The Challenge was about the romance between Katherine Randolph and Jonathan Drew and was set in England and America in 1787-soon after the American colonies became an independent nation.

Katherine was unusually outspoken and independent for a gently-born lady. Always close to her father, she learned a lot about his importing business and also about racing horses. She seemed determined not to marry, in order to keep her independence. She was the despair of her nobly-born mother, who believed a woman must marry in order to be happy.

Like Katherine, Jonathan was the son of a wealthy trader and an impoverished noblewoman. While Katherine's parents had an affectionate relationship, Jonathan's parents were completely estranged. Jonathan felt his whole life had been shaped by deceit. His family life had been a sham. He and his father had to underplay their business activity, as being "in trade" was unfashionable. At his father's request, Jonathan was also working as a spy for the British government.

It was no wonder that Jonathan was cynical. He believed that all love would eventually turn to bitterness, and he was determined never to marry.

Jonathan was very attracted by Katherine's independence and spunk. He recognized the sexual tension between them, and he knew how to make it burn brighter. Katherine had to deal not only with her new sexual feelings, but also a romantic memory of Jonathan that she had cherished from girlhood. Though Jonathan came to value Katherine as a companion, as well as a potential mistress, it was not until he helped nurse her through a deathly illness that he realized how important she had become to him.

Janet Cooper has created many memorable characters and has a fine romantic tale to tell. She is very good at bringing out the sensuousness of even the briefest physical contact between Katherine and Jonathan and at describing their longing for each other.

One of the things that Katherine and Jonathan had in common was that they both rebelled against some of the social conventions of their day. I enjoyed the way the author used the differences between England and America to highlight this part of their relationship.

She has clearly done her homework on political issues of the time; the reader will learn something about America between the Revolution and the writing of the Constitution, French intrigues against British interests in Canada, and some other social issues. There are a few real historical characters in the book. The portrayal of Benjamin Franklin is very enjoyable. On the other hand, William Wilberforce, a great social reformer, is for some reason portrayed as a priggish reactionary. There are also several places where the dialogue is jarringly 21st century.

Still, these are minor complaints. All in all, The Challenge is a satisfying and enjoyable book.

Reviewed by Margaret Grantham
© June 2004