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A Staten Island Love Story: Welcome to Shaolin #3

A Staten Island Love Story 3: Welcome to Shaolin

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With the bombs that were dropped at Shai and Lennox’s engagement party, nobody knows how to react. While Lennox is in the hot seat, Skye is trying to figure out how to live in the same city as Richie Rich – again. Skye is always used to facing things on her own, except she has Mo now who is determined to handle the situation, by any means possible. With Mickey still sending her threatening phone calls, Skye is determined to move on and finally let love in. Except, Mickey isn’t willing to let her go unless she is in a pine box.
Wahkeem is stuck between a rock and a hard place. How does he give his wife everything she’s demanding, while shutting out his best friend and the love of his life? Arika is playing hard ball when it comes to her husband and his best friend. After losing their baby, she’s determined to have another one and push Lennon out of the picture completely. Especially with the plans she has to move back to Atlanta with Wahkeem in tow.
Karter has been so caught up in his own drama when it comes to Ashland that he hasn’t been clued into what his sister has been up to. When he finds out Star has been keeping his sister’s secret, how will he react? Will that be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for them? Is Star’s immaturity something that he finally sees and can’t deal with? Will being daddy’s spoiled princess end up spoiling Star’s chances for true love? Karter finally finds out the real reason his mother left Staten Island all those years ago. After finding out, will that cause him to look at the Vanducci family differently?
Lennon has more than a few skeletons in her closet. Some she has buried deep in the back of her mind, and others she had no problem sharing with Wahkeem. When the one secret she promised to take to her grave is revealed, a domino effect erupts within the family, and everyone is trying to figure out how they missed what was clearly in their faces.

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2023

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Jahquel J.

189 books4,505 followers

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5 stars
2,740 (67%)
4 stars
982 (24%)
3 stars
316 (7%)
2 stars
44 (1%)
1 star
7 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
Profile Image for Joreen.
433 reviews7 followers
February 26, 2025
There was a lot going on. Too much might I say? The characters really annoyed me and I personally don’t think any of them had any real growth except for Star.
Lennon and her mama, more alike than I thought and I don’t mean that as a compliment. Wahkeem disappointed me so much, I couldn’t care less for him towards the end. He was a big NO.
None of these characters have heard of contraception??? Damn.
Profile Image for Vanity La’Gail.
112 reviews15 followers
October 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars

Oh baby… this one? Messy. A hot ah mess.

Things I noticed/loved:

-How did the murderer-by-career become my favorite character? Him and his girl were solid, which is wild.

-I do appreciate that all the storylines left hanging in book 2 got wrapped up here.

Things I just couldn't:

-The audacity was so high in this book, omg. Everyone but like maybe 4 characters blew me over and over again.

-This series started out as “not your ordinary urban fiction”, but by this point it became your most stereotypical urban fic—just with money.

-The matriarch and patriarch? Done for. I figured there’d be dirt with the lives they lived, but I HAAAAATE the stereotypical cheating bruh.

-The whole family doing Arika so dirty? I hated it. I’m glad she did what she did because… ew.

-All the ninjas were cheating dirtbags except a few, but honestly that’s only because the ones who weren’t just started their relationships in book 2… so give them time 🙄.

-Wahkeem = the epitome of pot calling the kettle black. Like sir, please.

-Wahkeem & Lennon; just go.

My one & only gripe:

I try to avoid urban books with SA in them because it feels like it just has to come up every time. It’s usually too heavy for me, and of course… it showed up here too.

Final thoughts:
The author knew when to end it and I’m glad this is the last book in the series. If it isn’t… don’t tell me 😅. With that being said, we can wrap up the Van-Crowmwell family now, but if you want to give us a Mo & Skye or Yayo & Bree world? Yeah, I’d be interested in that.
Profile Image for AlexTRBG.
339 reviews33 followers
January 15, 2026
Wow, I really ate this series up. It’s def one of my fav Jahquel J series if I’m being completely honest. It’s hella dramatic, but I really liked how she wrapped everything up in only 3 books.
Profile Image for Alicia Beharie .
79 reviews1 follower
February 16, 2025
It was okay

I finished this series to say that I finished it. Coming off the higher of the Delgatos and Infernos this wasn’t the route to go. There were too many story lines to keep up with. The people I was really interested in (Star and Karter) I can honestly say I don’t feel like I got to know them. I didn’t get to feel their chemistry like Wah and Snoop.
There was a lot of messiness which was entertaining. But overall an okay series.
91 reviews
May 4, 2025
Why is it that no one in “bookville” can correlate unprotected sex to pregnancy?! 🙄

This plot line is making my stomach hurt.🥴 This is the messiest shit ever!

