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Children of Vice #2
Children of Ambition
"Show me a strong woman and I’ll show you the scars on her soul that made her so.”
Everything I’ve done, everything I will do…no remorse. The world is a vicious place for a woman. It’s even crueler to the daughter of the Ceann na Conairte—discarded, married off, left powerless…
But I am no ordinary daughter of the mafia.
Unlike every other mafia family, my mother was Melody Callahan, Bloody Mel, the Don of the Italian Mafia, and the Don didn’t raise some precious mafia princess.
Bone by bone she broke me first, so no one else could—and bone by bone, I pieced myself back together.
I am no longer just the daughter.
I am the Don.
I am Donatella Aviela Callahan, and there is only one way—my way.
Everything I’ve done, everything I will do…no remorse. The world is a vicious place for a woman. It’s even crueler to the daughter of the Ceann na Conairte—discarded, married off, left powerless…
But I am no ordinary daughter of the mafia.
Unlike every other mafia family, my mother was Melody Callahan, Bloody Mel, the Don of the Italian Mafia, and the Don didn’t raise some precious mafia princess.
Bone by bone she broke me first, so no one else could—and bone by bone, I pieced myself back together.
I am no longer just the daughter.
I am the Don.
I am Donatella Aviela Callahan, and there is only one way—my way.
548 pages, Paperback
First published December 20, 2017
96 people are currently reading
2163 people want to read
About the author
J.J. McAvoy
35 books5,712 followersI’m a twenty-year-old something born in Montreal, Canada but currently living in Virginia for school. I would tell you want my major is however after two years I still have no idea what I’m doing.
So I’m a writer (duh that’s how you found me), movie enthusiast, and self-proclaimed chef. I love music even though I can’t sing or dance to save my life. (That doesn’t necessarily stop me but you’ve been warned.)
I started Ruthless People the summer of 2013 in hopes of giving myself a new type of love and crime drama. I never knew so many people thought like me! I feel truly blessed to have fans like you all! Writing is my true love and having you all enjoy my words is a dream come true.
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So I’m a writer (duh that’s how you found me), movie enthusiast, and self-proclaimed chef. I love music even though I can’t sing or dance to save my life. (That doesn’t necessarily stop me but you’ve been warned.)
I started Ruthless People the summer of 2013 in hopes of giving myself a new type of love and crime drama. I never knew so many people thought like me! I feel truly blessed to have fans like you all! Writing is my true love and having you all enjoy my words is a dream come true.
I'm on
Tumblr
and
Youtube
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 275 reviews
March 20, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Children of Ambition, book 2 of 4. Mob princess Donatella Callahan was born to reign & the hero who found her might just give her what she deserves!
“I would have left you out there and thrown this ring back at you if I saw weakness. I see what your enemies see, a sleeping dragon. I’m the only woman who can make sure everyone knows you’re awake.”
Books in Children of Vice series should be read in order:
Book 1: Children of Vice
Book 2: Children of Ambition
Book 3: Children of Redemption
Book 4: Vicious Minds Part 1
Book 5: Vicious Minds Part 2
The next generation of Callahan’s rule Chicago and control crime and drugs across the globe. Donatella grew up a mafia princess, it’s time for he to claim her crown!
❤ Opening: S.h.o.c.k.i.n.g.!
❤ Plot: While the family saga continues, Donatella gets her own romance.
❤ Heroine: Donatella is her mother’s daughter, but she is also her own person. 5 stars!
❤ Hero: A man with many secrets who is cocky, carefree, strong, manipulative and entitled enough to stand up to Dona.
❤ Ethan Callahan is his parents son and the true Ceann na Conairte, head of the Callahan empire.
“Your life is not guaranteed. My sister is not your insurance. Do not test me and this vast benevolence I am bestowing upon you.”
❤ Wyatt is back. What joy to get to know the brother, the man, the “god”, the manwhore…
❤ Ending: Revelations, truths, bittersweet reunions & new horizons.
❤ New bonus epilogue: J.a.w.d.r.o.p.p.i.n.g. ending to book 2.
“Now be a good husband and make me moan”
Without a second to waste he has us both on the floor.
“Do you want to moan like a wife or a whore?”
