Rating: 4.5 stars
Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Noah Huxley is a brand new parole officer and he is coming at the job determined to do good. Noah knows most of his co-workers are jaded from the endless paperwork and ex-cons who never seem to improve, but Noah believes the best in people and wants to help folks get back on their feet and make a new life for themselves. When Noah meets CJ Davis, he sees just the kind of man he thinks he can help.
CJ is a good man who is trying to make a better life for himself, but the odds are stacked against him. He grew up with an incredibly abusive father who has been in jail more than out. He never learned to read, is caring for a sick and elderly relative, and is just barely making ends meet financially. CJ saves what he can and what his father doesn’t manage to sell or steal. One mistake left CJ serving a suspended sentence, though he is now only weeks from ending his parole.
CJ has never had anyone really care about him beyond his Pops and his boss, so when Noah starts reaching out and trying to help, at first CJ is resistant. Noah wants CJ to get a real mechanic’s license, to learn to read, to get a driver’s license, all things that could make a real difference in his life. And slowly, with Noah’s encouragement, CJ begins to believe that he can really do these things, that he can really change his life. The men are drawn to one another, but they know that until Noah is officially off parole, nothing can really happen between them. But that doesn’t stop the men from building a friendship and an incredible bond of trust. Nor does it stop the fire that burns between them.
CJ is finally reaching the point where he can have the life he has dreamed about — a secure job, money to help care for Pops, learning to read, and most importantly, someone who truly loves and cares for him. But with his father home on parole, life at his house is out of control, and it could put everything he is building at risk.
I am a huge N.R. Walker fan, but somehow I had never gotten around to reading On Davis Row, so International Week of our Reading Challenge Month seemed like a great time to pick it up. As with all of Walker’s books, there is a well developed sense of place here and a nice Aussie feel. Walker really paints a wonderful picture of life in the small, run down town where CJ has been trapped all his life. He lives at the end of a road known as Davis Row, named so because the Davis family has lived there for years and they are all looked down upon by the rest of town (in most cases for good reason as CJs brothers and father all spend more time in jail than out). We can really feel the desolation of the dying town and how isolated CJ feels there with no support system and virtually no one who cares about him.
I’ll admit this one started a little slow for me and it took me a little bit to get into the flow of the story. But once I did, I just loved this book. There is a slow burn here in the sense that for much of the story, Noah is still CJ’s corrections officer and officially they can not be in a relationship. What happens is that these guys basically are platonic boyfriends, as it is clear that they have built a strong emotional connection. Walker does an amazing job developing the chemistry between them, and as the guys are counting down days until they can finally be together physically, I found myself eagerly turning pages and anticipating the moment they can finally act on their feelings for one another. The connection between these guys is so lovely, as Noah really takes the time to understand CJ in a way no one else does. This is a man who has lived his life in the shadows, with no one really noticing or caring about him. And so watching Noah really see CJ and care about him is so rewarding.
Walker also does a great job painting a picture of what CJ’s life is like. His father has been abusing him forever, they are barely making ends meet, and what he does manage save or buy, his father ends up stealing. We can just feel his desperation, but at the same time, CJ is strong and determined to build his life and take care of Pops. There is a really poignant scene where CJ and Noah go shopping and Noah tries to imagine what it is like being unable to read. He goes through the store, trying to figure out how he would know what to buy, and it really gave me a feel for what CJ must be going through. I could really feel for CJ as he struggles against seemingly impossible odds, yet he never loses his sense of goodness and caring for others.
So I really enjoyed this story, and once I got into it, I was just swept away. I loved the romance between Noah and CJ and found this one a really rewarding story.
This review is part of our Reading Challenge Month for International Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win a prize pack of some of our favorite International Books. Commenters will also be entered to win our amazing grand prize sponsored by Dreamspinner Press (a Kindle Fire filled with Dreamspun Desires/Beyond books, plus a 3-month subscription!). You can get more information on our Challenge Month here, and more details on International Week here, including a list of all the books in this week’s prize.Â
I’ve read a couple of NR Walker’s books, and some just didn’t click for me. Maybe I should have stuck with them longer! This one sounds like I would enjoy it.
I haven’t read this book, yet. N.R. Walker is one of my favorite authors, she writes characters that are so real and genuine.
I own this, started it, and put it aside (due to that slow start you mentioned, Jay), but now you’re motivating me to pick it up again. I used to do adult literacy tutoring, so I look forward to reading about CJ becoming literate during the course of his and Noah’s story.
Yes, it just didn’t quite click for me at first, but it definitely picks up, especially as the chemistry between the guys gets going. And yes, I found the literacy aspect of the story really interesting. I am sure you will as well given your background.
I really love NR Walkers books but for me this one was not her best. I will still continue to read every new book from her 🙂
Nr Walker is one of my favorite authors she really is an autobuy for me. The Red Dirt heart serie is still (one of) my all time favorite series. I’m really impressed by this author because she can write just about anything and makes it very believable, i think i read somewhere that she does lots of background/information investigations when writing about a subject and it really shows in her work.
I enjoyed On Davis Row very much and i even re-read it a couple of times so i’m very happy that you enjoyed it too and i definitely agree with your rating and review. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed this as well!
I loved this book! It gave me all the feelings.
Glad to see that this one works for you, Jay! Thanks for the review
It’s weird, I think I’ve only read the Walker books that aren’t set in Australia (even as I sometimes wondered if the US settings were right for them). I’ll need to seek this out!
I’ve enjoyed a majority of the books I’ve read by NR Walker but there have been some that just didn’t work for me. I’ve been meaning to check this one out. Thank you for the review!
I have several NR Walker books but have actually never read any of them. After reading the comments I should probably get started. This one sounds nice. 🙂
yes! She has great stuff! If you do a quick search here you will find a ton of reviews.
According to goodreads I’ve only read 1 NR Walker book but I loved it. I’m glad this review is reminding me of that so I can read more
I’m glad the slow start didn’t stop it from being a great read for you, Jay! This is why I do like to give books time when I can, just in case it’s a rough start. Of course, sometimes I have given it 2/3 of a book and finally realize I’m wasting my time. Good thing this wasn’t the case for you here. The characters sound like ones I’d enjoy spending time with.
I must recongise I have had this book for some time now, but I somehow felt reluctant to read it. Even though I really like N.R.’s books. Your review has convinced me that I should read it. Thank you, Jay!
I think I am like a lot of other commenters. I have this book in my TBR pile but never got around to reading it. I dont’ know really because I have read several of N.R. Walker’s book and loved them all. But after reading your review, i definitely will pick it up.
I hope you enjoy! and yes, not sure what it was about this one but it didn’t grab me until I picked it up for this challenge, but I really liked it a lot.
This is a fantastic book…one of Ms. Walker’s best! The characters are so ‘fleshed out’ you feel like you know them, personally. The plot is gut wrenching and the ending beautifully written. It’s a book you didn’t want to end.
Thanks for the review. This book sounds great and takes place in one of my favorite places to read about which makes it a must rad for me.
I read this for the challenge. I think I’m rating this 3.5. It didn’t get what I was hoping for in this story, but I still enjoyed it. The MCs, likable in their own right, just didn’t sizzle together for me. The whole, near daily, details of their days waiting to be together dragged. And I didn’t feel like I was reading a story set in Australia. But Pops, he was a great addition to the story. I just finished another story of hers and like it much better.
Sorry you didn’t love it. I liked it a lot, though I agree with you that this story doesn’t have the same sense of place as many of her others.
I liked most books I did read by N.R. Walker, loved some of her books very, very much, and still find a few more that I didn‘t read by now. Thanks for reminding me, that this is one of them. =:))
You are welcome, hope you enjoy!
I am so far behind in reading this year! I think this is at least the third N.R. Walker release this year that I have yet to read. I’m going to plan to take the month of February off next year after my project wraps up to get caught up!