Danielle Steel books lately have become much more engaging. The Challenge is one such book. Fishtail, Montana, is home to Anne and Pitt Pollock, owners of the successful Pollock ranch and the nearby ranch belongs to Bill and Pattie Brown. The two couples have known each other since childhood. Their sons Peter Pollock and Matt Brown are also the best of friends. When they and two other kids meet Juliet Marshall, visiting her dad after his divorce, the five of them are soon inseparable. One August afternoon, their latest adventure takes a dangerous turn when they find themselves trapped on Granite Peak. The kids are finally found and rescued but the aftermath reveals secrets, new love and a new sense of what is important. It was a great read.

A summer with her father in Fishtail may change Julies life forever. When a flash flood fills a dry riverbed 7 children will be changed as well as their parents lives. A very enjoyable read.

I’ve said this a million times but a new Danielle Steel book is like comfort food to me! This one gave me some Virgin River vibes and I was here for it! Another great book by DS! Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review.

The Challenge is set in Fishtail, Montana, where a group of seven teenagers get lost in the mountainous terrain. They face all of Mother Nature's most dangerous tricks--flash floods, forest fires, and hungry bears--while struggling to stave off starvation and thirst and other medical issues. Meanwhile, the parents of the lost teenagers band together with the authorities to find their children before some, or all, of them die.

The first half of the book focuses on the search for the seven children, while the second half tells about the year following the rescue. Unexpected relationships form among the adults, while others break apart. This is a typical Steel novel that skims the surface of the relationships without going into too much depth. The book would make a good beach or airplane read. This is light fiction that doesn't require a lot of effort for the reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my opinions.

A small community is tested when their children go missing while exploring a dangerous local peak forcing them to band together during the crisis. Fear flows through the town as the parents grow more desperate for their kids. They must place their own trails aside amid the massive search and rescue operation. As they lean on each other for support a media frenzy heightened tensions and test some already fragile relationships. Devastating secrets are revealed new love appears on the horizon and families are forced to consider what they hold dear. This is an amazing story that is a portrait of courage and a striking tale of the bonds of love and family. Danielle Steel has out done her self in this amazing story one of favorites I recommend this to everyone.

A fast paced and enjoyable read! This book is about life lessons for those young and old. Never think that things won't happen to you or those you love. As always, Danielle wrote another awesome book!

A quick read about families, teenage kids, marriage, divorce, parenthood, grief, fear, illness, death and the everyday challenges of life. It is set in the beautiful sometimes perilous Montana mountains. The beginning of this story details family members, careers and lives of several close knit couples and their children. This little town and the characters are nicely set up with the horse ranches, a diner and the school. While there is some adult content it is mostly light reading.
There are four best friends Tim, Matt, Peter, and Noel who’ve grown up between their parents homes. The boys are close in age, some with siblings and all with different plans after high school graduation. A visiting girl meets them and is soon part of the all male group.
Tom and Beth had successful careers in NY, always aspiring for more and the best for their only daughter, Juliet. Then Tom had enough of the rat race, his priorities changed after a visit to a small town in Montana. Divorce follows when she’s not interested in leaving her life or the city. On a visit with her Dad, Juliet meets the four boys all similar in age.
The boys plan a horse ride up the mountains and invite Juliet. Their adventure turns into disaster with fire, medical trauma and a flash flood. The remainder of the book is devoted to the aftermath of that challenge and the ones to come for these families. There is some romance, both young and mature love. The everyday challenges these families face are common and felt by most of us.
This is an author I’ve been reading for many years. This book didn’t inspire me as her past stories have. It was a bit simplistic and not as memorable as others she’s written. It is by no means badly written, just not my personal favorite. I would still read her future books.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “The Challenge” by Danielle Steel and to Random House. These are my honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily.

Danielle Steel's The Challenge is quite the departure from her typical story - and I love it. Sure, there is some romance, but there is also drama and nobody does drama like Danielle Steel. Excellent read!

The challenge was an interesting read. I’ve never read a Danielle Steel novel before and I’m not sure I enjoyed it or not. The main story was good but after the mountain piece, I felt the story was disjointed and the stories rushed, and this was the whole second half of the book. I feel like some parts were just added with no actual benefit to the story.

I like Danielle Steel reads, this once pulled at my heart strings. Kids lost on a hike!! There were other story lines unfolding in the midst. This was a quick read that kept me wanted to finish!! Would recommend it, I like that it had some mystery but love too.