***
Hero: ★★★★1/2
Heroine: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★★
Storytelling: ★★★★★
Sexual tension: ★★★★
Sex scenes: ★★★★
Story ending: ★★★★★
******************************************
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Darkness: | HIGH FOCUS |
Humor: | HIGH FOCUS |
Kink: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Romance: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Sex frequency: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Suspense: | HIGH FOCUS |
Alpha copies provided to me by author J.J. McAvoy in exchange for honest feedback & review.
February 19, 2020
“If a man wants my heart he’s going to have to find it and then just take it because I don’t offer it to anyone.”
After loving the original series and being extremely disappointed with Ethan's book, I almost didn't read this one.
You see, I never really liked Donna.
Well, I'm really glad I still read it. This one was super fun; I was constantly laughing. There were so many great comebacks! A bit of redemption for the disappointing start of the series.
And to be honest, is awesome. Good thing that he and Donna are getting their own series.
As for people dying in this book. I celebrated twice. For and . I never liked her and maybe
After loving the original series and being extremely disappointed with Ethan's book, I almost didn't read this one.
You see, I never really liked Donna.
Well, I'm really glad I still read it. This one was super fun; I was constantly laughing. There were so many great comebacks! A bit of redemption for the disappointing start of the series.
And to be honest, is awesome. Good thing that he and Donna are getting their own series.
As for people dying in this book. I celebrated twice. For and . I never liked her and maybe
December 23, 2017
Holy shit! That end...
WTF happened? 😮😮😮
WTF happened? 😮😮😮
January 7, 2018
3.2 "this book is no romance" stars
Well well well! The first time J.J McAvoy left me astonishing was when i first read Ruthless people and met the apple of my eyes MEL AND LIAM 😍
After that i decided everything related to callahans will be golden and i'll buy it closing my eyes 🤗
Which after children of vice#1 i knew was a wrong conclusion🤗
They were good too but not to the level i was expecting!
Alas i was kinda dissapointing while reading the first book but then the cliffhanger left me curious like no other and then i decided even if its a thriller i will give it a go!!
Then i picked up Children of Ambition and started enjoying it so after clearing the suspense of first book's cliffhanger we started with real book and when i reached at the 75% mark of the book i had a painful and betrayful realisation!!!
That realisation being this book is no romance but a mafia family thriller or prologue to the new series of book on Dona by Miss McAvoy
Hence i felt kinda betrayed which i should or should not because ofcourse author did'nt promised me a romance but she also did'nt notify me about this book being a long ass prologue ( may be she did notify but i was'nt aware of it)
So now on the book-
It kept me intrigued and was a page turner too so on the level of thriller it did'nt lack but as a person who likes to read romance even in mythology😂 i was kinda dissapointed ... moreover i was confused with hero's personality was he alpha ? Was he beta? yup confused...
So yeah thats it! I am sure i am gonna continue this series but they won't be auto buy anymore..
M going to first research the shit out of em
So forgive me here but i rest my case...
B.R review
Damn that cliffy took the life out of me 😑
you better be releasing with in two months or i may end up doing some hacking 😂😂 lol just kidding believe me sometimes i even forget my own password! :P LoL
Well well well! The first time J.J McAvoy left me astonishing was when i first read Ruthless people and met the apple of my eyes MEL AND LIAM 😍
After that i decided everything related to callahans will be golden and i'll buy it closing my eyes 🤗
Which after children of vice#1 i knew was a wrong conclusion🤗
They were good too but not to the level i was expecting!
Alas i was kinda dissapointing while reading the first book but then the cliffhanger left me curious like no other and then i decided even if its a thriller i will give it a go!!
Then i picked up Children of Ambition and started enjoying it so after clearing the suspense of first book's cliffhanger we started with real book and when i reached at the 75% mark of the book i had a painful and betrayful realisation!!!
That realisation being this book is no romance but a mafia family thriller or prologue to the new series of book on Dona by Miss McAvoy
Hence i felt kinda betrayed which i should or should not because ofcourse author did'nt promised me a romance but she also did'nt notify me about this book being a long ass prologue ( may be she did notify but i was'nt aware of it)
So now on the book-
It kept me intrigued and was a page turner too so on the level of thriller it did'nt lack but as a person who likes to read romance even in mythology😂 i was kinda dissapointed ... moreover i was confused with hero's personality was he alpha ? Was he beta? yup confused...
So yeah thats it! I am sure i am gonna continue this series but they won't be auto buy anymore..
M going to first research the shit out of em
So forgive me here but i rest my case...
