(Book Blitz: Excerpt + Giveaway) Radiant by Christina Daley

Title: Radiant
Author: Christina Daley
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Release date: February 12, 2013
Buy the book: Amazon

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.

Excerpt

"What about the kid in 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.

About the author:

Christina Daley made her first book with neighborhood friends when she was four years old. They "wrote" out some semblance of lettering with crayons, cut up a cardboard box for the cover, and bound it all together with clear adhesive tape. It was brilliant.

Quite a few years later, Christina is trying her hand at writing "real" books. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with a pet plant named Herb.

As part of the blitz five winners will receive a paperback copy of Radiant plus a bookmark! US/CAN only.
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