Children of Vice

Children of Vice #1

by J.J. McAvoy

I, Ethan Antonio Giovanni Callahan, first son of the former head of the Irish mob, Liam Alec Callahan, and former head of the Italian mafia, ex-governor, Melody Nicci Giovanni Callahan, solemnly swear to ruthlessly protect our family name, business and way of life, no matter the cost to me or anyone else. I shall show no mercy; I shall offer no forgiveness; there will be no peace for those who stand against me.
I will live for my family.
I will kill for my family.
I will marry for my family.

I, Ivy O'Davoren, the only daughter of Shay O'Davoren, solemnly swear to ruthlessly and mercilessly exact revenge on the Callahans and all those who betrayed my father and family.
I will live for revenge.
I will kill for revenge.
I will marry for revenge.

***
You devoured the Ruthless People series. Now it's time to revel in the reign of the Callahan children...

Genres: Romance, Dark, Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Crime

407 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2017

About the author

I’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.

I'm on
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Reviews

[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Children of Vice, book 1 of 4. Ethan Callahan, just like his father, does have a heart & it bleeds red for family, tradition & his country.

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

It’s time for the next generation of Callahan’s to rule Chicago and control crime and drugs across the globe.

Prodigal son and love-child Ethan Antonio Giovanni-Callahan, Ceann na Conairte had big shoes to fill. At the age of twenty-eight he has adapted into his role with an unsettling coldness, calculated callous and ruthlessness.

When he comes to picking a wife, he bends to tradition and marries for convenience.

Ivy O’Davoren has served seven long years in prison for a crime she did not commit. She blames the Callahan’s for her misfortunes until they present her with and offer she cannot refuse.

What neither Ethan nor Ivy counted on was their fierce sexual attraction.

When you are not busy having wild sex against walls, floors and furniture they lay down the law and take on traitors and villains. In the name of revenge and redemption it’s a fight for perseverance, control, family and legacy.



If you worry there can be no other Liam Callahan, the apple did not fall from the tree. While Liam was cocky and sarcastic. Ethan is a calculated and reserved force to reckoned with. Seven words to describe Ethan Antonio Giovanni-Callahan, Ceann na Conairte: Methodical, calculated, sharp-eyed, jaded, aloof, intense and ruthless.



As the layers are peeled a formidable partner in crime emerges, Seven words to describe Ivy O’Davoren: Feisty, hot-headed, lonely, observant, closed-off, trusting and loyal.

Children of Vice, told from multiple POVs, is just as crazy, dark and suspenseful as its predecessors. But while the Ruthless People trilogy was written with sarcasm, the undertone to Children of Vice is melancholy; a life in the aftermath of greatness, a product of a family ripped apart. Liam and Melody will appear in flashbacks. Story ends leading right to book 2 for Donatella’s story.

***
Hero: ★★★★1/2
Heroine: ★★★★1/2
Plot: ★★★★★
Storytelling: ★★★★★
Sexual tension: ★★★★★
Sex scenes: ★★★★★
Story ending: ★★★★★
******************************************
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Darkness: | HIGH FOCUS |
Humor: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Kink: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Romance: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Sex frequency: | HIGH FOCUS |
Suspense: | HIGH FOCUS |



ARC provided to me by author J.J. McAvoy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bibi · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Spoilers, maybe**

This book is much too similar to the Ruthless series and while JJ attempted to depict Ethan as being more cerebral than Liam and Melody, that intelligence was undermined by the author's inability to escalate the central conflict.

Granted JJ wrote a seamless transition (from Ruthless to Children of Vice), nevertheless, the plot and the rationale for Ethan and Ivy's story lacked conviction. Am I the only one who wonders why Ethan would leave his base at Chicago to spend weeks in Boston? Weeks that essentially had him in a hideout; where he did no more than joust, retreat, jog and play house?While simultaneously creating the opportunity for the coup d'etat?

But all that aside, the biggest disappointment was that the similarities between Ivy and Mel were discernible, down to the fight scene in the Church bathroom. I did not want a replica of Melody.

As engaging as the narrative was, the plot arc (or what there was) skidded on multiple plot holes. Why leave Ivy in jail for 10 years? Moreover, the dynamic between Ethan, Ivy, Wyatt and Dona left little room for the characters to evolve, this reader could see that plot twist from the very beginning.

On a positive note, I can say definitively that no one writes mafia action sequences as proficiently as JJ does; hence, the 3 stars. Otherwise, this was not that memorable. Mi dispiace.

[MischaS_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually, I am disappointed. I loved the "original" series about Liam and Melody, and this fell a little very flat. It was nowhere near the first series. And I knew this one was going to be different. I knew that children are not their parents, but even if you take away the comparison with the Ruthless people series this book was just bad.

It may have tried to be its own thing but quite often it was building parallels with the original series. As if there was a fear to let Melody and Liam go because they were what was popular. The hate for the Callahans at the beginning, not working relation between siblings, Ivy getting pregnant and losing the baby same as Melody.

A lot of was missing, nothing much happened, the characters were flat compared to those in the first series.

In the end, I started to finally like at least Wyatt who was my least favourite in the original series but here there is not much to pick from.

And Dona? She is trying to be the second Melody, but she is just laughable. Petty little brat. Disappointed, I expected more from her than this.

So, Melody and Liam are still alive. Any chance of them coming back and kicking their asses?

So, this is the end of my review and I mentioned Ivy only once... well, that's telling, isn't it? Rather a pointless character. Have nothing to say about her, she's just background noise.

+ I found a couple of typos and missing words in the book. But that's just the norm with these books.

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY SHIIIIT! WOW just WOW!