B.R review
Damn that cliffy took the life out of me 😑
you better be releasing with in two months or i may end up doing some hacking 😂😂 lol just kidding believe me sometimes i even forget my own password! :P LoL
April 1, 2018
3.5*
I delayed reading this for two reasons.
Firstly the ending of the previous book Vice. I wasn’t sure I liked where this was heading and so I held off. I know, I know I should have had more faith.
Secondly reviews came through mentioning the cliffhanger ending and since I’m not a huge fan of cliffies I held off and I’m so glad I did.
Before I start my review I have to say that I absolutely loved the whole Ruthless People series and Vice and as soon as I’ve finished this review I’m moving straight onto Redemption.
But I didn’t love this. I really liked it, parts of it I loved but as a whole no.
I’m not sure why.
I mean all the mistakes didn’t help but it wasn’t really that it just felt too much at times. Plus I was annoyed that Donatello and Gabriel’s story didn’t move forward at the pace I wanted. The book was running out of pages and I couldn’t understand why it wasn’t going faster. Surely their story wasn’t going to take up most of Wyatt’s book?
It wasn’t until I’d finished that I discovered their story is continued in a spin-off. I wish I’d known that earlier it would have saved on some reading stress.
And yes I’ll definitely be reading the spin-off.
I’m not sure why this didn’t click for me like all the others have but its straight onto Redemption for me now.
And talk about cliffhangers, I’m so glad I waited until the next book was out.
June 10, 2020
"My mother used to say everyone is ruthless, they just don't know it. I say, it doesn't matter if they know or not, so long as I'm the most ruthless of them all. As long as I am not ruled."
Lately, I haven't been able to find really good Mafia/Organized Crime romance books, however I can always depend on J.J. McAvoy to deliver outstanding stories in this subgenre. In many organized crime books the story feels fake, and the actions of the characters feel forced and not genuine. That was NOT the case with Children of Ambition. The Callahan kids are extremely ruthless like their parents, however they have their own demons which was put on paper perfectly. This was a great sequel to Children of Vice, and I was excited to see what the Callahans would be up against now. The story was a great balance between the individual growth of the main character Donatella and the development of the family dynamic. I enjoyed all the different POVs, because it showed me what everyone was really feeling and thinking about certain events.
This story had romance, action, and a couple of emotional moments. I enjoyed Children of Ambition a lot and didn't want it to end. The pace of the story was great, and it gave me time to really connect with Donatella. She is cold-hearted and ruthless like her mother, however there is also a different side to her. I loved seeing pieces of this other side. The only thing that was a bit of a let down was the end. The thing that happened in the epilogue came out of nowhere, and it felt a bit rushed. I think it would've been better if it was left out of this book and included in the next one. But overall a solid book that kept me intrigued and interested until the end. I am pretty attached to all the characters and I can't wait to see what will happen next.
January 28, 2019
If beauty was a woman’s armor, I had more than enough to slay a dragon.
I honestly have no words. This book was NOT what I was expecting. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I actually really really loved it and Dona. Can’t wait to see what comes of her in the future. I think that this book is definitely a beginning to something I am more than ready for even though i didn’t know it was coming. Also I’ve seen many people complaining, but this story makes sense to me. Like 100% the only way to work this out without a ton of blood and anger!
I will say that everything in this book isn’t pretty, and some of it truly confused me, but I trust this author. She hasn’t failed me with this series yet, and I know that whatever she has planned will be even better than what we thought was happening.
This story was mafia and plot building heavy. The romance is light and different, but that is this series and it’s predecessor. It’s unique and different in so many ways. What I will say is go into this one without expectations, because whatever you��re expecting will be blown the heck away.
https://instagram.com/p/BdWImWbAZwg/
https://instagram.com/p/BdV8b_uArjl/
^fan edits on instagram!
I honestly have no words. This book was NOT what I was expecting. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I actually really really loved it and Dona. Can’t wait to see what comes of her in the future. I think that this book is definitely a beginning to something I am more than ready for even though i didn’t know it was coming. Also I’ve seen many people complaining, but this story makes sense to me. Like 100% the only way to work this out without a ton of blood and anger!
I will say that everything in this book isn’t pretty, and some of it truly confused me, but I trust this author. She hasn’t failed me with this series yet, and I know that whatever she has planned will be even better than what we thought was happening.
