R.L. Mathewson Books in Order (Updated 2026-02-09)

R.L. Mathewson is best known for The Neighbor From Hell romantic-comedy universe, plus a separate paranormal lane (Pyte/Sentinel) and a handful of shorter side projects. Her books usually deliver one main couple per book, but the running cast and callbacks can spoil earlier happy endings if you jump around.

Below is a practical, series-by-series reading order, with a short original line for every title.

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Your quickest “what should I read first?” map

• Pure rom-com chaos + the Bradford family: start with Playing for Keeps.
• Vampires/werewolves + humor: start with Tall, Dark & Lonely.
• A short, modern two-book set: start with Anger Management (Devastated → Furious).
• Want to sample without any series rules: try The Project or Never Again.

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The Neighbor From Hell (main rom-com series)

Read in order if you want the jokes, family history, and couple outcomes to land cleanly.

1. Pretend: A best-friends slow burn sets an emotional baseline for the larger Bradford orbit.
2. Playing for Keeps: A fed-up heroine stops being a pushover, and her neighbor becomes her biggest problem.
   2.5 Yard Sale (short): A quick extra that leans into domestic chaos and the couple’s ongoing bickering-love language.
3. Perfection: A “too perfect” setup crumbles once real flaws and real desire show up together.
4. Checkmate: A rivalry next door turns into a relationship that can’t keep pretending it’s only irritation.
   4.5 A Bradford Halloween (short): A holiday extra that’s mostly family antics, teasing, and sweet payoffs.
5. Truce: A prequel-style historical Bradford romance that explains how the family mess began.
6. The Game Plan: A stubborn hero runs into a heroine who won’t be pushed around, and that becomes the point.
7. Double Dare: A long-held crush stops waiting politely and starts demanding an answer.
8. Christmas from Hell: A holiday romance where the worst neighbor becomes the one person who won’t leave.
9. Fire & Brimstone: A tightly wound hero meets the woman who enjoys pressing every one of his buttons.
10. Delectable: A Bradford looking for a reset finds the exact person who won’t let him stay comfortable.
11. The Promise: Loyalty and consequences collide when a “simple promise” turns into a life decision.
12. Irresistible: A one-night mistake becomes a family-shaped future no one planned for.
13. Finally: The woman he can’t forget returns, and resisting her becomes a losing strategy.
14. Another Christmas from Hell: Holiday pressure turns a long-avoided attraction into a real choice.
15. The Deal: A marriage-for-revenge setup turns into something neither side is prepared to feel.
16. Playtime’s Over: A long revenge plan runs headfirst into feelings and a Bradford who won’t quit.

A note on numbering: some listings show The Deal as #14 and Playtime’s Over as #15; the author’s series page lists Playtime’s Over as #16.

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Honeymoon From Hell (optional extras for Neighbor From Hell fans)

These are bonus “after” stories tied to specific Neighbor From Hell couples. Read them after you finish the related main book.

1. Playing for Keep’s Honeymoon from Hell: A wild post–happy-ending trip proves “married” doesn’t mean “calm.”
2. Perfection’s Honeymoon from Hell: The couple’s version of romance includes a lot of scheming and zero boundaries.
3. Checkmate’s Honeymoon from Hell: The rivalry energy follows them into marriage, because of course it does.
4. Another Christmas from Hell’s Honeymoon from Hell: A newer bonus that doubles down on commitment and chaos.

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The Neighbor From Hell Chronicles (separate lane)

These are teen/young adult–leaning Bradford stories and are best treated as their own continuity track.

1. Misunderstood: A Bradford teen tries to rebuild his life while love complicates everything he thought he wanted.
2. Difficult: High school survival turns into an emotional tightrope when the confession matters more than pride.

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Pyte/Sentinel (paranormal romance)

This is a different world from Neighbor From Hell. Read in order for the cleanest worldbuilding and recurring character arcs.

1. Tall, Dark & Lonely: A vampire romance with humor, danger, and a heroine who won’t be intimidated.
2. Without Regret: A devoted protector finally meets the person he’s been waiting for, and nothing goes smoothly.
3. Tall, Dark & Heartless: A powerful hero battles his own impulses once love becomes a weakness.
4. Tall, Silent and Lethal: A quiet, deadly type falls hard, and the relationship becomes the real risk.
5. Fated: Destiny shows up with teeth, and the couple has to decide what “meant to be” costs.
6. Tall, Dark & Furious: Long-simmering tension turns explosive once the hero stops holding back.
7. Unstoppable: Revenge and attraction collide in a story that doesn’t allow halfway choices.
8. Short, Lethal and Claimed: The series leans darker as possession, protection, and trust blur together.

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Cursed Hearts (paranormal)

1. Black Heart: A curse-driven romance where secrets matter as much as desire.
2. Betrayed (announced/coming soon): A follow-up that’s positioned as the next major step in the cursed storyline.

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Hollywood Heart (contemporary)

1. A Humble Heart: A woman rebuilds her life under unwanted attention and finds love where she least expects support.
2. A Reclusive Heart (listed as coming soon on the author site): A shy heroine’s life changes when someone refuses to let her hide.

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EMS (contemporary)

1. Sudden Response: Two EMTs and a high-pressure job set the stage for romance built on exhaustion and loyalty.

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Anger Management (contemporary, read in order)

1. Devastated: A broken situation forces two people to fight for a future neither believed in anymore.
2. Furious: A life derails in one moment, and love has to prove it can survive the aftermath.

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Standalones (read anytime)

• The Project: A romantic-comedy setup where “one last chance” becomes the only thing that feels real.
• Never Again: A suspense-tinged romance where survival and attraction arrive in the same terrifying moment.

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Announced projects to watch

These are listed on the author site as “coming soon,” so treat timing as flexible:

• Devious Delectable Decades (anthology; upcoming)
• Fire & Brimstone Series: Dark Light (upcoming)
• The Loser’s Club: Dangerous / Unforgivable / A Loser’s Christmas (upcoming set)

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A simple reading plan that keeps everything straight

1. The Neighbor From Hell (start at Playing for Keeps; add the short extras only if you want them).
2. Anger Management (quick two-book change of pace).
3. Pyte/Sentinel (when you’re ready for paranormal with continuity).

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FAQ

Do I have to read Neighbor From Hell in order?
You can follow each romance on its own, but you’ll bump into spoilers through family updates and recurring couples if you skip around.

Where does Truce fit?
It’s a historical prequel entry, but it’s still safest to read it where it sits in the series numbering so later references feel intentional.

Are the Chronicles required?
No. They’re best treated as a separate track if you want Bradford stories with a teen/YA flavor.