She Makes How Much More Than Me?!

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- How far would you go to be "in the know"? According to the Harlequin Romance Report 2010: Tempted(1), a whopping 48% of Americans surveyed reveal that they have peeked at a colleague's pay stub, admitting that they have given in to temptation and crossed the line to satisfy their curiosity.

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"In today's information-obsessed society and hyper-competitive job market, we know that people are willing to go to great lengths to get their hands on any 'perceived dirt' they know they're not supposed to have," said Michelle Renaud, Senior Manager, Public Relations, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, one of the world's leading publishers of women's fiction. "Whether it's looking at a colleague's pay stub or snooping through your partner's personal belongings, we want the truth, even if it hurts. Today it seems ignorance is no longer bliss - information is."

This year's annual Harlequin Romance Report, now in its 21st year, sets out to explore the good, the bad and the ugly side of temptation. Via a global online survey, men and women around the world revealed how far they are willing to go when tempted and those indulgences they could not live without, even during tough economic times.

Highlights of the American survey results include:

• Forty percent of Americans surveyed believe that lusting after someone other than their partner is completely harmless.
• Almost half of American men (43%) have been tempted to hook up with a friend's significant other.
• Men, check your wallets. Twenty percent of American women surveyed admitted to taking money from their significant other's wallet without their knowledge.
• It's a jungle out there! Fifteen percent of male respondents and 10% of female respondents admitted to sabotaging a co-worker out of jealousy.
• No surprise here. While half of male respondents (50%) are tempted most by sex, 56% of women revealed that they are tempted by food first and foremost!

Harlequin's survey also revealed that buying books was the number one temptation most (75%) Americans could not resist during the 2009 recession – sacrificing vacations, shopping sprees, dining out and going to the movies.

"The recession highlighted the downside of greed, indulgence and giving in to temptation, but we've noticed a shift back to life's simplest pleasures," said Renaud. "Books provide affordable entertainment that everyone can enjoy guilt-free."

This is just a taste of the findings in the Harlequin Romance Report 2010: Tempted. The full text of the Harlequin Romance Report 2010: Tempted can be downloaded at www.harlequinromancereport.com/reports.php, and a copy of this information in video format is available at http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/harlequin/42162/.

Harlequin Enterprises Limited is the global leader in series romance and one of the world's leading publishers of women's fiction, with titles issued worldwide in 28 languages and sold in 114 international markets. The company produces more than 110 titles monthly and publishes more than 1,200 authors from around the world. Harlequin Enterprises Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation, a broadly based media company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TS.B). Harlequin's Web site is located at www.eHarlequin.com. Harlequin has offices in 19 countries, including offices in Toronto, New York and London. For more information please visit www.eHarlequin.com or press.eHarlequin.com.

(1) The survey was conducted online at www.harlequinromancereport.com (the "Website") by Harlequin Enterprises Limited ("Harlequin") between September 17, 2009 and October 4, 2009. The survey was open to all adults over the age of 18. The Website was visited by more than 3,000 men and women from around the world. Survey results reflect the opinions of respondents and do not necessarily reflect those of Harlequin, its parent company or its affiliated companies.

www.harlequinromancereport.com and its contents are the property of Harlequin Enterprises Limited ("Harlequin") and/or its licensors, and are protected, without limitation, pursuant to Canadian and foreign copyright and trademark laws.

To receive a copy of the 2010 Romance Report, to obtain a breakdown of the American survey results or to arrange an interview with a Harlequin romance expert, please contact:

Lauren Haralson, Burson-Marsteller, 212-614-4192 or [email protected]

SOURCE Harlequin Enterprises Limited