Ariel: Ariel's Office: Moon Void of Course (PDF)

Get ready to meet one housewife who refuses to be desperate. Ariel McManus is a former businesswoman turned stay-at-home mom who works nights as an astrologer from a little office above her garage. She’s married to handsome computer-consulting superstar, Josh. When they communicate, it’s usually in the form of an argument, most of the time over her career: He’d like to see her return to corporate America and she’d rather grow her astrology practice. Her best friend, the rambunctious fashion designer Frankie, sees Ariel’s joie de vivre slipping away; but as a result of losing his boyfriend to cancer three years earlier, he too is miserable and is unable to provide Ariel with the direction she needs to overcome her unhappiness.

Everything changes when Ariel’s new client, jaded art gallery owner Brad Martinson, comes on the scene. He immediately touches a deep chord with Ariel, and throughout the story, her opinion of him ranges widely (and wildly). Eventually she realizes that by helping him find himself through astrology, she’s finding herself, too. And Brad, who was resigned to only dating “uncomplicated, hot young airheads” is suddenly captivated by this woman who, despite her passionate nature, is not in touch with her deepest emotions.

Finally after learning just how far her husband is willing to go to get ahead in business, Ariel’s world crumbles. From there she draws on her inner strength, reclaims her life and identity, and realizes life is not worth living when you compromise to the point of sacrificing everything. She also learns it’s possible to love another person without losing herself.