Wah ain’t shit! Period!

Actually, he might be slow. My guy has a pattern of making poor decisions when it comes to life changing events.

I feel bad for Arika because Wahkeem really could’ve left her alone if this was the type of shit he was gone be on. She’s annoying AF but she don’t deserve this bullshit.

Who ain’t got damn pregnant in this book?! Shit! Next thing Skye ass gone be pregnant.

This book is getting on my last nerve! 🙄

Respectfully, I don’t give a damn about Mo and Skye like at all but especially right now. Get back to all these bombs you just dropped! 😩 Oh but wait, this may be the chapter I find out Skye IS pregnant. 🤦🏾‍♀️🙄

This segue to Jamal’s sick twisted tales didn’t need to take up so much of the story.

The characters that this entire series has been about get 10 minute chapters while people I personally DGAF about (Skye, Mo) get 30-40 minute chapters. Make it make sense! Did Wahkeem not weave the most tangled web ever yet, he’s been radio silent for so many chapters.

Damn can’t even get a chapter on Karter without Skye and Mo ass being in the mix. 🙄

To take an entire first book for character development and then the last 10% of the final book to wrap the entire series up is crazy work.

This wasn’t it for me. 2⭐️






Profile Image for KindledbyKisses.
103 reviews6 followers
September 21, 2025
The end to this series was wholesome and as I expected. It was a world wind of emotions and ups and downs and im happy with how it came together.
Profile Image for Michie Reads.
56 reviews1 follower
March 12, 2026
A Homewrecking Hoe's Guide To Being The Good Guy

*May contain spoilers*

This series reads, like it was written from the pov, of A HOME WRECKING HOE and a good for nothing LOW DOWN DIRTY DOG, trying to paint themselves as the good guys.

Lennon and Wah-À la poubelle

The way the family treated Arika-À la poubelle

Kater's mindfk games with Star-À la poubelle

Selena-À la poubelle in fact À LA POUBELLE-this sad excuse for a human, should have been swimming with the fishes right along side her pedophilic husband.. IDGAF I said WTF I said.

Vita-Now sis is def to blame for the shit show that was her kid's life, but, I understand the extent of the betrayal she felt in that moment. To be in mourning and learning the man you're mourning was considering leaving you for your best friend?? Not to mention the post partem and, the fact that your husband's death shares the date of your daughter's birthday, yeah the temporary insanity was warranted.
I am glad she was given some redemption, it took too long and way too much hurt to her kids, especially Mel, but in the end they got the happy ending they deserved.

Star-À la poubelle adjacent. She started off as a spoilt selfish brat but by the end there was some maturity, thank god smdh.

Arika-deserved so much better. The fact that she was wronged but somehow was made out to be the bad guy?? Fk that shiiiit. She didn't take enough from the bastard in the divorce. She should have taken his good for nothing ass to the mthfkn cleaners.

Somehow, in the shit show that was this family drama, the hitman and his boo were my favorite characters. I loved Mo and Skky and I wish they do get a book in the future.

In conclusion, out of the 28 books of Jah's that I've read in the last month or so, this, 3 book series, was the only one I disliked. Personally I wouldn't recommend this series at all. I think the messaging is piss poor and I had much higher expectations from my girl. It's disappointing because coming from the Delgato family series, I was really looking forward to Star's story.
This was not what I've come to expect from Jah.

Side note-I think all the homewreckers out there will really appreciate this story. It's an ode to them

À la poubelle....

47 reviews
March 13, 2026
My least favorite series. I finished it just to finish but I really hated almost every character.

The Arika hate train was so damn annoying like come TF on! Everybody see them playing in her face, and thought it was cute/funny, but she can’t have an attitude? 😒 She didn’t do enough actually.

Also, the Lark situation didn’t hurt Lennon enough for me. 😂
Profile Image for SumFire.
727 reviews2 followers
August 17, 2024
3.5 ⭐️

Soo many secrets!! This book had me stressed!

