substance abuse, and assault✦✦
238 pages, Paperback
First published March 18, 2020
5 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Radner
24 books306 followersRachel Radner is a former Pennsylvanian who will always miss Wawa.
She's been writing since the first grade when her teacher handed her a journal and instructed her to write about her day. From then on, she was always writing down the stories in her head.
After she graduated from Penn State in 2010, she spent time in NYC doing improv, acting on film, and performing in musical theatre. She participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time in 2012 and started what would become her first romance novel.
When she isn't writing and drinking coffee, she can be found geeking out about Star Wars or SNL, watching something from the Marvel universe, reading, or studying Latin and German.
She currently lives in Los Angeles, CA where she's also pursuing her dream of acting and filmmaking.
linktr.ee/rachelradner
She's been writing since the first grade when her teacher handed her a journal and instructed her to write about her day. From then on, she was always writing down the stories in her head.
After she graduated from Penn State in 2010, she spent time in NYC doing improv, acting on film, and performing in musical theatre. She participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time in 2012 and started what would become her first romance novel.
When she isn't writing and drinking coffee, she can be found geeking out about Star Wars or SNL, watching something from the Marvel universe, reading, or studying Latin and German.
She currently lives in Los Angeles, CA where she's also pursuing her dream of acting and filmmaking.
linktr.ee/rachelradner
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 13, 2020
As a writer, I'm always looking for a book that will grab me and not let go. This one totally delivered in a really good way. The characters have so much depth and the topics, though sensitive, are handled with care and grace. I couldn't put it down once I stopped reading. Rachel is an extremely talented writer and I look forward to so much more from her! Do yourself a favor and read it, then let it resonate with you for a while and enjoy the after-effects of a beautiful story.
March 14, 2020
This is an incredible debut novel. Gripping and heart pounding right from the beginning. The author poured all the emotions onto the pages and you felt all the struggles Stefan and Colleen were going through. The story was beautifully written and thought provoking. I look forward to more from this author.
March 27, 2020
A Setting Sun Can't Save Your Soul - Haunting
“I do this thing for a living that helps people escape,” Stefan murmured. “Enabling them to drift away and feel the person they are in that other, happier dimension. While the person they are in our dimension withers away and dies. I do that. I give them the key. " - Stefan
Colleen, a fragile young woman, suffering from past traumas and paying for the sins of her mother. Stefan, a young man whose facade of contentment and satisfaction is as thin as a spider silk veil, hiding dark secrets of his own. Somehow, some way, these two wounded, broken people find each other... Each seeking, each striving for acceptance; for love...
“For a man who’s been surrounded by darkness,” I murmured, “you’re the brightest light to ever enter my life.” - Colleen
A haunting and enthralling tale, captivating from the first; agnsty and intense. The choices made by the characters leave you wondering... What if? What if other choices had been made, what if...?
"The day I told the truth." - Stefan
“I do this thing for a living that helps people escape,” Stefan murmured. “Enabling them to drift away and feel the person they are in that other, happier dimension. While the person they are in our dimension withers away and dies. I do that. I give them the key. " - Stefan
Colleen, a fragile young woman, suffering from past traumas and paying for the sins of her mother. Stefan, a young man whose facade of contentment and satisfaction is as thin as a spider silk veil, hiding dark secrets of his own. Somehow, some way, these two wounded, broken people find each other... Each seeking, each striving for acceptance; for love...
“For a man who’s been surrounded by darkness,” I murmured, “you’re the brightest light to ever enter my life.” - Colleen
A haunting and enthralling tale, captivating from the first; agnsty and intense. The choices made by the characters leave you wondering... What if? What if other choices had been made, what if...?
"The day I told the truth." - Stefan
March 18, 2020
amazing debut novel from an author with so much talent!
a drug dealer and his client, falling in love. It sounds like a recipe for disaster—and both characters fully acknowledge this. However, Rachel Radner deals with their emotional turmoil in a way that’s elegant, heart-gripping, and leaves you rooting for both Stefan and Colleen at every corner. You fall in love with their love, and you cry when they shed tears. A phenomenal story. The dual points of view worked especially well.
a drug dealer and his client, falling in love. It sounds like a recipe for disaster—and both characters fully acknowledge this. However, Rachel Radner deals with their emotional turmoil in a way that’s elegant, heart-gripping, and leaves you rooting for both Stefan and Colleen at every corner. You fall in love with their love, and you cry when they shed tears. A phenomenal story. The dual points of view worked especially well.
