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Fiction

"Where the tides of the inlet meet the secrets of the heart."

Beyond the playful lessons of childhood lies a world of deep emotion, high stakes, and the enduring power of grace. Bev Swanson (writing as B.J. Swanson) invites readers to the coast of South Carolina and the high-stakes world of corporate Chicago, weaving together gripping suspense with the tender threads of romance.

Bev’s storytelling is defined by what she calls the "Artisan’s Journey"—a commitment to uncovering the beauty that exists even within the unknown. "There is a specific kind of mystery in the salt marshes," Bev reflects. "You have the beauty of the sunrise, but then you have the shifting tides and the shadows. That’s where my stories live—right where the beauty meets the unknown." Every novel is crafted to be a "Safe Haven," providing a page-turning mystery underpinned by an unwavering message of hope. As Bev often says, "I want to give readers a ‘safe’ thrill. You get the high stakes, but you leave the story feeling grounded and encouraged rather than depleted."

Misguided Loyalties

Loyalty Series

Inspired by the 1990’s corporate scandal the Chicago Tribune famously dubbed the "Baby Enron." Enter a world where a single business partnership collapses, leaving a trail of broken trust and a powerful lesson in what happens when our loyalties are placed in the wrong hands.

Contingent Loyalties

Loyalty Series

When threatening calls shatter the peace of a single mother’s life, she realizes the past isn't as buried as she thought. A high-stakes journey through fear and discovery where finding safety means deciding exactly who is worth your trust.

Betrayed Loyalties

Loyalty Series

Can love survive the weight of a family’s secrets? As a love story unfolds from North Carolina to Illinois, the sins of a previous generation threaten to stain the future, forcing a choice between the comfort of the past and the courage to stand alone.

I Believe In You

Murrells Inlet Beach Series

When the shadows of the past resurface in the salt marsh, one woman must find the courage to believe in a promise just out of reach. A gripping exploration of the fragile architecture of trust.

As Waves on the Sand

Murrells Inlet Beach Series

Like the relentless Lowcountry tide, life’s challenges can pull us under—but grace is always waiting to carry us back to shore. A story of resilience, healing, and finding your way through the fog.

In the Fullness of Time

Murrells Inlet Beach Series

Every secret has a season. As the mysteries of the inlet reach their peak, the final movement of the trilogy reminds us that there is a perfect timing for every truth to be brought into the light.

Taproom

Murrells Inlet Beach Series

Behind the warmth of a local landmark lies a history waiting to be told. Discover how a community’s heart is tested when old loyalties and new mysteries collide in the salt air of the Lowcountry.

A Rose in the Marsh

Murrells Inlet Beach Series

Professional success can hide wounds that make trusting on a personal level feel impossible. With both humor and drama, the characters from the original trilogy are back, but will Rose ever really be a part of them. Sometimes the past blocks the path to a happy future.

A Wink and A Prayer

Murrells Inlet Beach Series

There is nothing in life more complicated than love and trust. After that initial attraction, the next steps look different with everyone. Past experiences influence choices, and unwavering faith has long-range consequences. Two women with difficult backgrounds are faced with the prospect of trusting; one is afraid to even try, the other recklessly embraces it.

Stronger Together

Murrells Inlet Beach Series

Interpersonal relationships in complicated situations are B. J. Swanson’s specialty, and this book continues that dichotomy. It seems there are perils at the beach of which no one is aware. Humor and relationship drama soften the reality of a real-life danger hidden from the sun, sand and amusement parks of Myrtle Beach.

Hope in the Storm

Murrells Inlet Beach Series

The tough guys return when danger again touches the quiet town of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. In this final book of the gripping Murrells Inlet Beach series, Sandy’s family and friends worry that this time her faith might lose hope. The characters B. J. Swanson’s readers have come to know from book one face tough times again as many loose threads are tied up for good.

Protection Detail

Patriot Series

Three crimes. One involves a case the FBI has been working; one leads to stolen Naval weapons, and one the local police rule a hit and run.  FBI Agent Barker and his team believe all three are connected.  The hit-and-run car crash killed a Naval officer whose protection detail was an FBI agent.  As the investigations continue, Agent Duke Ballard, Police Chief Nathan Ogilvie, and Admiral Devon Ellis all discover secrets that need to be explained.  They are all sworn to protect, but can you protect people and secrets at the same time?  Personal feelings can threaten judgment; they can even threaten justice.

All That Came Before

Patriot Series

Set near Quantico, Virginia, All That Came Before explores the lasting effects of childhood trauma and neglect.  Diverse characters either desire to embrace what they grew up with, determine to do better, or simply live conflicted.  The relationships that work find their foundations in faith, but is having faith enough?  Romance and suspense come together as characters face their futures, reflect on their pasts, and deal with a killer.

For Love of the Story

Short Stories

A collection of very short stories with illustrations by Mary Lou Carter. Sweet stories with a message to put a smile on any face, young or old.

The Blue Tractor

Short Stories

A collection of short stories with depth of character for those occasions when you don't have the time or energy for a full length book.