This story was mafia and plot building heavy. The romance is light and different, but that is this series and it’s predecessor. It’s unique and different in so many ways. What I will say is go into this one without expectations, because whatever you��re expecting will be blown the heck away.
https://instagram.com/p/BdWImWbAZwg/
https://instagram.com/p/BdV8b_uArjl/
^fan edits on instagram!
December 21, 2017
What can I tell you!? I live for this series and its characters. Ms. McAvoy could write 300 pages how the Callahans suffer from the bad case of diarrhea and I would still give it 5*, that's how much I adore them. I can't explain why, I just do.
If you're a fan of this series you should go in blind. I won't spoil it for you, I'll just babble in this review.
I think it was better and very different than the first one in this spin-off series, but completely unresolved.
Fast-paced, with action, violence, twists, blood and ruthlessness, which I find (oddly) amusing while I question my morals.
I was so disturbed by the shocking event, the scene running an infinite loop in my mind, that I couldn't sleep.
I had to start reading another book immediately, just to calm down....
I read it in one sitting, even if I deliberately took pauses to prolong my enjoyment. To be honest, I don't care much about the other characters other than the ones with the Callahan last name. My most favorite are the Mel and Liam's children, ofc. I love Ethan, Dona&Wyatt equally. They are my preciousmonsters.
I need the 3rd book, yesterday!!!
Can someone please spell&grammar check the next book before it comes out. I wanted to use a red pen on my Kindle and correct all the mistakes. It was horrible and I'm not even fluent in English.
I love you Ms. McAvoy, keep writing.
If you're a fan of this series you should go in blind. I won't spoil it for you, I'll just babble in this review.
I think it was better and very different than the first one in this spin-off series, but completely unresolved.
Fast-paced, with action, violence, twists, blood and ruthlessness, which I find (oddly) amusing while I question my morals.
I was so disturbed by the shocking event, the scene running an infinite loop in my mind, that I couldn't sleep.
I had to start reading another book immediately, just to calm down....
I read it in one sitting, even if I deliberately took pauses to prolong my enjoyment. To be honest, I don't care much about the other characters other than the ones with the Callahan last name. My most favorite are the Mel and Liam's children, ofc. I love Ethan, Dona&Wyatt equally. They are my precious
I need the 3rd book, yesterday!!!
Can someone please spell&grammar check the next book before it comes out. I wanted to use a red pen on my Kindle and correct all the mistakes. It was horrible and I'm not even fluent in English.
I love you Ms. McAvoy, keep writing.
January 28, 2019
If beauty was a woman’s armor, I had more than enough to slay a dragon.
I honestly have no words. This book was NOT what I was expecting. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I actually really really loved it and Dona. Can’t wait to see what comes of her in the future. I think that this book is definitely a beginning to something I am more than ready for even though i didn’t know it was coming. Also I’ve seen many people complaining, but this story makes sense to me. Like 100% the only way to work this out without a ton of blood and anger!
I will say that everything in this book isn’t pretty, and some of it truly confused me, but I trust this author. She hasn’t failed me with this series yet, and I know that whatever she has planned will be even better than what we thought was happening.
This story was mafia and plot building heavy. The romance is light and different, but that is this series and it’s predecessor. It’s unique and different in so many ways. What I will say is go into this one without expectations, because whatever you’re expecting will be blown the heck away.
https://instagram.com/p/BdWImWbAZwg/
https://instagram.com/p/BdV8b_uArjl/
^fan edits on instagram!
I honestly have no words. This book was NOT what I was expecting. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I actually really really loved it and Dona. Can’t wait to see what comes of her in the future. I think that this book is definitely a beginning to something I am more than ready for even though i didn’t know it was coming. Also I’ve seen many people complaining, but this story makes sense to me. Like 100% the only way to work this out without a ton of blood and anger!
I will say that everything in this book isn’t pretty, and some of it truly confused me, but I trust this author. She hasn’t failed me with this series yet, and I know that whatever she has planned will be even better than what we thought was happening.
This story was mafia and plot building heavy. The romance is light and different, but that is this series and it’s predecessor. It’s unique and different in so many ways. What I will say is go into this one without expectations, because whatever you’re expecting will be blown the heck away.
https://instagram.com/p/BdWImWbAZwg/
https://instagram.com/p/BdV8b_uArjl/
^fan edits on instagram!
December 23, 2017
Wow
I really enjoyed reading this book.
OK I should be honest, I was judging Donatella from last book till the middle of this book :D but from some point I start understanding her and liked her.