When Arika said "I was confident and knew who I was, and you’ve made it where I can’t even recognize myself in the mirror anymore. All because you’re not man enough to go after who you truly want. You dragged me into this marriage knowing how you felt for her, and that is fucked up.”

I felt that! Whewwww!!! She was a witch but not the villain.

The series as a whole was a bit all over the place. It started out being about street racing 🏁 and quickly morphed into the dysfunctional dynamic that were the house of Cromwell and Vanducci. They were all for the streets.
Profile Image for Nikki B..
83 reviews
March 14, 2025
All of the feels!!!

I don't know any other way to say this, except for this series was OUTSTANDING! This book gave so much: love, hate, heartbreak, heartwarming, friendship, secrets, drama, growth, healing. I could go on and on. I cried, cheered, screamed, clutched my pearls, laughed... I loved how Jah made us rethink almost every person's perspective and how they handled most of the situations. This author wrote the heck out of this story! The emotions it evoked is a testament to her extraordinary gift. I wish I could experience it again for the first time lol. Honestly, THEE ONLY thing I wished was better was the editing in places throughout the book. Jah is top tier with her writing and ability to deliver, no doubt about it; but, the editing errors and grammatical mixups were irksome at times. It made this a 4.5 🌟 instead of 5. Do yourself a favor and read this book!!
Profile Image for WhatKiReading.
243 reviews
February 7, 2025
what’s done in the dark……..

The secrets with both family hand my jaw on the floor. While everyone thought Mr & Mrs Vanducci was perfect, they had their own skeletons. I always knew Vita had a reason for the hate she had for Rah & G. Although friendship will never happen for them, I’m glad they are cordial for their kids.

I’m so happy that Star & Karter have each other. I hate that Wah played in Arika face knowing he was in love with Lennon. I hope they all heal from their love triangle. Butttttttt Big daddy Mo is HIM, the way he vowed to protect Skye & never let up. I love their bond and hope it gets better.

Now on to the villains. Lennox got exactly what he deserves from treating women like trash. Him & the little bum Ashland deserve each other. No I don’t feel sympathy for Mel, she was grown and knew she was messing with a married man. As for Selena, I don’t feel sympathy for her either because she didn’t protect her kids AT ALL.

10s across the board Jahquel!
Profile Image for MissP.Reads.
23 reviews2 followers
July 30, 2025
The book was Fab and it touched some very important and touchy topics. I’m so happy that that child molester got what he deserved. My heart went out for that little girl and also Lennon. As a supporter of the LGBTQ community I love that Skye found her the protector/man. Akira was done filthy and I hated that for her smh. 10’s across the board !!! MISS J DONT MISS 👏🏽
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,264 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2024
4.5 stars.

Whew chile this was a mess. So much tea revealed in this book. Some people got dead. Some got married and others got gone. I was satisfied with the ending and happy to see lots of HEAs but getting there was bumpy. Overall great book. Highly recommend this series!
Profile Image for Keesha.
691 reviews26 followers
March 4, 2025
This finale to the series kept me on the edge of my seat. This was a fun, humorous, messy ride. There are so many characters that I need more info on but primarily Lennox Vanducci. I love how I can see these series starting to co-mingle within the Jahquel J universe.
Profile Image for Sarah.
811 reviews15 followers
August 5, 2025
Yay!!! Such a good way to end the series! I loooove Mohammad and Sky so much! They are my favs. Lennon is ugh such a good mama and I adore her. Now her man? Side eye 👀👀👀 Star and Karter are so cute too!
Profile Image for Kenya.
515 reviews5 followers
March 12, 2025
Ultimately, my feelings from book 1 remain unchanged. I hated everyone.
Profile Image for Alleeah.
57 reviews
September 26, 2025
Whole series was mid and definitely not a fan of Staten Island.
Profile Image for Hannah.
52 reviews4 followers
November 12, 2025
These characters!!!!!

I could not stand ANY of these people!!!!! I kinda liked Mo, which says alot since the guy kills people for a living!
3 reviews
February 2, 2026
I Loved It!

Im so in love with these Books , I read the Delgato and Inferno Books first this just topped off those for me . Im patiently waiting on Kora and Goon 2 now !!
Profile Image for Pookie.
166 reviews14 followers
March 28, 2025
Star x Karter, Lennon x Wahkeem and Skye x Mo

Disfunction, deception and delusion were running rampant throughout this book. The MESS continues!

This book wrapped up the Vanducci-Cromwell series…..fortunately Jah was able to find a bow big enough to top off all the drama! Yeah…there were characters we were rooting for, but be for real….a lot of them were trifling as hell! I was even giving Rah and Giovanna the side eye.

The Don’t Play in My Face Award goes to Vita!!!!! Bravo mama! Happy to see her speak her truth.

Hopefully, Jah will revisit some of these characters and give us a more in depth story. I would love to see a deeper dive into Karter, Star and Lennox.
34 reviews
November 11, 2025
Every question gets answered in this book. From Ashland being a jealous bitch. To why the Cromwells left Staten Island to live in poverty. To why G told Lennon being with your best friend never works. To what happens between Karter and Star…everything gets answered
Profile Image for Denise Nicole.
21 reviews
April 4, 2026
I’m not even joking I thought Vita was gonna say she was pregnant. Jahquel’s characters are fertile af!
Profile Image for Sita M..
137 reviews6 followers
March 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Everybody was slow. Mo & Skye seem to be the only couple who got it together and I was able to enjoy some good of the relationship. Vita also seems to evovle in the book though there isnt much of her. Lennon and Wah? played all 3 books. Karter was somewhat sensible but Star was a piece of work. For the most part, everybody got together at about 95% of the book with a 5% happy ending. There was so many typos and errors. If you enjoy messy then this is the book for you. lol It was definitely a page turner where I was intrigued to know whats next but once I found out… it was disappointment after disappointment.
Profile Image for she_ill_22.
280 reviews21 followers
October 15, 2024
So many bombs, so many conclusions

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…Giovanna/Lennon. Vita, now I see why she was the way she was; too bad Karter and Mel suffered as a result. Mel…wow…glad she finally figured things out. Lennox is a lost cause smh. Love Skye and Mo; Mo is definitely a real one. Lark…it figures. Ashland…dummy. Jamal 100% perv. Arika, sad deal, but I really didn’t like her. Wahkeem was trying to have a safety net since he thought he couldn’t have Lennon. I didn’t really get the feeling he was trying to have good cake and eat it too. Lennon was just as wrong. Star and Karter were cute; Star really matured a lot. Good conclusion.
284 reviews2 followers
January 30, 2025
I had to read this!

Once I was hooked on the Delgatoes and the Inferno God's I had to see the connection between them & the Van-Cromwell clan. Could it be that the connection is fostered by Mo Rich, who introduced killing for hire to Karter. Who in turn collaborated with Quasim doing hits? Therefore the Vanducii-Cromwell & Inferno God's connection is made. And the Delgatoes and Inferno God's are friends from wayback with the patents connection. Will or has Mo ,& Yayo continued to be a part of this union? Now I'm going to read the Zoo Boys to further tye in the connections. It's 3 am and my mind is cycling. But I feel like I'm on to something. 🤔
Profile Image for Dom.
8 reviews
October 21, 2025
Still I hate Wahkeem and Lennon. They didn’t really deserve a happy ending so that ruined the overall book for me.
Arika while very annoying didn’t deserve any of that.
Lennon 👎🏾
Lennox awful just…. Awful
Star got better but I wanted more of her story instead of Lennon.
Still a fan of Karter but I wanted more of him instead of Wah
Mel worked my nerves
G didn’t check Lennon enough for sleeping with a married man and I guess we know why 🍎…🌳
Rah I feel like he didn’t do enough to guide his kids or tell them about themselves but they are grown🤷🏽‍♀️

Overall no
Profile Image for TACORA MCCLUNEY.
2,548 reviews11 followers
May 21, 2025
So Happy!!!!

This book made me happy with it's conclusion. Jamel got what he deserved with his nasty azz. I understand why Vita left and don't blame her but she didn't handle things nor her kids in a healthy environment. I'm glad she got help and her relationship with Karter and Mel has improved. I love Mo for Skye and happy that he accepts her flaws and all. I'm glad everyone got their happily ever after but I'm wondering when will Lennox finally grow up.💝💝
Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews