Every Precious and Fragile Thing

A Novel

By: Barbara Davis

Narrated by: Sara Sheckells, Marni Penning, Petrea Burchard, Sarah Beth Goer

A mother and daughter try desperately to reconcile just as a decades-old secret threatens to shatter their relationship forever in this powerful story from the bestselling author of The Echo of Old Books.

For social worker Mallory Ward, working with at-risk youth is a calling. But when one of her clients is tragically killed, she finds herself at a crossroads. Despite long-held resentments toward her distant mother, Mallory retreats to her childhood home on the Rhode Island coast to contemplate her future. Instead, she’s confronted by her past, not only in the renewed tensions with her mother but in the unexpected appearance of a familiar face—and the wrenching losses that drove her away a decade ago.

Helen Ward’s home is filled with precious keepsakes from her patients, a testament to decades spent caring for the terminally ill. Her work has always come first, though, leaving little time to connect with her daughter. Over the years, the rift between them has become a chasm, so when Mallory appears unannounced, Helen sees it as an opportunity to repair their broken relationship.

But hidden among Helen’s mementos are the keys to her past…and a terrible secret that threatens to destroy the fragile new trust between them forever.

©2025 Barbara Davis. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“If I loved this book anymore, I’d marry it. International bestselling author Barbara Davis outdoes herself with a moving, time-skipping, life-and-death mother-daughter powerhouse that will steep in your mind long after you read it. Beautifully written riveting pages, breathtaking family secrets from a born storyteller…Every Precious and Fragile Thing is a masterpiece.”—Marilyn Simon Rothstein, author of Who Loves You Best

“Every Precious and Fragile Thing will grab readers’ hearts and squeeze. Davis delivers a skillfully woven tale of broken dreams, second chances, and unlikely allies. It’s about letting go of the people and things we need the most and how we love our children so blindly we end up pushing them away. With a shocking twist you won’t see coming, Davis packs a punch and a heaping scoop of forgiveness. Powerful and evocative, this one you feel deep in the heart.”—Rochelle B. Weinstein, bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends and What You Do To Me

“Every Precious and Fragile Thing was an absolute delight! The über-talented Barbara Davis has a way of notching up your curiosity till you just can’t stand it. And what a marvelous set of characters. I loved following the troubled Mallory as she navigates her return home with all the grace of a bulldozer. Upon wiping away my tears, I’m reminded of how the past is a door to healing if you can sift through the pain.”—Boo Walker, bestselling author of The Stars Don’t Lie and An Echo in Time

Terrible narration/producing

I'm a few hours in and the quivering sappy narration voice for every sad/ sentimental/ nostalgic chapter is grating on my nerves. I'm going to switch over to read it on Kindle unlimited, especially since there is a chapter apparently missing at the end of the narrated book! I'll give the narrator another chance with another book because it could be the producer telling her how to verbally transcribe it, but it's terrible!

Love and atonement

That love finds a way if we are able to get out of our own way. A good illustration of ways different people are healed by forgiveness.

Narrator for Helen is horrible and ruined this book for me.

I hate the narrator for Helen’s constantly pathetic voice. It really ruined this book for me. I was tempted numerous times to turn it off.

Prepare yourself for a beautiful story!

It took 2-3 chapters to really grab me and then really had me glued to it! And just as I thought I had it figured out it took a big twist! I loved it! A bit of a mystery with lots of love thrown in.

Riveting and heart wrenching until the end! I could not stop listening. what a wonderful story with a very happy ending!

I loved the detail of the characters emotions that the author conveyed to the reader. I truly felt like I know each character.