I've read a good chunk of Karen Witemeyer's stuff, and honestly, she's a go-to for that specific itch—a feisty heroine and a steadfast guy in the Old West. If you want strong, look at 'A Tailor-Made Bride'. Hannah is all business, trying to open her dress shop, and J.T. is this stubborn livery owner who thinks she's bringing vanity to town. Their banter is top-tier, and the whole story is less about grand adventures and more about two strong-willed people learning to bend. It’s a solid start.
'To Win Her Heart' is another favorite of mine. Levi, an ex-con trying to start over as a blacksmith, and Eden, the prim librarian who judges him by his past. Her strength is more intellectual and moral, which I liked. It’s a quieter build-up but the way she challenges her own prejudices has weight.
Honestly, sometimes her plots can feel a bit similar, but you're guaranteed a couple that actually talks through their problems, which is the core of a good historical romance for me. 'Full Steam Ahead' is a wilder one with a desperate inventor heroine, if you want a change of pace.