Okay, just give me some time to catch my breathe because OMFG this book was soooo fucking good. I'm literally speechless right now!!!

Can't wait to read next book! :D

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We are greedy, we are selfish, and hunger for power is second nature to us.

As a fan of the Ruthless series, I already knew that the Callahan family were a crazy bunch. They were conniving, vindictive, dangerous, and they did it all in the name of family so I shouldn’t have been surprised that the new generation, turned out to be just as crazy if not more like the Original members.

You know that saying , there’s a line you shouldn’t cross? That doesn’t apply to Ethan Callahan because he will set it on fire while making his dinner reservations. Lines are irrelevant in his world and mentioning it, will only get you a closed casket beyond six feet under. As the eldest son of Melody and Liam Callahan, did you really expect anything less when it came to their kids? One thing I’ve learned about this family is that Underestimation is a downfall and Control, will always be the King piece.

Ivy O’Davoren has been in prison for the past seven years for a crime she didn’t commit. Spending that much time away gives you a chance to let your hate and need for revenge fester and ultimately it becomes a beast. But what happens when everything you thought was true, turned out to be one incredible lie? For Ivy, she’s about to get a Callahan reality check and let’s be real: you will NEVER come back the same from those.



“Sometimes you need to do bad to do good and worse to do even better.

I really don’t want to say too much on this story because every little thing is like a spoiler. What I will say is that this author has managed to make the craziest families in non fiction, look normal. These people were fucking nut jobs! I thought for sure their moral compass would’ve kicked in for certain scenes but fuck no! They broke it, poured bleach on it and shot it up without even flinching. I couldn’t believe the lengths that Ethan and Ivy went through all for the greater good of this family and to be honest, I was waiting for the damn psychologist to be on stand by.

I certainly didn’t agree with everything in this story but I must say, it was one hell of an entertainment and I loved how Family was the most important thing to everyone. Ethan’s relationship with his siblings were extremely complicated and I liked how the author didn’t brush their feelings aside but gave them their own voice. With that being said, I find myself being conflicted with how this story is going to play out and I’m very eager to see it through but……. That ending has left me feeling particularly stabby and I’ll just leave it at that.

If you love Mafia romances with a fearless heroine, then this one is for you.

[Sunshine & Storms]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! 10000x YESSSS!!!!!! I'M READY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION!!! 2017 COME FASTER!!!





"First there was Ruthless People series....Now the story continues with the Children Series....

The Books following each one of Liam and Melody's children.

Starting with Children of Vice...which I'm pushing for March of 2017" - J.J McAvoy


https://www.facebook.com/iamjjmcavoy/...

"Children of Vice is done and I'm now emotionally scarred. And will just lay down in shock. #IDidn'tSeeItComingTil-IWroteItThenICried." - J.J. McAvoy
https://twitter.com/JJMcAvoy/status/8...


"I've written a lot of bad guys...but Ethan Callahan...he gives me chills...." - J.J. McAvoy

https://www.facebook.com/iamjjmcavoy/...


"#TheNewKing" - J.J. McAvoy

https://www.facebook.com/iamjjmcavoy/...


"#beaffraid #beRuthless because #ChildrenofVice is coming soon! If you thought Liam and Melody were insane...wait till you see their son. #EthanCallahan is all grown up and #dangerous especially with his fresh out of prison #wifeToBe #IvyODavoren." - J.J. McAvoy

https://www.facebook.com/iamjjmcavoy/...

Move aside, Liam... your son is looking mighty fine ;)

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

After recovering from the upset of not getting an arc from NetGalley I finally dried my tears pulled on my big girl panties and waited for the release day.

WOW......Simply wow

This book was fabulous and anyone familiar with my reviews will know I don't say that lightly, I also don't give 5* lightly but this book.....I loved it.

Ruthless People was crazy and completely OTT but I adored every minute of it and this is just as good.
It's the same kind of OTT crazy but whereas Ruthless was hilarious in places this has a slightly more melancholy feel to it with the shadow of Melody and Liam still hanging over them all.

Ethan is now in charge, the Ceann na Conairte he's twenty-eight and has decided to marry.

"I’ve found a wife—” ..........
She’s not exactly Callahan material—and before you ask, I do not know her. She is a tool in a very important game, a tool I need you to secure without a doubt so she’ll be ready by my birthday.”

Who said romance was dead?

The bride-to-be Ivy is not what Ethan was expecting but she turns out to be exactly what he needs. Their relationship and bond is reminiscent of Melody and Liam and the game is on...

I can't even begin to describe how much I enjoyed this book, I loved it all and trust me that doesn't happen often.
Ethan is chilling, ruthless and manipulative and there's a good reason why he's known as the Puppet Master and Ivy is perfect for him and the family.

The ending, don't get me started on the ending I can't wait for the next book and I really really mean that, I'm so excited.

[Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children of Vice
4 Stars

The next generation of Callahans.....Ethan and his twin siblings, Donatella and Wyatt. These kids, now adults, have had a rough upbringing in that they were the children of Melody Giovanni and Liam Callahan. Two crime bosses that merged the Italians and the Irish. And not to spoil for those who haven't read The Ruthless People series, the kids had to learn to be ruthless at an early age.

Ethan, now 28 and the Ceann na Conairte of the family, has lots to deal with, especially his siblings and his new wife, Ivy O'Davoren. She has been in prison for 7 years and she's a little on the wild and crazy side. Just enough to deal with the Callahan family and her family too.

