Civil War Romance: A World Such As Heaven Intended

Christine Vincent reviews the first book in Amanda Lauer's historical romance series for Catholic teens and adults.

We are in great need of historical fiction, especially historically correct fiction, told from a Catholic point of view. There is so much historical revisionism in today’s teen fiction, not to mention the ever-present attacks on the Church, that we need to fight back with a great flood of good historical fiction for all ages. Amanda Lauer has tackled the task with a series of Civil War romances. A World Such As Heaven Intended is the first in a series of four young-adult historical romances sure to build accurate knowledge about the Civil War while enjoying a page-turning read.

A World Such As Heaven Intended is not a political book! The human tendency toward factionalism has not spared the field of history. Historical fads come and go. Was the Civil War fought about slavery or about the South defending its agricultural economy and culture against Northern industrialism? Let us not even consider that both may be true. Was Lincoln the good guy or the bad guy?

Amanda Lauer is not dealing with these questions. Instead, she takes us to Atlanta, Georgia, on May 30, 1864, to tell a love story about Amara McKirnan ,the daughter of Irish immigrants, living a miserable Cinderella existence after her mother’s death, and Nathan Simmons, a Massachusetts Catholic turned Texas rancher. The focus of the narrative lies on how the war is experienced by the people living it, with the romance of Amara and Nathan developing in their midst.

Nathan is conscripted against his will from his Texas ranch to fight for the South. After seeing some combat, he succeeds to desert and to join General Sherman’s forces. His loyalties are still with the North where he expects his brothers to be fighting. The problem of brothers and friends fighting each other is just one of the tragic issues arising in a civil war. The horrors of the war are experienced by Nathan on the battlefield and by Amara in her uncle’s makeshift hospital where she tends to the wounded soldiers. The author describes weaponry and medical procedures in great detail. Having little knowledge of the civil war era myself, I cannot comment on the accuracy of the historical detail. It is evident that Lauer did extensive research and her descriptions ring very true.

Historical characters such as Father Thomas O’Reilly come into the story. Through his intercession, General Sherman agreed to spare Atlanta’s churches from the fire he set to destroy the city in November 1864. This incident is incorporated into the plot, adding to its historical authenticity. More period flavor is provided by an Irish battle song popular at the time. The beautiful lyrics of “The Minstrel Boy” appear several times in the book, and in its title: A World Such As Heaven Intended.

The protagonists Amara and Nathan are virtuous, faithful Catholics - likeable role models. The plot is fast-paced and predictable. Today, predictability is considered a bad thing but consider this: our plot expectations are set up in the beginning, creating a longing tension to see them fulfilled and great satisfaction when they are. It is the way the plot is fleshed out that makes a good story, unless you are Agatha Christie.A World Such As Heaven Intended reminds me a lot of my favorite westerns by Louis L’Amour. It is equally predictable, enjoyable and wholesome, with the all-important addition of being Catholic. And, just like in L’Amour novels, the story ends before the smooching begins. Highly recommended for your kids: Lauer and L’Amour!

A World Such As Heaven Intended is the first of four novels all set at the same time and place, featuring four different couples whose lives interconnect. Reading all four should create an in-depth tableau of a particular moment in Civil War history.

The Heaven Intended series: A World Such as Heaven Intended, A Life Such as Heaven Intended, A Love Such as Heaven Intended, A Freedom Such as Heaven Intended.

Visit Amanda Lauer at AmandaLauer.com.

Discussion: What other novels can you recommend for teaching history to your teens?

Copyright 2021 Christine Vincent
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