Fishtail, Montana is a very laid back town. In this story, several families come together from a variety of backgrounds. After a year, some families are intact, while others have faced challenges that have broken them apart. This was a good story, but not one of the author’s best.

Danielle Steel has a gift for describing relationships and it shines in The Challenge, a family drama set in the small town of Fishtail, Montana. Tom Marshall is the newcomer there, an escapee from the rat race of New York City. He’s newly divorced and, when his daughter Juliet comes to visit for the summer, he meets the parents of her new friends. They are Anne and Pitt Pollock, who own the largest ranch in the area and are parents to Juliet’s new boyfriend Pete; the Browns, Bill and Pattie and sons Matt and Benjie; Marlene and Bob Wylie with their sons Justin and Noel; and single mom June and her son Tim. The teenagers spend their summer days exploring the wild country around Fishkill until bad decisions one afternoon turn an adventure into a fight for life. Both parents and children are challenged by the events that happen next. All will be forever changed.

The beauty of rural Wyoming is just as vivid as are Steel’s pictures of glamorous life in Paris and New York. The characters in The Challenge are down to earth and likeable. As always, this is a book to curl up with and enjoy. 5 stars.

Thank toy to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Danielle Steel for this ARC.

Fishtail, Montana is a small ranching community. Families are close and their children are closer. One normal summer day, seven children go up on the mountain to swim at the waterfall and do not come back down.
The Challenge starts with a massive search and rescue that keeps you turning the page to see what can go wrong next. New characters are introduced as a mother arrives from New York and reporters cover the area looking for a sensational story. Life continues through the novel as Steel touches on topics from first love, divorce, loss of a parent, alcoholism and an affair. Great read to escape into a different world for a few hours. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC for this advanced copy.

This novel centers around Fishtail, Montana - a wonderful community in the wilderness. We meet characters such as Anne & Pit who are ranchers in the area and raising their teenage son. Their neighbors Bill & Pattie and sons live nearby. Juliet is the new girl in town, visiting her father who moved to Fishtail after a divorce and life in the city. The kids form a quick friendship, but provide everyone a scare after a hike in the mountains results in a huge search & rescue mission while anxious parents wait back home.
This book painted a nice picture of the characters. What I thought was the main story line was resolved 50% of the way through the book. Additional storylines spun up as the story evolved - including a brand new storyline/conflict with less than 10% of the book left. It seemed a bit sporadic to me, but still a very readable story.

Seven kids are trapped on a mountain and the families must band together during the search. Afterwards, relationships are tested. Not all will have the happy endings they want.

Danielle Steel has been a go to author for me since I was in my teens. While I usually know what I am getting, there is always this unique road she uses to get there. In this book, It is the town of Fishtail. The families in this book and the community of this town are told with such feeling and rich detail. You want to be there and be friends with them, especially the Pollocks. The friendship between the boys in the story is genuine and one that all kids want to experience. Steel describes and brings it to life.

Not everyone in this story has a happy ending, which is what I expect in a Steel novel. But you know that those people will eventually be fine. They will grow and move on.

There isn’t anything in this novel that I would change! Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC for this advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Yikes...

This was horribly written.. Good story but the writing is disgraceful..

I do believe Ms Steel's favorite word is important, and it was used 3 times in one paragraph. Which only enforces my belief that her books never see a copy editor (because if that was the case, her books would go from novels to short stories. )
But I enjoyed the story.

Danielle Steel’s latest book is my 45th book I have read of hers. The Challenge takes place in Fishtail, Montana. Tom and Beth and their daughter, Juliet live in NYC. Tom decides he wants a change and ups and moves to Montana. He finds life there so much simpler, less stress. He loves it there. He leaves Beth and Juliet behind. Juliet comes to visit her dad and sees why he loves it. She meets new friends, etc. The kids go on a hiking adventure and has quite the scare. This book is all about love, friendships, living life up the fullest. Danielle knows how to pull on your heartstrings!! This book kept me up late at night when my thumb was recovering from surgery. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published August 2022.

The Challenge
Danielle Steel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The beginning of this story was absolutely a great way to start it because it kept my interest until the rescue! Then after that it showed reality of what people deal with, this book doesn’t have fake plots, this book showed the truth of what families deal with on a daily basis

Danielle Steel's latest book The Challenge is a tale of multiple families in Montana whose children are friends and go missing on a day hike in the mountains and then follows the next year of the families and their intersections and relationships. I prefer Steel novels where she follows one main character rather than a larger cast. Still this is an enjoyable quick read and there's plenty of action to keep you engaged.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

It's been a while since I picked up a Danielle Steel book. So I was super excited for this new one.

Danielle Steel writes such beautiful books, her characters are real and stories are relatable.
The Challenge was such a well written story.
This book was without exception a fast paced story.
Well-written, dark, and completely unputdownable, she can seriously write.
I haven't read a book of here in forever and now I know I've missed out on some badass writing.
This story was so well thought out and she writes so flawlessly in a way that has you wanting more and you just have to keep reading.
The story. The characters. The writing.
This was an intense but good read. One of Danielle Steel’s best, in my opinion.
I highly recommend this one!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Random House & Delacorte Press,
Thank you for your generosity and gifting a copy of this approved eARC!

This book had me rushing through it to find out what happened. I feel I need to go back and catch what I missed .

Danielle has done it again and with a different book but with her great storytelling.

This is about 7 children who get lost on the mountain.

The beginning was a little rough to get everyone straight and who belonged to who, but once I figured that out, it was all smooth sailing.

Danielle steel never ceases to amaze me. Every book she has wrote has kept me in the book until the last page. The 7 kids bring each other together for awhile but as it goes just when you think life is good, it throws a curve ball at you. The challenge is everyday families who are just that, each in his or her own life's challenges or hurdles. I found myself routing for each of the families as each was challenged. I loved this book and would love to see a sequel from it just to see how the challenges are affecting each. That,that does not break us, makes us stronger.

This was an ok book. I liked how it talked about different characters and their lives. Some of it was depressing but it did cover most of the issues that are going on in this world. All in all it was good. I am grateful that netgalley let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

This is a character driven novel set in the west…family and friends…love and loss…teens…parents…new environment…this book is written by a talented and gifted author…there are so many themes…topics…running throughout this story…at times, it is difficult to keep up…one couple and their escapades could be left out and this would be a book that is even more entertaining…that being said, I enjoyed the story…wondering what would happen next…Steel is one of the best…this book was sent to me by Netgalley for review…thanks to the publisher for the electronic copy.

Thank you NetGalley, Danielle Steel and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of The Challenge. This is my personal review.
Tom is married to Beth. Everything seems to be be on track in their lives, but Tom just does not feel that his life in New York is what he wants any a change. Beth did not agree with a move to Montana – she felt it was a change too big for herself and their daughter. Tom moves and this one step in changing his life effects so many people.
Fishtail Montana is a small town that is filled with wonderful people. The interaction between the characters gives the story so many layers.
I enjoyed the story very much but at times there seemed to be a lot going on, but the pieces all fit together.
For me it was a fast and easy read. Danielle Steel has written another book that her fans will truly enjoy.

This story is set in a small town in Montana. It revolves around several families and their lives. There are a lot of secrets in this town. This is a relaxing read, good story with relatable characters. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Tom is tired of living in New York City. He and his wife Beth decide to divorce when Tom moves to Montana. His daughter comes for a visit and meets dine local boys. One day they decide to go on a picnic but are list after a flood destroys the pathway. The seven of them who are mostly starting high school are scared and hungry. The book talks about tge various relationships and traumas that the families are enduring. This was a good book.