Ethan and Ivy were quite a couple. They both gave endured hardships and while the way the got together was unconventional......it seemed like a match made in heaven. "The Belladonna and the Mani di forbice!" The beautiful poison and the duel blades. I really liked the time spent cultivating their relationship. Dealing with her family solidified their bond and created a strength that Ethan didn't know he was missing.

The dynamics of the family with Ethan in charge was quite tumultuous. Ethan had to deal with his brother who left Chicago and his sister who had ideas of her own about what she wants. What was sorely missing was the essence of how "Family" deals with one another. I blame their parents for the discord that these three kids experience.

The ending was unexpected and expected. It made my heart ache that the three siblings didn't embrace one another. I can only hope that eventually the three of them come together and embrace the meaning of a true "familia". I do believe that the hardship and heartache will only escalate but I have faith that the author will being Ethan, Dona and Wyatt full circle . Looking forward to the next book and seeing how Donatella's story plays out.

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Lady Gabriella of Awesomeness (SLOW) · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★ 3.75 Slightly disappointed Stars ★★★




My reason for being MIA for a while now...



First! Let me start off by saying that I'm actually on a Solid GR break right now...My med-school finals are right around the corner so logging on to GR on a regular bases is kind of difficult right now.But nevertheless,that isn't to say that I have stopped reading all together. I still get my daily dose of reading but now a days through a paperback instead (to help me resist the temptations of logging in online for a 'Few Minutes' ;)

That said,when this book came out I kind of broke all the rules and bull-dozed my way through the whole thing,determined to continue my tradition of review every book of the Ruthless series (even though this one is kind of a spin-off) And hence,here we are :)


On to the review !
Humm,I’m not really sure how to start this one to be honest.

Did I love the book... Did I hate it?
Well to be honest. I’ve got a lot of mixed feeling for this one.

So the first 50%..Oh my god.I was about to start crying….BITTER tears of disappointment.
I loved the Ruthless people. In fact,'Loved' would be putting it lightly. I adored the series as a whole. Liam & Melody. Damn,They were everything.And Their love story,will probably go down as one of the most EPIC reads I’ve ever come across till date,no lie.

No one was them and no one could ever be them.Period.



And with that being said,I would also like to sate that I DID NOT go into this one expecting Ethan & Ivy to be a replica of the ‘King & Queen’..And hence I was not disappointed.
All THANKS to the second half of this book.



The first 50% of this book did nothing for me. In fact,I can’t tell you how many times I initially ended up putting the book down,out of sheer boredom and went out to grab a coffee with a friend or finished that assignment I’ve been postponing, instead of reading this because RL was apparently waaaay more interesting to me than what was happening in the book.And THAT,Ladies & Gentlemen is never a good sign.



I have a policy of never DNF-ing a book and hence I usually try my level best to stick to it.So even though I was tempted to put this one down or just plain skip to the end and finish this read….I stuck to the book and took it one page at a time instead. And boy ! Was my patience finally rewarded! The second half of this book was out of this world.



There is a huge turning point in the story around 56% (if I’m not wrong),which really changes Ethan & Ivy’s relationship for the better.
It’s a twist that really cements their loyalty to each other,which I loved but at the same time found to be a little unbelievable because it just felt a teeny bit out of the character for Ethan to have waited patiently for so long to get her.



Around 60% in,this book became bloody ruthless.The story started showing signs of flickering back to life and the plot ran forward full steam ahead,as the characters (all around) quickly developed as chaos erupted around them.

From then on..I.Was.Hooked. 0_0



The built up to the climax was amazing and deserving of praise because the final 40% of this book was absolutely delicious ! ;) And that cliffhanger ! My my ;) *grins*
Not going to say I didn’t see that one coming, I fact, It’s actually quite obvious ,if you really think about it .But I have my own theories on why the author chose to end Book 1 that way.So I don’t mind patiently waiting for book 2 next to see if I’m right…We’ll see.


Final Thoughts ?
So,even though the second half was everything..It just wasn’t enough to eclipse the disappointment that was the first half of this book. Ivy,the heroine was the star of this book for me. But Ethan managed to leave a lasting impression as well, even if his character felt a lot like a modified version of Liams.

Overall , an the interesting read. Final rating ? A 3.5 stars.

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Changing my rating of this book to a 1.

5 everyone is ruthless stars

If you love mafia romance.... stop what you're doing, and oneclick this book right now. This series is so good already, and will only get better!

This book was everything I needed and more! This book was also nothing that I was expecting by any means. It was so much better!

Ethan and Ivy move quickly, that's for damn sure. I love that Ethan had bits of his mother and father's personality. I loved seeing him in his role at the head of the family. He was a king, he acted like a king, and people treated him like a king. Ivy was his perfect match for queen even if her priorities were seemingly different than his own.



I loved the build up to Dona's potential story, and the whole dynamic between Ethan and Wyatt. The entire family dynamic was entertaining as well. Between all the layers of the family, especially the aunts and uncles. It was a nice little dose from the first series. All of the action, blood, sex, love, and angst from the first series is in this book, but done on such a different level. Getting the children's view point on their parents love, and the way they were raised was interesting compared to what we've already read. I love seeing things from another perspective and I feel like JJ McAvoy did that flawlessly in this book!



All I can really say is this story was so good. I don't want to ruin anything, so I'm going to leave it at that. So well written, such a wild and crazy ride, and the way everything pans out and ends... ugh just slow clap for Ethan and Ivy please.

I read the Ruthless People series before reading CoV, but you do not HAVE to! Do I highly recommend you do? Yes! Is it a requirement... not really.




*ARC provided by INscribe Digital through NetGalley*


*before reading*
I NEED THIS BOOK ASAP!

[~Mindy Lynn~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW....

