A Hero to Root For

Leslea Wahl reviews a new Catholic historical romance for young-adult readers by Catholic Mom contributing writer Amanda Lauer.

A Hero Such as Heaven Intended

By Amanda Lauer

Published by Full Quiver Publishing

A Hero Such as Heaven Intended is the sixth and final book in Amanda Lauer’s Heaven Intended Civil War romance series. From the opening pages of the first book, A World Such as Heaven Intended, I was hooked. I’ve always had a fascination with the complexities  surrounding the Civil War that tore the nation and so many families apart. The premise of the story might have been what first attracted me, but it was the witty dialogue, engaging characters, and elements of faith that really drew me in.  

Lauer is a gifted storyteller, perfectly blending history, intrigue, romance, and faith, keeping the reader eagerly turning the pages. Each book in the series focuses on a different young couple making it easy to pick up any of the books. While the stories can be standalones, Lauer uniquely connects each of the storylines, making them even more appealing to readers.   

Trapped in Atlanta, during the final critical months of the war Theresa Lundgren’s life is far from what she’d hoped it would be. And then, in a split second, everything is turned upside down. A tragic event sparks the catalyst for Theresa’s journey of self-contemplation, renewal of faith, even altering her values and life goals. This strong-willed Southern belle had set plans on how to ensure her future but all that changes when she meets Corporal Joseph Laurent at the scene of a crime. While resisting her new circumstances, Theresa soon discovers skills she doesn’t realize she possesses, unexpected feelings of compassion, and a fortitude that no one would have expected from this slightly self-centered woman.   

When I discovered this was the last book in the Heaven Intended series, I was disappointed it was coming to an end but I must say this was the perfect story to end on with an intriguing connection to the very first book in the series. Lauer brilliantly revisited a critical scene from that first novel, this time telling it from a completely different viewpoint. I eagerly went back to A World Such as Heaven Intended to reread and truly appreciate those superbly-written passages.  

This final story was such a joy to read, and while I dreaded the ending of the series, the last few chapters were so fulfilling, giving readers a chance to reconnect with all the various characters we’ve grown to care about during this literary journey. Thank you, Amanda Lauer, for this incredible series and the truly satisfying conclusion. You are a gifted writer, and I believe you were led to write this special series, making you an author such as heaven intended.  

Summary: 

As the Civil War grinds on, Theresa Lundgren’s world unravels in besieged Atlanta. Trapped by encroaching Union forces, a desperate act costs her step-brother his life and forever alters her own, and that of Corporal Joseph Laurent, a Cherokee soldier questioning his loyalty to the Union cause.  

Their meeting at the scene of a crime is far from ideal. Theresa, an ambitious Southern spitfire, and Joseph, a man torn between conscription’s demands and his pacifist roots, couldn’t be more different. Yet, as Atlanta braces for General Sherman’s devastating March to the Sea, an unexpected bond forms between them, fueled by a shared faith, perilous circumstances, and perhaps something deeper.  

With the city under siege and their lives in jeopardy, can Theresa and Joseph bridge their divide to survive the war’s final assault? Or will the flames of conflict consume their chance at love?   

Heaven Intended series synopsis  

The Heaven Intended series follows the lives of six young couples in the last year of the Civil War. Each novel features a young lady and a young soldier, on opposite sides of the war, depicting the trials they endured from May of 1864 to May of 1865 in the chaotic days as the war comes to its dramatic conclusion. Every couple has a unique story, told from the perspective of the young lady on the home front, and, every other chapter, from the viewpoint of the soldier on the battlefield. The one thing these young men and women have in common is their faith, which they rely on to survive those harrowing days.  

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Copyright 2025 Leslea Wahl
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