It may seem like Stacey Moore has her life together … but that’s because she always sticks to the plan.
On the night of her bachelorette party, Stacey decides to get a tarot card reading. When the cards reveal that not only is she not on her divine path, but her fiancé is hiding something, she impulsively leaves him at the altar.
Hoping for a fresh start, Stacey decides to take a job as an art teacher in a different town. Art is the one thing in Stacey’s life that comes easy to her, and she’s positive that teaching kids art is her purpose in life, so when she finds out the teaching position is only temporary, Stacey consults the cards again for some clarity.
But the cards don’t want to talk about work, they want to talk about love. And according to the cards, Stacey has two love energies surrounding her! It’s hard enough for Stacey to stay focused on a good day, but now she has to figure out a way to impress the new principal while navigating a love triangle.
Could finding true love be the key to getting back on her divine path?
Written in the Cards is the first book in the Love in Lovington cozy romance series. If you like quirky, flawed heroines, small-town feels, and nineties nostalgia, then you’ll love Dana Storino’s sweet, realistic romance.
Get ready for authentic and genuine characters, cartomancy, history, sweet and cozy vibes and more! Dana nailed this. The entire story was so refreshing and unique. I absolutely love all the tarot and spiritual elements that are also educational (I learned so many cool things from the little snippets woven into the story). This was honestly such a great read. I am still floored by how much I loved it. This is steamy but slow burn, closed door and all the sweetness. I had all the warm and fuzzies and giggles while reading this. Witty and cute dialogue between all the characters and you are going to flip over Madam Duvall. She might be my favorite side character ever.
Thank you Dana for reaching out and letting me ARC read this! I loved every second and cannot wait to read whatever comes next!
I loved this book soo much! Such a cozy and cute read. All of the characters are so lovable (even Mia at the end). Ms. Duvall and her wittiness and humor made me laugh everytime Mia went in for a reading. I absolutely love how everything played out with MusicMic. This was such a quick and easy read, because I kept wanting to know what happened next! I hope there is more in this series! Thank you, Dana, for this ARC!
I couldn't put this book down! I read it in three days and wish I had more! This is my first romance book since I was in high school and I was surprised at how wonderful the experience of reading it was. The main character goes on a quest to find her self worth and self love and self acceptance despite the outer world wanting her to remain the same. She goes to a tarot reader before her wedding and realizes that she isn't happy and what the tarot reader says rings true within her. What follows is a funny, loving and compassionate story of how she finds herself, listens to her intuition and pursues her dreams despite outside obstacles in her way. She discovers her self worth and how she defines herself is the only definition that matters. I loved that the author incorporated tarot cards and their meanings throughout the story, including the Golden Girls deck (I want one!) The main character embarks on a journey entirely new and finds that her self worth is her biggest ally in the world and she finds love where she least expects it. I can't wait to read more by this author.
This book was a different kind of different. What I absolutely loved was how relatable the characters were. I also, loved ALL the twists and I was thrown off fully. It is rare for a book to surprise me and take such amazing twists. This book was all around amazing. I’m trying so hard NOT to spoil the book for anyone.
I highly recommend this book, it will be a re-read sometime down the line.
This is such a great story! It has everything I love—serendipity, retro vibes, a swoony childhood sweetheart, heart-skipping romance, and funny-not-funny situations. But more than that, it’s a renegade Cinderella story about starting over and second chances, finding purpose and confidence, and living the life you’re meant to live—not just regarding the main character, Stacey, but many of the people in her life that she inadvertently inspires by trusting her heart. Taking risks leads her to better things, especially finding herself and the love she deserves (and he’s seriously swoony 💓). Real romance is about finding someone who loves you as you are, and this story nails it. 🫶🏻
Sweet, funny, and real—Written in the Cards is a must-read, and I can’t wait for more in the series.
I want to say when I first started this book I wasn’t sure about it I didn’t think it was my cup of tea. the author does an amazing job of including so much detail to make sure you feel like you’re there in the story or can picture the story as if it’s a movie. after I got about 1/3 of the way through I was hooked I could not put it down. This books is unique and fun and all the details were perfect. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
I was given an ARC to read, and WOW. I couldn’t put it down. I have ADHD myself, and Stacey, the main character, resonated with me in so many ways. Storino does an amazing job describing what it’s like in the mind of someone who lives with this disorder - the dissociation, the clumsiness, the ardent desire for organization yet inability to consistently maintain it, and perhaps the toughest of all—the rejection sensitivity and difficult emotional regulation.
As a tarot reader, I loved the bits of cartomancy and its history woven throughout the story. Anyone can research the meanings of tarot cards, but it takes time and practice to link them together into a cogent reading, and again, Storino seemingly effortlessly achieves this.
Spice level is closed door, slow burn, flirtatious, and fun. The focus is on building the relationship and gaining trust, not an immediate and perpetual tumble into bed.
In short, I loved Written in the Cards, and I can’t wait to read more of what is sure to be an endearing and fascinating series.
I received an ARC for this and it was such a great book! Dana really nailed it. The book is witty and the characters are quirky, flawed and relatable. Plus I love how she incorporated the tarot aspect into it. It was a different way of telling a story I haven’t seen much in a romance.
I’m so happy I got a chance to read this, it’s the first in the ‘Love in Lovington’ series and I can’t wait to see what Dana brings next.
I'm so happy for the arc I received. Thanks to the author Dana Storino. It was such a cozy lighthearted read. I loved the second chance romance more than I expected. The emotions were beautifully written. Reading about Stacey, navigating through her career and love life gives a positive and refreshing mindset after finishing it. Madam Duvall's portion were so cute and that made this book an interesting read for me😊 Loved how the author took effort writing cartomancy and tarot card reading. The book talks on relationships and positive approach to life. This is my first book from this author and I would say I love it.
This was a great second chance romance story. I really enjoyed the characters and the representation of ADHD throughout the book. This felt like a very realistic story that also had plenty of twists throughout. Definitely a book I'd recommend. I'm excited to read the second book!
🔮𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘺, an independent, careless and messy girl who stays with her father. She loves art and always wanted to have a job which is something related to art. Her bestfriend '𝘔𝘪𝘢' is totally a control freak (According to Madam Duvall😂) Stacey's mom always wanted her to marry Mark (Mia's brother) as she knew after her Mia and Mark would take care of her.
🔮Stacey is soon going to marry '𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬'. Mark is handsome, hardworking and rich guy which every girl could dream for..Mark have placed an offer to her that after their marriage Stacey would be working as an receptionist in his firm.
🔮But, On her bachelor's party Stacey decides to do a tarot cards reading. The tarot cards says she isn't happy even after having a stable life. Also, her partner is hiding something from her.
🔮And guess what???..
🔮Stacey runs away on her wedding day. She starts a new life as an art teacher in a well known school in the town. Her new bestfriend "Sloan" supports her and encourages her in her new job.
🔮The old principal is going to have a farewell and unfortunately, the new principal of the school is non other than her ex- bestfriend "Mia". Also, someone from her past works there..so double trouble🙂
🔮Stacey who was running from her past now have the people from her past working with her..
🔮What will happen now? Will Stacey be able to secure her job as an art teacher? What was the secret her ex-partner was hiding from her and Who is the person from her past who is now working with her??
🔮So many questions..to unlock the puzzles go read this book✨ It's worth reading😍🩷
💭 Firstly, the cover is super gorgeous😍 Secondly, OMG the type of drama and the characters development✨ There's lot of drama and emotions attached to the book🩷 I loved the character of Stacey because it felt relatable😭 Also, the twists where unpredictable to me,I recommend this book to everyone, especially to the readers who love rom-coms with lot of drama💜
Dana Storino's "Written in the Cards" is a heartwarming journey through the life of Stacey Moore, a woman who appears to have her life perfectly planned. However, everything changes during her bachelorette party when a tarot card reading reveals unsettling truths about her path and her fiancé. In a bold and spontaneous move, she leaves him at the altar, setting the stage for a fresh start.
Seeking solace and purpose, Stacey takes a temporary job as an art teacher in a new town, where her passion for art and working with children takes center stage. When she learns that the teaching position is only temporary, she turns to the tarot cards again for guidance, but they have different plans in mind – a love triangle that will challenge her ability to stay focused.
Dana Storino's writing shines through her portrayal of Stacey, a character who is both endearing and flawed, making her highly relatable. The story seamlessly blends the charm of a small town, relatable characters, and a sprinkle of nineties nostalgia. "Written in the Cards" explores themes of love, purpose, and self-discovery, offering a heartwarming and engaging narrative.
Storino's skillful storytelling creates a world that readers will want to get lost in. If you're a fan of well-developed characters, the cozy ambiance of a tight-knit community, and a touch of nineties sentiment, "Written in the Cards" is a must-read. It's a tale that will warm your heart and leave you eager to explore the rest of the series.
Written in the Cards is the first book in the Love in Lovington series by Dana Storino, featuring a story about overcoming adversity, taking a risk to follow your own path, and second chances. Stacey has struggled forever with the stigma of having severe ADHD and others’ lowered expectations of her. On the eve of her wedding, a visit to a tarot card reader sends her world into chaos, as she begins to question her own feelings and her fiancé’s as well. She pulls a runaway bride maneuver, and opts to follow her passion for art into a teaching position.
I loved the twists and turns of her story as she navigated her new life with her funny new friends that gave off that found family vibe that I love so much! I kind of predicted where the original take on the “love triangle” was going, but I still enjoyed the storyline! I always appreciate a second chance romance, and this was a unique, slow burn with plenty of chemistry leading to closed door scenes. The book covers a lot of authentic emotions and sensitive topics in a realistic and relatable way. I also found myself really drawn to the quirky and fun relationship that developed between Stacey and Madam Duvall, her tarot card reader. Given that this was the first book I’ve read by this author, I had no idea what to expect, but it felt fresh, honest, sweet, and fun. I even got to relive some of my favorite movies and songs!😂
I received an advanced review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Having lived with ADHD and autism all my life I fully understand where Stacey is coming from!
These characters are so damn cute! Everything from the pop art and music and sports loves of ADHD Stacey and the classic Jock Ryan?
Stacey- has adhd and has a perfect life set up with her fiancé but she suddenly realizes she’s not happy! She wants to grow her own wings and follow her dreams. What’s worse than being called an “arrangement” by her fiancé before the wedding?
How about leaving him at the altar? And running to Lovington and becoming an art teacher for the special kids!? Kids just like her! She’s nervous about many things but she’s also gotta try right?
Ryan- awkward jock in high school turned janitor for a high school. When his second change with Stacey comes along? He is not taking no for an answer and trust me she really makes him work for it!
And then there’s Madam Duvalle- cartomancer extraordinaire who helps Stacey realize the energies around her and how to work them out for herself. In exchange for her own handmade tarot deck made by Stacey!
This book is the perfect fluffy love story. Definitely love it.
Written in the Cards by Dana Storino was not what I was expecting, but was a whole lot more of what I ended up loving. Stacey Moore is a character I liked and cheered for from the very first chapter. She is not perfect, she messes up a lot and has problems, and you can't help but love her. Stacey leaves her fiance at the altar after having a tarot card reading that makes her question her future. This changes her life in many ways from a new career to finding real love.
It's always good to have realistic characters readers can relate to. Stacey and Ryan bring a lot of fire and chemistry to the pages of this book. The dialogue and banter keep you laughing and some of the silly antics done by Stacey made me laugh even harder. The second chance romance is sweet and this novel made me believe in Soul Mates. The addition of tarot card reader Madame Duvall and her wise influence made the story even more interesting.
Rom Com readers will want to dive into this novel with a slow burn, some spice but closed-door romance. It's nice to see a "real" relationship portrayed showing how hard work and determination are just as important as romance. This was a fun and entertaining novel and I look forward to reading more novels from this author soon.
I finished this cozy romance in one day! Dana has created a sweet story that’s full of surprises, real-life characters, laughs, and swoon-worthy moments.
Stacey is on a predictable path with a man that checks all the boxes yet she’s not happy. When she sees Madam Duvall for a tarot card reading during her bachelorette party, the energies surrounding Stacey are finally mirrored back to her and she’s not sure she likes what’s reflected. On the day of her wedding, she makes a leap of faith. Her newfound path takes her on a completely unexpected journey, full of new opportunities and another shot at love.
I love the connection between Ryan and Stacey. Dana expertly marries enemies to lovers, slow burn, and second chance romance to create a feel-good and page-turning story. Stacey and Ryan’s connection in Written in the Cards is one for the books ❤️🕊️ Special thanks to Dana for sending me this swoon-worthy ARC!
This was a really cute small town second-chance romance novel. Stacey is on her bachelorette party when she spontaneously decides to get a tarot card reading, something she used to do with her mom who she lost a couple years ago. Here we meet the quirky Madam Duvall. She gives Stacey a tarot card reading that leaves her feeling very unsettled. The wedding day arrives and Stacey can’t do it. She leaves Mark at the alter, upending her perfectly laid out life.
Stacey finds herself living with her dad who is newly dating, starting a new (temporary) job as an art teacher, navigating a love triangle, and trying to form new friendships all at the same time. She seeks guidance from Madam Duvall along the way.
This was a really sweet romance. Stacey is a quirky, superstitious, openly neurodivergent FMC. The banter was fun and smile inducing. The romance was sweet and closed door. The friendships brought in some great side characters. I look forward to seeing more from Sloane in book two!