I enjoyed the presence of Gabriel in the story he made me laughed a lot, and the way he made the Callahan's crazy it was fantastic =)) I'm looking forward for the spin-off.
The plot has really intrigued me and I was shocked by the ending
I really enjoyed reading this book.
OK I should be honest, I was judging Donatella from last book till the middle of this book :D but from some point I start understanding her and liked her.
I enjoyed the presence of Gabriel in the story he made me laughed a lot, and the way he made the Callahan's crazy it was fantastic =)) I'm looking forward for the spin-off.
The plot has really intrigued me and I was shocked by the ending
January 31, 2019
I love this series! This was not at all what I was expecting, but it was perfect. I loved getting into Dona’s head and I can’t wait for more with her and Gabriel. That ending though! I knew it would be a doozy and JJ did not disappoint!!
December 29, 2017
★4 Stars! Children of Ambition...
“Show me a strong woman and I’ll show you the scars on her soul that made her so.”
am·bi·tion
noun \ amˈbiSH(ə)n/
a : an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power
b : a desire to achieve a particular end
c : a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.
“Show me a strong woman and I’ll show you the scars on her soul that made her so.”
am·bi·tion
noun \ amˈbiSH(ə)n/
a : an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power
b : a desire to achieve a particular end
c : a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.
March 7, 2018
3.5 -4 Stars
Donatella Callahan.......The only daughter of Melody and Liam Callahan of the Callahan Mafia Family. Being the strong, feisty, stubborn, loyal sister to her brothers, Liam and Wyatt, has its difficulties. Wanting power and obtaining power is an evan bigger struggle for Donatella. But life without her parents also brings a lot of responsibilities and an even bigger awareness that she will never have the power that she craves because she is only the sister to Liam, the Ceann na Conairte.
Donatella’s story is a mystery of sorts. A mystery man, Gabriel, appears as Donatella’s fiancé. She’s not having any part of it and the story is really more an uncovering of the foundation that is Donatella Callahan. Donatella and her brother’s, Donatella and Gabriel, Donatella and her cousin Helen, Donatella and her parents, and the how and whys of how Donatella came to be.
This story isn’t really a romance but a testament to patience and perseverance on Gabriel’s part to get Donatella to even acknowledge him. I understand that the romance will come in a spin off series of Donatella and Gabriel and I look forward to their story. Of course the ending was quite the cliffhanger but it’s a trait that I have come to expect when reading about all things Callahan.
I will say I enjoy reading about the Callahan’s. I have become invested in this saga. But I must speak of the frustration I had while reading this book. There were many, many grammatical errors present throughout the story. I found it maddening to say the least. I can understand an error here and there but not consistently throughout the entire read. I found that the quality of the book compared to the price of the book was not worth what I paid. The Callahan Family deserved better.....
Donatella Callahan.......The only daughter of Melody and Liam Callahan of the Callahan Mafia Family. Being the strong, feisty, stubborn, loyal sister to her brothers, Liam and Wyatt, has its difficulties. Wanting power and obtaining power is an evan bigger struggle for Donatella. But life without her parents also brings a lot of responsibilities and an even bigger awareness that she will never have the power that she craves because she is only the sister to Liam, the Ceann na Conairte.
Donatella’s story is a mystery of sorts. A mystery man, Gabriel, appears as Donatella’s fiancé. She’s not having any part of it and the story is really more an uncovering of the foundation that is Donatella Callahan. Donatella and her brother’s, Donatella and Gabriel, Donatella and her cousin Helen, Donatella and her parents, and the how and whys of how Donatella came to be.
This story isn’t really a romance but a testament to patience and perseverance on Gabriel’s part to get Donatella to even acknowledge him. I understand that the romance will come in a spin off series of Donatella and Gabriel and I look forward to their story. Of course the ending was quite the cliffhanger but it’s a trait that I have come to expect when reading about all things Callahan.
I will say I enjoy reading about the Callahan’s. I have become invested in this saga. But I must speak of the frustration I had while reading this book. There were many, many grammatical errors present throughout the story. I found it maddening to say the least. I can understand an error here and there but not consistently throughout the entire read. I found that the quality of the book compared to the price of the book was not worth what I paid. The Callahan Family deserved better.....
Want to read
May 22, 2017
DONATELLA!!
Im so excited for this!
September 30, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
“Show me a strong woman and I’ll show you the scars on her soul that made her so.”
“women are crazy, men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid.”
