Teach Your Child to Read

Please tell me someone has used the Teach your child to read in 100 Easy Lessons book. I've been looking at for a while, and have decided to give it a go. The beginning lessons look easy enough, but does it progress too quickly?

I know a child that was taught through his kindie class via the DISTAR method. He is an awesome reader and has been ever since I first met him as a 1st grader homeschooler. (His mother was fortunate enough to not have to muddle through trying to teach him to read..He already knew how!) Knowing the Teach your child to read book.. was based on DISTAR is a major plus to giving it a go with 5yo.
10yo was taught using a more traditional phonics program, but sadly neither of us enjoyed it. It was blood, sweat, and tears getting her to become a strong confident reader AND she was even a child that enjoyed learning. She just did not like the phonics program, but being a novice, enrolled in a charter, I didn't know what else to do. We tried the HOP program, but it was boring too. Now that I'm at the learn to read stage with another child, I want to make it more fun, and painless.

What are your thoughts on the phonics programs you have used or encountered?