Wahl, first off - welcome!
Now....my 5', buck-five weighin' better half has her own Kimber .45 - which is the long way around sayin' that IMO (an' hers) the 45 is purty easy to handle. Given the added weight of the gun an' the relatively slower cartridge, she actually likes the .45 over her .357. I'd suggest some light target loads on the .45 an' lettin' her give it a try.
I have... she ain't havin it! The wife isnt too into spitting bullets... My daughter on the other hand... She can shoot!