Irish Thoroughbred was initially published as a category romance novel. Books in this genre are short – usually between 175 and 200 pages, or about 55,000 words[1] – and are published in clearly delineated lines, or categories. Although each category romance novel is unique, it is required to conform to the general parameters that define its line.[8] The small number of books published in each line every month are numbered sequentially within the line.[9] Irish Thoroughbred was number 81 in the Silhouette Romance line.[10] Novels in this line espouse more traditional family values and place greater emphasis on the characters' emotions rather than their physical needs.