I really enjoyed JJ's Ruthless People series and I was really excited that she was writing another one starring their children and boy she didn't disappoint. When I got my ARC I was extremely happy and loudly said something in the terms of, "FUCK YEAH" while doing a little bit of a fist pump. Scared the shit outta my mom since she was napping in her chair. LOL

Now, on to the book....

What a fantastic ride this one was. Ethan is the oldest of Melody and Liam and he is just as ruthless as his parents if not more. He comes off as robotic and unemotional. He doesn't like to be touched. He's a master planner and manipulator. He is steps ahead of everyone and uses them to get what he needs. That includes his family and even his new wife, Ivy.
Ivy has been in prison a little over 7 years for a crime, unbeknownst to her, she didn't commit. She's also spent this time hating the Callahan's for killing her parents. Also something she comes to find out is untrue. The truth behind both tragedies comes to light and she agrees to marry Ethan so she can get her revenge. In prison she is known as Psycho Ivy. It fits her. She is a bit flighty with her emotions and a bad ass in her own right and is quite frankly the best choice for Ethan's wife and partner in crime. She is the right kind of ride and die chick that Ethan needs in his life.
No matter how unconventional their love is or how crazy they are together, you cheer for them. You believe in their crazy and want more of it in the end.
The lengths Ethan goes to bring his family back together and to get Ivy's revenge is impressive if not insane. But Ivy is right there by his side doing her part to make it all happen.
I was very impressed with the story and how it all unfolded. And that damn ending! UGH! I NEED the next book! It's a deliciously cruel way to end it and to keep the reader wanting more. I can't wait to see what happens next because I know it's going to be just as epic as this story and the ones before it was.

If you haven't read Ruthless People you should. If you wanna skip them (THE HORROR!!!) and read this that's OK to. It can be read as a stand alone. But I HIGHLY recommend you read all the books. The books are all dark, fascinating, and fun reads.

Happy reading dolls! xx

~I RECIEVED AN ARC COURTESY OF NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW~

[Betül · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**



"The world isn't black or white. Sometimes you need to do bad to do good and worse to do even better."

I am a huge fan of Mafia Romances, and JJ McAvoy's Ruthless People series is one of my all time favorites. So the moment she announced that the children of the main couple would get their own story, I got so excited. I was counting down the days until I could get my hands on Children of Vice. I had very high expectations and the author didn't disappoint. What I loved most was that the she stayed true to the characters, and that they didn't become a watered down version of themselves. If you have read the Ruthless People series you know that there are some very crazy twists, she continued giving us many more in this book. This makes the story and the actions of the characters very unpredictable, which I loved. I also loved that the author gives us a totally new story with an original plot.

She did an amazing job in fitting everything in one book and making it flow so seamlessly. It was definitely a page turner, I just couldn't get enough of the characters. Ethan found his match with Ivy, their unconventional romance was really thought out. And the more I learned about them the more I loved them. Family plays an important role in this book as well, and I appreciated seeing what the other characters were up to. This book is also about revenge, it was dished out so perfectly. I have no idea how the hell the author comes up with these things. This book has left me wanting MORE (in a good way). I NEED the next book in the series Children of Ambition, I am actually dying to get my hands on it. The ending of this book left me speechless, I should've known that JJ McAvoy would throw another twist at us.

[⏃ : ✦ villainous_vixen ⏃ : ✦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Belladonna and the Mani di forbice!"



The beautiful poison and the duel blades.

You think Melody and Liam are Ruthless.......
Think again.

Ethan and Ivy are worse......
So much worse.....

Be ready to have your mind blown.



