This is one of the best historical romances I have read in a whole- over 2 years, I believe. 
 I wasn't going to give this baby here 5 stars, but it made me teary in certain places, and just for that, it deserves full accolades. 
 I really enjoyed the story, which overflowed with tenderness. 
 The protagonists were a delight. 
 Coming off twitter and several conversations delineating how men are socialized to be these hard, unfeeling creatures, to not show emotion and to regard nurturing, empathy, and child are as effeminate, inferior qualities, women's qualities; and thinking about how much more strictly these norms must've held for men in years past ( yes I know this is a run-on sentence, but work with me here), I adored how Ms. Hoyt flipped the script with our hero. 
 Winter Makepeace embodies the stern, cold, impossibly self-controlled paragon of masculinity society so loves. But he is also, and it is plain for all to see - not hidden somewhere where only those closest to him can observe - he is as well nurturing, and has of his own volition dedicated his life to raise the kids in his orphanage. The care and worry and obvious love he has for his job and the kids under his care is evident in every page. 
 And of course, it also helps that Winter is our 'ghost of St. Giles' - a caped crusader who goes about vigilante style, righting the wrongs done to the poor, oppressed inhabitants of the dangerous slums of St. Giles. 
 It helps even more that due to his swashbuckling activities, Winter is a good male specimen - having lean muscles in all the right places. 
 It helps tremendously that Winter had a job and was a commoner, not nobility (As I read more about the aristocracy I am more appalled by them: how can anyone NOT be expected to work, because he/she happens to be gentry/nobility? Mind boggles). 
 I loved that Ms. Hoyt took time to explore a character who is so completely different from society's expectations and who was so secure in being such an anomaly. 
 As well I loved the heroine, who also bucked the trend. Here was a woman who was not nurturing in the least when we first met her. Of course there was a reason for that - barrenness. And for a time when bearing children must have been so important to a woman's identity, we get precious few stories about women who want to but cannot bear children. The emotion of Isabel's story was very moving for me. 
 And oh yes, I liked that Isabel was self-assured and knew what she wanted and would not apologise for living life on her own terms. 
 These two were people I really enjoyed meeting. I was entranced by their love story, which was so exquisitely tender, and by its resolution. I will say that while the ending a rather pat - it was still very believable for this couple, and managed to provide and excellent solution for the children issue while not taking away the sting of Isabel's barrenness. 
 There were a few flaws, but who cares about what the book got wrong/coulda done better after all this goodness? 
 Love, social justice, unusual characters which are unusual in an unusual way (not the standard for a romance novel at all); simple and tender story. 
 What more could you ask for? 
 But this book is a jewel. 
 Really, really liked it.