“A powerful story of human destinies stitched together.”

Two mothers.
Two daughters.
One dark secret.

Texas-based fashion designer Shelby Lawrence is preparing to launch her mother-daughter dresses into retail stores nationwide when a letter in the mailbox reveals the picture of a girl who will change her life forever. Runa, the family’s new sponsored child, is a clever student growing up on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Shelby’s daughter Paisley is instantly captivated by their faraway friend. As the girls exchange heartwarming messages, Shelby has no idea that a tragedy in Runa’s life is about to upend her own.

Dresses are flying off the racks of Houston department stores when a horrifying scene unfolds in Dhaka. The tragedy threatens to destroy Shelby’s reputation, and worse—it sends Runa’s life spiraling down a terrifying path. Shelby’s eyes are suddenly open to the dark, hidden tunnelways of the global fashion industry. Fearing Runa’s fate and her brand’s demise, she hides the ugly truth. But when Runa slips further away, Shelby must decide how much she’s willing to risk to right a tragic wrong.

Available to order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and independent bookstores.



Watch the book trailer below or on YouTube.

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  • “Beneath the Seams examines our ingrained shopping habits and asks us to consider whether they truly match the lives we want to lead.”

    Kate Lewis, Book Critic, Military Families Magazine

  • “The storytelling is so vivid, it played out in my mind like a Hallmark movie.”

    Kristin Vanderlip, Author of Life Worth Living

  • "A wonderful story that leaves you thinking once you've finished the last page."

    Liana George, Author of Perfectly Arranged

 

Resources for Book Clubs

 

Book Discussion Guide

Beneath the Seams sparks rich conversations about family, fashion, faith, and friendship. An abbreviated list of questions are available in the back of the book. Download the complete list of questions here.

Spoiler alert: Questions may give away some of the story.

Download Discussion Guide
 

Conscious Fashion Tips

Changing my shopping habits to align with Christian values was challenging but completely worthwhile. With the help of the advocacy nonprofit Remake, I have compiled my top conscious fashion tips. Changing your consumer habits might seem overwhelming at first. Make small changes that feel repeatable, and they’ll be more likely to stick.

Invite me to your book club

I would absolutely love to jump in to your book club’s discussion about Beneath the Seams. To invite me via Zoom or FaceTime, please send me a note with details here.