Brightsea

The British author's Ladysmead and Teverton Hall were praised as sequels to Jane Austen's classics, faithful in tone to the originals. Here Gillespie focuses on absurd Nancy Steele and her rich married sister, Lucy Ferrars, who caused trouble in Sense and Sensibility. A still hopeful spinster, Nancy deigns to accept a post as companion to modest young Louisa Retford, an orphan whose grandfather sends her to live for the summer in a posh house at the glittering resort, Brightsea. Conflicts arise when Nancy chivvies the girl into the social whirl, luring her away from the quiet companionship of Dorothy and her brother, Martin, who gives Louisa Latin lessons and falls in love with her. There is more tension when poor Nancy deludes herself that a foppish thief has designs on her as his wife rather than on the pendant she has borrowed from Louisa. If not a perfect ""Austentation,'' the novel is neatly understated, imaginative and fun. (February 16)