Meet the Earl at Midnight is presented as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but it is more like a forced proximity, enemies to lovers regency romance.

Meet the Earl at Midnight was cute. I wouldn’t say it was amazing but it was a fun listen. Thanks for netgalley, the author and the publisher for an audio copy in exchange for my review. I liked the narrator.

This was a sweet historical retelling of the Beauty and The Beast.

I absolutely loved the characters. They were relatable yet refined yet quirky.

The audio Narration was quite compelling as well

It was an interesting take on the classic Beauty and the Beast story. However, I found the story itself lacking. Not enough happened in too long of a time. The book really dragged on, with Lydia and Edward both loving and worshipping each other without actually doing anything about it. The climax was predictable and painfully short. One second, there was tension, and then a few pages later, there wasn't--100% resolved.

My first title by Gina Conkle! I’m an absolute sucker for Regency romances and this Beauty and the Beast retelling hit that sweet spot that only historical romances do. A great escapism book.

It’s not a difficult read and the prose is great at building the visuals of the time, very additional but it would be lovely to have some descriptions of meals to make a perfect cozy vibe to go along with the romance.

“The Lady Meets Her Match” is the next book in the ‘Midnight Meetings’ series (great name by the way!) and to be honest the description got me even more intrigued than this one to be honest!

I hate saying this because it's in my favorite genre: this book was just ok. I thought it was cute. I worked really hard to ignore the fact that the MMC was constantly referring to emotions as "female hysterics" and states more than once that he tunes out women's voices. Come on, dude. I could live with it if he developed past it, but he really doesn't.

I was worried when I was 70% of the way through the book and the conflict hadn't been introduced. Then I realized the author skipped the entire conflict. The characters got into a fight and the next scene is a month later and the conflict is over.

The premise of this book was so promising. I loved the FMC. She's a strong character and sure in herself and what she wants. The MMC just doesn't live up to expectations and it kinda ruins it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select, NYLA for the early access audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook of Meet the Earl at Midnight, narrated by the most excellent Marian Hussey. This is a Georgian spin on Beauty and the Beast, where the 'beast' is in the form of a handsome earl, Lord Edward Greenwich, who was scarred in a fire a few years ago. Despite being an earl, Edward is more interested in plants and botanicals than society or meeting flighty females.

The story begins when our heroine, Lydia Montgomery, is taken to a tavern in the middle of the night to be collateral for her step-father's embezzlement from Edward's shipping company. Under the threat that her mother will be taken to jail for the misdeeds of her husband, Lydia agrees to the exchange. After the step-father flees England headed to the colonies, Edward then persuades Lydia to marry him and she agrees, as long as she can paint and pursue her art. From almost the beginning there was an urgency to Edward needing to get married - you don't get the answer to why until more than half way through the book (and it wasn't what I expected).

While the plot sounds contrived, I enjoyed this audiobook. There is definitely an attraction between the two leads, as well as a respect and admiration for each other. I really enjoyed listening to them fall in love with each other. My only other comment is although this is supposedly set during the Georgian era, it reads more like a regency, which was OK with me! I recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys reading Beauty and Beast incarnations.

Thank you so much for letting listen to this audiobook. I very much enjoyed this story. It is so nice to listen such a fun lighthearted story.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Select for an audio copy for an honest review.

It's been a minute since I read a historical romance. This book made me love them all over again. This is a great read that I highly recommend.

I felt so conflicted and a bit frustrated throughout this book.

Lydia was being forced into a marriage to fix her family's debt and didn't know about it until meeting Edward for the first time. Then he places an arbitrary month out there before allowing them to get close and actually marry. She comes to live with him and is definitely outspoken and needs to learn how to be more part of higher society. The crazy part is that Edward is a bit of a scientific recluse. Lydia's soon to be mother in law doesn't like her, but doesn't want Edward to leave on his scientific expedition. Is being in kahoots a good idea to keep him from going?

So many times I wanted the romance to just happen between Lydia and Edward. Everytime they got close, someone always interrupted. I was hoping for more of a steamy connection earlier. That would have made the threat of being apart later on more impactful. I just wanted them to succumb to the teasing and temptations of eachother.

I enjoyed this book, but just wanted more passion in the romance and drive to move the plot along faster.

Thank you to Dreamscape and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this Audiobook for my honest review.

Meet the Earl at Midnight tells the story of Lydia and Lord Edward. Lydia was sold to Lord Edward in exchange for her families debt to be settled. Lord Edward usually does not go out into society, but is determined to gain a wife and an heir before he leaves the country to study science.
From the beginning of the book it is clear that Lydia is more interesting and not as passive as other women Lord Edward may have met before. This creates a fun and interesting dynamic between the two. I really enjoyed the fact that Lydia does not stand down on doing the things she loves, like painting. Lydia also pushes Edward to not live based on his history.
This was a nice historical romance to read filled with the glamor and hardships of the regency era.

I listened to the audio of this book by Marian Hussey and found her performance of this book just wonderful. She used different voices for each character and the reading was very entertaining. The story was a take on the Beauty and the Beast trope. Not sure why, but this book just dragged on and on for me. The audio was excellent, but the plot was just not that great and it didn't grab me and make me want to continue listening.

Lord Edward Greenwich, an Earl, has need of a bride and since he doesn't go about in London society, he has a problem. He also is unlike any other Lord. He prefers to spend his time in scientific exploration rather than in the salons of London society. After an unfortunate incident that left him virtually a recluse and the end of his first engagement, he is running short of time to solve his problem.

