Advice on my first road bike

What country are you in? If UK or US, an entry level Jamis will get you started. I have the Ventura Race 2012 and it is stiff enough to go fast for its spec, but is solid enough for a beginner. I love it.

So the most important thing most people will tell you is the bike needs to fit properly. That's where your local bike store (LBS) comes into play, especially if you never have had a road bike before. It's really critical, especially if you are thinking about going on longer rides. If you're in agony it defeats the point of the investment because you just won't use the bike.

The rub is that bikes at an LBS are generally more expensive than something you can get online or used through eBay or Craigslist so if you are price sensitive then it becomes harder to go through the LBS. I'm not a big fan of taking advantage of LBS services with the full intent of purchasing elsewhere, but I think it is reasonable to look at LBS options and then check out other alternatives which may include an online or used purchase. Keep in mind that different bikes have different geometries so a 48cm bike by one make may fit differently than the same size made by another manufacturer. In your case I think it will be important to get educated on bikes, components, sizing, etc. and a trip to one or more LBSs needs to be part of that.

As far as recommendations go, your LBS will have their recommendations based on your price point and what lines they carry. For online options, I think one of the best value sites for new bikes is bikesdirect.com. They have tons of bike options available, especially in the under $1,000 price point which sounds where you are thinking about. In that price range I would look for an aluminum frame bike with a carbon fork. I'm a fan of the compact crank options that have 2 chain rings that give you some easy spinning gear ratios with 20 speeds instead of 27-30 speed triple chain rings and the added mechanical overhead they bring. For example, they have a 2012 Motobecane Super Strada for $899 that is really nicely appointed that looks like it would be a very nice entry level bike. If you do end up going the online route and find you need to stretch a bit too much for the handlebars (women are often short torsoed), you can swap out the bike stem for a shorter one.