Staff members at the Scenic Regional Library in Warrenton were invited to recommend a book for summer reading. Here are a few of their favorites:

“Runnin’ with the Devil: A Backstage Pass to the Wild Times, Loud Rock, and the Down and Dirty Truth Behind the Making of Van Halen” by Noel Monk

This is the perfect summer read for any ’80s music fan. It was written by Noel Monk, who spent seven years working for the band.

It takes you behind the scenes of their infamous tours and wild escapades to their coming of age and crazy behavior, which eventually led to the undoing and breakup of the band.  It’s a fun rock memoir to read, and reminds me of  waiting in line with my friends to get tickets to all our favorite bands over the summer!            

— Kerry Christian, Scenic Regional Library Warrenton

“Short-Straw Bride” by Karen Witemeyer 

This is the perfect, heart-warming summer read. Wandering alone on Archer land has not only left a 10-year-old Meredith Hayes with a permanent limp but also a reluctant, if not dutiful, husband 12 years later. Faced with a ruined reputation while injured on a property housing the four Archer brothers, Meredith is left with little choice but to marry Travis when he picks the short straw for her hand.

The book reminds me of the musical “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”, but with a softer, more natural story telling. Although Meredith and Travis are the main focus of the novel, Witemeyer takes the time to develop each brother’s personality and their relationship with their new sister-in-law. Most, if not every, chapter reveals a strong sense of family love, and the ending leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling all day long. I highly recommend this book for those looking to escape in a Texan summer romance — and for those who want to continue the adventure, “Short-Straw Bride” is but the first of the Archer Brothers series!   

— Stephanie Hassler, Scenic Regional Library Warrenton

“Eight Days of Luke” by Diana Wynne Jones 

I have lost count of the number of times I have read “Eight Days of Luke.” It is my go-to airport book and such a nice way to start off the summer. The first thing that drew me to “Eight Days of Luke,” besides being written by Diana Wynne Jones, who wrote the fabulous “Howl’s Moving Castle,” was the modern fantasy.

Maybe not so epic as Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series or Neil Gaiman’s awesome “American Gods,” “Eight Days of Luke” is a fun foray in Norse mythology. The story has aged great too. Even though it was published back in 1975, you wouldn’t know it except maybe because no one has a cellphone, and I especially appreciate the theme of gratitude, which is both simple and profound. David, the lead character, is such a good-natured person and his relations so mundanely odious, you immediately connect with him. You are just as thrilled as he is when he suddenly finds a friend in Luke, and you root for them all the way through.

— Linda Ault, Scenic Regional Library Warren County