The Challenge by Danielle Steel is an engaging story. 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. I like Danielle Steel's engaging writing style. She draws the reader into the story and keeps them hooked. The Challenge is about more than seven kids getting stuck on Granite Peak. It is a story about friendships, family, loss, heartache, and love. We get to see how the kids being lost on the mountain impacts the families and the aftermath. The time the kids were lost on the mountain affected each person differently. I found the second half of the book is more compelling than the first. I really wish the author had included an epilogue (say a year after the book ended). The Challenge is a book that captures your full attention, so you are unaware of what is going on around you (and you get annoyed when someone interrupts you). Life is full of challenges. Some of them are small and other are life threatening. In this book, we get to see how the characters react to a large challenge. Each decision we make takes us down a different path. Our choices affect others in our lives. The story does contain foul language and intimate relations (just to let you know). I enjoyed The Challenge, and I was sorry when I finished it. It was interesting to see how each family's story turned out. The Challenge is a compelling tale with firm friends, trail troubles, a big bear, a serious search and rescue, parent disputes, a troubled teen, and rocky relationships.
