The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik

by Denise Smith Cline

At thirty years old and unmarried, Vesta Blonik' s future looks bleak when her widowed father remarries, sells the family farm, and moves away during the depths of the Great Depression, leaving her behind. Meanwhile, in eastern North Carolina, Gordon Crenshaw is engulfed in despair after losing his wife and newborn during childbirth. Concerned for his well-being, his family commits him to Dix Hill, the state mental hospital. Struggling against his grief, Gordon' s disruptive behavior leads his family to seek his release, but they learn he can only be discharged if a suitable caretaker is found. Through connections in the Carolinas and Minnesota, the Crenshaws find Vesta and pose as Gordon, and her suitor, through letters that hide the truth of his situation. When Vesta agrees to marry Gordon, unaware of the deception, she travels south, only to learn the full extent of the Crenshaws' lie after the wedding. Bound by necessity and circumstance, Vesta and Gordon must navigate their new life amid the tobacco fields of North Carolina, confronting their pasts and discovering the possibility of love in unexpected places.

262 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Martine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so wanted to like this book. The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik, the author’s debut novel, follows Vesta, a woman navigating displacement and the emotional fallout of a life that has not gone as planned. The story centers on her eventual connection with Gordon, another compelling character, as their paths slowly move toward one another. The premise is thoughtful, with themes of loneliness, starting over, and the quiet hope of connection woven throughout. Unfortunately, while the ideas are strong, the execution didn’t fully work for me. Around the 30% mark, the story slows significantly and remains in a holding pattern until roughly 75%, when the two main characters finally meet. This long plateau drained much of the narrative momentum. I found myself wishing there had been more focus on Gordon earlier in the book, as well as a much larger portion devoted to their relationship once they finally come together. Their dynamic was one of the most engaging aspects of the novel, and it felt underdeveloped compared to the extensive buildup. Additionally, the version of the book I read was in need of a stronger edit due to frequent grammatical errors. Missing or incorrect punctuation, and occasional typos repeatedly pulled me out of the story and disrupted the reading flow.

I really liked both Vesta and Gordon as characters and there is real potential here, but overall the novel didn’t quite connect with me. I’m disappointed because I wanted this story to be more than it ultimately was.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a moving, engrossing, comforting tale of imperfect love. Set in the 1930s in Minnesota and North Carolina, our lovers face great obstacles imposed by their families and their circumstances and we watch them work to find a way forward on parallel paths until their orchestrated and (at first) unwelcome meeting. A very notable debut novel from Denise Smith Cline. I miss Vesta Blonik’s world already.

[Kathleen Oneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vesta Blonik lived on a farm with her dad. The dad never praised her or hugged her and did not tell her he was leaving and marrying a widow. The story is set in the 30’s Times when money was tight. Vesta cannot find work and a place to live. She is talked into marrying Gordon Crenshaw a farmer but not knowing he was in a mental hospital. A very moving story showing Gordon and Vesta making a plan to survive.
I found Denise Cline’s debut novel remarkable and I recommend it.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

1938, Minnesota during the Great Depression.
Thirty year old Vesta Blonik lived with her Pa in a shanty…”a patchwork of old pieces of lumber, tar paper and strips of tin (her sleeping quarters) a small lean-to built into the southern wall.” The stove was dying and the tar on the back wall needed to be redone to keep out the snowy, frigid weather to come. Vesta tried her best. There was no pleasing her Pa. She had taken over all the household chores upon the death of her Ma in addition to milking the cow, feeding the chickens and chopping wood. While the government talked about resettlement, Pa up and left. Vesta tried harder. She milked her one cow, Lottie, her confidant and only friend. She traveled to town with Adolphus, her horse leading the cart. Faithful Adolphus, with an injured leg in need of medical attention. As winter approached, Vesta spent part of her day in town, returning at night to the farm for Lottie’s second milking .

Vesta had an impossible dilemma and a tearful decision. She would ask a local farmer to care for Lottie over the winter and pay a stable in town to care for Adolphus and store the wagon, hoping that Pa would be back soon. All charges would be paid on Vesta’s dime. How would an unmarried woman, during the Depression Years, be able to secure a job to pay for rent and the upkeep of her animals? Uncomfortable as it might be, Vesta asked her brother Josef and sister-in-law Eva if she could stay with them in their tiny dwelling in town.

Pa’s new wife, Irene had a laundry business. When Pa and Irene left town, customers embraced laundry and seamstress services provided by Vesta and Eva. This helped to alleviate the daily struggle to pay rent and put food on the table. When Eva announced her pregnancy, there would no longer be room for Vesta. Completely overwhelmed, she must navigate a path forward.

