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Armed & Delicious
Young love, crime... and pizza.
“Sparky” Lagala had become accustomed to a mediocre high-school existence spent
dreaming of things he could never have—the girl, the car and the respect.
That is until the day he's hired as the roadside mascot for Tino's Pizza in Portland, Oregon and discovers that his mysterious employer is in fact a major player in a large foodie-based crime syndicate.
It isn't long before Sparky finds himself taken in by a constellation of unique and ruthless characters who will make his teenage dreams a reality... a reality that comes with a price
“Sparky” Lagala had become accustomed to a mediocre high-school existence spent
dreaming of things he could never have—the girl, the car and the respect.
That is until the day he's hired as the roadside mascot for Tino's Pizza in Portland, Oregon and discovers that his mysterious employer is in fact a major player in a large foodie-based crime syndicate.
It isn't long before Sparky finds himself taken in by a constellation of unique and ruthless characters who will make his teenage dreams a reality... a reality that comes with a price
- GenresYoung AdultHumor
294 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Nathan Aylor
1 book6 followers Portland x Los Angeles
Enjoys reading, writing, pizza and bowling.
Armed & Delicious is his first novel.
Enjoys reading, writing, pizza and bowling.
Armed & Delicious is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 15, 2016
Russian history is very interesting, though society can cause great hardships. It's people are responsible for their actions that they do. what would you do if things had taking a rough turn? Would you stand there and see it happen or would you change a mile stone walk for a chance to live a life peacefully?
As words would say, the power behind power would lead to weakness or greed. One thing humankind has always been less aware is the power we control in our own lives.
A young boy, dragged by his best friend to get a job at Tino 's. Turns up with not only a pizza suit, but a lie of power hidden deep into his heart. Let alone the love he finds may be true. But a social change takes a twist and brawls are going back to the history books we hide. Russian power,gangs,lives with brutal outcomes. Mounts of cash, no meaning in sight.
But many deadly shots.
(thanks to netgalley for this book)
As words would say, the power behind power would lead to weakness or greed. One thing humankind has always been less aware is the power we control in our own lives.
A young boy, dragged by his best friend to get a job at Tino 's. Turns up with not only a pizza suit, but a lie of power hidden deep into his heart. Let alone the love he finds may be true. But a social change takes a twist and brawls are going back to the history books we hide. Russian power,gangs,lives with brutal outcomes. Mounts of cash, no meaning in sight.
But many deadly shots.
(thanks to netgalley for this book)
September 19, 2014
This is not a book I would have picked up in the bookstore. The cover has a man dressed as a slice of pizza. The plot involves a Russian crime ring and high school boys. However, a friend of mine wrote it, so I was curious. It was great! And funny! I read it in just a few days, as I kept wondering what was next. I cared about the characters, and the story was set in Portland, so landmarks mentioned were all quaintly familiar. I know this wasn't the intention, but I do think that in spite of some racy snippets, this would fall more into the YA category in my head. I'm a fan of YA fiction, so hopefully this doesn't offend.
Very impressed.
Very impressed.
December 1, 2014
I really liked the book. The unusual thing Russian running a pizza place definitely works good. From Chapter 25 to the end pages will flow like water from a fountain! It really gets you. You will like characters like Jimmy, Tino or the mysterious Fedor...I really recommend it. Even if I'm not from Portland (where the story is set), it gave me an overall idea of how the city looks making me understand how much the writer loves his city and I like this thing.
October 23, 2014
It's difficult to explain how enjoyable this book is without spoiling it, so just read it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find a Russion pizza shop, and ask for a job....
June 4, 2023
"Sparky" is a very ordinary guy: perhaps even a bit of a looser. All he wants is a bit of money to impress the girl he has swooned over, from afar, for years. Chance, Sparky's right-hand man, is a retro punk and a tough guy. He hints that he may be able to get Sparky a job at Tino's Pizza. But there seems to be something not quite right about this job.
Sparky gets the job, but things start to spiral downward almost automatically. Soon Sparky is caught in a web.
Aylor has created a novel that somehow combines everyday life, and growing up, with the dark world, the underbelly, so few of us see. The plot has surprises, twists and turns, action and humor. But mainly this is a book about people: friendships, romance, duty, honor, caring.
Who are we really at heart? Are we the heroes we'd like to be? Are we villains? Or are we somewhere in between? Deep down what is our guiding principle?
I very much enjoyed this novel and I am happy to award it 5 stars (which I rarely give).
Sparky gets the job, but things start to spiral downward almost automatically. Soon Sparky is caught in a web.
Aylor has created a novel that somehow combines everyday life, and growing up, with the dark world, the underbelly, so few of us see. The plot has surprises, twists and turns, action and humor. But mainly this is a book about people: friendships, romance, duty, honor, caring.
Who are we really at heart? Are we the heroes we'd like to be? Are we villains? Or are we somewhere in between? Deep down what is our guiding principle?
