L.A.S BLACK ELITE, 80S DECADENCE LUST, GREED AND GOLD To the outsider, Courtney Hamilton has the perfect life. She is the beautiful, intelligent but naive daughter of one of the most successful, black business men in Los Angeles in 1977. The familys fortune was handed down by her great-grandfather, who was one of Californias first African American gold miners. Jealous of her daughters privileged upbringing, and haunted by her own past, Courtneys mother, Danielle does everything she can to make her only daughters life miserable. However, Courtney is graduating from high school and determined to gain her independence. She falls in love with Richard Thurston, a less-fortunate but ambitious waiter from South L.A., goes to college and finds a passion for filmmaking, while her mother devises a plan to ruin Courtneys happiness. Unfortunately, Danielles insatiable desire for power, money and sex, not only affects Courtneys life but threatens the family fortune as well. Courtney finally sees her mother for who she really is, toughens up and starts her dream job of producing a film about African Americans and their struggles in the California gold mines-but several unexpected events prevent the films premiere and Courtney faces losing everything. Will Danielle ever become a caring, loving mother and reveal the secrets of her hidden past? And, more importantly, can Courtney forgive her mother for all that she has done and move on before time runs out? This coming of age story captivates readers with vivid characters that live the 1980s lifestyle to the fullest. From the discos and movie sets of Hollywood, to the designer boutiques of Paris-through corporate greed, insider trading, AIDS and the birth of technology, this story-within-a-story is a fusion of historical fact and fiction that takes the reader on an exciting journey while exploring one of the most remarkable decades of our generation. Brenton Butler, author of They Said it was Murder Marcano has created a fascinating story by weaving together a history lesson and a modern-day romance. Phillip Zonkel, Long Beach Press Telegram