In North Carolina, Gordon Crenshaw, a farmer, had been dealt a blow as well. He married the love of his life but months later became a grief stricken widower when his wife and newborn died. Gordon entered a dark period. Concerned for his well being, the Crenshaw family committed him to Dix Hill, a State Mental Hospital. But for the kindness of Nurse Portman and a card playing resident, Gordon’s disruptive behavior might have led to life altering treatments. The time had come for the Crenshaws to bring Gordon home.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. In Minnesota, a clergyman shared a story of an arranged marriage. Perhaps this could be an escape route for Vesta. In North Carolina, without Gordon’s knowledge, his mother obtained Vesta’s address and wrote to her pretending to be Gordon, a deception that would play out since the hospital would only release Gordon to a wife or other full time caregiver. Both Vesta and Gordon were duped. Vesta, out of choices, would take a leap of faith. Could two strangers build a foundation on the shaky ground of lies and deceit?

“The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik” by Denise Smith Cline is master storytelling at its best. Vesta Blonik had experienced abandonment and was left alone to run the farm while her Pa awaited Resettlement. He secretly married a widow with two teenage boys, potential farm laborers. Gordon’s family members cast him out while he was grieving the death of his wife and child. Walking the farm for long hours at night should not have necessitated a placement in a mental hospital, solely for the family’s convenience. Author Cline superbly penned the heartbreak, the need for emotional peace, tenderness toward animals, a nurse’s compassion and a slim ray of hope. A highly recommended debut novel.

Thank you to the author for a Print ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of reading an advanced copy of The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik by Denise Smith Cline and am looking forward to the novel’s release at the end of this month. Set in the Great Depression, the novel exposes us to myriad challenges that families faced in rural Minnesota and eastern North Carolina, from poverty to mental health questions. I found that the very human story lingered long after the last page.
I enjoyed how effortlessly the story balances historical accuracy with emotional depth. Denise clearly did extensive research but never let information overshadow the heart of the story. Instead, the historical backdrop serves as a vivid canvas for a deeply human tale of family, loss, resilience, and love.
The story is well-written and put me in the rooms with Vesta and Gordon as they dealt with the hand that life dealt them. I felt the chill of a Midwestern winter, heard the creak of an old farmhouse, explored a mental hospital, and suffered through the summer heat of eastern North Carolina. I vacillated between savoring the writing and turning pages late into the night. Although set in different eras, I was repeatedly reminded of Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain, which also combined into one tale the tragedy of a national crisis, perseverance, recovery and love.
Long after finishing the book, I find that thoughts of Vesta continue to assert themselves, especially during another period of national uncertainty. I find myself thinking—“How would Vesta react?” “How would she be affected if she lived in Minnesota today?”
I can’t wait to see this one out in the world — it deserves a wide audience. Highly recommended.

[KT-Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of the story I really enjoyed and thought was good and very descriptive, although I gave 3 stars only because not really my taste in reading. I felt it was really a 3.5. I felt invested in Vesta and her story and actually teared up a few times related to her situation, but despite wanting to like Gordon because I knew his character would intersect with Vesta, I just didn't really care for him or his family. Part of the location setting of the book (for Gordon) interested me from the get-go but then was the part I really didn't like as well.

I also felt the book ended more abruptly than I anticipated. When I turned the final page I expected more so was a little shocked that it ended where it did.

[Becky Z]

3.5 Stars I really enjoyed this novel after a slow beginning. The premise is fascinating and more plausible than many of our grandparents and great grandparents would like to admit. People got married for many reasons and it was compounded by the economic challenges of Great Depression.
The author did a terrific job explaining the challenging circumstances and feelings of Vesta. The historical accuracy was detailed and helpful for land resettlements and asylums. I am impressed by her debut into fiction and clearly her writing skills have transferred well to this genre.

[Agnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik is such a fine story. The emotions are so pure and true. When I came to the last page I felt I had traveled with Vesta all the way, and I was definitely glad I made the trip. If you like a book that delivers rich, authentic detail of time and place and that prompts you to feel the big feelings, then this book is definitely for you.

[Landis Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging novel about a young woman’s depression-era journey to try to build a life after losing her farm and finding herself far away from the only home she’s ever known. Written with warmth and heart, you will find yourself pulling for Vesta to do what few women could have done with the circumstances she faced.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik by Denise Smith Cline is a lovely, unputdownable novel of resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship. See my complete review at Reading World

[Lauren Harr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think everyone knows a Vesta somewhere, whether in their lives or family lineage. A woman who will survive, persist, quietly and with nothing at all if she has to, simply because of an inner strength.

[Debra Harr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written with engaging characters.
I learned much about the Depression era and the struggles faced by different areas of the US while following the captivating story.
Hope there is a sequel!!

[Elizabeth Sumner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! The characters are so real they seem to live and breathe. The setting is beautifully described. And the play kept me so involved I couldn’t put it down. You’ll love and admire Vesta Blonick and her resilience, her independence and her strength. Enjoy!

[Palma Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vesta was given to me by a friend in our bookclub- WOW! I did not expect what was coming. This story grabbed me from the start and didn’t let go.
I love debut authors, I love historical fiction, I love good writing , I love strong, interesting women characters.
I love Vesta! Just read it!!

[Melissa Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much! Well written, attention to historical details was evident. Highly recommend!

[Rose Kenyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧3.5⭐️1🌶️ poor Vesta 🥺