Karla Sorensen: Forever Starts tonight

 Book 4 in the Wilder Series read in 2025

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208662056-forever-starts-tonight?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=ciUGFfwlbL&rank=1

So I read these out of order and I had liked the whole idea of Poppy and Jax in other books you could see that there was something there but he was keeping away from her because she is his best friends little sister.  From the other books in the series you could tell that Poppy is crushing hard on this man and has been for a long time.  

This book finds our MMC had a mother who was only looking for the next man in her life who could take care of her and didn't help build Jax up in the confidence department, what he did have was a man across the street named Henry who took him under his wing taught him life lessons and showed him how to build and repair things Jax looked up to this man who was single and a "lone wolf" and decided that was the life for him he wouldn't need love or a partner in his life he could do without the drama that seemed to follow his mom and as an adult that's the outlook he's had: don't get too attached to women never really date, playing the field and having a hook up here and there is the life style for him.  

One night he gets talked into going to the bar by his best friend Cameron (Poppy's older brother) and goes up to the bar where he sees the back of girl he might want to spend time with for the night, he tells the bar tender he will buy her next drink and then is surprised when it turns out to be Poppy, he's been talked into going to her 21st birthday party... he has done his very best to avoid and keep a distance he knows (everyone knows) she has a crush on him and he doesn't want to lead her on she wants marriage and forever and he is a lone wolf for life.

I like this author and usually enjoy their books but I was disappointed that I didn't actually read the reviews or summary of the book until after I got the Audible version to go with the book... turned into a surprise/unexpected pregnancy book and I'm generally not a fan of that trope.  

There are multiple time jumps in this book the next time we see the couple is several years later (after the 21st) birthday when  Poppy and Jax have a one night stand --> **potential Spoiler ahead**

Poppy has a bad date and gotten a bit on the drunk side she gets an Uber to go to Jax's house and decides to just come out and tell him that she wants him and offers up a "no strings attached" one night stand just to get him out of her head.  Due to a snow/ice storm she is now stuck at his place he tells her no multiple times and it's not a good idea gives her a blanket and pillow and tells her to sleep on the couch as she is a bit on the drunk side.  Later that night she sneaks into his room and into his bed cuddling up near him (not taking no for an answer) and one thing leads to another and fireworks occur for their "one night only."  As a reader I wish things had happened differently he said no multiple times and she went in anyways to try to change his mind... if roles were reversed and he did that to her everyone would be really upset that he was trying to push himself on her.

**end of spoiler**

After this we find that Jax might have some feelings for her to but he is emotionally unavailable from the baggage that his mom has placed on him as a boy and runs off for an adventure anytime things get to be too much in the feelings department.  This time he ends up in Spain for 3 months when he gets back he finds out that Poppy is pregnant... and dating another man who looks like Captain America and Thor had a baby, he is also the town veterinarian and is practically perfect in every way... I found him to be a bit too perfect since he seemed to be smitten with Poppy after barely starting to date her and he was totally fine finding out she was pregnant with another man's baby, he was also on a break from sex until he found someone he wanted to marry since he was a bit of a playboy in college and didn't want that life anymore.

Poppy never tells her family who the father of the baby is because she wanted to let Jax know first but he is who knows where and unreachable in Europe... so everyone including her boyfriend think that the baby's dad is out of the picture forever, she doesn't say who the dad is but she doesn't deny it when her family thinks its from the date she had (earlier the same evening of the one night with Jax).  Jax comes back and is very surprised to see a very pregnant Poppy for some extra drama they are all at work and her family is standing around when he finds out this news.    

A lot of this book I felt dragged on a lot of "lets just be friends" and see how that works for us since we are going to have to co-parent soon, our main couple doesn't start to get back together until the last like 15-20% of the book and I felt too much time went into discussing the relationship with Captain Thor since she liked him but didn't feel sparks... she only felt those with her emotionally unavailable grumpy lumberjack Jax.  

I love the Wilder family and how supportive they are everyone is in everyone else's business but you can see the love and when needed everyone is there for one another, anyone would be lucky to have a family like that.  

I liked the ending it was good to see Jax come out of his shell a bit and actually say what was on his mind and the book had me tearing up in a few spots when he talked with his friend Henry (who has dementia) and when it was discussed about Poppy's dad (who we know from this book and previous books recently passed away).  

What is your favorite Karla Sorensen book?  Have you read any of the others in this series? 

*older brothers best friend  *unrequited love *Dual POV  *some spice *surprise/unexpected pregnancy *one night stand--> more  *age gap (MMC is 10 years older) *friends --> more  *happily ever after

*supportive family (Poppy's side)