CONCRETE EVIDENCE
by
DiAnn Mills
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Pages: 416 pages
Publication Date: October 4, 2022
Categories: Christian Fiction / Mystery & Thrillers
*** Scroll down for a giveaway! ***
Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of a faulty construction job, the discovery of a dead body, and a sinister plot.
On the family’s Brazos River Ranch in Texas, Avery Elliott helps run her grandfather’s commercial construction business. Raised by Senator Elliott, Avery has never doubted her grandfather is the man of integrity and faith she’s always believed him to be …. until the day she finds him standing with a gun over the body of a dead man. To make matters worse, Avery’ just discovered a billing discrepancy for materials supposedly purchased for construction of the Lago de Cobre Dam.
Desperate for answers, Avery contacts FBI Special Agent Marc Wilkins for help. As Marc works to identify the dead man Avery saw, threats toward Avery create a fresh sense of urgency to pinpoint why someone wants to silence her. With a hurricane approaching the Texas coast and the structural integrity of the Lago de Cobre Dam called into question, time is running out to get to the bottom of a sinister plot that could be endangering the lives of not only Avery and her loved ones but the entire community.
Praise For CONCRETE EVIDENCE
“* VERDICT * Mills . . . delivers another action-packed novel that offers intrigue and an adventurous ride. Recommend to fans of Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason, and Carrie Stuart Parks.” – LIBRARY JOURNAL, Shondra Brown
“The confident plotting keeps the mysteries coming, and red herrings will have readers guessing the culprit through to the satisfying conclusion. Fans of Colleen Coble and Susan Sleeman will savor this thrilling standalone.” – PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY
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DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?
Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. You can download a list of her published titles by clicking here.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a former director of Blue Ridge Christian Writers, and a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She shares her passion for helping other writers be successful by teaching writing workshops around the country.
DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.
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DiAnn Mills is my guest today with some terrific recipes for some of her favorite cookies. It’s not too early to start planning holiday baking. Some folks like to bake cookies in advance and freeze them so there’s time closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas for other baking and cooking. Not a bad idea.
October—National Cookie Month!
by DiAnn Mills
In Concrete Evidence, there is a scene in the story where the characters bake different kinds of cookies. It’s a bonding time for them.
The weather is cooler. Steaming coffee, hot chocolate, and warm cups of cider taste amazing, but the perfect addition is cookies. October is National Cookie Month and that means baking and eating sweet treats with our favorite ingredients.
Over the years, I’ve found, and tested, far too many cookies to count. The following are a few of my special recipes.
DiAnn’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups (320g) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 tablespoons butter-flavored Crisco shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs at room temperature
16 ounces dark chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries
Directions:
Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
Cream the butter with mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, then add the butter-flavored Crisco until evenly mixed in. Add sugars and beat for 3 more minutes on medium speed. Add vanilla. Add eggs one at a time and mix on medium-low speed just until incorporated. Add flour and mix just until incorporated. Mix in chocolate chips. Mix in dried cranberries.
Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour or more. Overnight is good.
Heat oven to 375°F. *** Scoop dough onto parchment paper. Bake 10-12 minutes depending on size of cookie.
Ginger Cookies
Ingredients:
5 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup butter – room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 egg beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup dark molasses
1/2 cup strong coffee
Directions:
Sift together dry ingredients. Cream butter, add sugar. Beat until light. Add egg and vanilla. Add molasses and coffee then dry ingredients. Mix well and chill.
Roll out and cut into desired shapes.
Bake on greased baking sheet. 400 degrees. 8 – 10 minutes. Makes 12 dozen.
Frost!
You can cut the recipe in half. My mother used to make these at Christmas. They are incredibly yummy.
Brownies Supreme – I technically refer to brownies as a cookie, and this recipe is amazing.
Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 squares bitter chocolate
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts
Frosting
1 cup powdered sugar
3 Tbsp cocoa
2 1/2 Tbsp. boiling water
Directions:
Beat eggs very lightly; set aside. Melt butter and chocolate. Add sugar and beat well. Add to beaten eggs. Fold in flour, salt vanilla, and nuts. Place mixture in greased 8x8x2 inch pan. Bake slowly, 40 minutes at 325.
To Make the Frosting, mix the powdered sugar and cocoa well. Add boiling water to mixture (2 1/2 Tbsp). Pour over warm cake.
I strongly encourage you to double this recipe and bake in a 9×13 pan.
There you are! Two cookie recipes and one brownie. Happy baking and even happier eating!
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
FOUR WINNERS:
Each receives a $25 eGift card to their choice of Amazon or B&N.
(US only; giveaway ends midnight, 10/28/22.)
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| 10/18/22 | Jennie Reads | Guest Post |
| 10/18/22 | Hall Ways Blog | BONUS Promo |
| 10/19/22 | Shelf Life Blog | Review |
| 10/19/22 | Rainy Days with Amanda | Guest Post |
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| 10/20/22 | The Book’s Delight | Review |
| 10/20/22 | Rox Burkey Blog | Guest Post |
| 10/21/22 | All the Ups and Downs | Guest Post |
| 10/21/22 | That’s What She’s Reading | Review |
| 10/22/22 | Reading by Moonlight | Review |
| 10/23/22 | It’s Not All Gravy | Guest Post |
| 10/24/22 | The Plain-Spoken Pen | Review |
| 10/25/22 | Stories Under Starlight | Guest Post |
| 10/25/22 | StoreyBook Reviews | Review |
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| 10/27/22 | The Clueless Gent | Review |
| 10/27/22 | Carpe Diem Chronicles | Review |
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Thank you for hosting me today. You are so appreciated.
You’re welcome DiAnn. Happy to share the news about the new release. And thank you for the great recipes. I’d never thought to put dried cranberries in chocolate chip cookies, but I’ll give that a try.