March 15, 2020
What an emotional story told by first time author Rachel Radner. The more I read the more connected I felt with the struggles Stefan and Colleen dealt with. From both of their upbringings to their adult lives. I was fully vested in the story from the first few pages!!! I am looking forward to many more books from this highly talented author!!!
May 8, 2023
I received a free e-copy of this book from the author, and I was thoroughly impressed when I read it. Colleen is addicted to opiates and Stefan is her drug dealer; he also has drug dependency issues. There’s a trigger warning at the beginning, which I appreciated, but I was relieved to discover that Colleen was not actually raped. The attempt was pretty disturbing, but it could have been so much worse. I’m so glad Ms. Radner didn’t embellish more than necessary.
One of the first scenes they spend together is when they smoke four joints between the two of them. The descriptions of their experience are so realistic and tangible, I had to highlight some of my favorite parts. Some of them made me laugh as I recalled similar thoughts, although it really seemed like they’d taken acid instead of smoking weed. I suppose if you smoke enough…
“My head seemed to fit inside a vacuum, and I could viscerally see the separation of my thoughts from my brain.”
“Stefan waved a hand between us. His arm moved slowly, as if held back by the invisible fabric of space.”
“‘What?’ I managed to ask, seeing the words in my mind. Popping out like neon lights.”
“We subsisted together in this new altered state of reality, flying into a thick cloud of molasses where moving proved to be the most difficult thing in the world.”
After a lot of nonsensical back and forth, Stefan says, “Thank you for trying to remember to help me remember what I can no longer remember.”
“I thought of everything and nothing and all the things in between. My limbs became deadweight like bookends tied down each part of my body.”
I loved this conversation that happened during the same episode:
“Did you hear me?” I asked. “My message was pretty important.”
“I may have, but my brain feels especially disconnected from my body right now. So, my ears may have heard you, but my other ears did not.”
“We laughed for what seemed like eternity until I temporarily forgot how to laugh, and I stopped, and he stopped, and I sat there in a body coma that consumed my entire soul. We didn’t speak for a while, and I wasn’t sure if five minutes or five hours had passed. Or some other measure of time I hadn’t been made aware of.”
Never take hallucinogenics when you’re in a bad mental space. Stefan takes mushrooms and has a bad trip, which is surprisingly clearly described. His body “fell into a hole of nothing…” “Suddenly, my reality morphed into something else entirely….I was back in my physical body. Back in the recliner. Jumping from the seat, my eyes widened, staring at Rich. As I looked at him, still sitting on the couch, it appeared that his soul had separated from his body. A ghostly image hovered over his physical body, like a blurred photo taken on one of those professional cameras when the stabilization wasn’t set correctly… The spirt of Rich smiled at me sadly, as if to say he was going to a better place… I heard Deb and the ghost of Rich murmuring, their conversation droning on as they discussed what they’d do with me. My brain drifted away, in and out of consciousness, and I worried that I’d be stuck in this eternal loop, unable to break free.” It goes on, and it’s an intense experience for the reader; I imagine that’s especially true for the reader who recognizes the description, but perhaps, it’s true for anyone.
It might sound as if this book is glamorizing drugs, making them sound like fun, but it’s really about the crash that comes after the high. It’s about the fact that we can’t escape ourselves by turning to drugs. As the saying goes, no matter where you go, there you are. It’s a story of hope, that when two souls recognize one another, they can help one another to heal and find a better way of living. It’s a celebration of the fact that we can always change and improve ourselves. I highly recommend this book. It’s sweet and hopeful. Also, I love the last two sentences.
One of the first scenes they spend together is when they smoke four joints between the two of them. The descriptions of their experience are so realistic and tangible, I had to highlight some of my favorite parts. Some of them made me laugh as I recalled similar thoughts, although it really seemed like they’d taken acid instead of smoking weed. I suppose if you smoke enough…
“My head seemed to fit inside a vacuum, and I could viscerally see the separation of my thoughts from my brain.”
