• Children of Ambition

  • Children of Vice Series, Book 2
  • By: J.J. McAvoy
  • Narrated by: Joel Froomkin
  • Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (92 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Children of Ambition  By  cover art

Children of Ambition

By: J.J. McAvoy
Narrated by: Joel Froomkin
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.19

Buy for $17.19

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Everything I've done, everything I will do...there will be no regret. 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.

Contains mature themes.

©2017 J. J. McAvoy (P)2018 Tantor

What listeners say about Children of Ambition

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    81
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    78
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    79
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Can’t get enough of these series!!

J.J. McAvoy is amazing. Twists and turns in every storyline! And I LOVE the characters!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A UNIQUE & COMPELLING STORY EPICALLY NARRATED

Wow.. wow. wow.. this exciting four book series is growing - and building - and brewing ready to explode in its climactic end later on in the year. Meanwhile the perfection continues with Donatella’s story and she’s definitely her mother’s daughter.. she’s cold, ruthless and very ambitious.. but the top spot in the Callahan/Giovanni Mafia has already been taken by her brother.. so where does that leave Donatella? It leaves her craving more.. it leaves her vying for power.. and it leaves her carving out her own destiny thanks to a mysterious alpha stranger who only has a first name.. well, he’s also got an agreement to marry her.

Book 1 was a pretty much an insta-love story.. but this book is a delicious slow-burn of quick-witted banter and a push/pull relationship that sets the groundwork for another spin-off series and for love.. but there are many hurdles to cross, secrets that are yet to be revealed, revelations that are shocking and a bloody tbc ending no one saw coming. Donatella’s got to be conquered not wooed so it’s light on romance and I daren’t say any more.. except JJM’s writing abilities are absolutely limitless. She continues to spin a unique and intricate Mafia web, she continues to plot-build and plot-bomb, she continues to grab, grip, shock, chill and thrill.. she continues to leave me speechless.. and she continues to make me yearn for more more more. Again there’s multiple POV’s and Joel Froomkin’s awesome skills as a narrator continues to blow me away.

Worth a credit? Yes very.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another FANTASTIC book:)

This is the sister's story of the series and the
name is Donatella Callahan. This is book 2 of 3 in the Callahan Children book series:)

This author is absolutely gifted Really need I say more! The narrator is so good I don't even need to think about having to genders and that's hard to find even with the best narrators but in this series it just works all the way and it's an instant automatic purchase for all audiobooks!!!:)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love it

I love this series! all of them looking forward to book 3. wow just wow

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Book 2 - Just as GOOD!!!

I'm in love with this series! Narrators are great at character distinctions when needed. Story line was fantastic and some great surprises!!!! Can't wait to start Book 3

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Homs again

We’re back with my favorite mafia family! Flashbacks to Liam and Melody, made me weepy, so happy to hear their voices again... watching their children become the new leaders is great and sad at the same time. I mess their parents.. the family is still as crazy as before.. of course you’ll never see the twists approaching... and they are doozies! Thank JJ for bring the family back, and Joel for bring them back to life!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Audio drama at its best!! Superb!!

I am a huge fan of this series and every book seems to get better and better. It could easily be said that this book is the most tame of all, but un the overall drama and plot side of things it's a phenomenal, unexpected and crazy ride. You are able to see so many great POVs of each family member, you are able to take into account so many nuances and how the author weaves, tangles and then lets all loose. Nothing and no one is safe and it might sound crazy but it's the surprise factor and the way that so many things are able to come together that make this series one of the best mafia series out there. The narration is a master class in performance!! Joel Froomkin takes every character and has no fear with delivering the truth behind the intention and giving the listener a gripping experience. I can not wait for the final installment of this series. BRAVO!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

OMG the last hour was crazy!

I am in love with this series. That being said.. Donna was not my favorite. Spent the majority of the book wishing someone would just kill her already!!! I did enjoy the story over all, lots of twists to figure out. The ending was a whirlwind! I am rushing to book 3 to see what happens. Narration was awesome as always with Joel!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not as good as book one!

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as book one, especially the ending. Why the author chose to eliminate this character, is beyond me.

My other big issue is that I did and don’t like the Heroine, Donatello. I know that her character had to be tough but her selfishness and ambition, and the way she expresses this, are very ugly traits. I did find the way that the Hero successfully handled her crap, very amusing. This book also gave us more insight into Wyatt, The Heroine’s twin brother.

There is also a Cameo from a couple of characters from the original series. I have not listened to or read that series, but I think I will.

This series isn’t quite as brutal as book one and there is only one sex scene.

That being said, even though book 2 didn’t have the same impact on me, as book one did, I’m still just as anxious to get started with book three!
-V from Kansas

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!