Cervelo's R3 vs. Specialized's Ruby Expert or Pro

[Zen]

And examine this query just a bit closer.

I am absolutely new to road biking, not too young anymore and have some back issues.

What are you riding now?
are you sure you want drop bars?

My husband, an avid cyclist (Marinoni), eventually persuaded me to hit the road with him for daily recreational workouts.

Does he listen to your concerns in this area or does he think he has all the answers?

We are living in a hilly area so frame weight is definitely an issue

Not so much. Weight to power ratio is more important. Just don't ride a Huffy.

and we are now in between Cervelo's unisex concept and Specialized's women specific Ruby series.

We?
Are you buying a tandem?

I'm assuming you've ridden both these bikes.
Personally, I'd go with the Specialized.