Lydia Montgomery is the daughter of an estate steward, but her father died, and her mother's second husband racked up enormous debts leaving her mother at risk. Her stepfather and the Earl came to an agreement and Edward has decided that Lydia Montgomery is just the woman to solve his problem, even if she had to be dragged from her bed and basically given to the Earl.

Lydia had decided that she wasn't interested in marriage. She was going to make a career as an artist. but being a woman is a problem. With her mother's welfare at stake, she decided to give the Earl's proposition great consideration. What she finds interesting is that she finds herself more than a little drawn to the Earl. The more she learns about him, the more she falls for him.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

This Beauty and the Beast style story set in Georgian England starts in a most intriguing fashion as Lydia Montgomery is horrified to be dragged from her bed and packed off to live with Lord Edward Greenwich. She is traded by her stepfather to cover a debt owed to Lord Edward the Earl of Greenwich to save her mother. Lydia prefers to remain unmarried and spend her time improving her art.

Lord Edward Greenwich, is a mysterious nobleman who doesn't show his face in London Society. He has 80 days to find a wife and as the story goes along we find out more about this. Edward has dedicated his life to academic pursuits and his love of science not really feeling to need to find a wife but his responsibility to produce a hier is the only reason he is seeking one now.

I’m not really sure why but I didn’t like this story very much it did not hold me one bit. I listened to the audiobook Narrator by Marian Hussey. The whole story was just a bit unconvincing for my liking and I just did not content with any of the characters well enough to fully immerse myself in this story.

This book was enjoyable but then also not. I was engaged in the book and liked the two leads but the ending felt rushed and not quite earned

This beauty and the beast retelling features a spinster miss Lydia Montgomery, being sold off in a marriage of convenience to a reclusive and scarred girl in payment for her stepfather and stepbrothers debts.

Lydia turns out to be one of the only people who can see beyond his scars and forms and attachment to the girl, but they are all has trouble believing her feelings, and trusting Lydia.

I found the story to be bit derivative and full of clichés, like the nasty mother-in-law sweeping in to provide Countess in training lessons, the class difference problems between our Earl hero, and the middle class, daughter of a steward, who just wants to be an artist… the story dragged on for me a little bit and I found myself speeding up the audio to move it along.

I listen to the audiobook of this story, and found no fault with the narration provided by Marian Hussey. Hussey’s narration provided varied voices for the characters in the very easy listening experience. There are no special effects or anything that made this narration stand out, but I can easily say that the narration was a highlight of the reading experience.

Book 3⭐️
Audio 4⭐️

Thank you too dreamscape select for the ALC copy. Opinions are my own.

"Meet the Earl at Midnight" by Gina Conkle offers a unique and captivating love story.

One of the novelties in this historical romance is its unconventional nature, which sets it apart from the typical Regency-era tales. The central love story defies traditional conventions, adding depth and intrigue to the narrative.

The heroine's strong-willed and opinionated character is a highlight. Her independence and assertiveness provide a refreshing twist to the genre, as she challenges societal norms and expectations.

The hero's sense of duty, particularly towards his father and family obligations, adds a layer of complexity to his character. His motivations are rooted in grief, and this emotional depth adds a genuine and poignant element to the story.

The development of their romance is both tender and genuine, creating a connection that goes beyond the superficial trappings of the time period.

While "Meet the Earl at Midnight" shines in many aspects, it may not appeal to readers seeking a strictly traditional historical romance. The novel's unique approach and character dynamics may not align with conventional expectations of the genre.

This was a sweet romance and I really enjoyed it. As a Beauty and the Beast retelling it definitely works. There is plenty of chemistry between Lydia and Edward and the sky-high sexual tension between them built-up nicely throughout the book. The story itself was very cute and it held my attention the whole way through. I will say my enjoyment tailed off in the later half of the book because I was getting annoyed by some of the interactions between Lydia and Edward.

What is making not a five-star read for me was our hero. Edward makes some truly misogynistic comments to Lydia and it was hard for me to look past. I get that this is a historical romance and that misogyny was commonplace back then, but I don't want that characteristic in a romantic hero. He is also incredibly selfish in his plans and refuses to even think about reconsidering even when he starts to have feelings for Lydia. Lydia may have overstepped and made her own mistakes, but he wouldn't even listen to the very real and valid concerns that his mother and Lydia expressed. Then he was confused as to why she wouldn't answer his written correspondence after he threw her out. He couldn't be bothered to actually go see her until his friend makes that point to him.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this historical romance and I'll definitely continue on with the series. I also really enjoyed the narration of this audio book. The narrator's voice really leant itself to the characters and the time period that this was set in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the audio-arc of this book!

Wonderful book, with very funny moments and a bit of angst. I was waiting for a marriage of convenience, but this was more an engagement of convenience and I was happy about it, because I loved seeing the love between Edward and Lydia spark and grow before their wedding. Edward is so much more than the prototype of the reclusive, scarred hero. He’s a good, strong man and a brilliant scholar. Lucy is capable, witty, brave and smart and I loved her POV very much. She was so much fun! I also liked the side characters, like Edward’s mother and his man of affairs.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is astounding!!! Her male voices are deep and realistic and the female voice perfect for all the characters.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a fun and yet frustrating story. The tension between Edward and Lydia had me so frustrated as they clearly belonged together!

I listened to this on audiobook. The narrator was incredible! My only criticism of this book is that it felt like it wrapped up much too quickly. The ending felt a tad rushed but overall an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

A Historical Beauty and the Beast retelling.

Thought it was a cute Beauty and the Beast retelling. I loved the way the whole story played out and liked the narrator. It was very cute.

Thank you NetGalley for the Audio-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.