Skewed (Mercenary #1) by Marissa Farrar

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The most powerful mobster in New York wants me dead—trouble is, he’s also my father. I'm a woman on the run from the most feared mobster in the country. Worse, he's my own father. I have my sister to keep safe; and a hot, deadly hit man on my trail. Only one thing to do - see who gets the first shot. But don't worry about me, I'm no sweet young thing. In fact, I may just be as deadly as the guy who's out to end me. 

My name is Verity Guerra. I'm on the run from the most ruthless mafia Don in New York—my father. For the past few months, my sister and I have been in Witness Protection, and I’m determined to live long enough to testify against him. I knew he'd send someone after me. But I didn't bank on a hit man known only as X, with cheekbones sharp enough to grate Italian cheese, and muscles that won't quit. But what he doesn't know just may kill him. Behind my pretty façade, I’m a cold-blooded killer. Too bad X is determined to end me, or I might just fall for those piercing blue eyes. 

Call me X. I’m a contract killer, hired to make sure Verity Guerra turns up dead. A beautiful face won’t stop me from doing my job. Killing isn’t just my work—it’s in my blood. But her dark eyes, silky hair, and tattoos mask a lethal killer. Finally, someone worthy to be called my mark. When her little sister goes missing, we have only one question—do we stop trying to kill each other long enough to get her back? 

Turns out love and hate aren't so far apart. Can we fight our desire for each other … or will we both end up dead? 

My review:

Skewed is the first book in the Mercenary series of books about the dark world of New York mafia. The novel concentrates on the meeting of two lost souls Vee and X. X is the hired help supposed to kill Vee and Vee is the daughter of a mobster who hired X to kill her.

When X is ready for the kill he is interrupts two men, braking into Vee’s house and shoots them instead of Vee, who then attacks X, knowing he must have been sent by her father to finish her off.

X things he has all the facts about Vee, the cold bloodied killer, but when he sees how much she cares about her sister, he starts changing his mind. In the end it’s either working together to survive or die.

There is an instant attraction between Vee and X and it feeds the story throughout. Theirs becomes a journey of survival, revenge, love and sacrifice. It’s a clever story line, quick read and a great start to the series for anyone who enjoys crime, mafia, romance kind of story.

Thank you to the author and TBConFB for access to this book in return for an honest review.

My rating: 4/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US