 Aside from its content, the book was revolutionary in that it was one of the first single-title romance novels to be published as an original paperback, rather than being first published in hardcover, and, like the category romances, was distributed in drug stores and other mass-market merchandising outlets.The novel went on to sell 2.35 million copies.Avon followed its release with the 1974 publication of Woodiwiss's second novel, "The Wolf and the Dove" and two novels by newcomer Rosemary Rogers.