“Stefan waved a hand between us. His arm moved slowly, as if held back by the invisible fabric of space.”
“‘What?’ I managed to ask, seeing the words in my mind. Popping out like neon lights.”
“We subsisted together in this new altered state of reality, flying into a thick cloud of molasses where moving proved to be the most difficult thing in the world.”
After a lot of nonsensical back and forth, Stefan says, “Thank you for trying to remember to help me remember what I can no longer remember.”
“I thought of everything and nothing and all the things in between. My limbs became deadweight like bookends tied down each part of my body.”
I loved this conversation that happened during the same episode:
“Did you hear me?” I asked. “My message was pretty important.”
“I may have, but my brain feels especially disconnected from my body right now. So, my ears may have heard you, but my other ears did not.”
“We laughed for what seemed like eternity until I temporarily forgot how to laugh, and I stopped, and he stopped, and I sat there in a body coma that consumed my entire soul. We didn’t speak for a while, and I wasn’t sure if five minutes or five hours had passed. Or some other measure of time I hadn’t been made aware of.”
Never take hallucinogenics when you’re in a bad mental space. Stefan takes mushrooms and has a bad trip, which is surprisingly clearly described. His body “fell into a hole of nothing…” “Suddenly, my reality morphed into something else entirely….I was back in my physical body. Back in the recliner. Jumping from the seat, my eyes widened, staring at Rich. As I looked at him, still sitting on the couch, it appeared that his soul had separated from his body. A ghostly image hovered over his physical body, like a blurred photo taken on one of those professional cameras when the stabilization wasn’t set correctly… The spirt of Rich smiled at me sadly, as if to say he was going to a better place… I heard Deb and the ghost of Rich murmuring, their conversation droning on as they discussed what they’d do with me. My brain drifted away, in and out of consciousness, and I worried that I’d be stuck in this eternal loop, unable to break free.” It goes on, and it’s an intense experience for the reader; I imagine that’s especially true for the reader who recognizes the description, but perhaps, it’s true for anyone.
It might sound as if this book is glamorizing drugs, making them sound like fun, but it’s really about the crash that comes after the high. It’s about the fact that we can’t escape ourselves by turning to drugs. As the saying goes, no matter where you go, there you are. It’s a story of hope, that when two souls recognize one another, they can help one another to heal and find a better way of living. It’s a celebration of the fact that we can always change and improve ourselves. I highly recommend this book. It’s sweet and hopeful. Also, I love the last two sentences.
March 19, 2020
Two people, twisted up in their traumatic pasts, come together and work to find a relationship that works for them. While unknowingly pushing each other to overcome the memories that framed their adult lives, Colleen and Stefan find not only love, but the stability they’ve each desired.
A wonderful story that includes some hard subjects. While Ms. Radner is a new author to me, I’ll be watching for her new works in anticipation.
A wonderful story that includes some hard subjects. While Ms. Radner is a new author to me, I’ll be watching for her new works in anticipation.
April 13, 2023
What I really liked about this book was that you could palpably feel each character’s emotional journey. This isn’t just a story about addiction. It’s also a story about overcoming trauma and finding love where you least expect it. The connection between the two characters is a deep one, and their chemistry made me smile, while we followed along with their powerful journey. This is a strong romance novel but also a book about so much more.
April 4, 2020
This story was different as sometimes the person who steals your heart is not the most healthy person for you but sometimes maybe it's a different kind of high than you've ever known. Definitely an interesting read. It's a haunting and angsty tale of what if?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 23, 2020
Wow! Such an amazing debut novel. Such an emotional story, and it's written with great finesse and skill, once I started reading I couldn't put it down. I couldn't help falling in love with Stefan and Colleen's story, and I can't wait to read more from this author.
April 2, 2020
This is a heartfelt, amazing, and a beautiful read. Its a page turner and kept my interest throughout the story. It has a good storyline. The characters are wonderful and enjoyable.
I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.
I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.
