I just got into road cycling myself - my boyfriend and I have been kayaking and mountain biking for awhile and I finally decided to join him on the road too. I tried a few different bikes - Trek, Cannondale - what I highly recommend and what helped me most was a great LBS - the got me one each bike, fit me for the bike, then let me go out on a test ride, they had a wealth of information and knew a lot about some of the differences of women vs men, and how they fit bikes comfortably.
I just bought a Cannondale Synapse Feminine 6, Carbon frame and a splash of pink. It's awesome and I love it. Any clothing/cycling shoes - try them on, comfort is a must and some of the brands run small or large.
Hope this helps! : )