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Just Below the Surface #1
Just Below the Surface
Working for the stone-cold Merrick Anderson isn’t on Billie Sterling’s list of dream jobs, but it pays well and the benefits are great. Besides, with her dad battling cancer and overwhelming debt, she’s in no position to be choosy. She’ll do anything to help her father. While the unkind rumors about Mr. Anderson fly, Billie chooses to stay on as his assistant, believing God has a plan. Can she break through the stony heart of her employer to find the man she knows is underneath, just below the surface?
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2019
15 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 14, 2024
What a sweet, heartfelt, faith-filled read!
If you like the grumpy-sunshine storyline with a grump that is a true grump…this book is it. Merrick was a hard nut to crack and I loved how we had to wait for Billie to break through his hardened exterior to reveal the sweetheart of a man underneath. This story was just so sweet and had so many big smiles moments. There was a ton of faith and it was encouraging to see Billie turn to God each time she was struggling and thanking God for His blessings. There’s some heartache, a dash of drama, and a loyal bff/cousin who added a fun element to the plot. This is a perfect read if you’re looking for something with heart but not too much drama or angst. Such a great read with lovable characters!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✝️✝️✝️
💋
If you like the grumpy-sunshine storyline with a grump that is a true grump…this book is it. Merrick was a hard nut to crack and I loved how we had to wait for Billie to break through his hardened exterior to reveal the sweetheart of a man underneath. This story was just so sweet and had so many big smiles moments. There was a ton of faith and it was encouraging to see Billie turn to God each time she was struggling and thanking God for His blessings. There’s some heartache, a dash of drama, and a loyal bff/cousin who added a fun element to the plot. This is a perfect read if you’re looking for something with heart but not too much drama or angst. Such a great read with lovable characters!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✝️✝️✝️
💋
August 28, 2024
Meh. SUPER corney, pretty choppy. Parts of the story made me giggle, it was relatable in ways, but I wasn’t in love with the characters.
November 12, 2024
What a cute book! It also made me cry.
The author lives in my state of Michigan and I loved all the Michigan-ness that she puts in, like the Lions quip :)
All around, the characters were wonderful. I'm excited to see more of them in the next book. I thought it was cool how the title applied to both Billie and Merrick. Speaking of the, I'm not normally a huge fan of grumpy/sunshine, but this was cute and well done.
(Total bunny trail, but I can't help but wonder if St. Mary's is the Livonia St. Mary's. Does anyone know?)
The author lives in my state of Michigan and I loved all the Michigan-ness that she puts in, like the Lions quip :)
All around, the characters were wonderful. I'm excited to see more of them in the next book. I thought it was cool how the title applied to both Billie and Merrick. Speaking of the, I'm not normally a huge fan of grumpy/sunshine, but this was cute and well done.
(Total bunny trail, but I can't help but wonder if St. Mary's is the Livonia St. Mary's. Does anyone know?)
May 20, 2025
Five star Read! There is nothing better than a sweet and bingeable Christian romance book and this book definitely delivered both. For those of you who are interested in a good clean Christian romance, I recommend this book.
May 30, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! It was the perfect hallmark movie romance we all know and love but with underlying messages of just how important faith, family and unconditional love truly are, especially in the world we live in today. We don’t have to know or understand each other’s experiences to provide empathy and compassion to someone who may be lost in their own thoughts and battles or what “everyone else is saying”. It’s when we see someone through the eyes of God and HIS agape love, we can truly experience miracles in him bringing us the one who was meant for us in the most unexpected ways! Such a good book 🥹
October 12, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! I enjoyed Billie—her strengths and her foibles. She's sweet, but also very real. Merrick Anderson is truly hero-worthy. He's a curmudgeon, but before I knew it, I cared about him. It was obvious he's been hurt, and I couldn't wait to find out what had happened. Billie is just as curious about him, and I enjoyed watching life unfold from her perspective. This story took me on an emotional roller coaster. I smiled and cried and smiled again. And, in the end, I sighed in complete satisfaction. Such a sweet romance. I look forward to reading more by this author.
