Showing results by author "Steven Doornbos" in All Categories

Sometimes the biggest mysteries don’t arrive with flashing lights or loud warnings. Sometimes they sit quietly on a trail… waiting for someone to notice. Calvin never set out to solve a mystery. He just wanted fresh air, a peaceful walk, and a little adventure with his best friend, Pudge—the beagle with the world’s most curious nose. But when a strange, hole-covered stone appears along their favorite woodland path, Calvin begins to realize something isn’t quite right. As rocks start appearing where they shouldn’t, maps reveal forgotten secrets, and the woods seem to whisper ...

Janet believed memory was something you could manage. You wrote things down. You kept systems. You promised yourself, I’ll remember. But when remembering becomes unreliable, Janet does what she has always done best—she organizes. Drawers. Cabinets. Notes. Labels. Slowly, quietly, she builds a world designed to hold her steady when her mind begins to let go. The Label Maker is a tender, deeply human story about memory, love, identity, and what remains when certainty fades. Told with warmth, subtle humor, and emotional honesty, this novel follows one woman’s journey as she learns that ...

100 Ways to Lose Your Man Card isn’t just a book—it’s a survival guide for the modern man who accidentally said “adorable” in a hardware store and now finds himself in emotional exile. From the first tear shed during a car commercial to the moment you called your bathrobe “cozy-chic,” this book unearths all the hilarious, unspoken violations of the mythical man code—and puts them right where they belong: front and center for everyone to laugh at. Including you. Especially you. You’ll find yourself somewhere in these pages, whether it’s using an umbrella in a light ...

Every Christmas has its stories — some told around fireplaces, others whispered in snowflakes — but none quite like the year Calvin and his loyal beagle, Pudge, decided to make all their gifts by hand. What started as a simple idea—“Let’s make something special for everyone we love!”—quickly snowballed into glitter explosions, cocoa catastrophes, and heartfelt surprises across Maple Ridge Lane. With Grandpa’s half-finished inventions, Mom’s creative patience, and Pudge’s uncanny ability to get paint on his ears, Calvin learns that the greatest gifts aren’t wrapped at ...

Every child knows that Christmas is magical—but what happens when that magic starts fading... in the middle of summer? Calvin and his ever-curious beagle Pudge weren’t expecting anything exciting to happen during their backyard bug hunt. But when a mysterious envelope arrives from the North Pole in the sweltering heat of July, their ordinary afternoon turns into an extraordinary mission. Inside the letter? A plea from Mrs. Claus herself. Santa is heartbroken. People are celebrating “Christmas in July” all over the world—but somehow, they’ve forgotten to include him. No sleigh ...

Her sentence didn’t end in court—it followed her home. For many women, probation is anything but a break. It’s a daily battle against stigma, surveillance, poverty, and emotional exhaustion. In Shackled but Strong, author Steven Doornbos shines a powerful light on the unique struggles faced by women on probation—and the quiet resilience that carries them through it. With deeply human stories, accessible tools, and a compassionate lens, this book explores: How probation affects women differently than men The emotional toll of shame, isolation, and survival Cultural barriers, racial ...

Welcome to a world where mosquitoes are more than just annoying—they’re everywhere, always hungry, and immune to every spray, zapper, and citronella candle money can buy. Enter Dr. Shmitza VonClankerberg: eccentric genius, slipper-wearing night owl, and humanity’s last hope for a bite-free summer. When itchy desperation pushes him into action, Dr. VonClankerberg launches an epic, globe-hopping quest to invent the one mosquito repellent that works for everyone, everywhere, all the time. But his journey quickly spirals into chaos—uncovering secret pastry cults, weaponized biscotti, ...

Sky Dawson has always dreamed of flying—but not just any aircraft. While most teenagers crave speed and freedom, Sky wants something more powerful: purpose. At fifteen, she's already got her sights set on becoming a rescue helicopter pilot, helping save lives and serve her community from the sky. There's only one problem—she’s still too young to fly solo. That doesn’t stop her. Sky’s Flight Dream is the inspiring, often hilarious, and deeply moving story of one girl’s journey through elite helicopter training school. Along the way, she faces pressure, self-doubt, epic challenges...

Welcome to Gumdrop Gulch—a place where bubbles float sideways, goats wear rocket chairs, and adventure always comes with sprinkles. In this cheerful tale of friendship and fun, you'll meet MooCycle, a rainbow-colored motorcycle rider who never takes the straight path when he can loop-de-loop. Alongside his zany sidekick Bix and a whole parade of colorful townsfolk (and goats, inventors, tunnel trolls, waffle dancers, and more), MooCycle zips from one heart-happy chapter to the next. This story isn’t about saving the world—it's about celebrating it. It's silly. It's sweet. It's stuffed...

Some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried. When Calvin and his beagle, Pudge, discover a hidden crate in the basement, they unleash an adventure bigger than anything they’ve ever imagined. Inside waits Aegis—a mysterious, half-broken robot with a glowing heart that was never meant to fall into the wrong hands. As the pieces of Aegis’s heart are scattered across town, Calvin and Pudge must follow the riddles left behind by Calvin’s late uncle while staying one step ahead of Hartwell, a shadowy figure who will stop at nothing to claim the power for himself. But when the town turns ...

