Radiant by Christina Daley
Publication date: February 12th 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Mary is part Vietnamese. Carter is a complete jerk. Normally, they don't talk much.
But when Mary's in an accident on the way to school one morning, Carter nearly dies saving her life. The doctors say his chances of living are slim, and Mary's feeling the full weight of survivor's guilt.
However, Carter's back at school in a matter of days, as if nothing had happened. Although, he is a little "glitchy," and he's developed a sudden and intense interest in Mary. She thinks he's suffering from major brain trauma from the accident. Or that he's been possessed.
As it so happens, Carter really is possessed. And the thing controlling him is having the time of its life learning to be human.
Featuring a diverse cast of characters, RADIANT is a funny "paranormal-lite" story about being human, being in love, and being healed.
But when Mary's in an accident on the way to school one morning, Carter nearly dies saving her life. The doctors say his chances of living are slim, and Mary's feeling the full weight of survivor's guilt.
However, Carter's back at school in a matter of days, as if nothing had happened. Although, he is a little "glitchy," and he's developed a sudden and intense interest in Mary. She thinks he's suffering from major brain trauma from the accident. Or that he's been possessed.
As it so happens, Carter really is possessed. And the thing controlling him is having the time of its life learning to be human.
Featuring a diverse cast of characters, RADIANT is a funny "paranormal-lite" story about being human, being in love, and being healed.
Excerpt:
"What
about the kid the red car?" Mary asked.
The
doctor took off his glasses. "I'm sorry. He didn't make it."
Mary
stared at him. "But he looked at me."
Mom
and the doctor exchanged concerned glances. Mary looked down at her bandaged
hands, trying hard to remember. A lot of details still weren't clear, but she
did remember Carter opening his eyes. If only for a quick moment. "Can I
see him?" she asked
"I
don't know if that's a good idea," Mom said.
"Mom,"
Mary said. "Please."
Mom's
brow wrinkled. Then, she sighed. "We can see if his parents will allow
it."
The
doctor released her, and Mary left the room with her mother. When they got to
the end of the hall, they saw a homely couple speaking with one of the ER
surgeons. The woman was crying, and the man clutched her as if he was keeping
her from falling apart.
"I'm
very sorry Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell," the doctor said.
"We're
not the Maxwells," the man said. "I'm Marcos Romero, and this is my
wife Linda. We're their housekeepers. Carter's father and stepmother are out of
the country right now."
"I
see," the doctor said. "Have either of you contacted his parents? Or
his mother?"
"I
called and left a message for Mr. Maxwell," Mr. Romero said.
"Carter's mother past away several years ago from cancer."
Mrs.
Romero wailed. From the way she was crying, she might as well have been
Carter's mom. Mary wished that she could cry with her. Mom once joked that Mary
was born with the tiniest tear ducts in the world, so she didn't cry often.
Now, she wished she could drum up a couple tears, if anything to not seem so
unsympathetic.
Mary
looked at her mother, who nodded. Then, she cautiously approached them.
"Excuse me. But I'm Mary. I'm the…what I mean is…." She couldn't find
the right thing to say. Mary had always been terrible with words. Especially
the sensitive ones needed for things like this.
Mrs.
Romero looked at her disheveled school uniform and her bandaged hands and
knees. "You were the girl who was
almost hit by the bus," she said.
"Are
you all right?" Mr. Romero asked.
Mary
nodded. "I am, thank you. But I was wondering if I could see him? Carter,
I mean."
"I
would advise against that," the surgeon said. "The body…I mean Carter…is
not—"
"Please,"
Mary begged.
The
stout couple looked at one another. At last, Mrs. Romero said, "Let her."
The
doctor looked at her. At last, he sighed and gestured for Mary to follow him.
Mary
was used to hospitals, ever since Mom became a nurse. But she had never seen an
operating room occupied. Instruments and equipment were still in the places
where the doctors and nurses had left them when they were trying to save
Carter's life. At the center was the operating table with a still figure on it,
covered with a bloody sheet.
The
doctor took part of the sheet. "Are you sure about this?"
No,
Mary thought. But she nodded nonetheless.
He
pulled the sheet down to Carter's neck.
Mary
stared at the broken, pale face of a boy she hardly knew.
"I'll
give you a few minutes." The doctor left the room to wait outside.
Mary
studied Carter's closed eyes. Maybe when they had opened in the car, it was
because of an involuntary spasm. Or maybe she really had just imagined it.
Mary
bowed her head, once again wishing she could cry now. But all she could offer
was a meager, "I'm sorry."
Mary
took one last look at Carter as she turned to leave. But she stopped.
A
single tear slowly fell from the corner of Carter's right eye.
Mary
rubbed her eyes, making sure her vision was clear. Then she looked again.
Another
tear escaped from the corner of Carter's eye.
Mary
bolted from the room. "He's crying!"
Everyone
looked at her like she was a lunatic.
"Mary,
calm down," Mom said.
"But
Mom, he's crying!" Mary
repeated. "He has tears coming from his eyes."
The
doctor looked at her curiously. "Are you sure? Maybe the tears came from
you?"
Mary
frowned. Couldn't he tell she wasn't crying? "You have to check him
again," she said.
The
Romeros looked at the doctor, like they had seen a glimmer of hope struggling through
the sorrow. He sighed and shrugged, but he turned and went back into the
operating room.
A
tense few minutes passed. Suddenly, the doctor burst from the door, calling for
his team. Several nurses rushed in and the door closed again.
Mary
and the others hardly breathed, let alone spoke, as they waited in the hall.
Finally,
after what felt like ages had passed, the doctor came out again, followed by
the undeniable sound of the heart monitor beeping.
Carter
was alive.
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What do you guys think of the cover, description, or excerpt? I am SO curious about what Carter is possessed by! A demon? Some other entity? Is the real boy still 'in there' somewhere?
Hey Carmen, thanks for the feature on your lovely blog :)
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