Buy yourself the small Star Starfire 9mm. It can usually be found for aroung $260 at the local gun shows.
It has an ambidextrius safety,
checkered front and back straps, white dot sights,
excellent trigger pull and excellent accuracy.
Completely controlable even with high power loads.
Very reliable,
Very small.
Has rubber non slip grips.
Beveled magazine well.
Because it is single action you will hit what you are aiming at with the first shot. You will not have to through away the first shot as you would with most all double action pistols.
You have many carry options, Hammer down, Hammer at full cock, or chamber empty. Because if all these options in an emergency you can even carry it without a special holster.
It does have one and only one drawback. Because of its cheap cast iron frame and slide it is a very heavy gun for its size. I may not be accurate on the weight but I think it tips out at about 30 ounces. But lets face it many, many guns being made today are being made with inferior castings and even powdered metal parts including some of the big names in the gun industry.
So far I have had no problems with my 9mm Star Starfire. It is accurate , controllable and reliable. W.r.