The Challenge

In this thrilling novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel,a small community is tested when their children go missing while exploring a dangerous local peakforcing them to band together during the crisis. FishtailMontanais home to Anne and Pitt Pollocklocal royaltyhigh school sweetheartsand owners of the successful Pollock ranch. The sprawling foothills of the Beartooth Mountains surround the townoverlooking the Pollocks’ property and the nearby ranch belonging 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 local kids meet Juliet Marshallnew to town after her parents’ bitter divorcethe five of them are soon inseparablespending their summer days swimminghorseback ridinghikingand fishing. But one August afternoontheir latest adventure takes a dangerous turn–and quickly escalates into a battle for survival–when they find themselves trapped on Granite Peak. Fear reverberates through the town as their parents grow ever more desperate to hear word that their children have been found. They must place their own trials aside amid a massive search-and-rescue operation. As they come to lean on one another for supporta media frenzy ensuesheightening tensions and testing some already fragile relationships. In the aftermath of this one fateful eventdevastating secrets are revealednew love appears on the horizonand families are forced to reconsider what they once held dear. In The ChallengeDanielle Steel deftly weaves a story that is a portrait of courage and a striking tale of the bonds of love and family.