In my books, women often solve the problem. Even if the woman is not the hero, she's a strong character. She does change the plot. She'll often rescue the male character from some situation.
WorksWinter Of The World; Fall Of Giants; Night Over Water; Lie Down With Lions; On Wings Of Eagles; The Man From St. Petersburg; The Key To Rebecca; A Place Called Freedom; The Pillars Of The Earth; Code To Zero; The Hammer Of Eden; World Without End; Hornet Flight