I always look forward to Danielle Steel's new releases and The Challenge does not disappoint. There's conflict and romance and exciting adventure in a setting unique for her. As a parent and teacher I particularly loved one of the subplots involving the teens. It really advances the storyline for everyone, adults and kids, and like tentacles of an octopus, reaches out in so many directions but brings it all back home. The ending felt a little rushed and one character's storyline almost forced, but I would enjoy reading it again. Additionally, I really felt like this book could easily become adapted into a middle grade adventure thriller. Thanks so much to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #TheChallenge by Danielle Steel - 4.5 stars from me!

This story was a little flat for me. The story line about the teens getting lost on the mountain was interesting, but over quickly. The drama with the parents I could have done without.

Thank you to Danielle Steele, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book had so much potential! I honestly thought this would be a new favorite Danielle Steel story of mine! However, I don't think this book was executed the best way. I was looking forward to the suspense to go along with the storyline. And while I *kind of* got it, it wasn't what I was hoping. There were a lot of people in this book, which is fine. But I can't say that I really enjoyed many of them. That made it harder to read. Also, the constant repetition in the book also was challenging. Loved the idea, but I wish it had been written better.

She never disappoints!!! Her stories are always superb and exciting and this one was no different. I loved the characters development. I’m getting a hard copy of this one.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of The Challenge by Danielle Steel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Anything by Danielle Steel in my opinion is fantastic and this book will not disappoint. Loved the story line and felt many of us could relate to this book. Quick, easy read!

Danielle Steel has certainly stepped up her game in this novel. Fishtail, Montana is a small town that is perfect for those who enjoy the outdoors and a laidback lifestyle. There is horseback riding, swimming, hiking, rock climbing, and so much more. There are friendly neighbors who watch out for each other. In the first couple of chapters, we get to meet the various characters. There are adults and teenagers as well as a six-year-old (it will take time to keep the characters straight). I thought the characters were realistic and relatable. I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of Montana. The story centers around several families in a small town in Montana whose lives become entwined when a disaster impacts them. The first half of the book is gripping in a manner. The second half was more character interaction with a surprising ending . I actually came to care for these characters and could have used an epilogue. Recommend this one and would not mind seeing another as a follow up.


Thank you to netgalley, the author and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press.

A story of coming together when life throws you a curve. This is what happens in Fishtail, Montana as a group of friends decide to venture out into the trails of Granite Peak. The unexpected occurs and they begin a battle for their lives as they await a hopeful rescue. Unfortunately for me this one was one of my least favorite of DS novels. It felt rushed and the storyline wasn’t developed deeply enough for my liking. If you are a fan of her books this one will take you to the place you travel to when reading her stories. All in all still a light escapist read. Thank you for the ARC All opinions are my own.

I loved this story. To me it was a different type story from what Danielle Steel normally writes and I really did enjoy it. The setting of this story is Fishtail, Montana. It is a beautiful if not small town. Everyone knows everyone and probably for most of your life. Neighbors helping neighbors. We meet the Pollock family, large ranch owners that has been passed down through generations of Pollocks. There's the Brown family they also own a ranch just not as big as the Pollock's. The boys Peter and Matt are best friends and their family ranches are close to each other. Then there is their other friends Tim Taylor and Noel Wylie and they live close to each other on the other side of town. Newcomer to town is Juliet Marshall. Her dad moved to Fishtail when he divorced Juliet's mother. These five become best of friends and inseparable. One day the five of them along with Matt and Tim's brothers have a picnic at the falls that forever changed their lives. Things are never the same again after that fateful day.
This story kept me on the end of my seat and a little sleep deprived because I could not put it down.

This was a story about children who are lost on a mountain, they have to each face different challenges while there. When they are finally rescued they each will face new challenges; the death of a parent, new schools, teenage drinking. The adults also will have to face their own challenges. All in all I enjoyed the book, I really wish there was an epilogue to find out how everyone succeeded with their own challenges. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fishtail, Montana. A small town where everyone knows everyone, and everybody knows your name. Enter Tom from New York City. He is tired of the fast pace of the city and is looking for a more relaxed pace. Of course, not everyone is on board with this new plan, and it causes some issues. When Tom’s daughter, Juliet, comes to visit, she falls right in with the tweens and teens, adventures are on the horizon. One such adventure results in the seven kids being trapped on a mountainside. The town comes together to rescue the kids and celebrates in their success. There is love, both ending and beginning in this story, along with friendship and new relationships and a lesson to be learned in that sometimes you have to do what is best for you. Self-care. All in all, this was a good read. I would have liked to see some areas fleshed out a bit more, but I did enjoy the read. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.