If you can't find anything in "Your Account" and you have no emails confirming the order, I'd guess you didn't complete the order.
The confirmation email comes RIGHT away. The shipping ones comes when it ships, which could be a day or two away.
Is it still in your cart, per chance?
YOU mentioned it was your first time ordering online, so I can see how you might not know there were additional steps. Please don't take any offense at these questions.
If it was 3rd party, did you go back and search the item to see if that entity still has the book listed?
How about checking your credit card online for the charge? Athough that should really happen when it ships. But check anyway.
And if you reorder, and by some chance end up with 2 books, chalk it up to "tuition" costs. Live and learn.
You can always resell the book in the classifieds. ;-)