FROM MY SOUL TO YOURS

Four long-time friends who triumphed over childhood abuse face new challenges in this sequel to Shattered Souls (2007, etc.).

Pals since college, Indera, Britton, Damascus and Chyna may have all confronted the demons that made their early years a living hell, but some negative effects linger, threatening their happiness. Basking in the phenomenal success of her popular “Weaves & Wonders” salons, sassy entrepreneur Indera can also boast of being lucky in love, having finally married stripper-turned-bestselling-author Damascus. But the edgy diva struggles with unresolved feelings for the father who left her with a sadistic stepmother. Indy got back at hated Grace 13 years ago, when she hired someone to chop off her stepmother’s arms (yes, that’s right), but she finally sees a chance at real closure when her father calls to say Grace is dead. Laid-back Damascus wants nothing more than to start a family, but he finds Indy difficult, irrational and even a little scary. He also doesn’t understand why she’s not pregnant yet: It’s not like they haven’t been trying—a lot. Meanwhile, Britton’s dysfunctional relationship with Lina, mother of his young twin sons Amar and Amir, ruptures for good after she accepts a role in an adult film. He moves back to the East Coast from L.A. with the kids and finds his life taking a turn for the better, until a mysterious woman from his past returns. Ladylike Chyna’s 20-year-old daughter Sarina has gone missing in New York. Sarina suffers from schizophrenia, and her lengthy off-her-meds ramblings and hypersexual behavior are compellingly cringeworthy. Chyna is ultimately forced to make a harrowing choice to save her daughter at the expense of her friendship with Indy. Forensic counselor Birch, who works with incarcerated teens, shows a real understanding of how mental illness and abuse can damage lives, even though he lets too much therapy-speak intrude on the narrative.

Sordid and sexy, but also overlong, with a plot that’s often ludicrous.