I really loved this fifth instalment of the Poker Night series with its revelations about Marco and Kent.

This book focuses on telling us more about Marco and the tough life he leads, revealing an amazing human being. When Kent finds out what's been behind the sometimes strange behavior of the man he has admired, maybe even loved, for years, he is stunned. Ashamed of his previous misconceptions he sets out to make it right and the ensuing story is one of love and learnig to accept the differences between the two men.

The emotions and motivations of both men are real and touching. In this book, Carol has given us details on the two final characters in the group of friends who play poker on a regular basis. I loved it! ( )

Full House (Poker Night 5) by Carol Lynne

The last in the Poker Night series it was one that many were expecting since it was clear from book one that Marco and Kent were a match made in Eden… the problem was only to find a way to let them know.

It’s strange but I had a completely different idea of Marco, not only on a physical level, but also as a man; he seemed older, stronger and more macho, maybe the latino origins helped in my mistake. Marco instead is more like a lost kid who is still searching an anchor in life; he was stronger and clever enough to raise his three siblings, 2 boys and a girls, all of them way younger than him, and if this helped him to grow faster than other kids in all matter regarding family budget, he left him almost at teenager level when speaking of love and relationships. Marco is not able to see who can help him, not for charity, but for love, being a friendship love, or even the most important type of love, that of a partner.

It doesn’t help that Kent is a bit uptight and yes, maybe even spoiled. He hasn’t really had to fight for life, and he was quite lucky; he has a successful business, a beautiful home, but he has not family. It’s clear that he would love to help Marco, clear to everyone other than Marco himself. But Kent is still feel guilty for having lustful thoughts on a 17 years old Marco: Marco lied on his age to obtain the job, and Kent believed him 19 years old; he was still young, younger than him, but at least Kent thought it was legal; when he accidentally discovered that Marco was still underage, something inside Kent snapped: instead of wondering why an underage kid desperately needed a job, Kent tried to find every reason to “hate” Marco. It was easier accusing Marco than admitting that it was him, Kent, who was wrong.

When both men understand that it was useless denying what there is between them, they also feel free to show their hidden side: Marco suddenly becomes affectionate and almost coquettish, teasing the bigger Kent; something he admitted he already has done, when he was younger, it was a way to affirm himself, to realize that someone else cared for him. Now with Kent, Marco is able to show that side of him, Kent frees Marco from obligations and fears, with Kent Marco can be careless and happy. On the other side, I think that Kent needs to believe that he is the macho man in the relationship, Marco reveals an independent streak that threaten Kent’s self-assurance; playing the role of the alpha man, at least in bed, gives strength to Kent, and helps him also to forget how he was wrong with Marco before.

As often in a Carol Lynne’s story, the usual building of the relationship happened before, in the previous book, and so, when it’s the time to tell Marco and Kent’s story, they are ready to move to level 2, the real relationship: it’s not sudden how they end up in bed together, sex is not the final purpose of the story, it’s only step one to move to something more committing and binding.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1907280804/?tag=elimyrevandra-20