***Full review to come closer to release day***

[Lučka · Rating 5 out of 5]

~~~ 5 "ruthless children" stars~~~

Holy shit, where do I start?

I devoured this book! I was hooked from page 1, completely enarmored with the spin-off story of my no. 1 favorite mafia series.


I only started writing my reviews at the end of the last year, so you can't know how far my love for this whole series goes. Or the fact that I compare every badass killer heroine with my numero uno, Melody Nicci Giovanni and every mafia book to the Ruthless People series. Or that I'm still in love with Liam Callahan and his epic, undying, obsessed love for his wife and vice versa.


I couldn't care less for this unhealthy obsession and I just want to feed it more. With more ruthless people ofc. "wink"

Children of Vice was in some ways exactly the same and completely different from the Ruthless People.
Some of the scenes felt like a déjà vu and for some readers this could present as a problem, thinking the story is uninventive. I wish I could say it bothered me, but it didn't. The satisfaction I felt while reading this book was something I haven't felt for a long time and I cannot give this book less than 5*. I just can't, even if I think the 1st book was way more developed, twisted and complexed with an unmatched epic love.

Ethan is very much like his father; cold, ruthless, arrogant, alpha, puts his wife first, family second, but he has a manipulative and intelligent mind of his mother. He's the perfect offspring of The Mad Hatter and Bloody Melody.

Ivy is an interesting character, certainly not as cold, arrogant, a mastermind or bloody killer as Melody, but still has a few quirks that makes her very likable. She's got spunk and a weird behaviour, she can be ruthless, but is soft-hearted and more of a science geek than mafia type.

I love that the Cahallan men marry for life and we're safe from cheating or love triangle. (I hope the author never changes that)
"Rule four: no bloody divorce.
Rule forty-eight: love your wife above all else...after all, she is the one who can either keep you warm at night or make sure you never wake up.
Rule forty-nine: never cheat. Affairs destroy the family. No face or body is worth it."

The story is told mainly in MCs' POV, but like in the original series you get also a multiple 1st POV from other characters.

The twists, mystery and suspense with lots of action makes this story fast-paced and the steamy sex with unconditional love gave me a satisfying romance.

The story ends on a massive cliffy, which I fucking hate and can't wait for the next one!

[Jenny - TotallybookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars Spoiler-Free Review

‘The Belladonna and the Mani di forbice.’
‘The beautiful poison and the duel blades.’

We’ve read every single JJ McAvoy book, and bar one, we’ve loved and fallen in love with every single one. Her stories are compelling and an indulgence we love to partake in. This is a spin-off of the Ruthless People series featuring the children of Liam and Melody Callahan. Whilst this series can be read on it’s own, we highly recommend reading the Ruthless People Series, as not only is it one of our all-time favourite mafia/mobster series, you’ll also get much more out of this series.

‘To repent they must be sorry. To be sorry they must feel pain. So let there be pain.’

Without question, this Author excels at writing intensely intriguing and downright exciting mobster stories. She’s one of our all-time favourites. The Children of Vice series features the stories of adult siblings- Ethan, Donatella and Wyatt Callahan.

‘Fury. Wrath. Rage. Death. Ethan, at this very moment, was all of those things, personified in silence.’

This first book is Ethan Callahan’s story- the oldest brother. Now, if you’ve read Ruthless People you know what kind of childhood this boy had and as the head of the family you know the shoes he has to fill. If not, the Author does a good job of catching the reader up. If you know us, you know we absolutely love our anti-heroes and they don’t come much more anti than this man. He is a power of reckoning, meticulous in his revenge and powerful in his planning. Nothing fazes him. You could say he is as cold as ice with no second thought to when and how as long as it plays out in favour and as he planned it, using other lives as collateral or weapons with an almost domino effect. He is incredible- he is cold in his ruthlessness. The pressure and weight on his shoulders is immense and he knows no other way nor a different life.

‘Ivy O’Davoren was mine, and now the whole world would know.’

Who in their possible right mind could be with a man like Ethan or possibly live up to the role as wife of the ultimate mastermind, the puppet master: Mani di forbice? Well, we couldn’t imagine, yet there she was; Ivy O’Davoren – the belladonna. This woman is fierce, wronged, cold and accepting of the fates. Their story was on the edge of your seat reading. Every so often our jaws dropped as the plot unfolded. Surprising twists and secrets revealed. Over the top? Absolutely! However, there is no question that sometimes over the top works as it satisfies a craving that needs to be filled.

“…the world isn’t black or white. Sometimes you need to do bad to do good and worse to do even better. The Callahan’s made themselves the worst. The money, the fame, the power was built on blood and bones. Why? Because no one else could do it.”

So why not a 5 star? Well, Children of Vice would have been a 5 star for us if not for the editing issues as well as some timeline issues that distracted us from the story at times. We have mentioned the editing issue before which seem to have continually plagued this Author since book one. We do hope she finds a good one that can sort this continuing problem out for her because her brilliant stories deserve no less.

Click here for full review at TBB


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[Marcella · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by author via Netgalley.

Ethan Callahan. Son of Liam and Melody Callahan. Son of the most feared, respected and ruthless couple in American history. But they're both gone...and he's the Boss now. His people don't see him much, he doesn't get hands on involved as his parents did in their work. He observes from afar. Calculates his plans with a cunning aloofness, treats everyone with complete dejection. Protect the family. That's his job. F**k the rest. And now it's time for him to find a wife. It so happens the wife he's picked has a vendetta against him, against the Callahan's. But he has bigger plans for her. First things first: get her out of Prison.

Ivy O'Davoren. Imprisoned for drunk driving and paralyzing a women. The moment she's free from her imprisonment she knows what her purpose is. Revenge. Revenge against the family that murdered her father. The Callahan's. She's been planning this for years now but things don't go to plan when she finds an unexpected visitor at her prison with an unexpected proposal. Marriage. To the enemy. Perfect.
