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Smitten with Travel #1
Smitten with Ravioli
Love is on the menu in this sweet romantic comedy set in Italy. Ginny's Italian cooking course was supposed to be a peaceful escape from her troubles. But when she meets Preston, an infuriating know-it-all history professor, she quickly realizes her past has come back to haunt her. The last thing Ginny needs is for Preston to find out who she really is. Her plan seems foolproof—assume a fake identity and keep her distance from the pretentious jerk. But when they’re forced to work together, Ginny starts to see a different side of Preston. She’s torn between her desire to reveal who she really is and her fear that she’ll lose everything in the process. Will Ginny be able to trust Preston with her heart, or will love turn out to be the ultimate recipe for disaster? If you like quirky characters, happily ever afters, and the occasional drooling cat, you’ll love Ginny and Preston’s story. Want more hilarious travel adventures and romance? Check out the other standalone books in the Smitten with Travel Smitten with Ravioli – Ginny’s story set in Italy Smitten with Croissants – Mia’s story set in France Smitten with Strudel – Isabelle’s story set in Germany Smitten with Candy Canes – Zoe’s story set in Santa’s Village, Finland Smitten with Baklava – Olivia’s story set in Greece
237 pages, Paperback
Published May 12, 2020
About the author
Ellen Jacobson
61 books121 followersEllen Jacobson is a chocolate obsessed cat lover who writes cozy mysteries and romantic comedies. After living on a sailboat for many years, she now travels around in a teeny-tiny camper with her husband and an imaginary cat named Simon.
Her Mollie McGhie cozy mystery series, featuring a reluctant sailor turned amateur sleuth, is inspired by her own sailing adventures and misadventures living aboard sailboats in New Zealand and the States.
Her Smitten with Travel romantic comedy series is inspired by her life as an expat in Scotland and New Zealand and love of exploring new countries and learning about new cultures.
You can find out more about Ellen and her books at:
https://ellenjacobsonauthor.com/
Subscribe to her newsletter for updates on new releases, works in progress, sales / promos & live on the road in a teeny-tiny camper at:
https://www.subscribepage.com/m4g9m4
Her Mollie McGhie cozy mystery series, featuring a reluctant sailor turned amateur sleuth, is inspired by her own sailing adventures and misadventures living aboard sailboats in New Zealand and the States.
Her Smitten with Travel romantic comedy series is inspired by her life as an expat in Scotland and New Zealand and love of exploring new countries and learning about new cultures.
You can find out more about Ellen and her books at:
https://ellenjacobsonauthor.com/
Subscribe to her newsletter for updates on new releases, works in progress, sales / promos & live on the road in a teeny-tiny camper at:
https://www.subscribepage.com/m4g9m4
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
July 6, 2023
It was free, I really tried to like this, or at least give it enough latitude (read: not expect much) but shit - the FMC lied about every little stupid thing and was scared of people knowing her past nonsense... And how the eff did the MMC not recognize her last name immediately when it came out? WTAF. None of this made ANY sense.
Also, ALSO! She's a grown woman who says DOGGIE DOO DOO UNIRONICALLY. More than once.
Also, ALSO! She's a grown woman who says DOGGIE DOO DOO UNIRONICALLY. More than once.
August 16, 2023
Doggy doo doo
April 29, 2023
smitten with Ravioli
The main female role was a habitual liar . She was telling lies over and over. It was very annoying. This was not a sweet romantic comedy. It was more like "how not to trust anything she said" book. I couldn't finish reading it. So disappointing.
The main female role was a habitual liar . She was telling lies over and over. It was very annoying. This was not a sweet romantic comedy. It was more like "how not to trust anything she said" book. I couldn't finish reading it. So disappointing.
May 7, 2023
DNF at 30%. This was such a boring read. Ginny is constantly complaining. She thinks everyone else is wrong with a language she doesn't even seem to know, even when the speaker is speaking their own native language.
I doubt I will read anything else by this author as their writing style is so uninspired.
I doubt I will read anything else by this author as their writing style is so uninspired.
July 31, 2023
I actually like this one a lot haha
At one point she did go to far with the lies but that's how life usually goes. You do 1 lie and get mixed in a whole bunch of more. I really enjoyed this book😂
At one point she did go to far with the lies but that's how life usually goes. You do 1 lie and get mixed in a whole bunch of more. I really enjoyed this book😂
August 15, 2023
…thank god this book was free.
