Honest reviews of books by independent authors

Why this blog exists

Independent authors write the books I want to tell people about, but too often those books never reach the readers who would love them. This blog exists to help indie authors find their audience, one honest and comprehensive review at a time.

My grandfather wrote five books that were never published because of market difficulties. That experience sits behind every review I write. Nothing is promised to a publisher, no deals are made on anyone's behalf, and no verdict is guaranteed. I simply tell readers what a book made me feel, and let them decide.

Reviews here cover historical fiction, dystopian and survival tales, romance, thrillers and supernatural stories — the kinds of books I read by the fire when I have an evening free.

More about me →

Leonard Tillerman's corner of the internet is a place for honest, thoughtful book reviews, with a particular focus on independent authors whose work often goes unseen. A long-time reader and lover of fiction, he pairs a teacher's eye for language with a principal's habit of explaining things clearly. The blog covers everything from literary novels to supernatural horror, historical fiction, and romantic suspense, treating each title as a story worth understanding rather than a product to be ranked. Readers arrive curious and leave with something more useful than a rating.

The idea behind the blog grew out of a family disappointment: Leonard's grandfather wrote several books that market difficulties kept from publication. That experience left an impression and shaped the mission of writing detailed, comprehensive reviews for indie writers. Too many good books are written quietly and never find the audience that would adore them. So each review here is meant to be a bridge, a careful introduction placed where readers of genre fiction, thrillers, and heartfelt tales are already paying attention.

Reviews on this site run long on purpose. Titles from writers such as Anna Casamento, Ken Bazinet, Sharon Connell, Mary Stark, Nina Romano, and John Robert Martin are discussed across novellas, short stories, and longer novels, including work like Arrigo's Ghost Hunter and The Seventh Tale. The tone stays conversational but specific, describing plot, atmosphere, and character motivation without resorting to hype. Readers looking for a new favorite often find that the recommendation comes with a genuine sense of why the story matters.

Some books here earn the highest praise, described as beautifully written, deeply moving, and highly recommended to adult readers who love strong emotional storytelling. Horror titles are treated with real seriousness, exploring ghosts, demons, and the darker corners of the supernatural rather than dismissing them as tricks. Suspense and romantic fiction receive the same attention, with particular care given to atmosphere, pacing, and whether a mystery resolves in a way that feels earned rather than forced.

Among the recurring favorites are stories featuring the kind of memorable characters that stay with a reader long after the final page: a determined romantic girl, an investigator facing an evil presence, a hotel with a troubled history, and characters carrying secrets and shattered hope into the autumn of their lives. The writing celebrates intelligence and restraint, noting when a story is intelligent and thrilling, and when a haunting tale leaves traces that linger. Recommended titles often appeal to both seasoned readers and fans of the genre.

Leonard also works as an editor and freelance writer, and that background shows in how the reviews are constructed. Instead of summarizing a book in a sentence and moving on, each piece considers craft: how the color and dress of a setting is chosen, how dialogue sounds, how a supernatural reveal is staged, how historical detail is woven into a fictional life. Thoughtful criticism, delivered in plain language, gives authors something actionable, and gives readers confidence that the book being recommended has been genuinely read rather than skimmed.

New entries arrive steadily through the year, with reviews published across the spring, summer, autumn, and winter months, reflecting the rhythm of a working life that still finds time to read widely. Readers who enjoy pick-up-the-trail recommendations, ghostly hotel hauntings, and the slow build of a romantic mystery can follow along as the collection grows. The promise remains simple and consistent: one honest, comprehensive review at a time, so that independent authors reach the readers who are waiting for them.

Reviews on the page

More titles from the archive, with the date each review was posted.

A note on the reviews

Every opinion on this site belongs to Leonard Tillerman alone. Reviews are written from the text itself; where a book moves me, I say so, and where it does not, I say that too. Reading is a personal act, and my notes are meant to start a conversation rather than end one.

My interests outside of reading include animals, kindness and writing. If you are an indie author who would like your work read honestly and respectfully, you can find me on Twitter at @LeonardTillerma.