A Night at the Tropicana

A Short Story

By: Chanel Cleeton

Narrated by: Frankie Corzo

Length: 1 hr and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Cuba in the 1930s is the backdrop for a vibrant short story about the rhythms of the heart and the twists of fate that echo through time by the New York Times bestselling author of Next Year in Havana.

Havana, 1939: It’s opening night at the famed Tropicana nightclub. Cuban American college student Natalie Trainer, on vacation from Miami, is watching from the sidelines—as usual. Then comes an invitation to dance from a handsome stranger named Antonio. Normally cautious and reserved, Natalie somehow finds herself saying yes. A tiny thrill of rebellion, of taking a chance, and Natalie’s in heaven. Will her first step into this unfamiliar realm set a new course for her life, or only tonight?

©2023 Chanel Cleeton. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Enchanting

Loved everything about this! Short and sweet yet leaves you wanting more! Would love a follow up novel telling what happens next.

Romantic and lovely!

Swept right away in the romance and brilliance of Havana! Once again, Cleeton transports her readers to Cuba!

Enjoyable but predictable

I enjoyed this short story by Cleeton, one of my favorite authors--I've read her entire Cuba series of books--and a terrific writer. For me, at least, I knew what was going to happen very early on, but that didn't lessen the pleasure of hearing this story. The narrator did a good job although it would have been nice to have a male do Antonio's part.

Wonderful Short Story

Chanel Cleeton does not disappoint. While short it was a beautiful story I listened to in one seating and then listened to a 2nd time. Beautilyand well written.

A Wonderful Romantic Short Story

This review is for both the ebook and the Audible.

A great short story. Natalie and Antonio were magical together. I look forward to reading more of her books. I already have two I recently purchased.

My only problem was with the time span. The first part took place in December 1939. Natalie was recently divorced after 30 years, after dating her husband for two years prior to that. Yet the second part took place nearly 30 years later, May 1969. Timeline needs adjusting.

Otherwise, a very beautiful story that I highly recommend.

Loved the story short and sweet

I have read the entire Cuban series. I have had many Cuban friends and understand the pain and suffering of the Cuban people.
It’s a beautiful love story not that far fetched.
Wonderful short story

Love story with some odd aspects

I had a hard time believing that the story took place when it did. It felt more like a modern story taking place in modern times. I liked the ending and the love story aspect.

Cute & Short

I was looking for something short to listen to at work and stumbled across this title. For a book that is less than two hours long, it had all of the emotions. My heart was hurt in the beginning, I fell in love with the characters when they met, and then I had a sense of anxiety right before the end.

Super cute and easy listen :)

Narration was wonderful! Love this short story!

Chanel Cleeton always delivers epic stories and this was no surprise! Great story and narration!

"Unexplainable Magic"

Natalie and Antonio seem destined to be together and we watch them fall in love over the course of a magical night in Havana. The subservience of women in 1939 was hard to overcome and Natalie had made great strides toward doing so. So from her mother's point of view Natalie must keep her eye on the prize and not let a romance distract her from achieving her goal of becoming a doctor. Natalie and Antonio lose touch for 30 years and life goes on. But they never forgot that night at the Tropicana filled with unexplainable magic. This is an especially atmospheric story laced with Cuban culture. It's artfully written, thoroughly enchanting and nicely narrated.