IMO, for a woman, it would be hard to beat either the Ruger LCR or the S&W Bodyguard 38 sp. with the factory laser.
It's a little lighter than the LCR and also has a great trigger. Also about the same price as the Ruger, but the S&W has the Laser included.

"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston
Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"

~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~