May 3, 2023
I really enjoy the book. The characters were great and the whole story kept my attention. I couldn’t put the book down. I had to see what would happen between the two and before I knew it the book was over
May 6, 2023
This is my first Rachel Radner novel, and I wasn't disappointed. Deliciously dark and dangerous. Great characters, and a well written storyline. Would recommend. Will read more from this author!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 15, 2020
A well written debut novel that tackles a difficult subject.
March 22, 2020
What an absolutely beautiful story. I found myself really pulling for Colleen and Stefan to get past their past and find hope for the future. Such a great read.
April 13, 2020
A love story about overcoming addiction ...not my genre but if it's yours, you will enjoy it.
April 23, 2020
A wonderful debut novel. Difficult characters, difficult subject matter, but the author succeeds in making us care.
May 15, 2023
This was an enjoyable story. Good characters. And a new author, for me. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
April 8, 2020
Ok. The title is a bit long but I went in with an open mind. I had never read this author before, and so I was like I'll give it a go cause it's what I read normally.
I have to be honest, and say I didn't really like the book. I don't know what it was about it. Maybe it was the heavy drug use, or I couldn't connect with the characters until about towards the end of the book.
The storyline was great, don't get me wrong about that. The storyline, and everything that happened was in line with the what all happened at the end. But other than that, I really couldn't get into.
There was so much to this story, which made it great. The storyline, like I've said, the emotions, and the vivid detail of what was happening around the characters. That was really great.
Other than that, I can't say I loved it. That's why I gave it 3 stars.
I have to be honest, and say I didn't really like the book. I don't know what it was about it. Maybe it was the heavy drug use, or I couldn't connect with the characters until about towards the end of the book.
The storyline was great, don't get me wrong about that. The storyline, and everything that happened was in line with the what all happened at the end. But other than that, I really couldn't get into.
There was so much to this story, which made it great. The storyline, like I've said, the emotions, and the vivid detail of what was happening around the characters. That was really great.
Other than that, I can't say I loved it. That's why I gave it 3 stars.
August 4, 2020
The general idea of this book is great and a fun idea, however there were a few problems in its execution. It seemed to romantacize self harm and while I felt I knew and understood Colleen, I didn't feel the same about Stefan. He just seemed to be a dark soul for no clear reason. It gave us a little bit of backstory, but never fully laid it out for us. He also did things that just didn't fit right with his personality. You're telling me this hardened drug dealer/addict has Stevia and Monk Fruit and order cappucinos with almond milk? They were just odd details that seemed out of place and unnecessary. I felt like it cheapened the story overall. There were some cheesy lines, which I expect in a romance but some of them were just downright ridiculous. She would go from not wanting to be in love then two seconds later say something absolutely ridiculous. I didn't get it and I felt like I was getting a mild case of whiplash.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2020
Reviewing A Setting Sun Can’t Save My Soul
I thoroughly enjoyed A Setting Sun Can’t Save My Soul beginning to end! It was raw, realistic, wrenching and so well-written l wanted it to never end. This reader fell in love with both main characters and grew to care deeply about what happened to them. It is the gritty but ultimately uplifting tale of two people - Colleen and Stefan, both likable but way too sensitive and both looking for relief from their painful lives and damàged souls through the haze of drugs. The reader becomes enmeshed in their lives on the printed page and beyond, speculating about their futures long after the book is over.
I highly recommend reading this masterfully written
book, A Setting Sun Can’t Save My Soul, and DARE anyone not to become invested in the harrowing journey of Colleen and Stefan!
I thoroughly enjoyed A Setting Sun Can’t Save My Soul beginning to end! It was raw, realistic, wrenching and so well-written l wanted it to never end. This reader fell in love with both main characters and grew to care deeply about what happened to them. It is the gritty but ultimately uplifting tale of two people - Colleen and Stefan, both likable but way too sensitive and both looking for relief from their painful lives and damàged souls through the haze of drugs. The reader becomes enmeshed in their lives on the printed page and beyond, speculating about their futures long after the book is over.
I highly recommend reading this masterfully written
book, A Setting Sun Can’t Save My Soul, and DARE anyone not to become invested in the harrowing journey of Colleen and Stefan!
June 9, 2020
The book is a good romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story is an enjoyable and emotional romance read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews