5 stars. 
 Meet the Earl at Midnight was a delight to read. I was thoroughly engaged, reading the book cover to cover in one sitting (which was a feat, as it wasn't a short book). Gina Conkle is a new-to-me author, who I found when I was awarded the pleasure to read the second book in this series for review. I purchased the first (Meet the Earl at Midnight) in order to be caught up, and was pleasantly surprised. 
 Gina Conkle's writing style was mature, written in a way to lend to historical accuracy without sounding pretentious (many in this genre add superfluous words to sound historical) The flow was a breeze to read- nothing jarring. The characterization was consistent and flowed cohesively throughout. 
 The hero and heroine were 3-dimensional characters. Edward was a mysterious, introvert scientist who was physically and emotionally scarred. Lydia was a strong female lead, where the author was able to keep the character assertive without being pushy, domineering, demanding, or overtly annoying. In fact, Lydia knocking Edward down for size was pure perfection. The characters fed from one another. Edward would be misogynistic (according to the era), yet his inability to bend was a comfort, as it made him consistent (unlike in most books where the characters do, say, act, and react in contradicting ways). Instead of turning into an irrational, hormonal female, like Edward expected, Lydia surprised him by taking his insults in stride, and thwarting him at every turn, earning everyone's respect without coming across as crass, unmanageable, and vapid. 
 I loved the entire cast of characters- flawed, realistic, and consistent. What I adored the most was the dry wit during every interaction between Edward & Lydia. The tension was palatable, the wit was humorous without coming across as forced and over-the-top, and both had me blushing and grinning from ear-to-ear. 
 Meet the Earl at Midnight was a historical romance, but it wasn't a syrupy sweet romance. Character-&-story-driven, Conkle didn't rely on the usual trope of instant infatuation, lust, and the spewing of undying love. 
 Slowly evolving, realistic, the reader was drawn in emotionally, feeling as one with the characters as if they were real. Not overtly sexual, MtEaM was one of the best examples of less is more. The flirtatious, witty banter was heart-racing. After the build-up and tension, a simple kiss to a knee, or an accidental or premeditated brush of a hand, came across as more than an elaborate, sexually explicit scene in many a book. 
 Genre tags: Historical Romance | Unconventional, experienced woman | True Heroine & Hero | Scarred, alpha male | Earl & a commoner | Artist | Scientist (botanist) | Realistic (not light and fluffy, yet warn and endearing) | Witty humor that is never over-the-top or forced | Introversion | Marriage to beget an heir | Emotionally extorted into marriage | Historically accurate | 
 Recommended: Historical Romance Fans | Mature readers who appreciate a fully fleshed out story instead of the smoke and mirrors of sex and unnecessary angst (no mis-communications as the conflict, as any of this type of conflict that arises was cleared up within the next chapter) 
 Will I read more by this author: Absolutely. Starting book 2 in this series after my eyes have a rest and my Kindle charges. I look forward to reading more by this author.