The Keeper

by R.G. Prince

Catalina Arismendi knows better than to fall for a player—especially one like Rogue Gallagher.
Grumpy, gorgeous, and ridiculously talented, the team’s star goalkeeper is ten years older, completely off-limits, and entirely out of her league.
He’s moody, mysterious, her total opposite, and somehow, the one man she can’t stop thinking about.
But Rogue isn’t the only one invading her thoughts.
Late-night messages with a stranger on a faceless dating app have Cat hooked—sweet,
attentive, and dangerously easy to fall for, he sees her in a way no one else ever has.
Now, Cat’s stuck between two
The fantasy she’s falling for fast...
And the broody, real-life goalkeeper who might just wreck her—or be the one thing worth the risk.
An age-gap, grumpy/sunshine sports romance full of secret longing, anonymous tension,
and the slowest of slow burns, The Keeper will have you falling hard—maybe for more than one guy.

369 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 13, 2026

About the author

RG Prince is a fiction author, storyteller, and lifelong lover of emotionally driven narratives. Born in Uruguay and raised in Texas, she brings a multicultural perspective to the stories she tells—centered around love, identity, and the quiet strength it takes to survive life’s unexpected turns.

Now based in the Pacific Northwest, RG spends her time writing and running her small business. Her debut novel, If Anything Happens to Me, is a heartfelt exploration of the fine lines between love and control, truth and silence, and the courage it takes to reclaim your story.

When she's not writing, RG enjoys reading late into the night, drinking too much coffee, and dreaming up her next book.

You can connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads: @author.rgprince

Reviews

[Alma · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5 stars)

Thank you to the author for this ARC

I absolutely devoured The Keeper by R.G. Prince. This book is everything I want in a sports romance: tender, angsty, and quietly emotional in the best way.

The slow burn is chef’s kiss—the kind that builds through lingering looks, unspoken tension, and forced proximity that makes every interaction feel loaded. The grumpy x sunshine dynamic worked so well here, especially paired with the workplace romance and age gap. And yes… he falls first, and it shows in the soft, protective moments that completely melted me.

What really stood out was how grounded the romance felt. The soccer setting added just the right amount of atmosphere without overpowering the emotional core of the story. The characters felt real, flawed, and easy to root for, and the payoff was deeply satisfying.

I’m docking just half a star because I wanted slightly more in the final stretch—but honestly? I’m already invested in this series and can’t wait to continue.

If you love:
⚽️ Sports romance
🔥 Slow burn tension
☀️ Grumpy x sunshine
💘 He falls first
🏠 Forced proximity

—you’ll want to add this to your TBR ASAP.

[Paulina Kavanagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟 ARC Review 🌟

This was such a fun read that I breezed through in a day! I honestly couldn’t put it down!

This book has a broody MMC, a strong and independent FMC with dreams and a fun group of friends! All of my favourite things to find in a book!

Rogue is a strong, broody Irish man that knows exactly what he wants from the get go. Cat is a brilliant social media manager that adores her job and and the broody type 👀

I loved the mystery of the online texts and the deep conversations. It really brought a depth to the characters.

I also loved how much Cat loved her job and how everyone respected it, especially the team! It was lovely to see how supported she was by everyone on a daily basis!

I would like to thank R.G Prince and her team for giving me the opportunity to read The Keeper as an advanced copy! I am excited for the rest of the series!

”All I can see is her smile—soft, unguarded, brilliant—and the way the sun hits her face like it’s choosing her over the whole city.”

”for the first time in my life, forever doesn’t sound like a fairytale. It sounds like her.”

”one touch from him has me falling, and I’m not sure I ever want to hit the ground.”

[Tally DLR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by R.G. Prince and my first time as an ARC reader, and I can honestly say I’m becoming obsessed with her writing. The Keeper did not disappoint at all. I often found myself genuinely laughing at the dialogue and smiling while reading. The banter, the chemistry, and the storyline made it hard to put down.

I also really loved how characters from Layover in Love were woven into this story (if you know, you know). Those little connections were such a fun touch and made the world feel even more intentional and connected.

Yes, there were a few moments that felt predictable, but in true rom-com fashion, it was predictable in the best way. This was an easy five out of five for me, and I cannot wait to see where the rest of this series goes next.

[Nadine Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book from R.G. Prince!!!!
I was given the honor of being an alpha reader on this book. Give me a brooding MMC any day!!! Then add that he is a softy under that demeanor and I am in. The FMC is a strong woman with a fierce loyalty to those she loves. I love how she connects with everyone, especially how she gets under the MMC's skin and makes him reveal every facet of his personality.
R.G. Prince makes you feel like you're right there witnessing her characters fall in love. She has become my favorite author!!! There are so many surprises in this book!!! I NEED MORE!!!!

[Elise Turkalj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by prefrencing how honored i am to be given a special preview of this book <3

I had an absolute blast with this book! Seriously, it did not let me down!

The story is such an enjoyable read. I adore the characters; their chemistry was a bit hit or miss, but overall, it was really great. Their humor and the way they support each other made me feel like they were all family. The character development was also spot on, and even the side characters were a real treat, keeping me invested in their stories too.

This is my first book by R.G. Prince, but it definitely won't be the last because, you know, I have a soft spot for a broody, grumpy MMC.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first football (soccer) sports romance and boy it did not disappoint! Cat and Rouge captivated me from the beginning.

Rouge is a grumpy, brooding goalkeeper and Cat is bright and funny, she’s a media manager for the team (she’s also a love island stan and I love her for that).

Tropes:
He falls first
Slow burn
Football (soccer) romance
Grumpy x sunshine

A micro-trope that gets my heart going every single time:
A love letter(s)

4/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️

Be sure to check out this Cat & Rouge’s story January 13/26.

This was also my first R.G Prince novel, it will not be my last! Thank you so much for the ARC copy of this book.

[Kelly Vo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this book is amazing! The story is such a great read. I love the characters, their dynamic all together, their humor, the way they are always there for one another, it’s like they are all family. The main characters are hands down the cutest, I honestly need to find me a Rogue!

R.G. Prince, like always you do a phenomenal job. I really enjoyed this book, thank you so much for allowing me to be one of your BETA readers! I can’t wait to read your future books!

[jessyca estrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun with this book! I was given the opportunity to Beta read for this author and let me tell you! It did not disappoint! I mean, who doesn’t love a good soccer player story?! Rogue had me swooninggggg! And Catalina was a badass! The banter was hilarious and so, very delicious! The development of each character was perfect but also, the side characters were so fun and it had me invested in them too! So much so that I can’t wait to see what comes next or who she writes about next! The friends and family feel was nice and warm too! The story and plot were not the only things that kept me hooked and I loved that about this book! I honestly cannot wait to hear more about Rogue and Catalina and all their friends!

[Jordan Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

[ARC REVIEW]

This is the first sports-related romance I have read and I have to say, this was absolutely my favorite. I absolutely cannot wait until book 2 is released. Rogue may have given me an incredibly high expectation of men …. Again.

It has the perfect amount of slow burn energy, making you read more just to feel the tension building.

Thank you, R.G. for trusting me to read this as an ARC 🫶🏻.

[Donna Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about devouring a book! This is an easy, fun read. The characters are relatable and you’re going to fall in love with them. RG does a phenomenal job of bringing out their individual personalities.

What a great story ahead of the World Cup! If you love soccer, this is a must read!

Thank you for allowing me to be an ARC reader!

[Katie Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by R.G. Prince but it won't be the last. I love a broody, grumpy MMC who only smiles for his FMC. The way Rogue and Cat communicate and slowly build their friendship is heartwarming. We get to experience the start of a beautiful relationship that has them opening up and truly showing who they are. Loved this book!

[Destinee Castorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time being an ARC reader and my first time reading RG princes work, I ABSOLUTELY DEVOURED THIS!🤭 I have a weakness for grumpy x sunshine tropes and this was it the banter and overall telling of their story was amazing. The Keeper is a very easy read & I cannot wait for the rest of the series to come out!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The keeper was such a fun and cute read! Loved it and now I can’t wait for more in this series!