Romance novel publisher Harlequin Mills & Boon claims to have sold 10,000 e-books during May.

The publisher, which is currently celebrating its 100th birthday, recently began offering all its releases in both paper and digital formats simultaneously.

The surge in e-book sales follows a relaunch of the Mills & Boon website earlier this year. The site offers users an online shop, e-book-only titles and community features. The site was one of the winners at last week’s new media age Effectiveness Awards, for its community element.

Director of direct and digital marketing for Harlequin Mills & Boon Tim Cooper said e-books formed an “integral part of the future of publishing”.

Mills & Boon sells more than 200m books each year.