The Rural Diaries

I wish I could give this book more than a 5 star rating. I’ve always admired Hilarie Burton Morgan as an actress, a powerful woman, a fellow witch and just the amazing human being that she is. But now I also love her as an author! This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions in the best way possible. I laughed, I cried, I melted at the sweet moments between her and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. (Talk about power couple goals!) the way she writes puts you right in her shoes. You can picture what she’s writing in beautiful detail as you read the heartwarming stories she has to tell. She beautifully honors what small town life is like. A wholesome community of people who aren’t neighbors but family. It makes you wanna pack up everything and start over in a quaint little small town. I wish I could read this again for the first time. I loved every moment of this book! I would absolutely recommend this to anyone. This is definitely not a genre I ever read but I’m so, so glad I did! I’m immediately jumping into Grimoire Girl next. This was a 10/10 for me! 🙌🏼🖤

I loved this book way more than I thought I would! Being a Hilaire Burton fan from her days on One Tree Hill and being obsessed with Jeffrey Dean Morgan from both Greys Anatomy and Walking Dead I thought this book would be an interesting read! I don’t typically care for books written by celebrities but this book is sooo much more than that! It’s such an intimate memoir. It is quick paced and I would constantly find myself just smiling randomly while reading it. It is raw, yet carefree and incredibly honest. The writing is great and real! Never once was I bored and truly had trouble putting it down each night! I forgot I was reading about celebrities because they don’t carry themselves as typical celebrities! The things they are doing and have done for their community go above and beyond! Their love for their friends and family is beyond words! I am inspired by their story and was sad to finish the book! Side note: I need a trip to Rhinebeck, NY in my future! It sounds so magical! And I definitely want to try the sweet shop!

I have been a fan of this woman for many years. She is married to one of the people that I have come to admire from The Walking Dead. This is our first memoir filled with recipe I didn't know until today she wrote more. My voice control on my MacBook will say her name wrong I'm saying that as a warning just so that she or anybody else knows that are not trying to spell it wrong. What would you say if I told you everything happens in its own place and time. Hillary burden Morgan has always been a bad ass in my opinion I didn't see much of her career after one tree I tried to watch White collar and I'm going to try again. I didn't know she was in lethal weapon the series but I'm gonna see if I can find it. Those nuggets that I'm giving you they were make you want to read this book. To know the recipes that you put in this book and they're not in your typical recipes. She talks about her struggles and her time as a mom. She is not a frail person she herself is a bad ass. I feel so sorry for everybody who suffered with the director I will not say. The show itself has been a staple in so many homes one tree Hill will always be one of my favorites. One of my favorite characters was Nate the basketball player and of course Lucas obviously Brooke but I must not forget the one that Mary Nate Scott in the show I've read her biography as well. There are I wish I could say. It's not meant to be who I finally reached out to her but simply that she sees it. I'm sorry for your pain Hillary I'm sorry for all of the trouble you went through having your children. No one knows that better than myself if you wanna know more I'll put this review just like I did for Bethany Joy lens actually I just remembered a character is Haley. Your first memoir made me cry people you read this book get ready for fun laugh and tears.

I have always loved Hilarie Burton Morgan but after reading this book, I have a whole new respect and admiration for her. Her writing is exceptional and the stories she recounts are so detailed and filled with emotion, you can feel yourself there. I read this book in one day because I couldn’t put it down. I laughed, cried, felt all the things while reading this book and immediately went to purchase her newest book Grimoire Girl. My husband and I watched the Walking Dead together years ago and he has always loved Jeffery Morgan so when I told him I was reading a book his wife wrote he started asking me all about it, it was sweet. Their story is authentic and unique, this is truly a must read!

I love reading memoirs and biographies on people, whether they are celebrities or not. I like being able to get a glimpse of who they are in life rather than just what I assume who they are through television or other forms of media. I thoroughly enjoyed this read for many reasons, the main one being that I felt a connection with Hilarie from the beginning. I never watched One Tree Hill and the only times I’ve seen Hilarie have been in the few Hallmark movies she has done which honestly is what appealed me to read this book. She takes you on the ride of her life with such ease and control. There’s a simplicity of the way she tells her story, truly capturing the moments of her life that she wants to convey. It’s raw. It’s honest. It’s real. She doesn’t sugarcoat the things that have happened and she almost leaves you wanting more. No, she definitely leaves you wanting more. I can tell you this though, I want some of those delicious treats she talks about from Samuels!

Autobiographies aren’t my usual genre, but as part of our book club’s first read of the year, I was determined to start off as a team player. So here’s my review. (I docked one star because the first few pages of my paperback copy were misaligned—no fault of the author, just a total book-concept review.) This book offers an intimate, grounded look at what it means to step away from a high-profile career and build a life rooted in patience, purpose, and community. In this memoir, Hilarie Burton Morgan chronicles her transition from television sets and red carpets to muddy boots and early mornings on a working farm in upstate New York, where she and her husband, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, chose a slower, more intentional rhythm. Rather than presenting a glossy escape fantasy, Burton Morgan shares a deeply personal account shaped by both fulfillment and hardship. Her reflections move fluidly between formative childhood memories, the pressures and privileges of Hollywood, and the realities of sustaining a marriage under public scrutiny. Some of the book’s most powerful passages confront loss head-on, as she writes candidly about miscarriage and the emotional resilience required to keep moving forward. These moments of grief are balanced by stories of renewal—welcoming their children, Gus and George; restoring old homes; volunteering and renovating a children’s home; caring for an ever-growing menagerie of animals; and breathing new life into a small-town candy shop alongside close friends. What ultimately sets this memoir apart is its sincerity. Burton Morgan writes with warmth and humility, never positioning herself above the reader but alongside them. Interspersed with personal essays are practical touches—recipes, garden wisdom, and hands-on projects—that reinforce the book’s central message: a meaningful life is built deliberately, one choice at a time. Her descriptions of the Hudson Valley’s changing seasons and tight-knit community create a vivid sense of place, making The Rural Diaries feel less like a celebrity memoir and more like a shared conversation about redefining success on your own terms.