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I'll be completely honest. I was expecting something much more ... just more than what we got with Ethan and Ivy. It may have been unfair of me but the entire time I was comparing them to Mel and Liam. I hoped these two new rulers would top the previous ruthless rulers...but they just fell flat.

Ethan was too dejected. He was more emotionally removed than Mel! And I'm sorry but it felt like he was the ONLY one in the book with control. Ivy was a pawn, Wyatt was a pawn, his ex-boss was a pawn! One thing I truly loved about Liam and Mel's relationship is they ruled TOGETHER. They had a rocky start, but they worked through their problems TOGETHER and became the feared and respected people they were.
There was none of that in this book! Ivy...I didn't even connect with her. I felt like she was a complete rookie in a league too big for her.

Very disappointed but I'm looking forward to Dona's story. She came across bratty and spoiled but at least she's more ruthless than Ivy.

Spoilersss.....
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The fact Ethan waited for Ivy, didn't touch another girl till he was 17, then ended up sleeping with half the cheerleading squad when he found out she started dating another guy...UMMMM...Ivy didn't even know Ethan EXISTED!?! She thought the boy she met when she was like 12 was made up. And then he was holding it against her like "I waited for you and you broke my heart"...dude...SHE. DIDN'T. KNOW. YOU. WERE. REAL!? Like wow. Idiot.
And the fact he manipulated the whole situation with Ivy killing his ex who was pregnant with his child. That was gutless, spineless and disappointing. And for someone who doesn't like being "touched", sex sure was an exception.

Also I felt Ethan's issues and past with losing his parents wasn't resolved. It's so clear he is cold and emotionless because he knows the pain of losing loved ones. I wanted Ivy to break through that hard exterior! I didn't expect him to be a mushy teddy bear, just a little more emotion would be nice. If Mel could do it, so can he!

Ivy...she did not come close to fitting the shoes Mel left behind. She was so pathetic. She wasn't ready for the big leagues and most of the time, I was embarrassed for her. The one scene she did her justice against her family, LOVED IT.

Wyatt...oh Lord please don't be a disappointment like your older brother because YOU ARE HOT!!!

Mel and Liam's little cameo was great!

*sighs* I really expected more but what can you do.

[GimmeAllTheWerdssss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Ivy b/c girl was bat shit crazy....BUT she was weak. I’m not sure if she’s a good match for Ethan for not.

Ethan was harder to love because while he was def Mel and Liam's child he presented some of their not so favorable personality attributes. He was cold and calculating like both Mel and Liam but he lacked humanity. However...he was not a bad character by any means and yes, I do believe that he loved Ivy and he did act different with her.

One big draw back for me - and I had this with Liam too - was that they both allowed their women to handle the OW drama. Ethan could have very well taken care of it but he left it to Ivy and she then had blood on her hands due to him. It hurt my opinion of him a lot...

I will most def be continuing the series as Dona is Mel made over! The stunt she pulled at the end would make Mel proud because she would do the same thing!

[Anahita · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW
I don't know what should I say about this book. It was great as I expected. As always with Ruthless People series I couldn't put it down.
Everything was great and what an ending?!
I didn't expected Ethan to be as romantic as his father :))) but he was. but I did expected Wyatt be like this and I really like him. And Dona! What the hell is wrong with her? if anything was important in that family it was Family itself but obviously not for her. She really is her mother's daughter.
And Ivy! I loved her. she was so funny, so bizarre and so lovable.
I can't wait for next book.

[Marielis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The world isn't black or white. Sometimes you need to do bad to do good and worse to do even better."

[4.50]

Yo vivo fascinada con Ruthless People desde su primer libro.
Amé a los Los Callahan por su oscuridad, complejidad, humor negro, y hasta ese comportamiento absurdo y exagerado que algunos odiaron. Mi amor por esta familia nunca tuvo límites. Bloody Melody y Mad Hatter fueron, son y serán una de mis parejas favoritas de todos los tiempos y es por eso que estaba (y estoy) tan emocionada con esta nueva serie.



Children of Vice es un spin-off de Ruthless People, y será acerca de la vida de los 3 hijos de Melody y Liam, Ethan, Donatella y Wyatt.



El primer libro se basa en Ethan Antonio Giovanni Callahan, el primogénito y nuevo Ceann na Conairte de la familia. Los que seguimos la serie anterior ya contamos con una idea más o menos clara de la personalidad de Ethan; específicamente en A Bloody Kingdom.
Por lo que no me ha tomado por sorpresa su forma de actuar/pensar en Children of Vice, en mi opinión Ethan siempre ha sido un digno predecesor de su padre.



Ethan Callahan es inteligente, frío, calculador y con un solo objetivo en mente, mantener vivo el legado de Los Callahan.

"You called me a monster. I walked way. Then you threatened the monster. And so if it comes down to you or me, I have to pick me.”

Ivy O’ Davoren lleno mis expectativas. Me gustó ver como es igual de retorcida y calculadora que Ethan cuando de lograr sus objetivos se trata.

"I was scared. I was scared because I didn't realize how much I loved him until that moment. How much I couldn't live without him now. He was... my whole world now. I'd go anywhere. I'd do anything for him."

Una de las cosas que más amo de ambas series es como J.J. McAvoy nos permite estar en la mente de varios personajes con sus múltiples POV, y le estoy infinitamente agradecida por eso. Lo que me lleva al siguiente punto…. mi impresión sobre los otros 2 hermanos de Ethan, los gemelos, Dona y Wyatt

Donatella Aviela Callahan



Dona tiene un gran parecido a su madre (y por eso ya tiene parte de mi corazón). Estoy segura que su libro Children of Ambition será intenso. Muero por conocer más de ella y ver hasta donde será capaz de llegar para lograr lo que tanto desea. La mejor forma de describirla nos la da su propio hermano Ethan.

“Everyone thinks because she smiles and laughs and acts so sweet that she’s actually the best of us three. But the truth of the matter is she is the child of Liam and Melody Callahan, which means like all of us she is calculating, cold and ruthless.”

Wyatt Sedric Callahan



Mi favorito.
Se acabo.
No hay más.
Lo amo desde A Bloody Kingdom. La lucha interna que lleva sobre quién es realmente, su familia, lo que quiere, su oscuridad y hacer lo “correcto”. Siempre me ha parecido el más interesante de los hermanos Callahan.
Punto. Lo AMO.



Por último, la razón para que Children of Vice no tenga una clasificación perfecta se debe a que Ethan & Ivy no me transmitieron esa química explosiva que esperaba. Ambos por separado me parecen increíbles, sin embargo, siento que su relación no lleno del todo mis expectativas. La trama definitivamente me engancho. La segunda mitad del libro fue mi favorita y esos capítulos finales fueron una delicia.