July 5, 2023
this was bad 💗 advertised as a romcom but there was nothing funny about this, and the author would set up scenarios/interactions between characters and then just… not write about them. how do you expect us to believe that the two main characters became all buddy buddy and fell in love in the course of like three weeks when there was NOTHING leading up to it? this is like the rough draft of the rough draft
April 27, 2024
Actually awful
Was this written by a middle schooler? Such a terrible book. Bad writing- horrible main character. I could go on…
Man- what a bunch of “doggy doo doo”
Was this written by a middle schooler? Such a terrible book. Bad writing- horrible main character. I could go on…
Man- what a bunch of “doggy doo doo”
July 5, 2023
Don’t read this if you struggle with ED or calorie counting.
I want to rate this 1.5, because the fmc is just, the worst. But I wanted a quick easy mindless read, it was free for stuff your kindle day, and I did finish it, albeit skimming a lot, so maybe it gets a 2. If you like fluff, you may like this, but don’t find any depth here.
The voice of the fmc is just insufferable, quick to shame elderly women (the moustache needing to be shaved), judgemental in general, lies about everything and then is confused to why nothing works out for her. Obsessed with diagnosing people with phobias. And the author/main characters are obsessed with calories and gaining weight in an attempt to be relatable? It was just weird. In Italy but obsessing over not being able to fit into clothing from all the pasta?? Weird. In general, I would not like to be friends with her lol. I also never want to see the words doggy do do in a book again.
But, the reason I kept reading was the the odd historical fact and the general Italian environment. Plus it only took me a couple of hours.
Reminded me of a clean version of Hazelwood’s stemincist series.
I want to rate this 1.5, because the fmc is just, the worst. But I wanted a quick easy mindless read, it was free for stuff your kindle day, and I did finish it, albeit skimming a lot, so maybe it gets a 2. If you like fluff, you may like this, but don’t find any depth here.
The voice of the fmc is just insufferable, quick to shame elderly women (the moustache needing to be shaved), judgemental in general, lies about everything and then is confused to why nothing works out for her. Obsessed with diagnosing people with phobias. And the author/main characters are obsessed with calories and gaining weight in an attempt to be relatable? It was just weird. In Italy but obsessing over not being able to fit into clothing from all the pasta?? Weird. In general, I would not like to be friends with her lol. I also never want to see the words doggy do do in a book again.
But, the reason I kept reading was the the odd historical fact and the general Italian environment. Plus it only took me a couple of hours.
Reminded me of a clean version of Hazelwood’s stemincist series.
July 3, 2023
“When did this become a date?”
“The minute I saw you in that dress.”
— my rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
⋆ ˚｡⋆ 🥟🇮🇹👩🏻🍳🧀🛳️🍷🍝🐈⬛✈️🧸🧿🚕☀️🫏
A cute and quick read! Picked this up for stuff your kindle day and I wasn’t disappointed. I thought it was enjoyable and fun. I loved the banter between Preston and Ginny. Overall, it was a good romcom book.
Another quote I just have to include:
“How did everyone sleep?”
“I woke up alive,” Mabel says. “That’s always reassuring.”
“The minute I saw you in that dress.”
— my rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
⋆ ˚｡⋆ 🥟🇮🇹👩🏻🍳🧀🛳️🍷🍝🐈⬛✈️🧸🧿🚕☀️🫏
A cute and quick read! Picked this up for stuff your kindle day and I wasn’t disappointed. I thought it was enjoyable and fun. I loved the banter between Preston and Ginny. Overall, it was a good romcom book.
Another quote I just have to include:
“How did everyone sleep?”
“I woke up alive,” Mabel says. “That’s always reassuring.”
October 3, 2023
It’s giving wattpad in the worst way
January 31, 2026
cutee now i want homemade pasta
September 24, 2023
all about how girls can’t live a great life without a man by her side. Break up with man -> sad -> has to change complete life because of him -> new man -> happy (my prediction after the first chapter, which ended up being correct). Also stop Talking about carbs!!! And calories!! And hips!!! And yoga pants.
Constant „I’m not that kind of girl“ slutshaming, yay and putting other girls down eg: „the lady in need of some facial waxing…“.
Also she’s super embarrassed about a guy picking up her tampon for her. So embarrassed she doesn’t even use the word tampon: „Now would be a good time for the Martians to invade. I’d much rather die from one of their ray guns than from the embarrassment I feel as he hands me a…hmm, how should I put this? Let’s just say that it was a particular product that men don’t need to buy on a monthly basis.“
To be honest - in the end I skimmed most of the pages.
Constant „I’m not that kind of girl“ slutshaming, yay and putting other girls down eg: „the lady in need of some facial waxing…“.
Also she’s super embarrassed about a guy picking up her tampon for her. So embarrassed she doesn’t even use the word tampon: „Now would be a good time for the Martians to invade. I’d much rather die from one of their ray guns than from the embarrassment I feel as he hands me a…hmm, how should I put this? Let’s just say that it was a particular product that men don’t need to buy on a monthly basis.“
To be honest - in the end I skimmed most of the pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2024
yeah sure it’s so believable that he will fall in love with a big fat liar ?????
1 star felt cruel but it has to be said lmaoooo. bc tbh this could have had really good potential but it was just bad. they had no chemistry whatsoever and every side character was so qUiRkY that it was just cringe. i finished it and would love to laugh at all of the other ones she’s written if im ever feeling bored and adventurous but OOF
1 star felt cruel but it has to be said lmaoooo. bc tbh this could have had really good potential but it was just bad. they had no chemistry whatsoever and every side character was so qUiRkY that it was just cringe. i finished it and would love to laugh at all of the other ones she’s written if im ever feeling bored and adventurous but OOF
September 26, 2023
Eh. I didn't like the main character and her nonchalance about lying...about everything. Too many unrealistic features (wtf is her last name. I know it was supposed to be unique but come on). Romance was...okay. It felt like it was trying too hard to be funny, and added in too many cringy coincidences or circumstances.
I did finish it. But reluctantly.
I did finish it. But reluctantly.
April 10, 2021
It was cute. This was a great, sweet, funny read! I loved the original storyline and the humour. I will definitely be reading more in the series. I picked this one up free and I’m glad I did. This was a new author for me and I definitely recommend this book.
Read
November 18, 2023I’m learning that miscommunication tropes are not my thing
September 7, 2023
¿La buena noticia? Ya lo terminé.
¿La mala noticia? No me gustó nada 🫠.
Honestamente no sé cómo logré terminarlo jajajaja creo que sólo durante las primeras 15 - 20 paginas pasé por un momento de pensar “okey, podría ser que me guste” y… hasta ahí quedó jajajaja.
No conecté para nada con la historia, la protagonista me cayó súper mal, siento que hubo muchas cosas que no tenían la más mínima razón de ser pero a la vez como que les daban importancia (?), el romance cero me lo creí y tampoco conecté y se me hizo muuuuy aburrido 😩
Literal es de 200 páginas pero se sintieron como 1,000 jajajaja 😭
¿La mala noticia? No me gustó nada 🫠.
Honestamente no sé cómo logré terminarlo jajajaja creo que sólo durante las primeras 15 - 20 paginas pasé por un momento de pensar “okey, podría ser que me guste” y… hasta ahí quedó jajajaja.
No conecté para nada con la historia, la protagonista me cayó súper mal, siento que hubo muchas cosas que no tenían la más mínima razón de ser pero a la vez como que les daban importancia (?), el romance cero me lo creí y tampoco conecté y se me hizo muuuuy aburrido 😩
Literal es de 200 páginas pero se sintieron como 1,000 jajajaja 😭
February 25, 2024
⭐️3,5/5
Es lo que esperaba, un libro entretenido y con el que me he reído varias veces. Es una comedia romántica en la que la prota es un poco absurda, pero el romance me parece bastante interesante. Aun así, tiene menos de 200 páginas, así que si lo vas a leer tampoco esperes un slow burn porque no da tiempo 😂
Es lo que esperaba, un libro entretenido y con el que me he reído varias veces. Es una comedia romántica en la que la prota es un poco absurda, pero el romance me parece bastante interesante. Aun así, tiene menos de 200 páginas, así que si lo vas a leer tampoco esperes un slow burn porque no da tiempo 😂
May 12, 2020
Now that she's conquered the genre of cozy mysteries, Ms. Jacobson has turned her attention and talents to romantic comedy, and I, for one, am glad she did. Her writing style, characters, and sense of humor are particularly well-suited to this genre.
I'm an old fuddy-duddy who believes finding oneself in a deep hole means it's time to put the darned shovel down and stop digging, so it was a bit perplexing that our heroine didn't know when to stop telling her increasingly outrageous lies... and it was equally perplexing that our super-smart professor hero actually believed them. But it didn't matter, because the author takes them... and us... on a fun and enjoyable romp, replete with delectable Italian foods, memorable characters, and historical ruins, as they gradually learn to trust each other and find their way to the truth.
Bottom line: it's a fast, witty, and entertaining read. Four and a half stars, rounded up to five.
I'm an old fuddy-duddy who believes finding oneself in a deep hole means it's time to put the darned shovel down and stop digging, so it was a bit perplexing that our heroine didn't know when to stop telling her increasingly outrageous lies... and it was equally perplexing that our super-smart professor hero actually believed them. But it didn't matter, because the author takes them... and us... on a fun and enjoyable romp, replete with delectable Italian foods, memorable characters, and historical ruins, as they gradually learn to trust each other and find their way to the truth.
Bottom line: it's a fast, witty, and entertaining read. Four and a half stars, rounded up to five.
August 9, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
i really wanted to like this book but the fmc was just annoying lmao all she did was lie and i mean i get its the whole point but i just didnt enjoy it 🤭😭
i really wanted to like this book but the fmc was just annoying lmao all she did was lie and i mean i get its the whole point but i just didnt enjoy it 🤭😭
March 6, 2024
No está mal, me ha gustado. He disfrutado leyéndolo de lo tonto que era. Pero tiene algunos comentarios que💀
March 2, 2025
Thought this would be cute but the FMC was so annoying.
May 17, 2020
Ginny has just been betrayed by the man she loved. Not only did he break her heart, but he ruined her reputation. So she's off to start a new life by going to Italy and learning to be a chef. Yet when the gorgeous Preston accidentally bumps into her, she can't get him out of her mind no matter that he's a know-it-all. She considers having a holiday romance with him, but things get so tangled. Can she say goodbye when she's finished in Italy?
This romantic comedy had me laughing and sighing in all the best ways. The humor is goofy and sometimes nerdy, but good thing I love that! Plus all the yummy food descriptions and interesting history. I could totally relate to Ginny being accident prone and running from the mess her rotten ex created. I also adored Preston the moment he popped into her life, no matter that she wanted nothing to do with him. The story is light, fun, and deliciously satisfying.
This romantic comedy had me laughing and sighing in all the best ways. The humor is goofy and sometimes nerdy, but good thing I love that! Plus all the yummy food descriptions and interesting history. I could totally relate to Ginny being accident prone and running from the mess her rotten ex created. I also adored Preston the moment he popped into her life, no matter that she wanted nothing to do with him. The story is light, fun, and deliciously satisfying.
March 7, 2024
J'ai passé un très bon moment de lecture, les personnages sont attachants et l'idée même du livre qui parle de cours de cuisine était très bonne et bien amenée.
On sait d'où les personnages viennent, où ils se dirigent et en passant par quels chemins et j'ai beaucoup aimé cet aspect.
J'ai trouvé le livre pas mal cliché la plupart du temps mais ça marche bien avec l'ambiance de cet écrit alors c'est pas dérangeant.
Ce que j'ai moins aimé c'est cet aspect manque de communication et de confiance du personnage principal...
Heureusement le love interest rattrape ça en étant un parfait Green flag, attentionné, entreprenant, respectueux, un vrai golden retriever!
On sait d'où les personnages viennent, où ils se dirigent et en passant par quels chemins et j'ai beaucoup aimé cet aspect.
J'ai trouvé le livre pas mal cliché la plupart du temps mais ça marche bien avec l'ambiance de cet écrit alors c'est pas dérangeant.
Ce que j'ai moins aimé c'est cet aspect manque de communication et de confiance du personnage principal...
Heureusement le love interest rattrape ça en étant un parfait Green flag, attentionné, entreprenant, respectueux, un vrai golden retriever!
August 29, 2026
I thought I was going to like this book, turns out it is not for me. Ginny pissed me off I don’t know how many times. Preston was super naive.
I HATE the amount of times dog doo doo was used. Just say shit.
Unfortunately it was just not a book that made me happy.
I HATE the amount of times dog doo doo was used. Just say shit.
Unfortunately it was just not a book that made me happy.
July 2, 2023
3.5⭐️
Did Not Finish
September 25, 2024Dnf @13%
Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews