First Serve - by Cynthia Suzanne Sauer (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A novel about perseverance, fair play and human decency. When Lucie Sampson's best friend disappears at the end of fourth grade, she finds herself defenseless against her bullies. Born with hip dysplasia, Lucie's unusual gait has made her a target for teasing most of her young life. But the first time she sees a tennis match, a whole new freedom appears on the horizon. Encouraged by her father, Lucie heads to college with the hope of playing competitive tennis. But before she can set foot on campus, a debilitating accident derails her dreams. As she learns to contend with injury and prejudice, Lucie finds strength in new friendships as she fights for a place back on the court. When her father's most closely guarded secret comes to light, Lucie is exposed to dangers she never anticipated. With more than tennis on the line, the spirit of sportsmanship rewards her with an unexpected finale and, quite certainly, a winning set"--

Book Synopsis

A novel about perseverance, fair play and human decency.

When Lucie Sampson's best friend disappears at the end of fourth grade, she finds herself defenseless against her bullies. Born with hip dysplasia, Lucie's unusual gait has made her a target for teasing most of her young life. But the first time she sees a tennis match, a whole new freedom appears on the horizon.

Encouraged by her father, Lucie heads to college with the hope of playing competitive tennis. But before she can set foot on campus, a debilitating accident derails her dreams. As she learns to contend with injury and prejudice, Lucie finds strength in new friendships as she fights for a place back on the court.

When her father's most closely guarded secret comes to light, Lucie is exposed to dangers she never anticipated. With more than tennis on the line, the spirit of sportsmanship rewards her with an unexpected finale and, quite certainly, a winning set.

Review Quotes

First Serve is the lyrical, heartwarming, and inspiring story of three women whose friendship and couragehelp them navigate the challenges of high-stakes professional tennis, racism, physical trauma, and a long-missing father to come out the other side stronger, wiser, and closer than ever.

- Peter Guzzardi

Author of Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons From Over the Rainbow and former editor at Random House, Inc

Cynthia Suzanne Sauer takes us on a journey of self-reflection and self-discovery in her novel, First Serve. Through the main character's story, we are compelled to question our own moral compass and reflect on the choices that we make that ultimately shape our future. As a high-performance coach for over thirty years, I value the tremendous impact that we have on the lives of those we coach. Cynthia's messaging around friendship, prejudice, tragedy, and redemption exposes the truth about human decency and what it really means to unleash human potential. This is a must-read for not only tennis enthusiasts but for coaches, parents, and teenagers alike because there is hope and a bright future through the connection of sport and friendship for all.

- Emma Doyle

International High-Performance Coach, Author, Speaker & Owner of Open Door Coaching USA

Cynthia Suzanne Sauer writes an engaging novel that captivates. It was enjoyable to read the story from start to finish. I, particularly, loved the many twists and turns and the recognizable parts of the tennis scene-from tournaments to people to clubs. Well done, Cynthia.

- Kim Bastable, MS, USPTA, PTR

Professor of Practice and Director of Professional Tennis Management, University of Florida