I absolutely loved this book. I think Hilarie is an amazing, strong, down to earth, kind, hard working, smart, and genuine person/wife/mother/friend. Just reading her book made me feel connected. I loved Hilarie on 'One Tree Hill,' Lifetime movies, and gained a lot of respect for her in the past few years through her interviews/talks. Her husband Jeffrey seems so great also. I have to admit I only know him from watching the 'Walking Dead.' In fact, when I found out awhile ago they were married, I was totally surprised. How could sweet Hilarie from 'One Tree Hill be married to the evil Negan from the 'Walking Dead'?!?!? haha. I love, love their show 'In with the Morgans,' and just enjoy watching them both together!!!!!! It's such a fun show to watch, as they chat with their friends from show business, community, and others. I hope they do a lot more episodes....definitely a great show to watch on AMC. Thanks for writing this book, Hilarie. I enjoyed reading it. I laughed, cried, and related to so many parts in the book. I hope Samuel's Sweet Shop is doing OK during this pandemic.

It was a five stars read for me, because it was warm and intimate, and loving. I didn't know who Hilarie Burton Morgan was before I read it, but it didn't change how much I enjoyed this book. What I know now is that Hilarie Burton Morgan is the force of nature! This woman is so strong and resilient and capable! I am seriously impressed how much she was able to achieve and how much work she put in her relationship, farm and community. What's even more important: she did it with a lot of grace. For me working so hard on a relationship even with an amazing, handsome and loving man would be simply too much. The same goes for the farm. To spend my days digging in the dirt or renovating a shack, that was falling apart would be pure torture and hard labour. I would do it if I had to, but I would be moaning and complaining all day long. But Hilarie Burton Morgan does it with pleasure. To have such a partner! Hilarie Burton Morgan is a real treasure as a member of family and community, it is easy to tell. Her presence warmed the pages of the book and made me connect with her, even though we have a very different views of what is fun and what isn't. I wouldn't even want to handle all these farm animals! I love animals, but dogs is all I ever want to have. No ducks or alpacas for me, thank you very much.

During an amazon hunt for an old JDM movie, some Amazon algorithm decided I may be interested in Hilary’s book. I’d never seen One Tree Hill but I did love her character on White Collar. I’m not a big reader honestly so I wasn’t sure if I bought the book that I would even end up reading it. Scrolling through some positive reviews I decided to add the book to my cart. Few days later I got the notification that it would be delivered by 10pm that evening. Once it arrived I opened the package intending to read the book jacket, which turned into reading the prologue and before I knew it, it was late into the evening and I had finished part one. The next morning I made my routine coffee and sprinkled in a dash of cinnamon from a tip I had read in the book and just drank coffee and read most of the day. (Spoilers Ahead) Hilary writes in such a relatable way and draws you into her world and takes you on an adventure. I felt a swell of happiness when they finally signed the contract for the store and felt a tear of sadness at the death of their beloved family dog, and other tragic loss. She writes easily and draws you into her story, family and town filled with warmth but also reality. I loved the whimsy of the recipes nestled throughout the pages as well. Needless to say I loved this book and will definitely be passing it on to friends and family to share.

Amei saber mais da história de vida da linda atriz Hilarie Burton.

Absolutely loved this book. I used to watch One Tree Hill & I’m a fan of JDM, so as a Supernatural fan when I realised that Jensen & Danneel Ackles had introduced Hilarie Burton and JDM and they’d been a couple for sometime I thought how sweet. As fans we always view their lives with rose coloured glasses and assume for the most part that everything must be perfect. So to read this story, the brutal honesty, with added humour, about their relationship, the friends they made along the way, the ups and downs of life, I literally couldn’t put it down and about 3 hours later I finished it. I loved Hilarie's writing style, it just draws you in and you want to read more, how she describes events makes you really imagine the scenario played out. Despite the ups & downs these two are clearly meant for each other and have two beautiful children, so whatever storms come their way they will weather them together.

Absolutely loved it! One of the most honest books I have ever read. I enjoyed every sentence. So much emotion and care put into 260 pages. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.

Hilarie Burton ve Jeffrey Dean Morgan'ın aile kurma sürecine dair sıcacık bir kitap. Okurken keyif aldım ancak bazı bölümler gereğinden fazla uzundu, bir de tarifler aralara yazılmak kerine en sonda toplansa çok daha okumayı kolaylaştırır dikkat dağılmasını engellerdi. Bunlar dışında severek okudum.