“It's not exactly love at first sight. It is more like soul recognition."
The romance between Dona and Gabriel felt a bit flat. Didn’t really feel the chemistry but I liked everything else.
The ending o m g.
“Show me a strong woman and I’ll show you the scars on her soul that made her so.”
“women are crazy, men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid.”
“It's not exactly love at first sight. It is more like soul recognition."
The romance between Dona and Gabriel felt a bit flat. Didn’t really feel the chemistry but I liked everything else.
The ending o m g.
December 25, 2017
#thatending #neverlikedheranyways #Chicagowillburn #PrincessDona
April 11, 2018
What an epic SAGA. Read this book. I was just dumbfounded the entire time.
September 3, 2018
O começo foi bem difícil. Dona foi uma heroína que achei complicada de gostar e nem exatamente porquê eu não gostei dela, pois acabou se provando leal. Acho que o processo de aceitação de que ela não teria o que ela queria ter foi cansativo. Os ciúmes pelo status dos demais membros da família que estavam acima dela na hierarquia da família me incomodou.
O livro só começa a ficar mais interessante a partir dos 30%, pois o passado termina numa cena muito tensa e ela se desenrolou de um modo vem diferente do esperado (o que por si só não deveria ter sido ruim, mas achei q foi). Lá pelos 70% tem umas revelações que fizeram eu me empolgar de novo. Só pra ter meu tapete puxado novamente, pois achei que Gabriel tinha potencial pra ser um herói melhor do que ele foi.
JJ sendo a mestra dos finais bombásticos que é, jogou uma outra super bomba no final. E curiosa pra saber aonde tudo vai parar, vou ler o próximo livro.
NÃO ME DECEPCIONE!!!!!
O livro só começa a ficar mais interessante a partir dos 30%, pois o passado termina numa cena muito tensa e ela se desenrolou de um modo vem diferente do esperado (o que por si só não deveria ter sido ruim, mas achei q foi). Lá pelos 70% tem umas revelações que fizeram eu me empolgar de novo. Só pra ter meu tapete puxado novamente, pois achei que Gabriel tinha potencial pra ser um herói melhor do que ele foi.
JJ sendo a mestra dos finais bombásticos que é, jogou uma outra super bomba no final. E curiosa pra saber aonde tudo vai parar, vou ler o próximo livro.
NÃO ME DECEPCIONE!!!!!
November 25, 2017
Ok, this review is going to be a little hit and miss, simply because there is absolutely NO way I can spoil any of it for you.
First and for most Donatella, she is the very definition of a "Love/Hate" relationship. I was not very fond of her in Vice, she came off as an entitled brat. But in Ambition, we really get to know what makes Dona tick. She is power hungry and nothing will stand in her way... or maybe one person will. But who, Ethan; Wyatt; Evelyn; Mel and Liam? The Family is never to be betrayed, can Dona live up to The Callahan Family Rules?
You will be shocked and taken on a journey of discovery in this story. Things happen that made me have to stop and take a deep breath just to be able to finish. And the last chapter, I was not prepared for the genius that is JJ McAvoy and her gift of surprise endings. Oh and the added bonus of an epilogue or two!!! I know, I was flipping out as well.
I will leave this little snippet. This is my favorite line of the entire book. I'm going to keep you guessing as to who is saying it...
"Today we'd wear what she wanted us to wear. Eat what she wanted us to eat. Say what she wanted us to say. Because her message was clear... In an instant, if she wanted to, she could destroy us all."
First and for most Donatella, she is the very definition of a "Love/Hate" relationship. I was not very fond of her in Vice, she came off as an entitled brat. But in Ambition, we really get to know what makes Dona tick. She is power hungry and nothing will stand in her way... or maybe one person will. But who, Ethan; Wyatt; Evelyn; Mel and Liam? The Family is never to be betrayed, can Dona live up to The Callahan Family Rules?
You will be shocked and taken on a journey of discovery in this story. Things happen that made me have to stop and take a deep breath just to be able to finish. And the last chapter, I was not prepared for the genius that is JJ McAvoy and her gift of surprise endings. Oh and the added bonus of an epilogue or two!!! I know, I was flipping out as well.
I will leave this little snippet. This is my favorite line of the entire book. I'm going to keep you guessing as to who is saying it...
"Today we'd wear what she wanted us to wear. Eat what she wanted us to eat. Say what she wanted us to say. Because her message was clear... In an instant, if she wanted to, she could destroy us all."
