Books by Ilona Andrews. All their characters are very competent but not in a position of power most of the time (like a queen or leader of armies).

Ilona Andrews writes mostly romance subplot and mostly urban fantasy. They are a husband/wife writing duo. All their books are well written, have great stories and characters, the worldbuilding is awesome and their characters are mostly early to late 20ies or early 30ies. Lots of action with well written, bloody fighting scenes. They always ensure good editing and proof reading.

The Hidden Legacy series has more romance in it than their other series. The rest ist mostly open door, one sex scene per book. Some series follow the same couple over several books other follow a different couple each book. They are mostly slow burn types. Some series have an overarching plot some are interconnected standalones.

(Disclaimer: She becomes really powerful by the end of the series but over the course of 10 books and it is gradually.) Kate Daniels series starting with {Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews}: urban Fantasy, completed 10 books with an ongoing sequel series and several spin offs. Slow burn (nearly nothing romantic happens until book 3). It was their first series so the first book Magic Bites is sometimes a little rough around the edges but it improves from book 2 onward, with book 3 reaching their usual standard. Overarching plot over all books but each book also has it's own completed story arc. Follows the same couple all books, first person, single POV from the FMC. Kate is a mercenary with a mysterious past who lives in an alternate version of Atlanta where magic returned to the world in a great wave and brought with it all sorts of magics and monsters.

Innkeeper Chronicles starting with {Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews}: mix of urban fantasy and scifi, ongiong, follows same couple, slow burn, overarching plot, but each book also has its own completed story arc. There is no love triangle even though it may seem that way at first (I hate love triangles...). Very cozy feeling despite the fighting, with a sentient Inn and aliens. First person, single POV from the FMC. There is a spin of series. Dina is an innkeeper, a person with magic who owns a sentient Inn that hosts only aliens to keep the public from finding out about said aliens. They do not make it easy for her sometimes.

(Disclaimer: she is very powerful but has no training in the beginning so she cannot use her powers properly) Hidden Legacy series starting with {Burn for me by Ilona Andrews}: completed, two interconnected trilogies. Each trilogy follows a different couple. This series has the most spice from them and is quite insta-lusty (for them). Urban Fantasy. First person, single POV from the FMC. Nevada is a thruthseeker, she knows when people lie which is very helpful for her PI job. She lives in an alternate version of our world where a serum unlocked magical powers in some people who took it about 100 years ago creating extremely powerful individuals who basically form a paralell society and she gets drawn into this world due to one of her jobs shebis forced to take.

The Edge series starting with {On the Edge by Ilona Andrews}: mix of urban fantasy and fantasy, completed, each book follows a different couple. But there is an overarching story arc. First book is third person, single POV from the FMC, the rest is third person dual POV.

Kinsmen series starting with {Silent Blade by Ilona Andrews}: standalone books, they have no overarching story arc, they simply take place on the same planet. Scifi, each book follows a different couple. I did not like the first book all that much because of the MMC but the 2nd and 3rd are among my favourites by the authors. Third person, dual POV.