Spring Is Here 🌹 (Finally!) And So Are The Books
Apr 03, 2026 9:16 pm
If you're in the northern hemisphere, you might be celebrating the return of spring, whether its warmth has visited your area already or not. It's been an insanely cold winter here in South Carolina. But today it's 82° outside (or almost 28° for everyone outside the U.S.), and my husband's mowing the grass for the first time this year.
Poor guy. Hope he doesn't run over any yellow jacket nests. (Yes, this has happened in years past. He's also gotten stung by giant bumble bees. It's wild out there, LOL!) 🐝
How's life going in your neck of the woods? Has spring paid a visit yet, or are you still huddled underneath layers upon layers of snow? Are the leaves starting to turn color with hints of autumn? Send me a reply and let me know! I'd love to see any and all nature pictures you've got.
(I might have a pair of those to share at the end of this email. 😁)
Forbidden Gift Is In The Black!
Huge and happy news from this indie author who has just a handful of books that have made back the cost of production! (Maybe I shouldn't have admitted that, but...you know me. I'm far too honest.)
Forbidden Gift, the standalone novella detailing Gisela's unexpected romance that ignited in a magical brothel, is officially making a profit as of last week!
I'm over the moon to have another book in my 'actually making money' pocket, and I couldn't say that at all if it wasn't for you. 💖 If you bought Forbidden Gift at full price or if you snagged it last month while it was on sale, I am eternally in your debt. I hope you've enjoyed discovering Gisela's love story with Radomir and Gustav. It was so much fun to explore the details of their relationship after they skipped into Gift of Snow as side characters. And we've got lots more side character romances coming down the pike in the Elemental Gifts series.
Ready to add Forbidden Gift to your TBR? It's still on sale for just 99¢ until the middle of April, so grab it from your favorite retailer today!
Get That Book + April Book Fairs
We've got a handful of book fairs happening throughout the month of April, but before we get to those, now's the time to check out Get That Book. This is a single-day event packed with brand new releases, sales, and freebies in all sub-genres of romance. Click the graphic to browse all the options ⬇️
Want to support indie creators without having to toss your hard-earned coins into the billionaire Amazon cauldron? You've got options!
Kobo Plus is a subscription program similar to KU where you can read AND listen to all the books you want for a very affordable price. This month Kobo is showcasing a curated selection of fantasy and sci-fi books available to buy or to read in Kobo Plus. Browse all of them by clicking the graphic!
If you enjoy gaming along with reading, why not support indie game developers (and authors) on itch? I've got two books hanging out in two bundles happening right now. The first one's a collection of short stories by a variety of authors, and the second is a smaller bundle that primarily consists of games (plus my book, because I'm weird). Fair warning that the game bundle includes NSFW stuff, so don't click if that's not your thing. 😉
If you'd rather stick with books available on Kindle and other retailers, I've got some BookFunnel events for you to peruse. Enjoy!
Other Books You Might Like
I've dug up a pair of indie books that are free with newsletter signup, so if your e-reader has been feeling empty lately, this is your chance to remedy that. We've got a Jane Austen-inspired magical love story and a fairy tale retelling of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Dive into one or both stories today!
Pen Novak has two weeks to find someone to marry. Otherwise, she’ll be spirited off to live with her awful uncle. Fortunately, her town’s omnimancer is on the market, and he plans to choose someone at a ball in thirteen days.
Unfortunately, he’s not the type to appreciate cleverness, persistence or anything else Pen has to offer.
Enter the wizard’s intriguing assistant, who makes her a bargain: a magical brew that could virtually guarantee her selection, in exchange for a favor. Which he won’t specify. Nor will he tell her his name.
Of course she shouldn’t accept. Especially as she starts to notice his fine eyes and tempting lips.
But with all the job openings in town meant for men only, what other choice does a young lady—or, rather, a not quite so young lady—really have?
Can the prince of thieves save the slave-woman he loves in this twisted take on Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves?
Enjoy this twisted fairy tale that kicks off my Once Upon a Darkened Night fairy tale series where I take the villain and make them the hero.
🌳 Escape Into Nature's Beauty 🌳
Last weekend, my husband and I had a chance to get away for an afternoon. We checked out two places we hadn't visited before: one waterfall in western North Carolina, and one overlook from the tallest mountain in South Carolina. I didn't even know that there's a new lookout tower on top of our state's tallest mountain until I was hunting for waterfalls online, but today I'm telling YOU about Sassafras Mountain. The road up there is paved, there's a pit toilet, and there's a ramp up to the tower, so it's fairly accessible for a fabulous 360° view. Here I am looking silly with the mountains of North Carolina at my back!
And here's a look at East Fork Falls, a lesser-known waterfall in Headwaters State Forest. Just a quick hike from the parking area beside the road, and you're there. We're going to have to visit again this summer so we can splash around in the river. Hopefully by then there'll be a bit more water running over the falls; The Carolinas are in a pretty severe drought right now.
Do you have any photos of the great outdoors to share? Gone on any fun hikes lately? Seen any colorful flowers? What about wildlife? Send me your favorite photo and tell me all about it! I always love to hear from readers like you. 😊
I hope you have a wonderfully weird weekend with lots of fantasy to entertain your brain, and Happy Easter to those who celebrate! 🐣
Talk to you soon,
C.L. Carhart
Get Forbidden Gift for 99¢:
https://bf.clcarhart.com/5t5i9q9zq7
Get That Book:
https://getthatbookpromotions.com/apr-3-2026-deals/
Fantasy and Sci-fi in Kobo Plus:
https://www.kobo.com/p/kobo-plus-fantasy-reads
Short Story Bundle on itch: