Problem importing my iPhoto library

Without going into too much detail I deleted my iphoto library and am trying to import a copy from my time machine. Have tried several times, various back up dates. I click on iphoto. It seems to be reinstalling well, even goes through a rebuilding process. But when it is all done I have all of my events with the same cover pic, and when I scroll over that pic, there are my pics behind it. But when I open the event in some the pics are there (along with several duplicates of that cover shot). In some of the events the pics aren't there, but when I double click on one of the duplicated pic, the pic that should be there appears. I know, sounds very confusing. I am thinking there is a proper way to import the iphoto back up, or a way of fixing the library once it is imported. As you may imagine, I am panicing, as it is over 10 years of photos. Any help would be greatly appreciated.