Connection. Compassion. A Simple Scan That Changes Everything. Every day, millions of people experience the anxiety of losing something — or someone — they love. A pet slips through the gate. A traveler misplaces a bag. A senior with memory loss wanders away. In each of those moments, technology alone often isn’t enough. What’s missing isn’t tracking power — it’s human connection. SmartReturnTag was created to bridge that gap — to make kindness instant, connection effortless, and reunion inevitable. This book tells the inspiring story of how a simple idea grew into a global ...

In the heart of the ancient Pine Ridge forest, a young guardian named Calvin is called by a mysterious Midnight Howl—a haunting summons that awakens a destiny beyond his wildest dreams. Bound by an ancient silver locket pulsing with magical power, Calvin joins a secret circle of protectors sworn to defend the forest’s sacred Heart Tree from encroaching darkness. As shadows rise from forgotten realms, threatening to consume all life, Calvin must face ancient evils, unravel cryptic prophecies, and discover the true strength of friendship, courage, and sacrifice. Calvin and the Midnight ...

Welcome to the town of Willow Creek, where the laundry isn’t just clean — it’s magical. Eleven-year-old Sky is no ordinary kid. With bright red hair, quick wit, and a heart full of courage, she’s about to uncover a world beyond the spin cycle — where socks disappear, jeans vanish, and a mischievous Laundry Master threatens to unravel the fabric of both her town and a hidden magical realm. Join Sky and her friends Felix and Harper on a whirlwind adventure full of friendship, mystery, and magic. Are you ready to spin the cycle?

Your bucket list is filled to overflowing and you want to begin actually seeing some of the sights you’ve only dreamed about. But there’s a problem. You have convinced yourself that you really can’t afford to get on the road and travel as you haven’t yet saved enough money on which you can live while traveling. The fact that you’ve decided to at least check out the contents of this book tells me that you are serious about finding a way to survive financially while traveling and further that you’re serious about getting out of the rat race and enjoying the open road. Good for you...

Let’s be honest—being unemployed is not something most people throw confetti over. It’s a challenge, sometimes a gut-punching, pride-wounding, rent-is-due-on-Tuesday kind of challenge. Whether you were laid off, downsized, fired, furloughed, quit in a blaze of glory, or slowly backed out of a toxic job with a forced smile and a fake excuse, one thing’s certain: you’re standing at the edge of uncertainty. But here’s a radical thought—what if that edge is the beginning of something not just bearable, but better? This book is for you. The job seeker, the soul-searcher, the I’m-...

From companionship to stress relief, the emotional and behavioral benefits of owning a pet are profound and far-reaching. Research in psychology and healthcare consistently highlights the positive impact that pets can have on our mental well-being and behavior. In this chapter, we will explore the multifaceted ways in which pet ownership enhances our emotional and behavioral health. One of the key aspects of owning a pet is the companionship they provide. Pets, whether dogs, cats, or other animals, offer unconditional love and support, which can alleviate feelings of loneliness and ...

The Magical Arrival: Welcoming Your Kitten into Your Home** Bringing a new kitten into your home is a magical experience filled with excitement and joy. However, it is essential to prepare yourself and your living space to ensure a smooth transition for your new furry family member. This chapter will guide you through the crucial steps to welcoming your kitten into your home and setting the stage for a strong and loving bond. **Understanding Your Kitten's Needs** Before your kitten arrives, it is vital to understand their basic needs. Kittens require a safe and comfortable environment with ...

Some friendships are made in school. Others? In swamp mud. Meet Al-E-Gator—a charming, grumbly, always-hungry alligator with a powerful tail and a big appetite for snacks and secrets. And then there’s Fluffy the Fish—a quick-witted puffer with the uncanny ability to puff up like a spiky balloon whenever trouble floats too close. Together, they’re not just best friends. They’re snack scouts. Crunch collectors. Swamp adventurers. And accidental heroes. From battling Bog Bandits to gliding through the sky on a homemade gator-glider, this duo will take you on a hilarious, suspense-...

What if a butterfly could talk? One warm autumn afternoon, a butterfly named Becky landed gently on a young listener’s hand—and whispered a story so magical, it carried across mountaintops, jungles, thunderstorms, and even the sky itself. Told through ten unforgettable chapters, The Whispering Wings of Becky is a tale of courage, memory, and heart. With rich storytelling, humor, and a gentle dose of magic, Becky takes us on her incredible migration from “Up North” to South America—meeting coyotes, lightning bugs, jungle frogs, wind-blind vultures, and a chameleon who thinks ...

Welcome to Backyard County, Mississippi—where the dirt is rich, the compost is gourmet, and the worms are smarter than they look. Meet Riley the Red Worm, a scrappy, sharp-witted underdog who just wants peace, quiet, and a prime spot in the compost heap. But when the legendary Night Crawler Nate slithers in from Fisher’s County with charm, muscle, and a mysterious agenda, Riley finds himself in the middle of the squirmiest showdown the soil has ever seen. With an all-star cast of bug buddies, a moldy villain threatening the entire garden, and a secret human experiment creeping closer ...