I don't know if you will ever see this response, but I am so sorry the F2 & F3 function keys didn't work for you.

What I do is pause the game, check parenting for both partners, move them to a secluded portion of the island, hold the function key down, press the space bar, and have the female initiate the embrace (I drop her on the male). I don't let them go to the "love shack." Usually mine embrace once, sometimes twice, population goes up & I pause the game. I change the partners back to the skill I want them to have and press the space bar again to continue the game.

As far as I can tell, this works in all of the games at this time. We will see what the next one will bring.