Heated Rain: A Sapphic Dystopian

by J. Victoria Tobias

What would you do to survive? Would you lie? Steal? Kill? Could you take a human life if it meant your survival?

In the years after the rains, Sergeant Major Alex Tremont had to make some hard decisions. But in the end, she lost everything. Hardened by that loss, she lives with the choices she made. Fighting alone, she stays away from people as much as possible to avoid making any emotional connections. Until her ex literally stumbles back into her life.

Kris might be the one woman who can save them all. A brilliant marine biologist, she has found a way to make the soil and waters viable again. Can she get the word out alive? Will a woman from her past help her or stop her from saving the world?

Genres: Lesbian

285 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 23, 2026

About the author

Jen is an author of sapphic romance novels, most with a touch of supernatural and all with spice. As a huge animal lover, pets will always play a role in all of her stories. Her day job, which she loves, even revolves around pets. Her other passion is photography, mostly nature but also anything old, abandoned, and spooky. After growing up, graduating from UCONN, and spending most of her life in Connecticut, she and her wife picked up and moved to Illinois to be closer to family. When she's not writing or shooting photography, Jen loves hiking, biking, reading, relaxing, and spending time with her wife and furry children.

Reviews

[Chelles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heated Rain

I almost got caught up in the dynamics of Kris and Alex's relationship. I mean, this was a third-chance romance.
However, in the event of an apocalypse - all bets are off! No rules, no ettiquette, no politeness... there might be no tomorrow. So with everything each of them had to go through - together and separately- it was easy to accept how things unfolded for them.

As for the other stuff...wow! Talk about excitement, action, suspense - all of it! It's the type of story that pulls you in and keeps you turning those pages. And I love that gender had no role in this book. This could be an awesome TV Series!

[Altus Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex stands out as a complex protagonist strong, guarded, and shaped by her past. Her emotional walls feel believable.

[LovesickJunkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 AT A GLANCE
STARS 4 star
SPICE Medium Spice
CHEMISTRY Great
ANGST Medium
SLOW BURN No
CLIFFHANGER No (maybe a little)
CHARACTERS Kris and Alex


💬 LINES THAT LIVE RENT-FREE
“Kris. I’m here. I’m coming for you.” The anger boiling inside her made her push the button again. “And I will kill anyone who gets in my way.” - Alex

🖤 MY READING EXPERIENCE
I had so much fun with this one. It combines everything I enjoy in an end-of-the-world story: danger, action, impossible odds, and a love story worth fighting for. Kris and Alex's connection stayed strong through years of separation, and that emotional core kept me hooked.

💭 CHARACTER THOUGHTS
Alex's military background and leadership skills made her a standout character for me. Kris balanced her perfectly. What I loved most was that time and distance never weakened their feelings for each other.

🔥 MOMENTS I’M STILL THINKING ABOUT
When Kris sent out the SOS and Alex promised she was coming for her. No hesitation. No doubt. Just pure "I'll find you" energy.

📚 READ THIS IF YOU LOVE…
Sapphic romance • End-of-the-world adventures • I'd do anything for you vibes • Touch her and die • Strong heroines • High stakes • Action-packed stories

[Verity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good survive-at-all-costs drama. Heated Rain has that and more. The tension between Kris and Alex is palpable. The choices they make feel dire and necessary. Such a fun read!

Poor choices drove them apart 5 years ago and now political intrigue is pushing them back together as they try to help the world recover from near annihilation. They thought each other dead for years until Alex finds herself needing to save Kris from hostiles set on keeping the government in the hands of a madman. They have lessons to learn about themselves if they hope to overcome the odds against them.

[George Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book doesn’t romanticize survival it shows the cost of it. Every decision Alex makes feels heavy, and you can sense the weight of everything she’s lost.

[Cassise Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reunion between Alex and Kris isn’t simple or sweet. It’s layered with history, pain, and unresolved choices, which makes their dynamic compelling.

[Lucy John · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a steady tension throughout the story. While it’s not nonstop action, the stakes remain high, especially with the constant threat of survival.

[Ella Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I appreciated most is the contrast between survival and hope. Alex represents endurance, while Kris represents rebuilding.