The Rural Diaries

Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm

By: Hilarie Burton

Narrated by: Hilarie Burton

The beloved actress and star of One Tree Hill, White Collar, and Lethal Weapon, Hilarie Burton, tells the inspiring story of leaving Hollywood for a radically different kind of life in upstate New York with her husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan—a celebration of community, family, and the value of hard work in small town America.

While Hilarie Burton’s hectic lifestyle as an actress in New York and Los Angeles gave her a comfortable life, it did not fulfill her spiritually or emotionally. After the birth of their first son, she and her husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the star of The Walking Dead, decided to make a major change: they bought a working farm in Rhinebeck, New York, and began a new chapter in their lives.

The Rural Diaries chronicles her inspiring story of farm life: chopping wood, making dandelion wine, building chicken coops. Burton looks back at her transition from urban to country living—discovering how to manage a farm while raising her son and making friends with her new neighbors. She mixes charming stories of learning to raise alpacas and buying and revitalizing the town’s beloved candy store, Samuel’s Sweet Shoppe with good friend Paul Rudd and his wife Julie, with raw observations on the ups and downs of marriage and her struggles with infertility. Burton also includes delicious recipes that can be made with fresh ingredients at home.

Burton’s charisma, wide eyed attitude, and fortitude—both internal and physical—propels this moving story of transformation and self-discovery. The Rural Diaries honors the values and lifestyle of small-town America and offers inspiration for anyone longing to embark on their own unconventional journey.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Inspiring

I loved that hilarie read the book! It was very inspiring. I loved the insight into hil and Jeffrey’s. I enjoyed how hilarie was open and honest with her pregnancy struggles, because many people out there have the same issue. I cried like a baby when they spoke about the dog dying. I highly suggest this read.

Beautiful

This is a beautiful and heartfelt book. Well written, I loved it and I loved listening to Hilarie read it.

Amazing from beginning to end!!!

Hilarie Burton Morgan is a fantastic story teller. I devoured this while cleaning and trying avoid the 2nd anniversary of my fathers death. It didn’t do the job but it did help me, and as I listened I found that it was taking me through all the emotions. It made me laugh, it made me cry. What are you waiting for? Give it a try

Beautiful!!

I loved it!! Beautifully written and hearing Hilaire talk was eye opening hearing the struggle in her voice brought tears to my eyes and everything else just put a smile on my face. I loved getting the chance to here more about her as a person and not just a character she places. I pictured the whole thing as if I was watching a movie about her life. Beautiful and amazing!! Your an Inspiration Hilaire Morgan! Thank you! -Charity

Like catching up with an old friend - beautiful!

I absolutely LOVED this book and listened to it in one day! Hilarie's voice (literally and figuratively) is so warm, genuine, and strong. It truly felt like I was having a conversation with her about life and all of its ebbs & flows. I've always had so much respect for how Hilarie carries herself and that feeling has grown tenfold after listening to her book! Such a beautiful story of Hilarie's growth, her relationships, the town she loves so much, the home she has built, her family, etc. I cannot recommend this book enough! It was the perfect comfort read amidst such a heavy time.