December 17, 2021
I loved the conversational, first person style! The romance was sweet and the story was told with a lot of heart. I really loved the heroine, Billie, and her father. I’d definitely read more by this author!
June 10, 2025
I loved this book! It took a little to get into it, but once I was in, I was all in. This book made me smile, laugh, get angry, and even cry. The characters were realistic and I loved that Billie’s character wasn’t one that was just described as Christian, but actually followed through and behaved like one. Great book ❤️
June 9, 2024
I finished this book on Friday night and got to meet the author on Saturday morning!
I loved this book for so many reasons: it is a feel-good book, a nice slow burn of love story, integrated faith, but nothing intimidating if that's usually not your thing, lovely daughter father relationship and overall just a wonderful read.
Can't wait to read the next one!
I loved this book for so many reasons: it is a feel-good book, a nice slow burn of love story, integrated faith, but nothing intimidating if that's usually not your thing, lovely daughter father relationship and overall just a wonderful read.
Can't wait to read the next one!
January 28, 2025
I was gifted this amazing book from the author. I am so thankful she sent it as it is now one of my favorite books. It is a Christian Romance book. It has holiday’s in it which make it cuter (I love holiday books). If you like grumpy/sunshine you will like this. Merrick and Billie are the main characters. Billie is happy and has a strong faith but is dealing with her father being sick. Merrick had stuff happen in his past that made him push his faith away. Billie was perfect for Merrick. She helped him so much in this book. They made a wonderful couple. Billie’s dad… Let me just say I loved him and I cried for him. Him and Mrs. Joy were amazing and gave awesome advice throughout this book. I went through every emotion reading this book. This is a book I will be rereading. I can’t wait to read the next book.
August 31, 2024
Such a sweet story! I love a good grumpy-sunshine book.
It certainly made me emotional at points and I think that the author did an excellent job portraying the feelings that come with the loss of a loved one.
Also, I found Billie to be such a relatable character - sort of clumsy (in action and interactions), with a great love for Jesus and coffee. 💕☕️
It certainly made me emotional at points and I think that the author did an excellent job portraying the feelings that come with the loss of a loved one.
Also, I found Billie to be such a relatable character - sort of clumsy (in action and interactions), with a great love for Jesus and coffee. 💕☕️
August 28, 2019
I loved this book! I love that it’s perfect combination of being a Christian romance book while also realistic. Definitely recommend!
July 3, 2024
Refreshing
Billie and Merritt are fun to get to know. Merritt is so stoic and cold while Billie is nervous. Their relationship progressed naturally. I found my self loving Billie's dad and Mrs Joy. I cannot help.wondering if Chuck and Mrs Joy will have a HEA. I am looking forward to the second and third books. Excellent CF by a talented author.
Billie and Merritt are fun to get to know. Merritt is so stoic and cold while Billie is nervous. Their relationship progressed naturally. I found my self loving Billie's dad and Mrs Joy. I cannot help.wondering if Chuck and Mrs Joy will have a HEA. I am looking forward to the second and third books. Excellent CF by a talented author.
June 13, 2024
Sweet Christian Romance
Romance level: kisses
Trigger warning: cancer, parent death
Main male character doesn't have a friend group we meet. Main female has only aaa cousin for a friend we meet.
Book glosses over the work relationship issues.
Romance level: kisses
Trigger warning: cancer, parent death
Main male character doesn't have a friend group we meet. Main female has only aaa cousin for a friend we meet.
Book glosses over the work relationship issues.
August 10, 2024
Sweet and simple love story! Grumpy and sunshine love! Beautiful! Not very climatic or deep but it was a good, easy read!
October 15, 2025
Sweet, clean, lovely
What a fun read! I thoroughly enjoyed this. In spite of a heartbreaking twist, the book ended on just the perfect note.
What a fun read! I thoroughly enjoyed this. In spite of a heartbreaking twist, the book ended on just the perfect note.
October 29, 2025
This was my first book by Lindsay and I loved it!!! Can't wait to get my hands on the second book!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews