Your e-reading friend may have a steamy little secret. Romance novels are the most popular genre of ebook borrowed from the Greater Victoria Public Library, according to recent statistics.

Rina Hadziev, head of technology services with the Greater Victoria Public Library, said she's not surprised. One of the big appeals of e-reading is anonymity - no one sees the cover of your book.

"A lot of people like them because people can't see what you're reading," she said. "They now feel comfortable reading [romances] on the bus or waiting for a meeting."

The library has more than 2,000 romance ebooks available to borrow. There were 132,588 checkouts of romance ebooks and audio files in 2011, followed by 113,661 non-fiction checkouts and 90,559 mystery checkouts.

Ebook loans began in April 2008, but their use has really taken off over the past two years, according to Colleen Stewart, head of collection services.

The five most popular ebook titles currently on the waiting list are:

Perfect by Jodi Picoult - Picture

Fire by Nora Roberts - Chasing

- The Accidental Countess by Michelle Willingham

- Bittersweet Rain by Sandra Brown

- The Next Always by Nora Roberts

Hadziev said the popularity of romance ebooks also fits with the pre-e-reader history of electronic publishing.

"Romance and erotica are sort of two sides of the same coin, and erotica was one of the first areas of literature to really be quite strong online and to have online publishing," she said. "So it's not really shocking that it's an area of the collection that is popular."

Plus, romances are already popular in print. Hadziev said it's a tough statistical comparison to make, however, since the pool of material is so much bigger for print.

The trend is not restricted to Victoria. U.K.-based newspaper The Independent reported that one in five readers polled said that if they lost their e-reader, they would be too embarrassed by their ebook collection to claim it back.

Amazon Publishing, one of the largest ebook distributors in the world, announced the launch of their fourth imprint, Montlake Romance, in May.

"Romance is one of our biggest and fasted growing categories, particularly among Kindle customers," vice-president Jeff Belle said in a statement.

Industry leader Harlequin Enterprises began offering ebooks in 2005 and sometimes publishes authors electronically first, moving to print when they prove successful.

"You can get your books out there faster, you get reviews faster and then you can sort of see what has potential, what has legs," said Malle Vallik, director of digital content for the firm.

Harlequin, she said, is in a better position than smaller print publishing companies to embrace the shift to digital.

"We do have an advantage as a mass-market publisher, partly because we have mass market pricing," she said. "We price our ebooks similarly [to our print books], but less.... Certainly for someone who has a really big hardcover business, it's more challenging for them, trying to find the right place in the market."

If you or, ahem, a friend are interested in checking out a romance, Hadziev says there's a wide selection at the Greater Victoria Public Library to choose from.

"We lend all sorts of romances, from suitable for your very conservative [reader] to very hot and spicy," she said.

For those interested in moving from fantasy to real-life romance, the library has also organized literary speed-dating in time for Valentine's Day.

Library patrons are encouraged to grab their favourite book for five-minute meet-and-greet sessions with other singles. After chatting about favourite reads and other ice-breaking territory, participants who indicate mutual interest on their dating cards will receive their matches' contact information from library staff. Valentine-themed refreshments and music set the mood.

"We're showing [people] that yes, we've got ebooks, but we also want the library to stay vibrant and alive and be a place where people like to come," said organizer Andrea Brimmell.

Literary speed dating for ages 60 and over will be held Feb. 11 from 2 p.m. to 3: 30 p.m. at the Central Library. Singles ages 25 to 40 are invited to the Juan de Fuca Branch, Feb. 14 from 7 p.m. to 8: 30 p.m.

Registration is required online at gvpl.ca or by calling your local branch.

ROMANCE EBOOKS TO BUY YOUR SWEETIE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

Lighthearted contemporary romance

- I've Got Your Number: A Novel by Sophie Kinsella

- Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly

Traditional contemporary romance

- The Next Always: Book One of the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy by Nora Roberts

- The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods

Penny by Catherine Anderson - Lucky

- Moonlight in the Morning By Jude Deveraux

- Forever Buckhorn: Gabe/Jordan by Lori Foster

Historical romance

- The Capture Of The Earl Of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens

- A Scandalous Countess by Jo Beverley

Paranormal romance

Unleashed by J.R. Ward - Lover

by Kresley Cole - Lothaire

Bound by Christine Feehan - Spirit

- Darker After Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel by Lara Adrian

Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz - Copper

- Lawe's Justice By Lora Leigh

- Greater Victoria Public Library staff

asmart@timescolonist.com