Fans of the iconic Deviations series will fondly recall Bradford as the beloved owner and Master of the elite and exclusively male BDSM club that anchors the series, and also as the wise man who introduced Tobias and Noah. Dominant Bradford’s story is one defined by sudden opportunity, unimaginable heartbreak, and new-found purpose. His calling is to provide a safe and supportive environment for … supportive environment for men in the lifestyle. Bringing Doms and subs together is his superpower, yet he feels fated to be alone himself.
In this addition to the series, you’ll not only discover Bradford’s own history, but also how Bradford is first drawn to Nikki, a beautiful and hungry young man living on the streets, and the unexpected ways Bradford grows and changes while helping Nikki understand a world of strange, new desires.
Deviations readers already know outcome of Bradford and Nikki’s journey together. Soft Limits is a deep-dive into Bradford’s story, into what makes the Dom tick, and how he ended up with ownership of the club. It also introduces Nikki, the sub that tests Bradford’s patience, steals his heart, and soothes his soul.
NOTE: Soft Limits comes before the series on the timeline but reads as a standalone (no spoilers). For those interested in the full series, can be read first or last.
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I read this book after having read the Deviation series last year. This book gives the reader the backstory of Bradford’s earlier years and the months leading up to the first book in the main series. In this book, we learn how Bradford met his sub, Nikki, who shows up periodically in the other books. “Soft Limits” is true to the tone of the other books, with a high protocol BDSM standard. Since Nikki starts out as a young, homeless survivor on the street, Bradford helps him out and provides him with a place to stay and a job, but does not demand anything further. This book is a slow-burn because ethically Nikki must enter the club scene from his own fully-informed choice, because it is right for him, and not because he needs to conform to survive. This book is well-written, sensitive, true to issues that may come from a large age-gap, and it shares a beautiful emerging D/s love story.
Soft Limits by author Jodi Payne is a prequel novel in the Deviants Series. I loved the forward in this book. Really a fan-driven story. I felt the excitement and love that went into this story.
Bradford, I loved getting to know him better. We get to really have a feel for how he ticks. I think the series was good, but this really adds to the experience. He is in a good place in his life and content. He is kindhearted and strong. I loved getting into his thought process more.
Nikki, he is cautious and young. He is also a bit daring. I liked his spirit and what he brings to Bradford’s life too. He is really a character I loved before and now love even more.
Overall, I think fans will love this addition to the Deviant series. I also think if you started here you would be okay. The story is solid on its own. Just the fans will get more out of it. I am sorry to see this series go and would love more stories like this one in the future.
Five Shooting Stars
Bradford is the club owner whose life is pretty much a mystery in the Deviations series. Now, this wonderful prequel shows Bradford’s meeting and instant infatuation with Nikki. Nikki is just trying to survive, and he and the world of BDSM is something he knows basically nothing about – and has certainly never considered for himself. We get to see Nikki begin to grow more comfortable with Bradford, kink, and his own desires. And we get to see Bradford fall for the younger man. The Deviations series is wonderful, and this book is a fabulous addition. I will read this book, as well as the series, again.
Wow! Just wow! Though I’ve never read the series, I loved reading about Nikki and Bradford. I love the way Bradford worked to help Nikki come into his own, while learning how to love him. I’ve already purchased the first book in the series; for me it’s a must read. Fantastic!
When Dom Bradford happens upon a young man in his local coffeeshop, something draws him close. When he discovers Nikki can’t even afford a granola bar, he takes him in and offers him a job. But Nikki will soon come to mean much more to him than just an employee. And Nikki will start to learn a new world, one of contracts and dominance and submission.
I really liked this story. Bradford and Nikki, while seemingly mismatched on paper, are actually perfectly suited to each other. Though kind of slow burn, I like that time and detail were given to their relationship, rather than just wham bam thank you m’am. I know this is a prequel, and there’s a whole series after, so I’m really hoping there is much more of Nikki and his Sir Bradford to come.
A prequel to the Deviations series, Jodi Payne’s perfectly named Soft Limits tells the story of Bradford and Nikki, as well as laying a bit of groundwork for what’s to come for Tobias and Noah. As a long-time fan of this series, I highly recommend you read books 1-5 first so you can fully enjoy the characters and their story in Soft Limits.
Fans of the series know Bradford and his sub Nikki, and we’ve watched them support Tobias and his boys (especially Phan) over the years. What an unexpected treat to see how Bradford and Nikki navigate their way to their first contract! This is a wonderful love story, and a gratifying and heartwarming journey of two men who truly complete each other in the best way possible.
(Bonus: There are also some terrific insights into other supporting characters. It’s so much fun to see these guys interacting with each other, both in the club and just spending time together.)
Bradford has been waiting a long time to find a boy of his own, and like he tells Noah, when it’s right you just know it. From the moment he meets Nikki, Bradford is completely intrigued. Using every bit of patience he can muster, instructing Nikki and leading him on his journey is exactly what Bradford needs to feel invested and complete that connection.
Nikki is young, inexperienced, and desperately needs to find where he belongs. A safe place where he can get healthy and explore what makes him feel good is the right way to begin. So when Bradford offers his help, Nikki takes a chance and accepts.
A beautiful May/December romance, excellent BDSM scenes, and a wonderful way to revisit these characters. I challenge anyone who loves the Deviations series to read Soft Limits and not feel compelled to go back and reread at least Submission. (I know I will!) And join me in hoping that Jodi Payne plans more stories surrounding these beloved characters.
From my point of view as a newbie to the Deviations series world, this amazing prequel story is simply brilliant. Meet Bradford, a very experienced Dom, owner of the exclusively male BDSM club that is the main scenery for the stories in the other books and discover how he found Nikky and taught him everything he knows of being a sub. This is the beginning and it is incredible detailed, from the explanations of the Dom/sub scenes to the complex relationship between the main characters that Ms Payne skillfully created, the book is a rare jewel. Of course there is a happy ending, but it left you with a desire for more, to see what happens next, so I’m starting the following books in the series to find it out.
I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
Great addition to the series for all the fans who wanted to know how the things started and were curious about Nikki and Bradford. It doesn’t really matter if you start with this book or read it at the end. It can be read even as a standalone but I can guarantee that if you are new to this series you won’t be satisfied with just one book. It’s almost impossible for me to review this book separate from the series. Deviations is one of the most realistic descriptions of the the lifestyle ever published in MM romance and gives you a great insight into the mind of a dominant and also into the mind of a submissive. This very well researched series could be as well a textbook how SSC (safe, sane, consensual) should work. MC’s and supporting characters are captivating and I hope this isn’t the end of it, because I feel that some of them, Levi especially deserve stories of their own. When reading you should keep in mind that Deviations was written more than 10 years ago so some benefits of modern technology like cell phones and internet were not available to everyone.
I really enjoyed meeting Bradford and Nikki. I haven’t read any of the books connected yet, which is a good thing since this book gives me the background or start to the series in a way. Meeting the other subs and Doms in this book gives me a familiar place to start.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were really easy to like and it gives a good look into the bdsm world. I quickly became attached to Nikki and Bradford and was rooting for them. Now I have bought Noah and Tobias’s book.
I highly recommend this book.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy for my honest review.
Soft Limits by Jodi Payne is part of the Deviations series and serves as a prequel to the series. I have not read the rest of the books in the series but after being introduced to these characters and their universe I am definitely anxious to check them out.
Filled with themes such as BDSM, finding a hopeful situation after a bad situation, and discovering new sides of your self and your desires… this story intrigued me and made me want more. These characters are interesting and their story entertains. We are given a look into this world and find out what makes them tick. A very satisfying read.