Whammo Ranch (Bob and Nikki #2)
Published July 17th 2019, Kindle Edition 235 pages
A saucer comes in damaged, with sick people aboard. A deadly plague threatens Earth. Can Bob and his crew save the day? Will Bob's good nature cost him his life?
Julie's boss wants to retire. Can she handle running the restaurant? Can Bob find her the help she needs?
Dee has come down with a terrible case of pedestrianism. Can Bob and the boys find the cure? Will she drive again?
User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
The book can be irritatingly repetitive at times, I know the author is trying to be amusing but the same
‘jokes’ over and over again become annoying. However I actually enjoyed the book and read it a couple of hours.
If possible I would have given 3.5 stars.
Just one other thing, I can’t believe Bob’s new house only has one bedroom, every time it’s bedtime there is the discussion about where they are going to sleep, just buy some more beds!
Rating: really liked it
Still Laughing Oh the snark and satire are strong with this author! I do find the steady dialog can sometimes make it unclear which character has the stage in each scene.
Rating: really liked it
Fun but slowThis book is Fun, that’s its biggest pro. Maybe I just find jailbreaks on an old folks home too much fun.
Who what when and where are all details that could be used to set the scene. These details seem to be lacking for the most part. Conversations tend to be long and issues that arise tend to be fixed before they’ve begun. ~70% of this book is about a bunch of robots fixing a car. The number of robots and the names of the robots are inconsistent. 3 cargo bots, but they are sometimes called maintenance bots, but there are also maintenance bots that aren’t the cargo bots that are never mentioned but appear when convenient, sometimes. And they can be deployed by cargo bots, which are also maintenance bots.
I couldn’t tell you who was motivated by what, who/what looks like anything (3 named robot emblems aside), and what people like other than their SOs, chili, and paintball.
I think the robots have the most detail; they’re described as having 6 fingers, an emblem, slow on rough terrain, and seem to have tools and features that are described as needed (very briefly, as in: “robot deployed feature X, which it has”).
The first 20% of the book is dominated by a particular scenario; which then the main character takes “tactical” training for. This never seems to come into play or is touched on, despite the weight the training is given, and the fact that they all play paintball (where it’s application would’ve been pretty useful). It’s just kinda dropped; just like characters tend to drop in or drop out at a moments notice.
I’m wondering if people who gave it 5 * Were using audiobooks; where I can the issues being less obvious.
Rating: really liked it
I love these books 10,000 times over!!There is very little "thought speak" just in this book and the first of the series I read. Most is conversation and there are a lot of movie, tv, cartoon, and even classic book references thrown around. Those references are rarely explained so unless you know them and can catch them, these stories may not be your bailiwick.
This book is like being a spectator of an old 1970s/1980s ensemble tv show. Anyone familiar with Barney Miller, Dark Shadows, or The Walton's?
This story introduces the very fascinating "The Boys" the main "Caveman" of the story, name of Bob Wilson, soon has working for him. Be prepared for Frisbee, for applauding with a lighter, and following along on the "Big Project" Bob, The Boys, and buddies are working on. A lovely Grandma and her granddaughter are rescued by Bob and his wife, "Space Cadet", the aptly named Nikki, when their saucer is sabotaged.
Do come and read. I think many of you will enjoy this series.
Rating: really liked it
Bob's Saucer Repair is up and running, with improvements on the way, but there's trouble. Big trouble. Schemes, capers, shooting, and rescues ensue.
Bob and Nikki (the alien from his garage) make new friends, and the number of people who know their secret increases. New problems with the galactic Patrol, and a lovely surprise or two.
Origin Story:
Bob is an ordinary straight-arrow bachelor, thinking a quiet car mechanic's life was all he had to look forward to, with occasional paint-ball outings with friends on Sundays. He arrived home from work one day and found an alien with a broken flying saucer in his garage.
*For more details, see my review of Bob's Saucer Repair (book #1).
3/5 Stars--Language content warning still necessary for this series as of Book #2. Less, but only a little.
Rating: really liked it
I wish our world was this niceI read the first book again. I didn't leave a good review the first time. t. This series of books is campy, absurd and a heavy dose of snark. But best of all the characters are kind to each other and generously accepting of each other in their diversities. I grew up in the sixties in New Orleans with Deep South manners. My very first friend was a little black girl. I never even thought about skin color. Now I realize that bigotry was all around me. But I never saw it. I didn't even feel it. These books are not about prejudice though. I mention my background because these characters evoke within me the same acceptance and forethought of my youth. They treat and honor each other the noble way we all should in real life.
Rating: really liked it
If you want a light fun read with very little violence and no profanity this book is for you.Excellent, fun read, some character development, characters that you like and enjoy. Fast paced, not a lot of violence, very little profanity. Just a fun light read. If you like cultural references quick and witty humor and a lot of banter you’ll enjoy this book I did. It is a good and refreshing change from the action filled, gore drenched and violent material that is also out there. If you want a change from the military science fiction fantasy, urban fantasy, or action filled books than this one is an excellent alternative. I will not review every book that I may read in this series but I will occasionally place a review on books that I think are outstanding.
Rating: really liked it
This is the second in the series. Bob's Saucer Repair and Whammo Ranch are similar. Light, entertaining repartee among several characters one would like knowing. I went right from the first to the second book. Enjoyable reading to wile away the time during lockdown. Might also be called E.T. and his family meet the Dukes of Hazard. Mr. Boyd does not pay much attention to pronoun usage, but that is so common today it is hardly noticeable. I am looking forward to Shady Oaks, the third in the series. CMac
Rating: really liked it
These are not high quality books - they're short and have a lot of typos. If you like a joke that was used in chapter one, don't worry, you'll hear it again a couple of chapters (or pages) later.
The story is painted with such broad strokes, you'd swear the author used a roller.
The only redeeming feature and why I may try the next one in the series is that the characters are likeable. They're good people, with good attitudes who like helping others. Sometimes you want to read stories about those kind of people.
Rating: really liked it
Boyd, Jerry. Whammo Ranch. Bob and Nikki No. 2. Kindle, 2019.
The silly but fun adventures of mechanic Bob, a.k.a. Caveman, and alien girl Nikki, a.k.a. Space Cadet, continue. They have moved to a farm out of town where it is easy to hide ailing flying saucers in the barn. The cast keeps growing. Most fun now come from two grateful shapeshifting robots rescued from the Moon. They enjoy playing Frisbee with the dog. Plot? Who cares? 3 stars.
Rating: really liked it
Now that I have gotten past the initial writing style concerns I had with the first book, I sat down and read the second in the series. These are a fun read! The characters are likeable, the premise is solid and the story is lighthearted and whimsical. I wish I had these books when I was a teen, these are a fun read and really solid for someone not necessarily into YA reading but light fun. Will definitely read the next one.
Rating: really liked it
3.5 stars. Lighthearted for the most part, but the "dad jokes", nicknames and pop cultural references get repetitive after a while. Also, I appreciate the "John" reference, but it's from "Buckaroo Banzai" not "Bonsai"; don't get the name of one of my favourite movies wrong.
I'm not sure how far I can go with this series, but I need a third point for a curve, so probably one more book to see if the story has more to offer.
Rating: really liked it
These books are written in a kind of clipped cadence which works especially when listening to the audiobook. The narration is hilarious and very good. I don't know much about these books as I just found them but I listened to books one and two all the way through laughing out loud constantly. These books are top notch!
Rating: really liked it
Still amusing, and the story progresses nicely. Except for the whole being called caveman thing. I know it's supposed to be funny, and sometimes it is, but other times, it's more like Nikki is getting her digs in just because she can, and not because she's trying to be funny, and that detracts from the enjoyment a bit, but otherwise, I liked it, and am very likely to read more in the series.
Rating: really liked it
Another winnerI loved the characters and the good story telling. Humorous without being comedic. Old style science fiction with an upbeat twist. Lots of Easter eggs movie references. The bots are in a class by themselves and I look forward to their continued humanazation. Will be reading the entire series, God help me....