Luego tenemos… ese FINAL.




-Mini-Spoiler-

OMG
La carta de Melody para Ivy.



Mi parte favorita fue:

"Feed his dark side, enjoy being there with him. Don’t change him. I made him and he is perfect. There is noting to change." - Melody

[Gitte TotallyBookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars Spoiler-Free Review

‘The Belladonna and the Mani di forbice.’
‘The beautiful poison and the duel blades.’

We’ve read every single JJ McAvoy book, and bar one, we’ve loved and fallen in love with every single one. Her stories are compelling and an indulgence we love to partake in. This is a spin-off of the Ruthless People series featuring the children of Liam and Melody Callahan. Whilst this series can be read on it’s own, we highly recommend reading the Ruthless People Series, as not only is it one of our all-time favourite mafia/mobster series, you’ll also get much more out of this series.

‘To repent they must be sorry. To be sorry they must feel pain. So let there be pain.’

Without question, this Author excels at writing intensely intriguing and downright exciting mobster stories. She’s one of our all-time favourites. The Children of Vice series features the stories of adult siblings- Ethan, Donatella and Wyatt Callahan.

‘Fury. Wrath. Rage. Death. Ethan, at this very moment, was all of those things, personified in silence.’

This first book is Ethan Callahan’s story- the oldest brother. Now, if you’ve read Ruthless People you know what kind of childhood this boy had and as the head of the family you know the shoes he has to fill. If not, the Author does a good job of catching the reader up. If you know us, you know we absolutely love our anti-heroes and they don’t come much more anti than this man. He is a power of reckoning, meticulous in his revenge and powerful in his planning. Nothing fazes him. You could say he is as cold as ice with no second thought to when and how as long as it plays out in favour and as he planned it, using other lives as collateral or weapons with an almost domino effect. He is incredible- he is cold in his ruthlessness. The pressure and weight on his shoulders is immense and he knows no other way nor a different life.

‘Ivy O’Davoren was mine, and now the whole world would know.’

Who in their possible right mind could be with a man like Ethan or possibly live up to the role as wife of the ultimate mastermind, the puppet master: Mani di forbice? Well, we couldn’t imagine, yet there she was; Ivy O’Davoren – the belladonna. This woman is fierce, wronged, cold and accepting of the fates. Their story was on the edge of your seat reading. Every so often our jaws dropped as the plot unfolded. Surprising twists and secrets revealed. Over the top? Absolutely! However, there is no question that sometimes over the top works as it satisfies a craving that needs to be filled.

“…the world isn’t black or white. Sometimes you need to do bad to do good and worse to do even better. The Callahan’s made themselves the worst. The money, the fame, the power was built on blood and bones. Why? Because no one else could do it.”

We couldn’t put this book down for love nor money, it was truly compelling and gripping. JJ McAvoy has such a talent for balancing darkness with humour -in the sense that- something horrific could’ve just happened yet the sarcastic wit and almost dark comedic timing immediately veils the sombre somewhat melancholy mood. Sibling relationships are hard at the best of time, however, if you’re siblings at the top of a mobster dynasty; the spotlight and responsibilities heightens and results in dire consequence. And so the series continues in the next book which is Donatella’s story and wow…..we are dying to find out what happens next!

“That is the tragedy of women born with the ambitions of men.”

So why not a 5 star? Well, Children of Vice would have been a 5 star for us if not for the editing issues as well as some timeline issues that distracted us from the story at times. We have mentioned the editing issue before which seem to have continually plagued this Author since book one. We do hope she finds a good one that can sort this continuing problem out for her because her brilliant stories deserve no less.

“They said the Callahan’s are greedy and selfish, power hungry thugs who don’t care about their own people anymore.”
“They’re right.”


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[Elizarey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Amazing!!!!
This was just WOW!!! Writing was next level. Charaters were amazing and well written! Children Of Vice was a well thought out and the story just flowed so well. This series from the very beginning with Ruthless People has always been so much more than I ever expected! Each book is better than the last each story line is bigger than the last each charachter is badder than the last - in a good way!

Ethan and Ivy were no exception. Im scared to say but I love Ivy and Ethan more than Liam and Mel!!!! Melody will always be the BOSS. No one can take her place but Ivy is my girl!
I loved to see all the kids grown up. The Calahan clan is still standing and badder than ever.

Ethan is a total mixture of Liam and Mel. He takes no nonsense just like his mother but he has that slight humor like his father.

Ivy was crazy and I loved it. Everything she did was unexpected. I loved not knowing what was coming next. When you read the book you will read a certain scene that will have you so shook!

All you guys need to know is that this story is EPIC and the stories to come will always keep you on your toes!

[Rubina · Rating 5 out of 5]

ETHAN and IVY!:) review to come...
ARC from author.

[Raine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want this book like YESTERDAY!!!

Just read the few chapters aka sneak peek of this book, at the end of Rainbow Ever After

OMG it is sooo good.

[ᥫ᭡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I miss Liam and Melody.

The ending is wild that’s why I’m picking up the next book straight away.

[Sky- A hopeless romantic girl :D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 "Damn that Cliffhanger" Stars!

Okay i agree, i knew before reading this book that this is not "Ruthless People" and they are not "Liam and Melody" but damn if i was'nt disappointed 😑 I mean of course i wanted a different couple and different everything but somewhere in the back of my mind i was still hoping for the same charisma that "Ruthless People" had!
I was hoping that the lead heroine will be as ruthless, blunt and dangerous as Melody or may be more but No! Ivy was not those things she was her own person, she knew love and family! she was insanely smart, intelligent and loyal to her bones.
So, yeah! that's my point it's not like that she was lacking or bad and believe me the loss of a star in my rating is for something else!!

Now comes Ethan! and yeeah i did the same mistake and hopes someone like Liam the "Mad hatter" but no Eathan was truely a Mixture of both Mel and Liam as he was all collective, sneaky, master mind, dangerous and epitomy of power. He was "Scissor hands" 📿

