Paint Me a Crime (A Rose Shore Mystery) by Holly Yew
About Paint Me A Crime
Art curator Jessamine Rhodes has left behind her gig at a prominent gallery in the city to open her own community art center in the small town of Rose Shore. She’s all set to host an extravagant opening watercolors class and has even booked a famous artist to teach it. Gabriella Everhart brings along her priceless painting Tranquil to showcase as the centerpiece of the event. The opening class is just wrapping up when suddenly Tranquil disappears before Jessamine’s eyes. Next, the lights of the art center flicker out and leave the crowd in complete darkness as a scream pierces the air. To her horror, Jessamine’s flashlight reveals that prestigious art collector Victor Carlisle has been murdered, and now her dreams are as shattered as the champagne glass found near the scene. Determined to save her now teetering reputation, Jessamine sets out to search for answers and the missing painting on her own. She has invested everything into her art center and is too anxious to step back and do nothing. Along the way, she teams up with a handsome paramedic who seems to have his own reasons for wanting justice for Victor’s tragedy.
About the Character Guest Post
Hello, and welcome to Jane Reads! What is your full name? Do you have a nickname? Hi, my name is Jessamine Rhodes, but most of my friends call me Jess.
What is your occupation? Are you any good at it? Do you like it? What is your ideal job? I’m the new owner of the Rose Shore Community Art Center. My days are filled with everything from teaching elementary school field trips to boring office work like budgeting. I think I’m pretty good at it, the teaching part at least. Acrylic paints tend to be my favorite medium, but I’ve really been enjoying the sketching and drawing classes lately as well. And this is totally my ideal job! I used to be an art curator at a big city gallery, but the late nights chasing down someone else’s idea of perfect art got to be too much for me. I needed the more relaxed style of the art center, and I couldn’t be happier.
When you’re not working, what fills your time? I’m often hanging out at my best friend’s tea shop. Emilia Kent is the owner of the Secret Garden Tea Shop and always has a fun new tea flavor for me to try. I’m also a sometimes-member of the Literary Classics Book Club at the local library, and recently I’ve been hanging out with my neighbor, Jackson Yeung, as more than just a friend, but we haven’t had a DTR — Define the Relationship — yet, so who knows where that will lead. Oh, and I’ve also recently picked up the unfortunate habit of stumbling upon dead bodies.
What is your favorite childhood memory? My father works in publishing, and each Christmas and birthday, he would gift me a classic novel. I loved adding these to my bookshelf and watching my collection grow.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Don’t listen to that saying, “Those who can’t do, teach.” You totally can “do,” but teaching is way more fun. Skip to that.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you? My neighbor Clara Connors tried so very obviously to set me up with Jackson on the first day I met both of them. It was not the first impression I wanted to give or have of my new life in Rose Shore.
What is your greatest achievement? Stepping away from what had once been my dream job. I’d worked very hard to become an art curator, but once I realized it wasn’t for me, it was difficult to admit it to myself. After I took that first step, though, everything else fell into place.
What makes you laugh? My friend Andrew always makes me laugh. He’s the admin assistant at the art center and always has a joke or two at the ready. Everyone who walks through our doors is greeted with his smile.
What is your greatest extravagance? My lakeside cottage. It’s small but an ideal location right on the beach. I love that I can gaze at the water from my back deck, and it’s wonderful for sparking my artistic creativity.
What are your pet peeves? Unexpected guests who aren’t close friends stress me out. Also, when people drop artwork!
Tell us something about yourself that no one else knows. Nice try. Did Andrew put you up to this? He was teasing me the other day about keeping secrets. Oops! Busted.
What is always in your fridge? Cream cheese because I love bagels for breakfast! Also, milk. Not because I drink a lot of it as is, but because I always have it in my tea.
What is your most treasured possession? Can my dog count? Margo is a beagle I adopted from a dog shelter a few years ago, and she’s brought a lot of joy to my life.
If your life is made into a movie, is it a comedy or drama? Who plays you? A drama, embarrassingly enough. I don’t mean to be so dramatic. There’s just been a lot of stuff happening at the art center lately, with that art collector being murdered during my grand opening and a priceless painting going missing before my eyes. Actually, maybe that should be my most embarrassing moment. But if this drama had to be made, I think Maggie Lawson would play me.
What is your favorite movie? TV show? My favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz. I tend to watch older and classic films more often than new releases. My favorite show is any art history documentary.
What is your favorite song, and why? Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. It always kicks off my jazz playlist, which I frequently listen to when I need to relax.
What did you eat for breakfast? Did you make it yourself? I had a bagel, an orange, and a large cup of Chai which a friend bought for me on her trip to Mumbai. And of course I made it — Margo is great for cuddles, but she doesn’t help out much around the house.
A lazy morning with Margo.
Stress-free classes at the art center.
Lunch at Emilia’s Secret Garden Tea Shop.
Dinner out with friends.
A romantic evening walk along with beach with Jackson and our dogs.
No murders!
About Holly Yew
After having called many places around the world home, Holly Yew has settled in the Okanagan, BC with her husband, son, and two rescue dogs. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s playing the piano, watching Star Wars, or enjoying a Dole Whip in Disneyland.
Holly is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers. She loves connecting with other writers and bookworms on social media, and you can find her at hollyyew.com.
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