January 3, 2021
Reread, 01/03/21
My favorite series , just amazing. Can’t wait for her spin off with Gabriel
My favorite series , just amazing. Can’t wait for her spin off with Gabriel
June 27, 2018
👑🔫👑🔫👑
5 stars of "dyeing wolf-dog" stars.
5 stars of "dyeing wolf-dog" stars.
I enjoyed the first book but this book... oh this book was at just at another level. The suspense in this book was killing me. You don't really get what it's going on until the very end of the book. But god do you get to know the characters. This story is a character build one and it's so beautiful. Sincerely I was a little nervous going in this book. After the end of the first one I was in love with Ethan and I really enjoyed Ivy, so I didn't want Donatella to come and ruin everything. I was mad at her for trying to ruin the relationship with her brother. And because of that I put this book aside for a while. God was I wrong. This book made me love Donatella so much that at this point she could do anything, no matter how bad, and I would still hold her in my arms and accept my obsessive, unhealthy love for this character.
“...my other taught me to slaughter the wolves, skin the lambs, shoot the leopards and behead the goats. Have the calf for my feast and the lion as my goal."
Then there is Gabriel. I have so much mixed feeling about this character. I honestly don't know what to do with them at this point. (A spin of series was loosely announce at the end of the book so I hope, really hope that we get that series so I can finally get my feelings straight about Gabriel) This guy was mysterious, hot, sexy and frighten. I love him and I love how he could go chest to chest with Ethan and the rest of the family. His thirst for blood was present in every one of his appearance and his chemistry with Dona was mouthwatering. I also enjoyed his love for books.
But the thing that I found most attractive was hid mind. His way to get on the nerves of every single person around his and the way he made Donatella snap always put a smile on my face. The only part that gets me conflicted is that I'm not sure about the way I feel now that his backstory was unraveled. The problem is that I thought that he was much more powerful and capable until the reveal. Now I feel like he has to prove himself to me before he can get where he was before I found everything about him.
"Guns made it easy. Easy to give the gift of death to those one came up against…so easy that they could detach themselves from how vicious they were being. The simple pull of a trigger and death came and went.
No. I didn’t want to be detached.
I didn’t want death to come and go with a single finger.
My whole body needed to be steeped in it because when my enemies…or in this case my fiancée, sent death after me… Death would join my side.
I made space for it."
Although this story a character driven one there was a character that devolved form the first book and that character is Ivy. Ivy just wasn't capable to rise to the same level as the other characters and in the end it cost her. I just don't know her presence was much more diluted and she pales in comparison with the other characters. I expected that she would do head to head against Dona but every time you put them in the same scene Dona overpower it and Ivy was just not enough. Gabriel described her like a little wolf and I think that he was right. She just couldn't rise up to meet this powerful characters level.
I truly love this book and even if it has so minor faults that could get solved in the future installments this will go to my "favorites" shelve. And this is part of the few special series that get put in my special shelve of "Changing-point-reads". I can't recommend it enough.
PLEASE! Please pick it up you won't regret it.
December 29, 2017
Review to follow.....have to think on this one for a minute.
Well it took me few days to think on this one. I only gave Children of Vice 4 stars this time around. I still am a great fan of this series but for some reason I didn't consume this story as eagerly as I thought I would. Yes, it was good and Ms McAvoy I do apologize to Donatella for thinking worse of her. She did show that she is a true bad ass and yet she shows her kind heart as well. The one thing that I'm torn about is I still want to see the partnership that Mel and Liam had within their childrens relationships. Maybe we will see that further in. With Wyatt and Ethan's true wife and then of course the spin-off series. Definitely cannot wait for the next.
"She wears strength and darkness equally well,
the girl has always been half goddess, half hell"
-Nikita Gill
Well it took me few days to think on this one. I only gave Children of Vice 4 stars this time around. I still am a great fan of this series but for some reason I didn't consume this story as eagerly as I thought I would. Yes, it was good and Ms McAvoy I do apologize to Donatella for thinking worse of her. She did show that she is a true bad ass and yet she shows her kind heart as well. The one thing that I'm torn about is I still want to see the partnership that Mel and Liam had within their childrens relationships. Maybe we will see that further in. With Wyatt and Ethan's true wife and then of course the spin-off series. Definitely cannot wait for the next.
"She wears strength and darkness equally well,
the girl has always been half goddess, half hell"
-Nikita Gill
May 12, 2023
this book has stolen my ability to speak. bury me alive. i don’t want to live
May 13, 2023
McAvoy pisze najlepsze zakończenia ever 😵
December 25, 2017
This was intense, page turner of a book.
I loved Donatella in the first book and I have to say she is my fav of the Callahan offsprings.
I enjoyed her immensely. She is a great heroine, fierce and smart and loyal and fearless underneath all of attitude and badassnes is a very kind and loving girl. I just love strong female characters who are not afraid to stand tall, strong and proud..equal in a man world. And she fights for her spot and gets what she wants. Girl crush alert!!!!
This is in my top books of best books of the year.
This is a spin off of the Ruthless people and hugely recommend it, you should read it before reading this..or after just read it.
Off course you should read first book in this series to get plot line better, author is very fond of cliffhangers..
Speaking off the cliffs the one at the end of this book was hmmmm I cant say shocking or one of those I can not wait for the next book to see what happened cliffs, no it was more of J.J. Mcavoy where are you going with this I will read it but will I like it? I did not liked certain someone so I am not to bumed up about things that happen but boy I see there is a book 4 in this series I hope you bring parents back, because kids are not doing it right. Except Dona I love her. But not to spoil shit she kinda has nothing to do with the rest now, soooo what will happen?!
Anyhoo, great book, will read more. Salud....
I loved Donatella in the first book and I have to say she is my fav of the Callahan offsprings.
I enjoyed her immensely. She is a great heroine, fierce and smart and loyal and fearless underneath all of attitude and badassnes is a very kind and loving girl. I just love strong female characters who are not afraid to stand tall, strong and proud..equal in a man world. And she fights for her spot and gets what she wants. Girl crush alert!!!!
This is in my top books of best books of the year.
This is a spin off of the Ruthless people and hugely recommend it, you should read it before reading this..or after just read it.
Off course you should read first book in this series to get plot line better, author is very fond of cliffhangers..
Speaking off the cliffs the one at the end of this book was hmmmm I cant say shocking or one of those I can not wait for the next book to see what happened cliffs, no it was more of J.J. Mcavoy where are you going with this I will read it but will I like it? I did not liked certain someone so I am not to bumed up about things that happen but boy I see there is a book 4 in this series I hope you bring parents back, because kids are not doing it right. Except Dona I love her. But not to spoil shit she kinda has nothing to do with the rest now, soooo what will happen?!
Anyhoo, great book, will read more. Salud....
January 19, 2024
In usual J. J. McAvoy fashion, she ends her books on massive and sometimes very annoying cliffhangers. The last one was no different. It made me venture into Donatella's book with caution.
I was thankfully shocked when it turned out to be amazing and everything I love about her books. Chaos, badass females, swoon-worthy persistent men, and of course plot twists. This plot twist, like most of hers, but this one in particular I did not see coming. It was so cool. I wonder how this will play out in her other books. Either way, not mad at all about how this book went.
I was thankfully shocked when it turned out to be amazing and everything I love about her books. Chaos, badass females, swoon-worthy persistent men, and of course plot twists. This plot twist, like most of hers, but this one in particular I did not see coming. It was so cool. I wonder how this will play out in her other books. Either way, not mad at all about how this book went.
December 30, 2017
WOW!!! I was not expecting this!
From the first book Dona came off as bratty and childish, like a 5 year old not getting her way so I wasn't entirely excited for her story.
Oh boy was I wrong! This was almost as good as Liam and Mel's story! Maybe that's because it resembled their story so much but oh well I'm all for it! I've had in my head that she would end up with Toby but no no no! Her man is gorgeous, arrogant, charming and just as stubborn as Dona. She has finally found her match. Someone who is offering her everything she wants; respect, adoration and power. What she doesn't know are the strings behind it all ;)
This book was only an intro to Dona's spin off series which I cannot wait for!!!!
It was also the start of a huge bloody war...because that cliffhanger...
And my baby Wyatt is up next!!!
Read
January 16, 2018oh my. I found my favourite author. I miss Mel n Liam. can't wait for the new book
December 28, 2017
« Show me a strong woman and I’ll show you the scars on her soul that made her so. »
That end… Wow. I can’t wait for book #3: Children of Redemption #theMadDoctor to be released. Hurry March 8!
That end… Wow. I can’t wait for book #3: Children of Redemption #theMadDoctor to be released. Hurry March 8!
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