LEVEL UP FOR LOVE by Lenora Woods: Nothing says “second chance romance” quite like joining a new D&D campaign and discovering your Dungeon Master is the guy 
who ghosted you six years ago.
Reagan Riley and Wesley Locke spent college competing against each other in their video game design program—until one unexpected hookup was followed by Wesley ghosting her.
Six years later, Reagan has put game design behind her and found a creative outlet in D&D. Then her new Dungeon Master turns out to be Wesley. And that’s not even the only place they’ll be competing.
When a game design opportunity puts them on opposing sides again, Reagan and Wesley are suddenly battling it out in both worlds. In the campaign, she’s Sindra, a sword-wielding knight. He’s Vadrien, a ruthless vampire lord. And apparently, six years hasn’t done a thing to that chemistry. 👀🎲
LEVEL UP FOR LOVE was such a fun combination of romance and D&D, and I loved how completely the gaming world was woven into Reagan and Wesley’s story. The rivalry, the banter, the unresolved history, and Wesley’s very obvious feelings for Reagan kept me invested, while the D&D campaign gave the story an extra layer. Add in the family dynamics, gaming culture, and two characters figuring out how to move forward without leaving parts of themselves behind, and this was a satisfying second-chance romance.
Tropes & Vibes
⚔️ Rivals to lovers
💕 Second chance romance
🔥 Former college rivals
🎲 D&D romance
🎮 Game designers
👀 Old hookup
🧛♂️ Vampire lord
🗡️ Knight heroine
🏡 Forced proximity
Perfect For Readers who love nerdy romance, D&D, rivals who still have unresolved chemistry, game designers, second chances, sharp banter, fantasy-within-a-romance, and heroes who are much more invested in the heroine than they’d like to admit.
Book Info:
Publication: September 8, 2026 | Dell |
In college, Reagan Riley and Wesley Locke were constantly at each other’s throats, competing to be the best in their video game design program—until Wesley ghosts her after their unexpected hookup, severing their ties for good.
Six years later, Reagan has set aside her game design dreams, opting instead to stay close to her family in Connecticut and channel her creative energy into D&D. When her longstanding group falls apart, she and her sister join their local game store’s new advanced campaign—only to find the demanding Dungeon Master at the helm is none other than Wesley. In the game, he is Vadrien, a merciless, power-hungry vampire lord, and Reagan is Sindra, the sword-wielding lady knight who will stop at nothing to cut him down.
When a game design opportunity opens up in the real world, Reagan and Wesley find themselves doubly pitted against each other. But as their buried spark reignites and Reagan starts to question why Wesley left all those years ago, can they find a way to play nice—and are they playing for more than just to win?
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