Okay let me tell you the reason of my rating now- Well! The love ,Romance , obsession and lust Mel and Liam had Ethan and Ivy were not even close and i know this is a different book and all but hello this is still a romance novel! isn't it? and okay i would have worked with different but their love was simply mediocre. The relationship development was shitty and the Chemistry felt like a blown candle. Nope! this did not felt like a love story but more of a "Mafia Family Drama"
Hence the reason of my rating!
i loved twist and turns , i adored the characters and i felt in love with the whole set up but the romance was not even near anything i even like!
And yeah that bloody Cliffhanger took my life with it damn! i seriously can't wait for the next one *.*

Spoilers Alert!!!!
And what is it with J.J Macvoy and Miscarriages?
is it kind of a tradition or something?
i mean i know because of the lack of chemistry btw the couple it didn't hurt but still i hate this Miscarriages for no reason!!
And that Fuckking Donna! How m i gonna love her in the next book if she's a betraying bitch 😑 i mean c'mon they killed Olivia for the same🙄
p.s- i don't know what's wrong with my G.R but i am unable to change shelves in this book!😑

Old Review-
This thing just made my day!
Mel and Liam were too damn great to be true and now Ethan( i really hope his book will broke the records of ruthless prople)❤
Oh God! please let this book be a another mind blowing hottest loving hating mafia book *.*
p.s- just took my last exam and never been more relieved❤
p.p.s -From now just gonna veg on my couch with some great books❤ #feelslikeheaven:)

[Gkaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?????
JJ WHY MUST YOU DO THIS TO ME!!!

Okay I think I'm calm now...nope....
First of all I didn't think I'd be as invested in children of vice as I was ruthless people just out of pure love for Liam and Mel. Boy was I wrong. I am so grateful for this ARC from JJ because it made me realize just how invested I was into this world. How much Bloody Kingdom hurt my heart and how much that storyline shook my world. Its sad to say how much of a book geek I am that a fictional story can have such a deep impact on the entertainment and imagination in my life.

JJ is a freakin genius. She writes like no author I have read before her. You always are scared that something life altering will happen in the next chapter but then you remember you have to read or you will never find out. JJ writes with such humor that it even makes the darkness seem normal. I really thought Ethan was such a great mix of Liam and Mel. He was so cold like Mel, yet had such anger like Liam. Even Ivy I felt played into that old dynamic by being the geeky one. Where Liam was the nerd and Mel would often be flabbergasted, that was now Ethan's role. I really didn't know if she could match up to Melody, and honestly in my eyes she doesn't. However she is absolutely perfect for Ethan. She has carved her own place into my heart.

Don't even let me get started on Wyatt and Dona. There is so much pain in this sibling relationship between the three it makes your heart hurt. The way each one of the three compensate for their loses truly magnifies what you saw in them as children in Bloody Kingdom. Each are dark and screwed up in their own way. You just wanna slap them and hug them at the same time. They truly are their parents children.

I know this is a standalone but you are doing yourself a disservice by not reading books 1-4. Start from the beginning, you won't be disappointed.

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book and am so grateful to JJ for letting me read this amazing piece of work!

[Lea ★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided by author.

Oh man, no one can write mafia romance like J.J. McAvoy can!
I was so excited when I read she will be writing more about Callahan/Giovanni clan, and even more when I received my ARC. I would like to spend some time inside her head, because this book... wow!
How does she come up with these things?!

Children of vice is a new stand alone sequel series to Ruthless People. If you haven't read Ruthless People you have no idea what you're missing out on. It is probably one of the best mafia romance series ever.. but if you've read it, you know what I am talking about.
Children of Vice follows the lives of Liam and Melody's children - Ethan, Donatella and Wyatt.

First book is Ethan story and let me tell you... it did not disappoint.
It picks up about 10 years after the end of A Bloody Kingdom.
Ethan is the new head of the mafia, and he's damn good at it. After he sets his eye on marrying Ivy O'Davoren, they begin a quite unconventional relationship. He is very much like his parents, dangerous and powerful, and a leading lady in his life - Ivy, is such a kick ass!!
They are a match made in heaven. Okay, this sounds so innocent, and they are everything except innocent. Simply put, they are a whole different level of ruthless, and a perfect fit.

I can't wait for the next book!

[Lyndy Ann ♫ · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I loved this so much, Ethan and Ivy together are fantastic, Liam and Melody WHO???

Ethan Antonio Giovanni Callahan is now the boss he is cool, quiet, OCD with his planning and can be super scary when he wants his pound of flesh.

Ivy O’Davoren is a mystery for a while why does Ethan want to marry her??? Poor Ivy has been in prison for the last seven years surviving in hell thanks to her family, with a family like hers who needs enemies but thanks to Ethan Callahan she is freed and will soon become Mrs Ethan Callahan.

These two together are sexy I loved all the banter between them and when Ethan confesses that they have already met as children had me going OMG I love this what a clever twist, to appreciate this you need to read A Bloody Kingdom first.

I was hooked to the story I could not wait to read what would happen next and how would Ivy get her revenge that she deserves. The last few chapters HOLY HELL thank god for Wyatt is all I can say.

Sometimes while reading I would think how much they remind me of Liam and Mel with what they did or said. Ivy reminded me of Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad the way she could loose it.

I loved the little bit we got with the older generation of Callahan's. I am in love with Wyatt and I cannot wait for his book. I am not to sure about Dona yet and I did not like how this finished.

[Evalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You’ll be expected to smile even though you want to scream and say everything is fine even when the sky is on fire… Because that’s what queens do. They make beauty look effortless and fear pointless.”

[Lauriz Carrillo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I Knew this was going downhill since she started singing.
Not trying to be crude, but can somebody kill Ethan and Ivy and bring back bloody melody and Liam , with real mafia problems this time and not this useless yelling, and lack of class. Also real psychopaths don´t behave like petty Ivy.