One Realm Beyond Book Review

Title: One Realm Beyond.

Author: Donita K. Paul.

Genre: Christian, Fantasy, Young Adult, Humor, Series.

Plot: Cantor D'Ahma is a young 20-something Realm Walker. He has the unique ability to see  portals and to even create them in a pinch. In previous times, there were a lot of Realm Walkers, but now they are considered a rarity and with the corruption in the Guild spreading, they are also considered distrustful and bad. But, raised by sweet old Ahma and grouchy Odem, Cantor is unaware of the intricacies in the realms surrounding him - an innocence that will be shattered when he takes on his first solo mission to find his dragon.

But in finding his dragon, he encounters bumbling Bridger with hidden talents {including a knack for getting into trouble}, a mysterious girl named Bixby and a healer named Dukmee. Together, they embark on a grand adventure that could have far reaching and devastating consequences.

Likes/Dislikes: I've had my eye on Donita Paul's books for years now and finally have a opportunity to sample her style. Unfortunately, I think I picked the wrong book. It's taken me a couple months to get through the first hundred or so pages and I really don't want to keep reading. It started out slowly but with promise: a naive {read: dumb} hero going off on an adventure and encountering all sorts of creatures. The idea of a dragon turning into a ball of yarn was what really drew me in, but even this failed to hold my interest after awhile because, while Bridger was probably the most interesting and down to earth of all the characters, he was a lame dragon. I've never liked the skinny Eastern dragons; I've much preferred the bigger English ones. Bixby was an intriguing character but with so many hints drawn on and on about her being special and weird, it got boring fast. And while the idea of the worlds being on discs sounds original, its been done more successfully before. And the author left out stuff like when Bixby and gang arrive to save Cantor; I want to read all that fun and adventure, not guess at it. I guess this just isn't the book for me. I really like the cover though.

Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for reading level.

Date Report Written: August 5th, 2014.

I received a copy of this book free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own. I wasn't required to write a positive review.

The Firstborn Advantage Book Review

Title: The Firstborn Advantage.

Author: Dr. Kevin Leman.

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Psychology, Birth Order, Daily Life.

Plot: In his famous Birth Order Book, Dr. Leman explores how people's birth order effects them and the way they do things. In this book, he focuses on the firstborn {one of the most crucial jobs in the world} and gives the reader tips on how to use their birth order and natural skills/abilities to their advantage, while also pointing out certain flaws to be on the look-out for. It also mentions how firstborns work with middle and lastborns, how friendships and the work place are affected by the presence of a firstborn, and how the close family unit is made or broken by a firstborn. The chapter on having a critical parent was particularly enlightening and the blurb about a firstborn raising a firstborn is very good to know.

Likes/Dislikes: I liked a couple of the chapters - particularly the two mentioned above. But this book wasn't really impressive to me. I've previously read and highly enjoyed Growing Up Firstborn by the same author and while it had lots of "Aha!" moments, this one was just kinda like, "Meh." I did learn that I have an awesome husband {he's a lastborn with some very unique firstborn and middleborn traits} and that he's the best therapy I could've ever wanted or needed after growing up the way I did. I just hope my firstborn daughter isn't like me in certain areas. *winks* All in all, a good book but not one of my favorites.

Rating: PG-15 and up, mainly for reading level and topic.

Date Report Written: August 5th, 2014.

She Comes First Book Review

Title: She Comes First.

Author: Ian Kerner.

Genre: Nonfiction, Marriage.

Review: So, I don't usually review sex books but this one was so bad, I have to say something. I got it for my husband for our anniversary partly so he could pick up a few tips and mainly out of payback for the "surprise" birthday present he'd gotten me last year. I read this book in two days and I wanted to like it, at first, but by the middle of the book I was regretting having spent money on it. The main idea that the book tries to focus on is a fairly okay one {the title says it all}, but the rest of the book just fell flat. The second half of the introduction, the first six chapters, the fourteenth chapter, several more middle ones that bleared together and the last six-ten chapters could all be skipped and/or totally taken out. The author continually repeats himself over and over and over again to the pint of boredom. There are lots of chapters that are two pages long where he just sits there and goes, "Okay, let's review and take a deep breath before we get into the actual stuff you want to read. Nah, just kidding; we're gonna be here awhile." The two chapters on the anatomy were good, but you had to keep referring to the pictures in the previous chapter to figure out what he was talking about. The author said in his introduction that he wasn't "anti intercourse" but from the way he went on and on about how bad looking for the G-Spot is and how "un-pleasurable" regular intercourse is, etc. you'd think it was the total opposite. And then, to cap it all off, he gets into porn and "soft bondage" like it's an every day occurrence. Also, the easiest solution to the whole four chapters he wasted on "safe sex" is to just have one partner for the rest of your life. Duh. This guy might've gone to college to get a degree in his chosen field, but he's an idiot. So you can most definitely skip this book - unless you want to buy it from me.

Rating: PG-20 and up, recommended for married couples only.