Happy 4th of July.

I was going to post a picture of my cover, but I must have gone over my limit of pics since it's not letting me post it. I posted one on my own blog a few minutes ago...lol.

Anyway, in case you don't know me, I'm T.A. Chase and my first book, No Going Home was released yesterday from Liquid Silver. Click here to check it out. I'm going to post the blurb and an excerpt here. I also would like to know why do you think cowboys are a popular theme, not just in gay fiction, but in any type of romance/ficiton story? What is it about cowboys that fascinate us?

Here's the blurb:

Six years ago, a hoof to the head ended Leslie Hardin's show-jumping career and his relationship with the man he loved. Broken, hurt, and rejected, Les has focused his energies on rebuilding his life.

Les’ accident has shown him that the most valuable treasures are usually found under an imperfect surface, and his reputation for taking in strays starts to grow. But it’s one of these strays in particular, injured rodeo cowboy Randy Hersch, who captures more than just his compassion.

Between his disapproving father and his chosen career path, Randy has always felt the need to deny his passion. But when Les takes him under his wing, Randy begins to realize that he is truly strong enough to admit his true self—to himself and the rest of the world. But in the arms of a broken man, can he find acceptance…and love?

And the excerpt: (This scene takes place in the beginning of the book)

“Damn horse,” Randy Hersch muttered as he shifted, trying to find a comfortable spot in the seat of his truck. His body ached, he wanted to stop and rest for a while. He’d spent the last two weeks in the hospital, and he had a sudden urge to go back to the Rocking H and see his family. He hadn’t called to let his sister know he was injured or that he was coming home.

He stopped the truck at the beginning of the driveway and stared at the buildings. The Rocky Mountains proved a beautiful background for the ranch he’d grown up on and left when he was eighteen. The anger and hate between him and his father had gotten to the point where one of them would end up killing the other. Randy left the day after graduation and hardly came back anymore. After getting his leg broken and his body stomped by an angry bronc, he decided it was time for a visit.

It had been a year since he’d last visited. The ranch didn’t look like it used to. No longer were the barns painted the dull gray his father seemed to favor. They were the bright blue he’d come to associate with clear Wyoming skies. The windows and doors were trimmed in pristine white. There were three more new buildings on the other side of the main house. He remembered his sister telling him they had to build more foaling barns.

It’s not home anymore, he thought as he drove up to the main barn filled with organized chaos. His sister Tammy stood in the aisle, directing the ranch hands. He climbed stiffly out of his truck.

“Hey sis, what’s the circus for?” He made his way to her.

Tammy whipped around. Squealing, she raced towards him. He was only able to stop her from launching herself at him at the last moment.

“Wait, girl. Be careful. I’m bruised.” He accepted a gentle hug from his favorite sibling.

“Oh Randy, are you here to recuperate or to stay?” Her gaze skipped over his body looking for injuries.

“Staying’s never been an option for me, Tammy. You know how Dad feels about me.” He shoved his hat back on his head. She wrinkled her nose but kept quiet. He took in the view of spindly-legged foals gamboling beside their mothers.

“What are you doing with the babies?”

Her face lit up. “It’s time to pay the rent on those three hundred acres Daddy leased from our neighbor, Les Hardin.”

“What does the rent have to do with the foals?” He scratched the velvety nose of one of the mares.

“Les gets his pick of each year’s foals. That’s what we pay.”

“Wait a minute. Who set up that deal? He’s robbing you.” Randy was furious.

The Rocking H bred and trained some of the country’s best cutting horses. Each one of those foals was worth tens of thousands of dollars and it was far more than the property they were leasing was worth.

“Wait, Randy. Don’t go off half-cocked. Les and I worked out a deal. Just wait and watch.” She pointed to the plume of dust heading towards them. “He’s here.”

Randy bit his lip and fought back the urge to argue. He wasn’t going to treat his sister the way their father treated him. Tammy had taken over running much of the ranch when she turned eighteen. He had to trust she knew what she was doing.

He stood back as a beat-up black truck clattered into the yard. When the tall man wearing a black cowboy hat stepped from the vehicle, Randy clenched his fist and pressed it to his stomach. He’d never felt such a kick of attraction before in his life.

Les Hardin was an inch or two taller than Randy was. His hair was cut short enough to be covered by the cowboy hat. The tanned skin attested to hours in the sun. Les’ thin lips pulled up in a smile as Tammy greeted him, but Randy got a look at the man’s eyes. Dark brown and filled with a sorrow so deep, Randy thought he’d drown in it. Here was a man who had lost everything important to him.

Randy’s dick hardened and he groaned. He didn’t want to lust after this man. He didn’t want to get involved with anyone near the ranch. It made his life more peaceful when he did come back. At least it was one less reason for his father to hassle him.

Those brown eyes turned his way and he realized Tammy was waving for him to come over. Reluctance dogged his steps. Why did he get the feeling this man would change his life?