I very much enjoyed this novel and I am happy to award it 5 stars (which I rarely give).
March 20, 2016
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH.
I love it, and hate it a tiny, little bit because it made me so homesick. I live in Alabama now (I moved down here five years ago), but I grew up in Olympia, Washington. Which is just shy of two hours north of Portland, and they're very much alike. I have a strong love for the PNW, and eventually plan to move back—to Oregon, actually.
Anyways...
I haven't read a book that has made me laugh so much, in a long time. The story is about Jimmy Lagala—or Sparky, as most call him. Jimmy is a high schooler with an autistic little brother and an overworked, underpaid single mom.
His life goes from ordinary to extraordinary, pretty quickly, after getting a part-time job as a slice of pizza.
He learns that things are not always as they seem and sometimes you just have to go with the flow if you're going to get what you want.
The conversations are hilarious.
"You should be politician," he said.
"Why is that?"
"Because you lie like carpet."
"Do you mean rug?" I asked as he handed me a slice.
.
.
.
"Stop talking like congressman or Tino put you in oven," he said.
The characters are awesome.
"...Just a second," Al said, returning to his "princess."
Tino, never one to repeat himself, walked over and took the computer away from Al, slammed it shut, and put it under his arm. "No more internets."
"My princess!"
I don't think Tino knew what the hell Al was talking about. "You want Princess in the ovens?" he said holding the laptop near the oven. "Get to work."
.
.
.
"There's plenty of princesses out there," I said, patting Al on the back, and then corrected myself. "Not real ones though, OK? If they say that they're lying."
They came alive, and "Tiny Teenie Tuesdays!" was one of the best scenes, ever.
My favorite character is Fedor.
You should read this book.
I'll definitely be reading any other books by this author, in Sparky's world or not.
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
December 30, 2015
The Godfather for teens. This story has it all - gangsters, turf wars, crime in all forms, as well as vice, sin, and degradation. But it also has a boy from a broken home searching for love and acceptance and getting himself in a lot of trouble trying to find it. Sparky is an endearing character because until the last page he's as apt to do the wrong thing for the right reason as ever. He loves completely, which won me over at the start.
I love that this is told in first person from a male POV, something rarely done. The writing is quirky and humorous, the characters all unique and interesting. The adults act like adults (believe it or not, in YA I've read, this is rare), and the kids are kids worth remembering.
For content I offer a warning. It does have strong language, violence, sexual references, and use of controversial social issues, but all are presented to make them reasonably palatable. The story kept the pages turning. I had to know what came next, and frankly, I loved it. It was like eating the perfect slice of pizza, I wanted to slow down and savor it, but in the end, had to rush to eat the last bite.
For parents who trust their teen to interpret real-life situations wisely, I recommend this for 16 and up. It is not for sensitive readers, however, or those who take offense easily.
I love that this is told in first person from a male POV, something rarely done. The writing is quirky and humorous, the characters all unique and interesting. The adults act like adults (believe it or not, in YA I've read, this is rare), and the kids are kids worth remembering.
For content I offer a warning. It does have strong language, violence, sexual references, and use of controversial social issues, but all are presented to make them reasonably palatable. The story kept the pages turning. I had to know what came next, and frankly, I loved it. It was like eating the perfect slice of pizza, I wanted to slow down and savor it, but in the end, had to rush to eat the last bite.
For parents who trust their teen to interpret real-life situations wisely, I recommend this for 16 and up. It is not for sensitive readers, however, or those who take offense easily.
July 18, 2014
While the title of the book may seem to some an allusion towards this novel's witty nature, it by no means does justice to how wonderful a journey is written within.
Nathan's prose as a writer is strong in his character of Jimmy "Sparks" Lagala, decisively visualized in a 1st person narrative that works to the novels strengths in the end.
Decidedly written with a youthful nature it focuses less on the tropes of high school life and more on the intersection of teenage angst and unrequited love and ambition as it seeks to identify what makes a man, when you have no discernible guides to guide you.
Though the journey gets a bit messy along the way at no point does it ever seem as though there is no hope, which In the end seems to be the main through line in Jimmy's journey from inassociable nerd to prideful anti hero and in the end to altruistic hero.
It inspires, it laughs and in the end is altogether a worthy read.
Nathan's prose as a writer is strong in his character of Jimmy "Sparks" Lagala, decisively visualized in a 1st person narrative that works to the novels strengths in the end.
Decidedly written with a youthful nature it focuses less on the tropes of high school life and more on the intersection of teenage angst and unrequited love and ambition as it seeks to identify what makes a man, when you have no discernible guides to guide you.
Though the journey gets a bit messy along the way at no point does it ever seem as though there is no hope, which In the end seems to be the main through line in Jimmy's journey from inassociable nerd to prideful anti hero and in the end to altruistic hero.
It inspires, it laughs and in the end is altogether a worthy read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews