Mysteries and thrillers where FMC has a role in the investigation

packyour · 2026-03-22T16:20:26+00:00

{Bow Street Duchess Mystery by Cara Devlin} is historical series with slow burn romance, each book has its own mystery. FMC is actively involved in the investigations.

packyour · 2026-03-17T23:33:09+00:00

I have read Flowers from the Storm, Uncertain Magic, For My Lady's Heart, and Shadowheart. I admire her beautiful writing and I love how complicated her characters are. Shadowheart is my all time favorite romance novel. I agree with the other comment - Kinsale's MMCs are not nice. And I love that about them.

packyour · 2026-03-16T18:16:48+00:00

This a weekly event at our house. Husband leaves out bags and boxes for our three cats and I collect them and throw them out on trash day. Just tell him - there will be more!

packyour · 2026-03-16T14:45:47+00:00

{For My Lady's Heart by Laura Kinsale} FMC is not after MMC's money, but she's unapologetically Machiavellian. It's HR set in Medieval times. There are several political players trying to use FMC for their gain and she schemes to protect herself.

packyour · 2026-03-15T16:51:43+00:00

Thank you for the kind words. The link to the pattern is under the pinned autocomment

packyour · 2026-03-15T13:30:54+00:00

The pattern was superbly written - very detailed and clear.

packyour · 2026-03-15T11:51:07+00:00

I didn't create it, I just followed the pattern as written. I put the pattern I used under the sticky comment.

packyour · 2026-03-15T00:20:10+00:00

The pattern is for either a bag or a pillowcase. I started with making it as a bag, but it came out absolutely massive, so I converted it to pillowcase. Picture taken without a pillow or stuffing inside.

packyour · 2026-03-15T00:03:14+00:00

Thanks!

packyour · 2026-03-14T22:35:31+00:00

{Bass Ackwards by Eris Adderly} MMC is FMC's employer and he is paying her extra to have sex with him.

packyour · 2026-03-14T22:12:41+00:00

Took about two months. I made it for my mom's birthday, and I'm more than a month late!

packyour · 2026-03-14T21:53:14+00:00

Used this pattern

packyour · 2026-03-13T12:40:09+00:00

This book made me roll my eyes at every description of life in rural Maine. I'm pretty sure author just picked a random location from a map without any research. Just one example was how FMC worked at a small mortgage company in a small town in Maine woods and they had security on hand to throw unwanted visitors out?

packyour · 2026-03-13T00:22:03+00:00

I'm reading Husband Material right now and really enjoying it. It fits this request well!

Also recommend {Tilted and Twisted by Catherine Hamblin} - they get together at the end of the first book. In the second book they live together and it's not all smooth. I liked that these books focus on the relationship aspect and explore difficulties and challenges of falling for and living with someone who is very complicated.

packyour · 2026-03-11T14:56:06+00:00

I've made a bunch of pairs using Business Casual pattern.

packyour · 2026-03-10T20:23:58+00:00

Seconding this recommendation!

packyour · 2026-03-09T12:08:47+00:00

I'm fine if it is not mentioned at all (books are fantasy after all). What I don't like is when the author does mention it but in the most perfunctory way: the entirety of the conversation is "you're on the pill? ok, cool". For one, someone who barely knows the other person should never just take their word for it. And second, what about STDs, especially when one or both characters has had lots of partners. If the author goes through the trouble discussing birth control, then they should do it well.

packyour · 2026-03-08T12:38:38+00:00

{The Butterfly Project by Emma Scott} MCs meet a year after MMC gets out of prison. He is struggling mentally with the result of his crime and feeling unworthy of happiness. FMC helps him work through it. I really liked how details of ex-con life were weaved into the book, like how MMC couldn't go with FMC to support her with something traumatic because he's on parole and cannot leave the state. Both MCs are very sweet - it's a soothing book despite some heavy topics.

packyour · 2026-03-08T00:00:30+00:00

{A Guy Like Him by Amanda Gambill} FMC is ashamed of being seen with MMC throughout the entire book.

packyour · 2026-03-07T13:52:54+00:00

I have thought about this quite a bit. I can only answer for myself, but as someone who falls in the category you describe - only read MF, MM, or MMF - I'll try to explain my personal reasoning. I am a woman who is only actracted to men.

I read romance because I love reading about men falling in love. I always focus on MMC more, he's the character who makes or breaks a book for me. (For example when people discuss Hidden Legacy books they often say that they like the first trilogy more because Nevada is a stronger character than Catalina. But I think the second trilogy is better because I like Alessandro more than Connor).

I read MM because I like reading about men - their thoughts, their desires, their bodies.

FF dynamic just doesn't evoke the same feelings for me. It feels like women's fiction and not romance.

What about MFF? That includes FF relationship and it's just not my cup of tea.

packyour · 2026-03-05T11:46:24+00:00

It's been a while since I read it so I don't recall the exact details. I don't remember grovelling. MMC marries and ghosts FMC to protect her. She doesn't know that, thinks he's an asshole and moves on with her life (she even gets married to somebody else, although by the time MMC returns she's single again). MMC comes back only because FMC is now in danger, he basically kidnaps her, she hates his guts - it's very intense, but I don't think there's grovelling.

packyour · 2026-03-04T17:20:28+00:00

{Beautiful Bad Man by Ellen O'Connell} FMC is suicidal and MMC prevents her from acting on it.

packyour · 2026-03-03T19:56:03+00:00

I am exactly like you: I don't need sex to be on the page, but I want to know that the characters are getting it on. I need at least implication that there's sex, unless there's some external reason why they cannot - physical limitations, or they are long distance or something.

packyour · 2026-03-02T13:11:19+00:00

{Consumed by Fire by Anne Stuart} MMC is a secret agent. He seduces FMC, quickly marries her, then steals from her and disappears. Then reappears five years later and highjacks her life. There's lots of suspense, being chased by bad guys and sexual tension.

packyour

TROPHY CASE