Written in the Cards is such a sweet romance! From the first few pages, Dana Storino immediately drew me into the story. Her unique storytelling approach brought Stacey and Ryan to life. These main characters have a raw, organic, natural chemistry that makes each page flip a joy. I felt giddy waiting to see their romance evolve (slow burn!)
As a state university writing instructor, I’m always ready to “grade” the writing of another. I didn’t need to do that here! Dana’s writing is creative, captivating, and conversational. While I typically do not gravitate toward storytelling written in the first-person perspective, Written in the Cards was different and I found myself enjoying Stacey’s POV and internal monologue.
I highly recommend Written in the Cards by Dana Storino. It’s not just well-written, but also includes very relatable, emotionally driven characters—not to mention I learned a lot about cartomancy! I can’t wait to see what this author has in store in the next Love in Lovington series!
Written in the Cards by Dana Storino was a delight to read—definitely a light-hearted feel-good romance. The cast of characters, especially the main character, were interesting and unique. It was my first time reading a story with a neurodiverse character. Stacey was authentically portrayed and I was proud of all of the progress she made in life and love by the end of the story. The author did a great job making the reader empathize with all of the characters to some extent, both the ones easy to like and the ones not so easy to like. I definitely recommend this book for both typical romance readers and those like myself that don’t necessarily gravitate towards romance stories. I think the coming of age aspect of this story is appealing to a variety of readers.
This was incredibly cute! Such a sweet, cozy, and funny story! Definitely be aware that it mentions and deals with tarot cards/readings, if that’s not your thing. However, I have always been fascinated by it and loved how it was worked into the story! I loved the character development for Stacey and Ryan! Stacey has dealt with so much while having ADHD and having to take special education classes, and while she has grown up she still has difficulty focusing on certain tasks and staying organized. I loved that about her though and enjoyed seeing her reach her full potential as an art teacher despite her many challenges with Mark, Mia, and Ryan himself. Overall, it was a really cute and fun read!
This book is one of the most adorable romance books I’ve read in a long time. I loved the “witchy” aspect with the tarot cards. Too bad we all can’t have a Madam Duvall in our corner.
I think the author did a wonderful job creating these characters and reeling you in with the emotions they feel. There are some tough choices made early on that Stacey makes that creates this new trajectory for her life to take.
I also love that the main character is neurodivergent and the author explains how her mind thinks and at times overthinks a particular situation. It’s very eye opening.
If you haven’t read this yet, add it to your list!
Just beautiful! As a tarot card lover and someone who dabbles in spirituality, even though I too was raised as an Italian Christian, this book won my heart. I loved how this read like a diary in some parts and like a rom-com on the movie screen for other parts. I can relate to the main characters neurodivergence and battle with an invisible disability and felt seen. All the characters were so likable, fun, and real. I laughed out loud multiple times, had such a connection to the characters, and absolutely loved how it all came together.
I really enjoyed the book. Some of the plot was predictable. But the main characters inner dialogue and fears was so true and relatable, for me who have ADHD. And this passage is just beautiful.
“Right now you are just existing. Like floating on a raft and allowing the waves to carry you in any direction they choose. But, my love, you have arms and legs which allow you free will. You need to jump into the ocean and swim toward your purpose.”
I am so in love with this story! Dana does a beautiful job of giving a realistic portrayal of a neurodivergent main character, and all of the real life struggles she has to balance on top of her disability. I was really rooting for Ryan’s redemption arc, and am glad that both he and Stacey were able to come around. This book is definitely worth the read, and you won’t be disappointed!
I received an advance copy of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are quirky and relatable. The banter is witty and clever. The subtle lessons on how neurodiverse people approach life is a lesson for us all. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to let a good storyline ‘take them away’ for awhile to just relax and enjoy.
Written in the Cards is a charming book and a thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters are likable, and the story is sweet and well written. It unfolds at a steady pace that will keep you turning the pages. And I have to say, I think that cover is just gorgeous.
I loved this story! I loved the banter, the connections of friends, family, & love. The MC was easy to relate to as I have ADHD & my mind works like hers. Funnily enough, her name is the same as mine & we both get called the same nickname "Spacey Stacey" from family & friends. 🤣
4.5 Stars. I received this book as an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, chaotic (in the best way) and educational. I loved reading about the tarot card and Madam Duvall. Stacey and Ryan were meant to be and the cards just knew it.
My only issue was the characters felt younger than they were and some of the things they said made me think they were teenagers and not teachers. But other than that, I really liked this book.
Spoiler:
I especially loved the dove tie in at the end with the card from Stacey’s mom. It was so sweet that I was nearly in tears.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.